Ok, so I've heard you guys complaining about places like Lowe's and Home
Despot. I've never had any problems with them so I thought it was just
mostly snobbery from people who were anti-corporate America. Well, you
may be anti-corporation, but it ain't snobbery. The BORG really is bad.
Here's my story.

Saturday morning I needed to pick up some MDF and hardboard. I have no
truck nor trailer nor available friends with such equipment, nor will an
8x4 fit into my little Honda. I decided to wing it. I went in, paid for
my products, and decided to roll the dice with having the Home Depot
monkeys cut it to size for me, thinking it'd then fit in my Accord. I
approached the only guy I could find in the lumber area. He looked like
he was about 23 and had probably been sneering since he was about 14. I
said, "Hello!" and he just stared at me, as if I may as well have said,
"Eat ferret dung!" I said, "I've got some 8x4's here that won't fit into
my car. Think I could talk somebody into cutting them to size for me?"

The guy continued to look at me. I thought maybe he didn't speak English.
He then spoke - and this is amazing - without ever really opening his
mouth. He said something like, "Mayzel jizgitur truck." I caught one
word there that I was positive was English: truck. So, I said, "Oh, is
there a truck I can rent?" He rolled his eyes and shot me this impatient
glare, like he was trying to explain calculus to a 4 year-old. He said,
"Ya-er-izifu gowda Special Services." Ah HA! "And where is the Special
Services counter?" I asked, trying to maintain good cheer in the face of
having a semi-literate orange-vest hardware jockey talking down to me.
The guy pointed and issued a simean grunt. I politely thanked him and
started heading towards "Special Services." I'm not a class warrior or
anything, and I have much respect for people who are willing to work a job
at Home Depot on the weekends, but I've worked my share of service-sector
jobs and even in the height of my adolescent rebellion, I managed to
usually treat people with a modicum of dignity and courtesy. Maybe I was
raised wrong.

Anyway, beyond having to wait 15 minutes for the truck to be returned by
the last guy (not a big deal) and having another Home Depot employee try
to steathily take it from me, the rest went smoothly.

So you guys aren't kidding! Some of the marginal life forms meandering
the aisles of Home Depot make the skin crawl. The people are Lowe's are
never like that to me. At worst, they pretend to know things they don't
and cheerfully offer helpful "advice" that's so obviously wrong that even
I know enough to nod politely and ignore it.

"Ben Siders" wrote in message
news

So you guys aren't kidding! Some of the marginal life forms meandering
the aisles of Home Depot make the skin crawl. The people are Lowe's are
never like that to me. At worst, they pretend to know things they don't
and cheerfully offer helpful "advice" that's so obviously wrong that even
I know enough to nod politely and ignore it.

Hmmm...I went to my nearby Home Depot on Sunday morning,
approached a young fellow in the lumber area, and said, "I need
about 28 inches of a 2x6 pressure treated board." He promptly
picked out the straightest he could find, measured 28", started up
the radial arm saw, and cut the piece. Wrote me a ticket for
$2 and away I went. YMMV.

Jim Stuyck

"Ben Siders" wrote in message

So you guys aren't kidding! Some of the marginal life forms meandering
the aisles of Home Depot make the skin crawl. The people are Lowe's are
never like that to me.

Some are, some aren't. Don't judge the entire chain, good or bad, from your
own experience at one store. The quality of help can vary quite a bit in 30
miles. Or even across the street.
Ed

or even from one warm body to the next. HD help varies from guys with
years in the trades to no-nothings with bad attitudes. It's best to ask
around for names of the knowledge fellows and better yet find out what
days they are there. some of the workers can be a great resource. My
local HD had a jewel of an employee who knew everything necessary for me
to do some roofing. Great knowledge AND a great attitude. All HD
employees are NOT clunkers.

dave

Edwin Pawlowski wrote:

snip

The quality of help can vary quite a bit in 30
miles. Or even across the street.
Ed

