I hate HomeDepot!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Bernie Brewer]

Another reason I hate Home Depot is:

I've bought Husky tools (socket wrench sets, screew drivers, air compressors, etc.) from them, and EVERY f-ing time, they brag about how they have the "same exact warranty as Craftsman" does. I'm not saying that Craftsman tools are much better than any old generic, but they stand behind them. You can walk into ANY Sears with a broken tool, and they'll swap it out for a new one, or if it's discontinued, an equivilent one.

Home Depot on the other hand will ask you for a receipt, and you say, "I don't have a receipt." Then they'll say "Well, how do I know you bought if from here?" Then you say, "I didn't buy it from here, I bought it at a Home Depot in Wyoming." Then they say, "Well, we can't replace it if you didn't buy it here." Then you say, "When I bought it, the guy that sold it to me said that you can just walk in and swap it out for a new one at any Home Depot, just like the Craftsman Warranty." Then she'll say, "Well, without a receipt, how do I know you bought it from a Home Depot?" and you'll say, "Because, Home Depot is the only one that carries Husky Tools." And she'll say, "Well, I don't know about this warranty. I've never hered of it." Then You'll say, " Well, I bet if I go over to the 'tool corral' they'll bragg about the warranty." Then she'l say, "Well, if I don't put a sticker on that broken screew driver in your pocket, then we'll charge you with steeling a screew driver if you carry it into the store."

Oh ***, I'm too druk to finish this. The point is they will lie to you about the warrenty, and you'll have to make a big f-ing scene to get a f-ing screew driver replaced, and they guy in the Tool Corral will tell you that it's because Husky hasn't stood behind their warrenty, so Home Depot won't stand behind thier warranty. When you ask about why the guy was just bragging about the warrant (before you showed him your broken tool) he'll say..."just take this replacement and don'nt tell anyone."

I use to do a type of construction work on the road, and I've had this experience at SEVERAL Home Depots.

+1. Home depot's "lifetime warranty" is ridiculous. Luckily my local Sears carries Klein tools,which I prefer over Craftsman, and they never quibble when I return one.

 

[WortMonger]

LOL, man I had no idea...... wait a minute....yes I do, we are all a$$holes and gripe for no reason, LOL. I will never darken their door again. Everything I go in there for is researched before I go in there, I am just under the concept that I can't find what I want before I go in and compare it. I would rather eat a $16 piece of equipment than go to HD or Lowes. I guess maybe I need to draw what I am wanting and ask them for the parts, when the say it wont work, ask them what would. when they say they don't know assume they don't want to help and move on leaving HD and Lowes in the dust.

 

[DRAGGER]

Absolutely. It's ohms law. power is equal to voltage squared divided by resistance. So a 3000 watt element on 240 volts is about 20 ohms. The same element at 120 volts is 720 watts. A LOT less.

P = E^2 / R

http://www.sea.siemens.com/step/default.html

P=Power in watts
I=Current in Amps
E=Votage in Volts
R=Resistance in ohms

P=I*E
I=P/E
E=P/I

E=I*R
I=E/R
R=E/I



DRAGGER.....

 

[z987k]

Another reason I hate Home Depot is:

I've bought Husky tools (socket wrench sets, screew drivers, air compressors, etc.) from them, and EVERY f-ing time, they brag about how they have the "same exact warranty as Craftsman" does. I'm not saying that Craftsman tools are much better than any old generic, but they stand behind them. You can walk into ANY Sears with a broken tool, and they'll swap it out for a new one, or if it's discontinued, an equivilent one.

Home Depot on the other hand will ask you for a receipt, and you say, "I don't have a receipt." Then they'll say "Well, how do I know you bought if from here?" Then you say, "I didn't buy it from here, I bought it at a Home Depot in Wyoming." Then they say, "Well, we can't replace it if you didn't buy it here." Then you say, "When I bought it, the guy that sold it to me said that you can just walk in and swap it out for a new one at any Home Depot, just like the Craftsman Warranty." Then she'll say, "Well, without a receipt, how do I know you bought it from a Home Depot?" and you'll say, "Because, Home Depot is the only one that carries Husky Tools." And she'll say, "Well, I don't know about this warranty. I've never hered of it." Then You'll say, " Well, I bet if I go over to the 'tool corral' they'll bragg about the warranty." Then she'l say, "Well, if I don't put a sticker on that broken screew driver in your pocket, then we'll charge you with steeling a screew driver if you carry it into the store."

