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

[Dr Vorlauf]

The more I thought about it, I really didn't want Radio Shack's low-quality garbage anyway.

Radio Shack - Yesterdays technology at tomorrows prices.

 

[EvilTOJ]

I refuse to go to Lowe's unless there is no where else I can get what I need. The two Lowe's I've been to around here have rude and clueless workers, although they're massive they never seem to have what I want, and (most importantly) they're owned by Wal*mart.

 

[WortMonger]

I hear both HD and Lowes are owned by Wally World.

 

[Mutilated1]

I hear both HD and Lowes are owned by Wally World.

well they aren't

 

[fermenator]

There was an error printed in the Detroit Free Press. Someone reading the paper would have initially thought they had the facts. If they never saw the retraction they'd continue to spread the rumor. Here was the retraction they issued:

Getting it straight
November 14, 2004
In Sunday's The Way We Live section, Georgea Kovanis' shopping column incorrectly said that Lowe's is owned by Wal-Mart. The home improvement chain has no connection to Wal-Mart.

 

[WortMonger]

Ok, new this thread would keep coming in handy, except, this is my last time to the Home Depot in my town. Forever!!!!!!!!! Went in today to get some Reflectix...... they have never heard of it. Ask them where water heater covering material might be...... they don't carry it. Maybe we carry it at our larger store is all I heard. WTF??? I'm 100% now on my 6 visits to my local HD for not getting everything on my list that they say is carried by HD. That is not a chain that is a chain sized store half filled with crap like Rubbermaid storage containers. Never again will I waste my time even calling ahead to hear, oh yeah we carry that (because that F*&ker checked the same website I did before I called and drove there to find out they do carry it, just at a larger store)!!!!!!!!!! A-Holes!!!!!!!!! So, I guess I close this thread.... Thank God, because I am an idiot/glutten for punishment if I let these guys do it again to me.

 

[PseudoChef]

Salesman at home depot told me these didn't exist. I looked anyway, found one, and made sure to let him know.

 

[CodeRage]

Write a letter to corporate. You'll get a manager to call you and appologize up and down. But eventually the should get enough complaints to take some kind of action.

I've done it many times.

 

[PeteOz77]

I am an idiot/glutten for punishment if I let these guys do it again to me.

Fool me once, shame on you.. fool me twice, shame on ME

 

[WortMonger]

Fool me once, shame on you.. fool me twice, shame on ME

I'm at the kick me in the balls again please stage!!!! No more!!!! Letters or complaints when something is ran so poorly only do one thing, make everyone that reads them laugh. "F" them, I am the silent customer that causes them the most harm, I tell everyone I know.

 

[Hopleaf]

What do you expect? They're just retail people. I go to Home Depot over Lowe's though.. I couldn't find an employee in Lowe's if my life depended on it (outside of the registers). Luckily I have a local place called Elliott's here in Dallas and the employees know their stuff forwards and backwards.

 

[kush]

Nothing beats Sears Hardware

 

[fermenator]

What do you expect? They're just retail people. I go to Home Depot over Lowe's though.. I couldn't find an employee in Lowe's if my life depended on it (outside of the registers). Luckily I have a local place called Elliott's here in Dallas and the employees know their stuff forwards and backwards.

I think it depends on the area in which you live, around here (PGH area) it seems that the folks at Lowes are much more knowledgable about the products they sell than the HD employees. I prefer Lowes over HD, they always have more product available than HD and are extemely helpful.

When I went to Lowes to get my parts for my mini-mash cooler the guy asked me to bring in the cooler when I was done so that if another homebrewer came into the store looking for the same thing he could show them exactly what they needed and where all the parts were located.

 

[merc]

Lowes sponsors Jimmy Johnson so they are evil.

Home Depot sponsors Tony Stewart so they are evil.

I don't have much choice but go to mom and pop shops.... :cross:

 

[WortMonger]

I think it depends on the area in which you live, around here (PGH area) it seems that the folks at Lowes are much more knowledgable about the products they sell than the HD employees. I prefer Lowes over HD, they always have more product available than HD and are extemely helpful.

When I went to Lowes to get my parts for my mini-mash cooler the guy asked me to bring in the cooler when I was done so that if another homebrewer came into the store looking for the same thing he could show them exactly what they needed and where all the parts were located.

That's what I'm talking about.......