Oh so true! I have a Sears, Home Depot,Osh all within a few miles. I also
have an Ace Hardware just down the block and the owner lives across the
street. I run an open tab, and pay it when I remember. Many times when I'm
in a hurry and can't get down to the store, the owner will drop it off to me
on his way home. Sure, I pay a little more at Ace - but you can't put a pice
on that type of service.

vgb



"Gfretwell" wrote in message
...
These are "warehouse stores" where you trade service for price. It is just
part
of the "Kmarting" of America.
We, as a people, do seem to endure a lot to save a buck and until that
starts
wearing on us enough to pony up for decent help it will remain that way.
Personally I don't have a problem with HD/Lowes type places but I prefer
to do
without their "help", it seldom is.
If I really want help, I pay a little more and go to the Ace affilliate
here
who has run a hardware store for 40 years.
Unfortunately there are no full service lumber yards here.

I've waited by the cutoff saw at HD a couple of times, but never for
more than maybe 10 minutes, max. I've had guys come over from the
plumbing dept. to cut something for me, as they can see me standing
there. sounds like you aren't getting any respect! g I always search
on an employee right away and ask them to page the appropriate person.
Either that person comes over in a few minutes, or like I said, some
other employee will see me standing near the saw, and will offer to
help. Maybe they help because I'm businesslike, but in a hurry, but NOT
rude? Attitude will get you a long ways when you are vying for their
attention. please don't assume that I'm saying your attitude isn't ok.
When I wrote "you" I mean the collective "you", not YOU, Tim.


dave

Timothy Drouillard wrote:

I remember going to the local HD, went there around 8:30 in the evening,
hoping to avoid the crowds.

I too was wanting to buy some 4x8 plywood and needed to get it cut into
pieces 36" wide so it would fit in my trunk.

Not only were the crowds gone, but it seemed that most of the help went with
them somewhere.

I waited by the panel saw for a good 20min, with no HD employees even coming
NEAR the wood department. Employees would walk right past me from the other
end of the store on their way to the restroom or break room, but none of
them even stopped to see if I needed some help.

Finially I stopped one of them and asked very politly if someone could
please come and cut my plywood for me.

I got the standard answer that that person (the one I stopped) wasn't
trained to operate the saw but they WOULD find someone.

This happened 3 times, with about 15min of waiting in between. Three times I
stopped someone and they promised they would find someone. And they didn't.

I too, tried like heck to remain calm and polite with each person.

Finially when the next employee walked by, I let it be know to them and the
whole darn store in a loud voice, that I had been waiting there for the
better part of an entire hour!

Strangely enough someone was there in about 45sec.

It's a shame that sometimes you do have to raise your voice and complain to
get something done.

but, as Dave points out, sometimes you can walk in and get prompt, polite
and knowledgeable help right away.


"Bay Area Dave" wrote in message
. ..

or even from one warm body to the next. HD help varies from guys with
years in the trades to no-nothings with bad attitudes. It's best to ask
around for names of the knowledge fellows and better yet find out what
days they are there. some of the workers can be a great resource. My
local HD had a jewel of an employee who knew everything necessary for me
to do some roofing. Great knowledge AND a great attitude. All HD
employees are NOT clunkers.

dave

Edwin Pawlowski wrote:

snip

The quality of help can vary quite a bit in 30

miles. Or even across the street.
Ed

Oh Yeah, how about this one!

Two years ago SWMBO and I removed and replaced the vanity, sink and faucet
in our Cape Cod cottage with a vanity, sink and faucet from Home Depot. Most
of the install went smoothly, except for the plumbing part... I HATE
PLUMBING!!!