Oh ***, I'm too druk to finish this. The point is they will lie to you about the warrenty, and you'll have to make a big f-ing scene to get a f-ing screew driver replaced, and they guy in the Tool Corral will tell you that it's because Husky hasn't stood behind their warrenty, so Home Depot won't stand behind thier warranty. When you ask about why the guy was just bragging about the warrant (before you showed him your broken tool) he'll say..."just take this replacement and don'nt tell anyone."

I use to do a type of construction work on the road, and I've had this experience at SEVERAL Home Depots.

that's what you get for buying crappy tools though. I don't think I've ever used a husky tool but it goes for any tool not made by a reputable manufacturer. Only time I've ever broken a bone was a finger and because I was using a piece of **** ratchet that decided to break(ratcheting mechanism) when I was torquing on it real hard which ended up smashing my hand into an alternator.

I think all my non-power stuff is a mix of snap-on and craftsman. Maybe an occasional odd or end here and there.

 

[BuffaloSabresBrewer]

Well Im not quite sure where I stand on this thread but I do think I have something to add here.

I work at a hardware store in Lockport, NY. Its a Value Home Centers for those of you in the area. There a semi large chain. A mom and pa store that expanded basically. There is western New York and northern PA mostly. But you get someone that comes in with a question that you cant always answer. I dont know everything and someone that knows everything about everything is not going to be found working at a hardware store. I AM NOT DEFENDING THE WAY THE STAFF OF HOME DEPOT DEALT WITH THE SITUATION. A question that I cant answer confidently can almost always get answered by someone else. I though HD hired master craftsmen but I dont know for sure. We are lucky enough to have a electrician on staff right now bu thats not always the case. However what every our collective knowedge cant answer we can almost anyways send someone in the right direction.

Wow. Sorry guys Im a little to drunk to be typing this much sorry if this sounds retarded.

But you cant justify terrible customer service for "trying to cover the stores ass". I have talked with people about people projects that were probably not recommended by the experts. Could the store be held liable if they do something retarded on my recommendation? Probably yes. So my response is that is probably not recommended but this alternative might be safer. If they still want to do whatever they were talking about then I will give them my "well if I were doing it that way then Id be careful of this". (Attempting to spare you the details of specific situations.)
But an interesting store about the store I work for. Someone wanted to put a lock on their fridge. The advice from someone that worked for the store was to drill on the side blah blah blah. Long store short they drilled into a coil. Sooooooo. Value Home Centers replaced the fridge for them put a lock on it and apologized for the inconvenience they caused. Bottom line here is you gotta know what you getting when you head to the big orange store.
Also for the record I am a college student. Feel free to assume that I am the typical college student that does not give a sh^t. Sall good. But bad experiences happen. People have bad days. They get worn down by rude people all day yadda yadda yadda. What Im trying to say is...well...I guess it sucks if you dont have a hardware store that is helpful. And Ill probably post again later Im just want to be more sober.


Prost!

 

[bradsul]

There's no excuse for the poor customer service you received. In the future try this something like this:

You: Could you show me where to find these please?
Them: [start asking questions]
You: [politely interrupt] I'm a contractor and I just need to know where they are.
Them: Right this way sir.

Even if you have a strange list they won't bother asking you about it anymore. HD doesn't like contractors so they just want to help you get your stuff and get out. I should probably add that I've only dealt with HD in Canada, might be different attitudes in the US.

 

[BuffaloSabresBrewer]

Im going to have to disagree. Im pretty sure HD loves contractors. They have a freakin contractors are to pull up and load up their trailers. Maybe they treat them poorly inside but it seems like theyd love the business they give them.

 

[bradsul]

Im going to have to disagree. Im pretty sure HD loves contractors. They have a freakin contractors are to pull up and load up their trailers. Maybe they treat them poorly inside but it seems like theyd love the business they give them.

