Lowes low

[Bedlam]

Not sure if this is the right category, but I have seen some bad things about Home Depot posted, and I wanted to pass along my Lowes story.
I know, its just the way 'we' do business these days but I sure hope the big shots open their eyes.
I went to Lowes to pick up a range, that they supposedly had in stock.
(I had called previous and they had it)
Anyways no go on that item. But i grabbed a 1 inch 't' that I needed. .93 cents.And proceeded to checkout thinking Id try the Self Serve. I was surprised to see that none of the other ones were open just the self serve.
So, no problem I assume. Well do the 'thing' and then BOOM problem. apparently in order for me to purchase for the .93 cent item, I need a phone
I plugged in a few numbers and it kept saying not valid.
HMM
How many times do i need to click and moan before the person helps?? (no one else there)
Finally I got a number in it to work and took my stuff and left.
went to HD and found the range. also on the way out bought another item for 1.33 dollars self serve again. and no troubles.
Thanks for letting me rant.
One person cant change the system, and the ones that make decisions have not a clue.LOL
Al

[3RRL]

Hey Al,
I hear what you're saying.
I've noticed in both those stores the regular checkouts are rarely open or only one of two at the most ...at least in my area.
That gets annoying fast.
The other thing is the help they have. NO way is it like going into your old hardware store where someone actually knows about the product. It's like they a "hire the MOST incompetent individual you can find" policy. hahaha

I'll share a story.
I went to my Home Depot to the tool section and looked for a right angle drill. I also considered getting one of those attachments for my regular drill since it was a onesy type job. The display had the drill I wanted but I couldn't find the boxes below to purchase. So I asked this middle aged gal working there to help me. I told her what I wanted but couldn't find the box. She had NO clue what I was talking about. She showed me an angle grinder...huh?
I asked if she knew what I wanted and she said yes, defiantly. That pissed me off so I said OK, show me the samples so I could make a decision which one I wanted to buy. She didn't know one tool from another! She got so flustered she walked away!
I made it a point to call the manager to tell him about her behavior AND skills.
What a joke.
It's like that in both stores, but IMO, Home Depot is 10x worse than the Lowe's store we have here. Your experiences may differ.
That is the norm I'm finding, but I will say one time I did meet an older gentleman who knew his stuff. But they probably fired him so they could hire their quota of unskilled retards. It's a sad situation.

[Ductape]

I absolutely , positively refuse to check myself out. If it appears no manned checkout is open, i go to customer service to get rung out. Wouldn't you think they would WANT some contact with their customers???? I feel that having someone check me out and bag my item is a service that is INCLUDED in the price i'm paying for the things i purchase there!! Apparently, some bean counter somewhere figured that what ever amount of money they lose in theft by people checking themselves out is far outweighed in payroll cost savings. Between us....... i'd also like to say that i purchase at the Depot if the item is available there..... BEFORE buying the item @ Lowes because it bothers me to no end that EVERY sign there is in Spanish !!! This IS America, is it not??? If they need signs in languages other than English..... why not cater to us Pollacks (or whatever nationality you might be) ????

[Bedlam]

I believe that the thing is the ones that can change things don't ever see whats happening.
So, It is fruitless to load the carts to the gill and then come down front and say hey, I have no telephone, except a cell phone and I don't want you calling me, so have fun putting all the junk back. The people end up putting it all back , and the 'message' never gets to the upper management.
I agree with duck tape, I almost did that, I saw the light on, at customer service but there was no one there, and as I walked out the door there still wasn't anyone there.
I am not signaling Lowe's out, all the others are similar
example, wal mart and tires they used to have as printout of the tires price etc.
No none you have to ask them to look them up. I told the clerk it would be easier if they were on the computer for me to see at home, and she replied they are, I went on to say not all, only the more expensive ones. she moaned.
then off to VIP...They also had to 'look' it up. Without the list there e is no way to know what your buying. And then tell them that I will be doing a cash and carry.
LOL
Only qualified technicians should mount tires they say,. Ive mounted tires by hand for 35 years.
3RRL I had a similar experience in the plumbing dept of Lowes, But the clerk was good enough to tell me it wasn't her dept. respected that.
In your case she got to the point where she was actually thinking she wasn't going to admit she didn't now what you wanted, and ask for help herself.
your right on the local hardware stores,We basically expect too much from the box stores.The help are beaten down with rules and lack of welcoming feedback.Most are barely getting by money wise, and cant really relate to your problems and help you solve things.
I'm Ranting again
and apparently I don't know how to post , somehow it got duplicated or something..
Ill be first to admit I'm new to a forum setup.So i don't know if this is right, or if it will be deleted. maybe censored ?I don't know. I will go back to just reading now. Thanks.

