5030
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Boondox:
Answered in private.
Answered in private.
Home Depot is getting worse
- Thread starter kokopelli2
- Start date
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ScottAR
Veteran Member
JD;
You have no idea how right you are...
I've held back from this thread as I work at a Lowe's...
I've never been to a HD but they are building one in the same town as my Lowe's. (I commute)
Things I've observed/experienced:
A lot of employees are either using their job to pay for school or another career. Therefore, they hold a low regard for their job, doing the basics but not trying for a high level of challenge. Most of these work on nights or weekends. Working stiffs (me) work on weekdays mostly.
Pay is basic, I understand it depends on local cost of living and in my area those numbers are pretty low.
I work in what's called a "transition" store. Manager's work at this store until they can move on to a bigger, more lucrative store. They are encouraged to keep to the budget as tight as possible. Managers squeeze water from the labor turnip as it's one of the few costs they control.
These factors make employee morale pretty low most of the time.
Add to this a shortage of staff (at my store) and you get mediocre customer service.
I won't get into some of the crazy customer stuff that happens as that would require it's own website. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
You have no idea how right you are...
I've held back from this thread as I work at a Lowe's...
I've never been to a HD but they are building one in the same town as my Lowe's. (I commute)
Things I've observed/experienced:
A lot of employees are either using their job to pay for school or another career. Therefore, they hold a low regard for their job, doing the basics but not trying for a high level of challenge. Most of these work on nights or weekends. Working stiffs (me) work on weekdays mostly.
Pay is basic, I understand it depends on local cost of living and in my area those numbers are pretty low.
I work in what's called a "transition" store. Manager's work at this store until they can move on to a bigger, more lucrative store. They are encouraged to keep to the budget as tight as possible. Managers squeeze water from the labor turnip as it's one of the few costs they control.
These factors make employee morale pretty low most of the time.
Add to this a shortage of staff (at my store) and you get mediocre customer service.
I won't get into some of the crazy customer stuff that happens as that would require it's own website. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
OP
kokopelli2
Gold Member
scott
dont forget that lowes outsold depot last year with 200 fewer stores. then you guys got rid of reps and are still kicking depots tail.
so depot is doing as lowes does. they are playing catch up.
dont forget that lowes outsold depot last year with 200 fewer stores. then you guys got rid of reps and are still kicking depots tail.
so depot is doing as lowes does. they are playing catch up.
ScottAR
Veteran Member
True, the only reps we ever see are just there to set up a display or somthing.
I understand Depot is trying to adopt Lowe's managment style, everything centralized through corporate. Heck, the thermostat for our HVAC is in North Carolina. Must have been cold over there this winter because our building was boiling.
I understand Depot is trying to adopt Lowe's managment style, everything centralized through corporate. Heck, the thermostat for our HVAC is in North Carolina. Must have been cold over there this winter because our building was boiling.
CountryBoy
Silver Member
I heard Walmart's thermostat is set a head office for the whole nation.
Gatorboy
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You can complain about ANY Company -- they all have their problems.
How about let's start complaining about McDonalds? The service in that restaurant has slowly declined since the late 1980's -- yet they still are in business. The more items they add to their menu, the slower service gets.
BTW, I am not a shareholder in HD -- I just always like to take the stance of the otherside when everything seems to be one-sided in a thread.
How about let's start complaining about McDonalds? The service in that restaurant has slowly declined since the late 1980's -- yet they still are in business. The more items they add to their menu, the slower service gets.
BTW, I am not a shareholder in HD -- I just always like to take the stance of the otherside when everything seems to be one-sided in a thread.
And have you noticed that Wally World's "Made in the USA" is long gone...
There's going to be a backlash someday about all the product/jobs leaving the USA. If labor is so cheap overseas, how about sending the CEO's 10million salary overseas and save 9.99million right there. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
gary
There's going to be a backlash someday about all the product/jobs leaving the USA. If labor is so cheap overseas, how about sending the CEO's 10million salary overseas and save 9.99million right there. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
gary
Chim,
We have a small hardware/lumbar/feedmill in the town closest to us. I think the hardware part may be an ACE, but I'm not sure.
Well--several months ago I went in the store (I don't even remember what for, but it was something I couldn't find at HD).
You have to picture this store--lots of stuff in very general categories. Anyway, I'm wondering around the store and a young guy comes up to help. I told him what I needed and he thinks they have it, but is not 100% sure. He goes over to the counter and asks one of the owners. The owner points him towards a specific row. The kid comes back and starts walking down the row counting the floor tile he's walking on. He steps off about 20 or so tiles, turns to his right and locates what I need.
It's always interesting visiting the local hardware store.
Bob
We have a small hardware/lumbar/feedmill in the town closest to us. I think the hardware part may be an ACE, but I'm not sure.
Well--several months ago I went in the store (I don't even remember what for, but it was something I couldn't find at HD).
You have to picture this store--lots of stuff in very general categories. Anyway, I'm wondering around the store and a young guy comes up to help. I told him what I needed and he thinks they have it, but is not 100% sure. He goes over to the counter and asks one of the owners. The owner points him towards a specific row. The kid comes back and starts walking down the row counting the floor tile he's walking on. He steps off about 20 or so tiles, turns to his right and locates what I need.
It's always interesting visiting the local hardware store.
Bob
knucklehead
Platinum Member
You can complain about ANY Company -- they all have their problems.
Completely agreed. The Home Dumpo in my town really needs to clean up it's act, however. Local businesses are not that much more expensive, they are closer, and they actually result in less cost due to the experience of the employees in reccommending (or not) products to better fit the task. Anyone who tells me I can do with either a less expensive option - or none at all from their store - has my trust.
BTW, I am not a shareholder in HD -- I just always like to take the stance of the other side when everything seems to be one-sided in a thread.
You mean like this?..........
The local businesses that closed when the large stores came into our area did so on their own lack of merit, not because they were targeted by big business. I'm sure small businesses take it in the shorts when a big, shiny new place opens up. But it seems if they ride it out, their loyal customers will come back. I don't for a minute pretend to speak for all businesses, and I am no fan of corporate fatcats (or union fatcats or government fatcats, on EITHER side of the aisle), but I really am tired of hearing about how large stores damage small business......around here it's so much whining from my observation.
Someone somewhere (newspaper article, I think) recently talked about how we are not taught about value anymore - just price. We spend more and have less. That's my attitude towards the stuff I find in big stores. It may look the same and be a lot cheaper, but it often ain't the same.
Completely agreed. The Home Dumpo in my town really needs to clean up it's act, however. Local businesses are not that much more expensive, they are closer, and they actually result in less cost due to the experience of the employees in reccommending (or not) products to better fit the task. Anyone who tells me I can do with either a less expensive option - or none at all from their store - has my trust.
BTW, I am not a shareholder in HD -- I just always like to take the stance of the other side when everything seems to be one-sided in a thread.
You mean like this?..........
The local businesses that closed when the large stores came into our area did so on their own lack of merit, not because they were targeted by big business. I'm sure small businesses take it in the shorts when a big, shiny new place opens up. But it seems if they ride it out, their loyal customers will come back. I don't for a minute pretend to speak for all businesses, and I am no fan of corporate fatcats (or union fatcats or government fatcats, on EITHER side of the aisle), but I really am tired of hearing about how large stores damage small business......around here it's so much whining from my observation.
Someone somewhere (newspaper article, I think) recently talked about how we are not taught about value anymore - just price. We spend more and have less. That's my attitude towards the stuff I find in big stores. It may look the same and be a lot cheaper, but it often ain't the same.