HD loves handyman-type contractors. If they loved real contractors they'd have a lumber desk, a yard and a small army of shippers. A contractor can't waste 2 hours loading up a bunch of self-serve carts and waiting at a cashier behind X number of other carts.

 

[WortMonger]

These people suck. They have gone through 3 managers and haven't even been here a year. We only got a HD because we just got a Chili's and Applebee's and we already had a super Wal-Mart (which I haven't been in except 3 times at 2:00am for things no one else carries). This literally is the coldest place I have ever been to in my small little town (HD that is). They don't get much business so they are short staffed. I still can't believe you "have" to give them your number to complete a sale, whatever. I got mine completed anyway. Oh, and they don't ask for your phone number if you use a debit card, I found this out last night talking to a guy that works there, lol.

 

[rabidgerbil]

Just my two cents for what it is worth.
Being a home owner in the middle of a remodel, I am at the local hardware stores all the time, HD, Lowes, and McLendons (local chain), and I find that each is good for something that the other is not.

As to giving them my phone number, I have never once been asked my phone number, much less required to give it to complete a transaction.

Regarding contractors, I don't know about the HD by you, but at my local HD, the contractors call ahead, and it appears that the stuff is picked and ready, and/or shipped to them. All I know is that the "contractor" desk is ALWAYS hopping in that store.

 

[Sir Humpsalot]

The real contractors know that Home Depot can't compete with the mom-and-pop suppliers. Interesting fact: HD did something very interesting to keep their inventory management simplified- they required all of their suppliers to quote them prices, FOB Home Depot by the pallet. Every other major supplier buys truckloads. As a result, while HD's sale prices are awesome, the run-of-the-mill stuff is usually cheaper somewhere else where they just bought a whole truckload.

 

[bradsul]

Regarding contractors, I don't know about the HD by you, but at my local HD, the contractors call ahead, and it appears that the stuff is picked and ready, and/or shipped to them. All I know is that the "contractor" desk is ALWAYS hopping in that store.

Must be a different market in the US. HD here isn't trying to compete with the actual lumber yards (they can't because they don't offer accounts) so they're going full out to get all the general public. Again this is in Canada, Ontario specifically, maybe it's even different in other provinces (heck maybe it's different by the store, though all the HD's I and my dad have dealt with are like this).

Personally I don't mind HD, we never really had a mom&pop hardware store in my city because we have Home Hardware (chain) which has been around for decades.

I refuse to go to Walmart however which we just got last year - I've already noticed a few shops downtown closing since they opened up. Very sad.

 

[WortMonger]

I would agree that the contractor side is the busiest every time I go there. The parking lot is empty, but there always seems to be a truck backed in the garage side. I went in for Plasti-Dip my last visit, and they never heard of it, said they didn't carry it, basically thought I made it up. I had a guy look it up on his computer and he said nope. Then he said, well maybe one of our bigger stores carries it. Bigger store???? This one is the same size as the ones in Lubbock that carried everything. So I went next door to the about to be closed to HD Do-it-Center and when I asked they walked me right over to it. As I expected in a small town store they didn't have a variety, but they had it. Wal-Mart here is the same way with "maybe we have it at our bigger store!" I went there for a pressure cooker, which they don't carry but advertise on their website. Wow, a super Wally World that doesn't carry everything another Wal-Mart carries. It would piss me off the same if I went to an Outback Steak house that didn't serve the Outback special. Consistency is what people expect from a chain, not inconsistency. If I wanted a random chance I'd go to a local type store and get what they got or not, but this seems to be a reoccurring theme in my town with chains. Wal-Mart put all but one grocery store out of business in my town when they built their Super Store with 35+ checkout lanes and everything edible you could think of. Now you can't buy brussel sprouts anywhere or get them to open more than 3 lanes. They hurt everything, and that would have been ok because you could still get what you needed/wanted, but now they cut back to minimal. I have learned my lesson about any Discount Store. Discount doesn't mean the best deal, only the best price. Crap is cheap, and once you have ran off all the nice but expensive stuff you can sell your crap for more. Or, better yet completely lie to everyone by buying a big/good name business like Toro, and then use inferior parts and engines until people quit buying them. They get you on the name, and the name ain't the same name as before.

