Home Depot Delivery Experience?

[ultrarunner]

I had a 10% coupon and decided to give Home Depot delivery a try...

Needed 3 yards of 60# concrete and 3 60 block pallets for a retaining wall plus rebar and such.

My first experience couldn't have been any better... arrived on time with a new truck and set everything behind the garage on a dirt pad.

This week I placed the same order over the phone... only delivery was for afternoon which is OK.

Get a call at work at 10:15 saying he will be there in 20 minutes... go to meet the truck and find a different driver with an older truck and a forklift with bald tires.

Driver says he can only unload on the street and I'm on my own... explain no problems last week for the same stuff.

Says he simply can't do it and I say I can't use the material if he leaves it on the street and he says fine.

He cinches everything tight and I drive off to my Home Depot Store for refund...

While I'm there many calls are made and it is the same... Driver simply cannot unload... even did a Google view.

So, I'm getting my refund and it says ordered delivered... now I'm really confused?

Turns out the driver decided to unload with no one there.

As stated the first week went perfect... second week wasted couple of hours.

My contractor/builder friends refuse to use HD because they are unreliable here in the hills with narrow streets.

Anyone here have a problem with HD delivery?

My truck is too small for even one pallet weight wise and my small trailer can just take one pallet... big trailer is being used by someone and could take a max of 1.5 pallets.

 

[forgeblast]

I have used hd and lowes for delivery since I sold my truck. They were both very accommodating as far as where things went and they had no issue with dropping pallets of mortar or versa block where I wanted them. I have been using a local place because they are pretty much dead on with box store lumber prices and offer free deliver vs the $60 or so from the box stores.

 

[GLyford]

I have had no issues, but I live on a nearly level lot.

 

[EddieWalker]

Never had a problem with any deliveries, but I also have to say that in this area, most people are very helpful and try to do a good job. When they get here, they go out of their way to get everything staged where I want it. Same thing with jobs that I'm on and have the materials delivered.

Eddie

 

[chopped]

I bought a washer, and to get the lower prove it had to be delivered. that first off was stupid as I had my truck at the store. but I let them spend the money and fuel to free deliver it. The subcontract it out here.
So i had a driver form aways away coming with it I attempted to give directions but they didn't seem to be interested.So i hung up the phone.I saw a truck travel back and forth for about 15 minutes,. Finally it arrived at neighbors and I motioned them down to my road.Her we unloade it , I used the tractor and forks, which was good as they had no lift gate, and also no wheeler to move it inside the truck.While it went smooth, overall.I think the lack of their speaking english cased the troubles.So I prefere to pick stuff up myself..
Overall This delivery went well, and all i could say is it could have been smoother for them if they had just listend to my directions.

 

[ustmd]

I have had several deliveries from both HD and Lowes. Never had an issue. Given that I have 3/4 of mile of dirt road, I always expect it, but the guys have always been willing to make the extra effort. Sounds like you got a bad driver.

 

[Gator6x4]

I love delivery people. There are four (4) houses on my street. My house is the only brick one. I have large numbers posted in three locations giving the house number.

When having a delivery made I have the sales person write on the delivery ticket the following. "Four houses on street, address of delivery is the only brick house on street". On the day of delivery the delivery person nine times out of ten will try to delivery the merchandise to one of my neighbors house. Delivery people have bothered one on my neighbors so much being the jokester he is he now plays games with them.

 

[BHD]

It was my understanding, that the delivery guys are independent contractors, and not actually home depot employees, May be some on could confirm that, (my son knew the local delivery person, and that was what he was given the impression of as the guy wanted to sell the truck and delivery contract to him).

 

[MotorSeven]

It was my understanding, that the delivery guys are independent contractors, and not actually home depot employees, May be some on could confirm that, (my son knew the local delivery person, and that was what he was given the impression of as the guy wanted to sell the truck and delivery contract to him).

Correct. I applied for a HD job a few years ago and stated I would like to drive if there were openings. Manager said, nope, those guys don't work for HD....different company.

 

[bdeboer]

Completely dependent on the driver from Lowes here, even the same store. I never have had HD deliver.

 

[chopped]

Yes in the case of where I live,in this case, they have another trucking firm who does the deliveries for them here.Not sure all the deliverys are this way but the truck was loaded with appliances ..So when they called to verify the delivery, It was a private firm.I researched the company online and found where they were located and they are contracted by home depot.Also I had another thing delivered in a SEMI.. (not from HD) I specifically gave more precise instructions on the part of the form for the driver to have.Yet when they delivered, He was never told anything of it. It also doesnt help that I libe on a street that is ''off' of the road that lists my 911 addy.Even on google earth they have me listed as 2 miles away.Anywasy back in the 80 I ran a small delivery company and I knew that even with an address it was nice when someone would tell me the color etc of the house or business.Its almost in the same category of how men wont read the directions...LOL

It was my understanding, that the delivery guys are independent contractors, and not actually home depot employees, May be some on could confirm that, (my son knew the local delivery person, and that was what he was given the impression of as the guy wanted to sell the truck and delivery contract to him).

 

[cletus99]

I've used HD delivery once a few years ago when I needed a new upright freezer when my old one went out on us. Only reason I didn't go pick it up was because I didn't want to have to deal with disposal of the old one and they were offering free pick up and disposal of old appliance. Worked great. They removed the old one, unpacked the new one, hooked it up, and hauled off the trash. Only work I did was getting up out of the recliner to go to the computer to get online when I ordered it. Great experience.