Anyway, two weeks ago the faucet started leaking... no problem, we'll make
the 10 mile trip up route 3 to get a new cartridge. Well, much to my
surprise, they don't stock the cartridges for that faucet... AND THEY STILL
SELL THE SAME FAUCET... there were literally HUNDREDS of them on the shelf.
(BTW, it's a Glacier Bay... avoid it like the plague). This is THEIR brand
faucet and the management (snicker, snicker) couldn't give me an answer as
to why they don't stock the cartridge... they couldn't even find a listing
for it on the computer. Another rocket scientist suggested I call the 800
number packed with the faucet and "order" the cartridge... Sure, 10 weeks
without a bathroom sink... that would go over big with SWMBO.

To make a long story short... I convinced the Yo-yo in charge to credit me
for the stupid mistake I made (choosing that faucet), but only after I
returned the bad one. I bought an American Standard (at least I know my
local plumbing supply house stocks parts). Thankfully, my daughter's
boyfriend is handy with tools (mark that down in the "Plus" column). I have
a torn rotator cuff and Mike did all the work with some direction from me.
We had the new one installed in about 1/2 an hour. Of course I still had to
make the trek back up Route 3 to return the old one... and had to tell my
story all over again to the new regime installed for the day. And to make
matters worse, since I didn't have the slip, all they would do is give me a
store credit for the old one. I'm still fuming over the fact that they don't
support their own product... geesh!

Venting off...
Don

there is a corporate policy that pressure treated wood NOT be cut.
Every HD I've been in has a sign near the saw stating that they won't
cut PT wood. and of course, they SHOULDN'T. the sawdust and junk
floating in the air around that part of the store is not something you'd
want your kids in strollers breathing, nor yourself for that matter. One
day a local HD was cutting PT so I informed the MOD, who admitted that
it should only be cut when the store is closed. I contacted several
agencies to see if they would contact HD officially, but they all passed
the buck. (Health Dept, OSHA, and a few others) I ended up calling
corporate myself where I got the official line that they aren't supposed
to cut it. I give PT wood the respect it deserves when I have to cut it
at home.

dave

Jim Stuyck wrote:

"Ben Siders" wrote in message
news
So you guys aren't kidding! Some of the marginal life forms meandering
the aisles of Home Depot make the skin crawl. The people are Lowe's are
never like that to me. At worst, they pretend to know things they don't
and cheerfully offer helpful "advice" that's so obviously wrong that even
I know enough to nod politely and ignore it.


Hmmm...I went to my nearby Home Depot on Sunday morning,
approached a young fellow in the lumber area, and said, "I need
about 28 inches of a 2x6 pressure treated board." He promptly
picked out the straightest he could find, measured 28", started up
the radial arm saw, and cut the piece. Wrote me a ticket for
$2 and away I went. YMMV.

Jim Stuyck

of course you won't. but getting that treated stuff up your nose, in
your eyes, or even getting scratched with PT wood is an irritation that
is indicative of the noxious nature of the chemical used. I wear a mask
and goggles when I'm cutting anything in my shop, so why would I be any
less protected when cutting PT? In fact, I cut it outside the shop;
then I sweep up all the sawdust I can find and toss it in the garbage.
Don't want my dog eating that junk. She gets into everything g

dave

Ramsey wrote:

Well, you won't die from cutting a 2x4. People get so afraid when the
problem is they don't understand the problem.

On Mon, 18 Aug 2003 23:47:44 GMT, Bay Area Dave
wrote:


there is a corporate policy that pressure treated wood NOT be cut.
Every HD I've been in has a sign near the saw stating that they won't
cut PT wood. and of course, they SHOULDN'T. the sawdust and junk
floating in the air around that part of the store is not something you'd
want your kids in strollers breathing, nor yourself for that matter. One
day a local HD was cutting PT so I informed the MOD, who admitted that
it should only be cut when the store is closed. I contacted several
agencies to see if they would contact HD officially, but they all passed
the buck. (Health Dept, OSHA, and a few others) I ended up calling
corporate myself where I got the official line that they aren't supposed
to cut it. I give PT wood the respect it deserves when I have to cut it
at home.

dave

Jim Stuyck wrote:


"Ben Siders" wrote in message
news

So you guys aren't kidding! Some of the marginal life forms meandering
the aisles of Home Depot make the skin crawl. The people are Lowe's are
never like that to me. At worst, they pretend to know things they don't
and cheerfully offer helpful "advice" that's so obviously wrong that even
I know enough to nod politely and ignore it.