 

[eriktlupus]

i've talked to local contractors here in BC and they won't deal with lowes for one reason or 'nother. personally i don't like lowes either i hate walking all over hell just for a couple of parts and their prices ain't all that hot anyway. i'd rather deal with my mom/pop hw shop been here for 60+years in the same spot or if they are closed i''l go to menards

 

[Rick_R]

I still can't believe you "have" to give them your number to complete a sale

More and more places require a phone number, and the person at the register is just following their training. It is stupid, but I've decided it's not worth fighting. I just make one up at random.

Rick

 

[WortMonger]

I refuse to go to Walmart however which we just got last year - I've already noticed a few shops downtown closing since they opened up. Very sad.

Get ready, it will get worse. The next comment isn't steered to anyone here, but...... Wal-Mart stores are good for bringing out the trash of the town. I shop there when I have to at 1 or 2 in the morning to avoid them. I don't mean this to make me sound uppity or anything, but these people don't even buy stuff they just hang out. I am in and out in 15 minutes when I go that late, the last time I went during the day it was an hour minimal for dog food, laundry soap, and two coolers for my friends MT and HLT I made him (in my signature). 15 minutes was waiting in line to pay. Using the self-checkout lane actually takes longer because you have to have a manager OK you buying super glue or paint. Our bank, when we owned one, refused their account which sounded great on the surface. The bank next door picked up their account and had to hire another person (their expense) to Tally and take care of all the money coming in. This money then turned right around and was transfered before end of business day to Arkansas leaving the bank with no interest. The only thing Wal-Mart leaves is a petty cash fund of $100,000 for the bank to make money off of. How many people in my town have multiple accounts of $100,000??? Enough to not warrant Wal-Mart's business and hire another person to take care of their accounts. This bank is kicking itself and has since told Wal-Mart the money has to stay until they have the manpower to send it to Arkansas. So, they still don't make money, but they don't have to pay someone just for Wal-Mart.

 

[WortMonger]

More and more places require a phone number, and the person at the register is just following their training. It is stupid, but I've decided it's not worth fighting. I just make one up at random.

Rick

LOL, I do too when I have to. It is always someone I am pissed at or time and temperature, lol. I used to give my old bosses number when I lived in Lubbock.

 

[bradsul]

More and more places require a phone number, and the person at the register is just following their training. It is stupid, but I've decided it's not worth fighting. I just make one up at random.

It's postal codes up here. Everybody wants your postal code even on cash purchases. I don't have a problem giving that out since they can't sell it to a telemarketer and I start getting calls. Anybody that asks for a phone number gets a 'no'.

 

[WortMonger]

That makes so much more sense than a phone number for marketing. They only want your number so they can sell it, but a postal code lets them know their shoppers location which is all they need. I am going to ask next time I am asked if I am not allowed to purchase things without a phone number and see what they say. I will ask if I need to make one up and if they have a phone book.

 

[rdwj]

Am I the only one that doesn't really have a problem with HD or Menards? I am just about done with finishing my basement and found just about everything I needed with no problem. I find the "old guys" offer advice when asked, but have no problem just telling you where to find something.

Perhaps it's just the market - we have a good amount of retired construction-type guys that work at our big box stores for extra cash and to get out of the house.

 

[the_bird]

I can't stant the local mom-and-pop operations around here. Most of them are geared more towards contractors than DIY-types; I mean, they close up early on Saturday and are closed all day on Sunday, not very freakin' convenient. But, I'm usually not going there looking for advice, so knowing that the people at The Depot are all basically clueless doesn't bother me.

What I do hate about HD is that the quality of the lumber is pretty piss-poor. I need to find a better local place to buy that stuff.

 

[Sir Humpsalot]

Normally, I just give "555-5555". Either they put it in, or else they have to get confrontational with a customer. Lose-lose for them.

