how come staff at box stores know nothing baout their products?!?!?!

[daveshoot]

I just had a very good experience with a Lowes guy in electrical... he had a good idea for me (low voltage), and got the ladder and hunted for a while for a $7 item that wasn't where it was supposed to be, to make it happen.

I have gotten in the habit of snapping pics with my phone of anything I am trying to service or install, before heading to the stores. I try to capture the exact model numbers along with any relevant fittings or stuff associated with the problem. Generally, I'll also research it on the web before heading out. Too lazy and too far to drive twice.

I really can't expect an aisle worker to know every replacement part for every plumbing item they cram into those stores. I am happy enough if the part is actually somewhere in the store.

We do have a good old hardware in town and they have survived partly by associating with the franchise/buyer co-ops that have their own brand. They remain independent but get some purchasing volume and price-point lines. It is the place to go if you need answers, and they do have a surprising inventory in their chosen fields of concentration (plumbing, irrigation, garden, electrical). I try to go there all I can but usually I know what they won't have, as well.

 

[hawkeye08]

Since I can't change the rest of the world, what I do is buy one of everything that I think that I might possibly need, put it on my credit card and return the excess on the next visit. No out of pocket expense, no multiple trips and minimum grief.

agree, also I don't expect the store help to know what I have and what I need when I don't even know what I have or need.

 

[wrooster]

finally: the delta websit would have helped me 0% lowes in my area does not sell 'delta' parts. it sells some other brand that 'fits' delta.. so a delta parts kit number would have helped 0% thus your trivial effort argument is null.

I did not go to lowes to save money. i went there to get parts. if 'joe the expert plumber had been next door, and open, and cost 2-3x as much and i was guaranteed to get the correct item. i'd have went there. as I stated inmy followup posts. no local plumbing supply.

Wait, so you went to Lowes even though you knew ahead of time that they did not carry OEM Delta repair parts? And then you expected the aisle person to know which Delta faucet (which you didn't bring) the off-brand faucet repair kit (which you didn't research) would fit? Do I have that right? The people in the aisle at the store that doesn't sell Delta should know what off-brand parts fit Delta? Do you get your John Deere replacement parts from a Kubota dealer, too?

Meanwhile, you state that you didn't want to save money -- you just wanted to get the correct parts. And the sink was not leaking 'yet' so it wasn't really a rush. Let me introduce you to this novel new concept called The Internet where Everything can be researched, found, ordered, and shipped to you within days -- including the correct OEM Delta replacement part that will last another 25 years instead of some generic unknown quality part that was made in a low labor rate region for a nickel and fits "most" Delta faucets and certain Toro lawnmowers...


This thread is full of fail.

Wrooster

 

[Soundguy]

you have a reading comprehension problem.

the sink WAS leaking.

the parts i bought DID stop the leak. I wrote that.

i didn't want to order an oem delta part to show up in 3 days when I had a leak at 9pm at night. i wanted the leak stopped. i knew they didn't sell delta oem parts. I was stuck getting non oem parts.

nothing changed.

and yes. i expected the store person in the plumbing dept to know what delta their non delta oem parts fit.


brand is irrelevant. just know your stuff.

I knew enough to grab the correct cup seals and springs. he didn't even know that...

when i walk into napa i expect them to be able to lookup my part via application too. sadly.. from experience. i know they can't all the rejects from other stores nust find there way to napa.. because they at least DO have xref books and the computer and they still can't get it correct. in that store i'm forced to show up with my own parts numbers if i want the correct part.

I know you are bent out of shape that i expect someone to know their job.

I suspect that neither of us are going to change our positions. I expect a worker to know his trade. You are more tolerant of a worker not having specific knowledge of his trade., cool. i'm entitled to my opinion.. you to yours. you are free to not like mine.. and to disagree.. same here.

I'm going to preemptively save us both some time. er.. well.. really just me.... and stop reading your posts in this thread..


hope ya have a good day. Mine just got better. shift ended 9 minutes ago.

later.

Wait, so you went to Lowes even though you knew ahead of time that they did not carry OEM Delta repair parts? And then you expected the aisle person to know which Delta faucet (which you didn't bring) the off-brand faucet repair kit (which you didn't research) would fit? Do I have that right? The people in the aisle at the store that doesn't sell Delta should know what off-brand parts fit Delta? Do you get your John Deere replacement parts from a Kubota dealer, too?