Hmmm...I went to my nearby Home Depot on Sunday morning,
approached a young fellow in the lumber area, and said, "I need
about 28 inches of a 2x6 pressure treated board." He promptly
picked out the straightest he could find, measured 28", started up
the radial arm saw, and cut the piece. Wrote me a ticket for
$2 and away I went. YMMV.

Jim Stuyck

THAT'S WHY I ALWAYS GO AROUND EVERYWHERE NOW, INCLUDING THE INTERNET,
ALWAYS SHOUTING. IT IS THE ONLY WAY TO GET ANYONE'S ATTENTION
ANYMORE.

;-)

That employee was definitely sub-standard. But while venting here may feel
good it really does nothing to solve the problem. Unless the chairman of
the Home Depot board of directors reads rec.woodworking there is no one on
the wreck here who can do anything about the guy.

There is a person who can do something: the store manager. When you walk
out disgruntled - and take your business elsewhere without bringing the
trouble to the boss's attention they lose the sale and never know why. And
if the management knows that they have a problem they can either do
something about it or not. If they don't then the lost sales are their
problem. And there is always a chance they will correct it.

And no, I do not work for HD or even own any stock in the company. Most of
my experiences with the store have been as a customer . Usually the sales
staff is knowledgeable and helpful. When I get a worker to acknowledge my
presence, that is. The stores here are definitely understaffed.

Patty



W

Saturday morning I needed to pick up some MDF and hardboard. I have no
truck nor trailer nor available friends with such equipment, nor will an
8x4 fit into my little Honda. I decided to wing it. I went in, paid for
my products, and decided to roll the dice with having the Home Depot
monkeys cut it to size for me, thinking it'd then fit in my Accord. I
approached the only guy I could find in the lumber area. He looked like
he was about 23 and had probably been sneering since he was about 14. I
said, "Hello!" and he just stared at me, as if I may as well have said,
"Eat ferret dung!" I said, "I've got some 8x4's here that won't fit into
my car. Think I could talk somebody into cutting them to size for me?"

The guy continued to look at me. I thought maybe he didn't speak English.
He then spoke - and this is amazing - without ever really opening his
mouth. He said something like, "Mayzel jizgitur truck." I caught one
word there that I was positive was English: truck. So, I said, "Oh, is
there a truck I can rent?" He rolled his eyes and shot me this impatient
glare, like he was trying to explain calculus to a 4 year-old. He said,
"Ya-er-izifu gowda Special Services." Ah HA! "And where is the Special
Services counter?" I asked, trying to maintain good cheer in the face of
having a semi-literate orange-vest hardware jockey talking down to me.
The guy pointed and issued a simean grunt. I politely thanked him and
started heading towards "Special Services." I'm not a class warrior or
anything, and I have much respect for people who are willing to work a job
at Home Depot on the weekends, but I've worked my share of service-sector
jobs and even in the height of my adolescent rebellion, I managed to
usually treat people with a modicum of dignity and courtesy. Maybe I was
raised wrong.

Anyway, beyond having to wait 15 minutes for the truck to be returned by
the last guy (not a big deal) and having another Home Depot employee try
to steathily take it from me, the rest went smoothly.

So you guys aren't kidding! Some of the marginal life forms meandering
the aisles of Home Depot make the skin crawl. The people are Lowe's are
never like that to me. At worst, they pretend to know things they don't
and cheerfully offer helpful "advice" that's so obviously wrong that even
I know enough to nod politely and ignore it.

reg

writes,
Unfortunately there are no full service
lumber yards here

I bet there used to be.