My Radio Shack experience:
I had this one bozo come right out and tell me re: 555-5555, "That's not a real number, that's fake". I said, "No it's not." He said, "Yes it is." I said, "So what are you going to do about it?" He said, "Well, I can't sell you this stuff without a phone number." I said, "Can I use your phone number then?" He said "No." Then I told him I was a cop and asked if I could use 911. He said no again, but only after thinking about it for a minute. I asked him if I could make up a fake number. He said he needs the real phone number. I asked him if he would know the difference and he said probably not. Ok, so finally I say, "1-900-666-1234". He told me he can't use 900 numbers. I said, "Sounds like you live a very sheltered life".

Finally, after annoying the hell out of all the customers behind me, I walked out and bought my stuff elsewhere. The more I thought about it, I really didn't want Radio Shack's low-quality garbage anyway.

 

[kornkob]

I've never really had a problem with Home Depot. I can find help most of the time (with the exceptions being acceptable-- when its busy as hell it's harder to find help and that's true at EVERY store-- even mom and pop). The help I get meets my expectations: they know their stock and are able to give reasonable amounts of advice on both standard and non-standard uses of products (again-- within reason: the 16 year old kid at my local hardware store is just as useless in this regard as the 16 year old kid at HD).

Both Hd and the mom and pop have always walked me to the things I've asked for, not jsut pointed me there. Neither ask me for my personal information on a transaction.


My local HD has at least one actual professional-- either retired or working a second job for extra cash/during off season-- in each department. If you're lucky you can cathc them-- they are always willing to discuss creative work arounds to problems capped with the 'that ain't legal but it would probably work--- the parts are right there'.

 

[Rick_R]

Am I the only one that doesn't really have a problem with HD or Menards?

Never heard of Menards, but I've no problem with HD -- but could be because I have no expectation of expert (or semi-expert) help when I go in.

Years ago (when computers were fairly scarce and the internet just a twinkle in Al Gore's eyes) I used to enjoy listening to the guys at Radio Shack explain computers to customers. I'd drop by while at the mall just for that purpose; most had no clue, but no hesitation either.

As to HD, I rarely ask where something is because I like to wander when in HD or Lowes. My interaction with the "help" there is limited.

Rick

 

[the_bird]

I've never had a problem telling a cashier "I'd prefer not to" when asked for my phone number... Radio Shack is infamous for being total *********s when it comes to collecting personal information, but even there, I've never had someone tell me they couldn't complete a sale without it.

Of course, I think I've spent a total of $10 in Radio Shacks over the past five years...

 

[Rhoobarb]

... Radio Shack is infamous for being total *********s when it comes to collecting personal information, ...

They dropped their phone # policy about a year ago, finally bowing to public pressure/ridicule. I went in to get speaker wire a couple months ago and it was the same as if I was buying a pack of gum from 7/11.

 

[rdwj]

I've never had a problem telling a cashier "I'd prefer not to" when asked for my phone number... Radio Shack is infamous for being total *********s when it comes to collecting personal information, but even there, I've never had someone tell me they couldn't complete a sale without it.

I just say "I don't give out my phone number". I rarely have a problem with that response anywhere I go.

 

[merc]

When asked for my phone # at these places, I use (local area code) 328-7448. If you look at the letters on a phone pad 328-7448 spells EAT-S**T I'm sure most of you can figure out the 2 letters in the middle...

 

[srm775]

I've been giving out the # (local area code) 588-2300. You might better recognize it in empire jingle format.

 

[kornkob]

Never heard of Menards,

It's a medium sized place similar to Home Depot based in the northern midwest. They are really popular with the 'buy one get one free' and the 'free or nearly free after rebate' set--- they run those promotions all the time.

http://www.menards.com/storeLocator.do

In my experience they have more gadgets than most places and they do a great deal of business in the lawn and holiday decoration department. You can also get a 4 pound box of short or broken pretzle sticks for about $4 (if you get there fast enough-- those pallets of pretzles disappear fast).

However, their staff is the least knowledgable (with the exception of their paint section). They have some of the worse lumber around here. Never seen such a large collection of warped boards and short cut drywall.

Chains might 'pride' themselves on being consistent across the county but that's a myth in my experience. Stores (whether they be hardware, resturants or clothing stores-- whatever) vary market to market, depending on the hiring pool, local businesses and other factors.

Even McDonald's are different in my experience. Clean and well managed in one location, dirty with horrible service in others.