[bigshovel]

Yesterday 3-31-08 at Lowes my wife decided she wanted a canopy swing. In the display section they had five different units assembled Five feet off of the ground. "how do yo sit on them" to try for comfort? I went and found IDIOT number one, and inquired how can we sit on one and see if we like it? He said I agree the display is stupid but that is what his manager ordered him to do! I said find me your manager, I'll be happy to tell him he is an Idiot if you won't, as I'm not leaving until you get this unit onto the floor to sit on it. He proceeds to tell me the manager is not available, and he could not get them down. So I went and found the manager who was unavailable and supposedly out to lunch. Idiot number one lied. Idiot number two the manager took same approach as Idiot number one and said he would not get one down. Now I proceed to take out my cell phone and call the contractor sales dept. and ask for "Joe" whom I give six figures of business to and ask him to come over and assist helping me in calling these other two Idiots, Idiots. Joe shows up, I explain the situation and he is now furious. He personally gets the rolling stairs and gets my swing down we sit on it and say we'll take it. Joe say's a few choice words to both of the idiots and now gets commision on the sale and grants me 20 percent off for my trouble. Guys like Joe are the only reason I go back. I hate combative sales people and the inexperienced KIDS they call managers.

Brad

[Bedlam]

I am guessing that they are attempting to control people from sitting in and swinging in the chair.
A Liability issue maybe, But they should surely understand that they need to take it down for you to try.
Generally the figure if they can just get you to move on , they wont be bothered.After all they don't get paid any more if they sell you one.
Perhaps if you had bought one and opened it in the front of the store or out front and put it together and then if you didn't like take it back in. They would get the message.
maybe.Doubt it.
I wonder, tho if after your incident, if the worker went away with a grudge or better attitude?
thumbs up Brad.

[jpm]

the use of phone #s is that people can remember it.it becomes your acc #
joe customer come in with phone # 123 4567 and they can tell him that wiget he just bought 2 weeks ago and doesnt work any more is more like 2 years ago.it solves the problem of lost receipts

[Champy]

My never ending gripe with the big-box stores is standing in their stupid lines for the half-life of some radioactive isodope.........you would think that at the point in time when shoppers are going to give you their money (becoming customers), the store would want that ONE, SINGLE PROCESS to go smoothly, quickly, and efficiently! Huh?

This means they should have more than 2 cash registers open at a time! Or when you see a LONG LINE OF PEOPLE waiting to checkout, you need to open another line - duh!!!! Half the time anymore I won't go there, and I have zero patience while waiting 20 minutes just to give them my money.

[aczlan]

Originally Posted by Champy

This means they should have more than 2 cash registers open at a time! Or when you see a LONG LINE OF PEOPLE waiting to checkout, you need to open another line - duh!!!! Half the time anymore I won't go there, and I have zero patience while waiting 20 minutes just to give them my money.

the lowes near me is pretty good about avoiding lines, if there are more than 3 ppl in a line they open a new one, also if someone is taking forever they often open another one. or if you go the contractor checkout it is generally free...


Aaron Z

[Skyco]

I have to say I LOVE the self checkouts. Saves having to deal with some doofus
Home Depot- about 3 years ago- wanted to buy the big Ryobi multi tool cordless set, about $250. All were on a top shelf and the "forklift operator" was busy, they said I'd have to come back in an hour. I had other things to do so came back in an hour. Nope still can't sell it to me the "forklift operator" is busy unloading a truck, so I left.
After I left in a snit I called their 800 number and raised 7734. Got sent a coupon for 10% off as an apology and got the set at a different store with the discount.
Then today Discover Card locked my account because of a suspicious $11 purchase at WalMart A Walmart I've bought things in hundreds of times but this time it was suspicious Idiots.