 

[ultrarunner]

Home Depot long ago outsourced delivery to a third party contractor... I believe they use Cardinal???

My night and day experience most likely due to having different drivers.

Learned the first one had 25 years of experience and the last one less than 2.

It is tremendous help to have four 3500# pallets placed at the worksite and the reason I gave HD a try.

The first driver gave me a card and said I would be getting a call from HD regarding my delivery experience... gave all top marks because that is the service he provided.

Never did a survey about the second delivery...

I've used HD and Lowe's in Olympia WA and had to say I love doing business with both those stores because the service is outstanding... even to the point where a security guard called the manager who opened up so I out buy some much needed plumbing parts... they offered, I didn't even ask when I saw they were closed.

Tend to avoid the Bay Area HD because my truck was broken into several times in broad daylight parked right in front... last week, a guard was shot and employee injured when they confronted someone walking out with a $250 laser level tool...

http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking...me-depot-security-officers-recovering-suspect

 

[longshot47]

Around here HD contracts truck deliveries, which seems to invite mis-communication. Guess it's a tolerable situation from the perspective of a homeowner, but for a contractor, the practice too frequently leads to frustration and lost time. Specialty suppliers are typically more accountable and can usually compete with big box pricing.

 

[flusher]

I've had HD deliver loads to my place several times in the past 4 years. No problems. I have plenty of room for their big flatbed semi to pull onto my 10-acre property and unload.

 

[ultrarunner]

Around here HD contracts truck deliveries, which seems to invite mis-communication. Guess it's a tolerable situation from the perspective of a homeowner, but for a contractor, the practice too frequently leads to frustration and lost time. Specialty suppliers are typically more accountable and can usually compete with big box pricing.

This is what I hear from my Builder friends... they deal with dedicated lumber, plumbing and electrical suppliers.

The best price I could get from the local stone yards was 50 cents a block higher and $125 delivery vs Home Depot $80.

I'm sure the reason the HD price was lower for concrete and block retaining wall pallets is they sell a lot.

Last year, I price checked HD about special ordering some retaining wall block and HD was significantly higher and could only promise delivery in 2 to 3 weeks.

The Stone yard was less and promised immediate delivery for about half the order and 3 days for the balance.

I've got 11 pallets on the truck to take back to HD for the $15 deposits... driver will not take back the empties.

Most of my projects are on the smaller scale and I would spend a lot of time picking up materials and self hauling with truck and trailer...

11 pallets at 3400 pounds would have required eleven trips to self haul.

 

[muddstopper]

delivery trucks used to drive me crazy. Back when I was getting truck loads of material almost wkly, you would think that sooner or later the drivers would figure out where I lived. I went thru several different hydroseeding suppliers before i finally hooked up with a mom and pop outfit that would go out of their way to gain and keep my business. The big guys hire employees that work for a paycheck, they dont care about customer service and dont care if you buy from their company again or not. Mom and Pop outfits care whether or not you are satisfied and will go out of their way to keep you happy.

 

[lantxinNETX]

No problem with my only experience with a rural Home Depot delivery.
I needed about 1200# of concrete mix, some rebar, concrete blocks and cedar posts for a couple of different projects at my property. And while I was at it, I also ordered some electrical panels and fixtures for my future electrical needs. Ordered from the nearest Home Depot store - which is about 50 miles away in Paris, TX. I am in very rural SE Oklahoma.
On delivery day I got a call from the driver. He knew how to get to my small town, gave him quick directions on the four turns from the highway to make it to my driveway. Did I mention this was 3 miles down a dirt / gravel road? They knew about it in advance and had no problem at all. About an hour later he was there. Used their forklift to bring the 5 pallets of materials up my 200+ foot gravel driveway and set them down where I asked. Then he and his helper drove another mile or so down the road to the one and only place they could turn their 50 foot long rig around.
I absolutely would order from this HD again and have it delivered. And the nearest Lowes is also about 50 miles away and they said they would deliver to me too - just haven't tried them yet.

Martin

 

[ultrarunner]

No problem with my only experience with a rural Home Depot delivery.
I needed about 1200# of concrete mix, some rebar, concrete blocks and cedar posts for a couple of different projects at my property. And while I was at it, I also ordered some electrical panels and fixtures for my future electrical needs. Ordered from the nearest Home Depot store - which is about 50 miles away in Paris, TX. I am in very rural SE Oklahoma.
On delivery day I got a call from the driver. He knew how to get to my small town, gave him quick directions on the four turns from the highway to make it to my driveway. Did I mention this was 3 miles down a dirt / gravel road? They knew about it in advance and had no problem at all. About an hour later he was there. Used their forklift to bring the 5 pallets of materials up my 200+ foot gravel driveway and set them down where I asked. Then he and his helper drove another mile or so down the road to the one and only place they could turn their 50 foot long rig around.
I absolutely would order from this HD again and have it delivered. And the nearest Lowes is also about 50 miles away and they said they would deliver to me too - just haven't tried them yet.

Martin

Looks like I may have had a driver that got up on the wrong side of the bed that morning.

Did strike me as odd that policy is they only deliver on paved surfaces... must vary because many have said gravel/dirt was not a problem.

 

[lantxinNETX]

When I called the store to place my order, the first thing that we discussed was the delivery. I wanted to make 100% certain they knew exactly where I was asking them to come and exactly what the road conditions were like. They never hesitated. But then again, perhaps that is because this particular HD store covers a lot of territory in terms of where they deliver. I thought I was far away - they told me of some other towns they deliver to that are even further away than I was.