Meanwhile, you state that you didn't want to save money -- you just wanted to get the correct parts. And the sink was not leaking 'yet' so it wasn't really a rush. Let me introduce you to this novel new concept called The Internet where Everything can be researched, found, ordered, and shipped to you within days -- including the correct OEM Delta replacement part that will last another 25 years instead of some generic unknown quality part that was made in a low labor rate region for a nickel and fits "most" Delta faucets and certain Toro lawnmowers...


This thread is full of fail.

Wrooster

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Around here, the Box stores do not want to pay for experience. Once a person has been around a few years, the stores "encourage" them to leave so they can hire someone cheaper. I call it the mcdonald's syndrome, where they always find a new kid to work for less. Unfortunately, companies are now starting to take that approach with technical and IT services, they want it cheap, they could care less about paying for experience.

 

[The kid]

for sure.

sub standard is the new standard these days

Lowes nor Home Depot are substandard. They are a big box retail stores. They do not hire specialist to stock the shelves and serve as teachers. People that shop these big box stores should already know what they are doing and know what they are buying before setting foot inside. If you expect the employees there to be your seeing eye dog, boy are you living in a fantasy world. You of all people I would think would understand doing your homework first before going on a quest at a big box store. If you don't have the old part in hand, why would you expect the employee to know what you need. If you want curb service then go to a plumbing supply house. You'll pay more, but they know what they sell. And sell what they know.

 

[DT86]

Automatically expect the sales people at almost any store to know less about what they have on the shelves than you do. Most don't get paid enough to care.

 

[daveshoot]

I expect a worker to know his trade.

His trade is merchandising, not plumbing. He inventories 1000s of items, keeps them in stock, restocks returns, and answers questions as able, when he is not being summoned to electrical or appliances, to help an insistent customer over there. I would have trouble even being civil after a few weeks of that.

They are easy to beat up on, and there are some reprehensible specimens, but I try to meet them halfway and often achieve good results. Perhaps part of the price we [don't] pay for having places open until midnight with everything under the sun that we expect to be cheaper than anywhere else including eBay (and lord knows it should be made in America, etc.) is less than trade-level knowledge and enough intuition to know what we REALLY wanted.

Sometimes, the whole planet is just barely adequate.

 

[DFB]

His trade is merchandising

I think that definition hits the nail on the head quite well. Being in direct sales myself I believe there is a big difference between being an employee at a big box warehouse (think Walmart) and being someone who is actually paid to sell a product. What is the terminology used nowadays? Sales Associate! I would construe that to mean they are related to sales (shelf stocker/item floor location) but are not actually a sales person or intended to assure suitability or fitment of a product.

Its no different even at the greenhouse. A lot of our employees were/have NOT been hired not for sales assistance but for their labor and really have little knowledge of the plants we sell and their applications. Hard to believe hey

We had an incident like that just last weekend where a customer had a big rant, sadly virtually anyone who was capable of answering her questions and meeting her needs was working off site at one of our outdoor markets. And the only ones staffing the greenhouse that afternoon where some non English speaking employees and some register clerks who never much get out into the yard and into the greenhouses themselves. My boss was upset when he learned of it later that day and consulted with me about it and I told him straight out. "you get what you pay for"

and enough intuition to know what we REALLY wanted.

Now that's exactly right and that's what makes a sale. When I meet a customer that doesn't know what they want usually a woman Its what I get paid for to do... answer a million questions, suggest the correct items we carry that are suitable for the application plus instruct them on proper care, maintenance, installation and pest control etc.

I always say "Let me make your mind up for you"

And that's why I get paid the big bucks :laughing:

 

[paulharvey]

I didn't read everything, but I think that some box stores have fair help, but normally they don't know much about Repairs, more about replacing faucet, light fixture, ect. I am often suprised by ace hardware, many items they have (non lumber) are competativly priced and their people often know what your talking about. Also they stock well switches and other stuff that for some reason Lowes/HD don't.

When we say we want "tradesman" level knowledge I think you over estimate your average tradesman, often in a company of 12 electricians, 1 Guy actually understands trouble shooting, same with plumbing, ect.

In Lowes/home depot I have low expectations, but there are times they will surprise you.

I take pride in my job, and try to stay knowledgeable about my trade beyond what I actually see/do daily, but I see a lot of people who don't "worry above their pay grade"; to which my thought is your not going to move up your pay grade much
....