Bought a Full Pallet Load at Tractor Supply and They Charged Me for The Pallet

[ultrarunner]

Yep... bought a bunch of retaining wall block, delivered with a $20 deposit per pallet. The frustrating part is that I have to spend the gas money and time just to get my money back... oh well :confused3:

This is what I don't understand...

You got me motivated to install a couple of block landscape walls...

For a $75 charge, up to 7 pallets can be delivered... well worth it when dealing with block and concrete.

Deposit is $15 for each pallet plus a special California Wood Product Surcharge, plus Tax.

Had all 7 of my pallets ready to exchange when my next delivery showed up and was told I had to take them to the store...

Then learned my receipt is only good at the store where the order was placed... I switched to a different Home Depot because of poor customer service at the first on the second delivery.

So, every Sunday morning I've been returning pallets for the last couple of weeks...

 

[SPIKER]

I think the ones around here have it figured out.... find a rusted out, broken down trailer with at least one crack in the frame and a pickup to match. Stack that 8'x16' trailer with pallets 8'x20' and at least 14' high and secure it all with one piece of 1/8" rope. Ensure the cracked trailer frame makes the pallets lean into the oncoming lane. Stack the pickup just as high and use another piece of 1/8" rope with several splices in it for added strength. Also it should be a 1/4 ton truck with only about 1/8 ton worth of actual load capacity left in its suspension so it gets the proper ride at the hitch... you can tell it is a proper ride because the one safety chain is dragging on the ground.


I am pretty sure that they make their equipment investment back on the first load

Charlz: now I'm confused, your description is exactly the same as what I see several time a month going down the roads here, you from OHIO or IDAHO, lol... Not to mention the ones around here have figured out if ya stack the bed full to just a bit under the height of the sides of the bed then double stack them to about 14.6" hi you can have pallets sticking a foot & half out both sides of the pickup... The Trailers they use here dont have the crack in the drivers side but have bent axles on that side to compensate for the exact same effect. Also have to say that usually using a half ton truck with the bump stops removed so they have more suspension travel ...

Mark

 

[bandaidmd]

This is what I don't understand...

You got me motivated to install a couple of block landscape walls...

For a $75 charge, up to 7 pallets can be delivered... well worth it when dealing with block and concrete.

Deposit is $15 for each pallet plus a special California Wood Product Surcharge, plus Tax.

Had all 7 of my pallets ready to exchange when my next delivery showed up and was told I had to take them to the store...

Then learned my receipt is only good at the store where the order was placed... I switched to a different Home Depot because of poor customer service at the first on the second delivery.

So, every Sunday morning I've been returning pallets for the last couple of weeks...

Sounds like the truck delivering your stuff is a independent contractor, they get paid for deliverys not returns.

 

[WM75Guy]

Sounds like the truck delivering your stuff is a independent contractor, they get paid for deliverys not returns.

That's what is sounds like to me too. He was not going back to the store. Another thread talked about the big box stores using independents to deliver instead of their employees. Another opportunity to provide poor customer service.

 

[dragoneggs]

Sounds like the truck delivering your stuff is a independent contractor, they get paid for deliverys not returns.

In my case it was the the gravel/rock yard that delivered with their own truck/driver. I think they must have to return the pallets to the block manufacturer.

 

[dragoneggs]

This is what I don't understand...

You got me motivated to install a couple of block landscape walls...

For a $75 charge, up to 7 pallets can be delivered... well worth it when dealing with block and concrete.

Deposit is $15 for each pallet plus a special California Wood Product Surcharge, plus Tax.

Had all 7 of my pallets ready to exchange when my next delivery showed up and was told I had to take them to the store...

Then learned my receipt is only good at the store where the order was placed... I switched to a different Home Depot because of poor customer service at the first on the second delivery.

So, every Sunday morning I've been returning pallets for the last couple of weeks...

I am happy to hear I motivated you... it's wet and cold here and dark way too early, so no more rock walls till next summer. It is not a job for winter around here. I want to be warm and dry (except for sweat) while I break my back

 

[bandaidmd]

That's what is sounds like to me too. He was not going back to the store. Another thread talked about the big box stores using independents to deliver instead of their employees. Another opportunity to provide poor customer service.

Theres a better chance of getting superior service from a owner operator than a hourly store employee with no skin in the game (pride of ownership)
Im up on the soapbox for this since I have operated in this field for the last 25 years.

 

[ultrarunner]

Sounds like the truck delivering your stuff is a independent contractor, they get paid for deliverys not returns.

The truck is under contract with Home Depot, painted Home Depot Corporate colors and logo...

It can only be used for Home Depot material...

The explanation I got was it was a paperwork nightmare tracking returns and getting the credits to the right person.

 

[JBourquin]

I get a pallet every time I buy wood pellets. Just been burning them in the pit out back. Guess I should look into selling some...

 

[bandaidmd]

The truck is under contract with Home Depot, painted Home Depot Corporate colors and logo...

It can only be used for Home Depot material...

The explanation I got was it was a paperwork nightmare tracking returns and getting the credits to the right person.

Most people dont realise how many independents are out there. That FedEx ground truck with the uniformed driver...hes a independent contractor. Theres many more examples , dont go by the big coperate logos we get paid for that advertising, look for the little sticker that says owner operator independent contractor.
I contracted for another subsidiary of FedEx ,now I'm in the food industry. If you drive by a supermarket and see a bunch of delivery trucks over half are independents.
Just some insight into the delivery side of things that most people never think about.
The FedEx subsidiary I contracted too for my first 10 years specialized in pharmacuticals, thats where my "bandaid" name came from. The md is for maryland