 

[Joker]

What I am looking for dictates where I go to shop. The each seem to have their strong and weak points. When I go I know what I need and would rather wander the aisle for 5-10 minutes looking for something before I ask someone there for help. I have found a couple people there that know what they are doing so if I get really stuck I will seek one of them out to ask for help.

 

[Radarbrew]

My general rule. Ask the old guy. They know where the "doohickey" is and how to hook it up to the "thingamajig". Even better, if you have a Mom and Pop store, go there. They are fighting to keep the biz running, and will twist an ankle trying to help you.

 

[howlinowl]

Years ago, when I was looking into purchasing a Directv system (back in the day when nobody installed them) I called Radio Shack to find out the position of the satellite so I could make sure I had a clear line of site to it (I had some southern exposure, mostly clear toward the southwest, but wanted to find out the corordinates for the compass just to make sure before I plucked down the bucks.... I told the guy what I wanted, he said that he was pretty sure it would work, because the signal comes mostly from "above". I ended up finding out it would work from somewhere else and bought the system there.... this was during Radio shacks "You got questions....we got answers" commercials. Maybe they got answers, maybe not the right answers though.

As far as zipcodes go, I just give them my old one from kansas. They usually just give me a strange look and I just say I'm from out of town. Now as far as your zip code when using a credit card, I believe the computer system checks to make sure the card zip it's issued to and the one you give match a a security measure (not sure what good that does... ya got my name on the card, and ya can look my addy up in the phone book..not much of a stretch).

One thing I hate 'bout HD is that they don't carry everything I need. I needed to replace part of a run of 3/8 pvc pipe that was damaged in a warehouse for their ice machine. Guy ran into it with a forklift. All I wanted was some 3/8 pvc and 2 slip couplers (mind you, I already quoted the repair). Guess what? no 3/8 pvc or couplers. Asked if they had 3/8 to 1/2 adapters and I could just adapt a piece of 1/2 inch in. Nope. I tried to find something to adapt 3/8 pvc to anything.... copper tube....nope. Finally went to a True value and loe and behold!!! 3/8 pvc and fittings!!!! Needless to say, I didn't make anything on that job after all the running around.

Allan

 

[srm775]

My general rule. Ask the old guy. They know where the "doohickey" is and how to hook it up to the "thingamajig". Even better, if you have a Mom and Pop store, go there. They are fighting to keep the biz running, and will twist an ankle trying to help you.

I've found that, at least in my area, the "old guy" is usually the worst to ask. He is either in the early onset of dementia or full of crap. Everytime I've "asked the old guy" I've wasted at least a good 30 minutes trying to find a part with him that I could have found easier by myself, or listened to a lecture about how he was in construction for 20 years and knows everything and has never heard of what I'm looking for. I usually either find it 2 minutes later approx 20 steps from them, or ask google (he never lets me down).

 

[Joker]

Years ago, when I was looking into purchasing a Directv system (back in the day when nobody installed them) I called Radio Shack to find out the position of the satellite so I could make sure I had a clear line of site to it (I had some southern exposure, mostly clear toward the southwest, but wanted to find out the corordinates for the compass just to make sure before I plucked down the bucks.... I told the guy what I wanted, he said that he was pretty sure it would work, because the signal comes mostly from "above". I ended up finding out it would work from somewhere else and bought the system there.... this was during Radio shacks "You got questions....we got answers" commercials. Maybe they got answers, maybe not the right answers though.

I believe most if not all satellite feeds come from the middle of Texas. I forget what the exact angle up is to the satellite.

 

[Radarbrew]

Try this, don't know how it works, I just googled it.
http://www.ideamaster.com/budget/dishaim.htm
:rockin:

 

[WortMonger]

Ok, just got back from a 1.5 hour round trip drive to the closest Lowes to me. They had everything I needed and I was in and out in 15 minutes. Wow, I hate Home Depot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL!!!!!!!

 

[howlinowl]

Try this, don't know how it works, I just googled it.
http://www.ideamaster.com/budget/dishaim.htm
:rockin:

This is nice now, but when I was buying my first system, it was 1996 B.I. (Before internet (now somebody will probably tell me the internet was around before '96, but it was Before Internet for me))

Allan

 

[Bedlam]

Favorite Home Depot story, heard on the radio:

A guy was purchasing a single item and chose to check out via a self-serve cashier machine. He couldn't get it to work properly. He tried to get help. Nada. Eventually, he lost control and began beating the machine with the item he was trying to purchase: a crowbar. He eventually left the crowbar and walked out.

I'm not sure if he was caught after he left the store. I'd like to think he wasn't. If I were a cop, I'd consider justice done and chase him REEEEAAAALL slow...

 

[WortMonger]

LOL, toooooooo funny!!!!!!!! Maybe I will go back in for the new Fubar I have been wanting.

 

[Jesse17]

When we were building our house, I was traveling for a living, and was only home every third weekend. While I was on the road, I sent SWMBO to the local ACE to get PVC for our water line from the well to the house, and had the excavator lined up to trench on the Sat. that I would be home.

Well, come to find out when SWMBO went to ACE, the department head told her "You don't want to use PVC, you want to use this rolled copper." Well, maybe the copper is better, but they've been using PVC for this for 40 years also.

Anyway, I get home and find out what she bought. So while the excavator is trenching, I drive in to town to get the fittings for the copper tubing. That's when I find out they don't carry the fittings! In fact the only place that does is the local plumbing shop, which are closed on the weekend.

I had to let the trench sit there for 3 weeks until my next go home weekend, because of this A$$ at ACE.

I still like shopping there for electrical/plumbing, but I run when I see that guy coming! They do even have an 'old guy' that knows what he's doing.

 

[gyrfalcon]

I went into home depot looking for a wall paper tray. I walked to the proper section, and asked the guy standing in the isle where they were.

He knew exactly what I was talking about but had a really stupefied look when he realized they didn't have them. I must have been shopping for them out of season.

Sometimes it feels like Wal-Mart has a better selection.

 

[IrregularPulse]

I know this is all annoying but you have to realize who works at these places. If you know a lot about electrical, landscaping, woodworking, plumbing,ect, you probably are working in a decent paying job working WITH the materials, not selling them. These are pretty much minimal or slightly over minimal wage jobs. Not a lot of knowledge coming from a minimal wage job.
On a side note, We don't have a HD, only LOWES and are getting a Mernards soon. I have never had any problems with lowes, but don't go in to let them plan a project either, thats not what they're for. If you need help with electrical, ask an elecrtician, plumbing? Ask a plumber. Not the 16 year old selling you the "third part down on the left, Isle 15. Thats all they know about the parts. Thats all they need to know.
Now about the OP, that is very ****ty how you've been treated and sounds like you have a special case where your town breed jackasses for HD employment specifically! Sorry.

 

[RobertHSmith]

I'm drunk with a purpose...making headspace in the keg to loose some overcarbonation...so take this for what it's worth.


Ask an old guy or a young guy, the only thing that will tell you if they are feeding you a line of bull is your own experiences. I'm one of those guys who isn't afraid to try things once. I've gained a lot of knowledge that way. ...I also read a lot of books research things before I do them in an attempt to not waste money on things I don't need or from buying a cheap product that won't last.

When in these super-hardware stores I usually answer the "can I help you?" question with another, "well, I don't know." This usually sparks some interest in what ever project I am working on. I explain what I intend the end result of my project to be first, then what I am going to use it for. I don't mention that I have done research or tell them what I know because that would sound cocky. I know they deal with people who "know what they are doing" all day long and the last thing they need is someone young enough to be their child or grandchild acting like they know more than they do.

I know that the large chain stores are only going to cary the items that sale the most and won't carry a lot of speciality items...the MBA's make sure of that. Sorry if you have your MBA...most that I have had experience with can only use power point and should have studied more finance than butt-kissing. Back to the hardware stuff...Expect that you are not going to find everything you need at one store, but also make you plan flexible and be appreciatitive (sp?) of the help you do get. If they are having a bad day, don't be a arse and make it worse.

I always get good help, even from guys that are pros. The difference is in your attitude before you go in. Ask them what they think because they can't always legally make a "reccomendation."

 

[Jesse17]

To the last two posts,

The problem here isn't people going into HD and expecting an expert to guide you through 'building' your project for you.

The problem is going in to HD, asking "Where is (this)?" and them saying "Well, what do you want it for?"

The problem is when you go to HD and ask the 'stock boy' where something is, and they act like they're the expert. Want to know what you're building, then tell you it won't work, or you need to do it their way, because they want to feel like they know something just because they work there.

Sorry, if this doesn't make sence, but I'm and have had a killer flue/head cold for the last week.