Home Depot Rant #476,352,939

[N80]

I'm planning on starting on my 34x20 tractor shed this weekend. Got my post holes dug last weekend. Got a deal on the posts, they've been delivered.

I've got this afternoon off from work, so its a good time to go ahead and get all the other lumber I need. That way, Saturday morning I can actually start putting this thing together. We're talking about $500 worth of stuff. There is a Home Depot nearby. So I hook up the trailer and off I go.

I get there and start loading lumber on the cart. I'm filling this thing up when I notice the rack for 2x6x12's is empty. There are two other guys looking for them too. I look up and of course there is a bundle of them way up on the racks. So I wander around for a few minutes and find a very nice guy there in the building supplies. He walks back over there with me, looks up and starts calling for the fork lift guy on his radio. He gets no answer. Calls someone else, no answer. Then he turns to us and says he has to go unload a truck and walks off.

I've got other things to get and some things to figure out (I have to look at stuff to figure out what I need sometimes). So that takes about ten minutes or so and I head back over to the lumber. The other two guys are still there. One of them comments "business as usual." And they help me load up some other lumber while we wait. Five or 10 more minutes go by so I head up front to the contractor service area and tell two guys working back there what the problem is. On of them looks a little flustered and starts calling and says some one will be there to help us. We wait a few more minutes and the other two guys leave the lumber they have sitting on their cart and leave the store. I've got all this lumber loaded ups so I wait some more. Look around for a while at all the cool stuff. Its been well over 30 minutes now and I've finally had it. I go back up to the contractor check out, the same two very nice guys leaning on the counter helping NO ONE. I tell the guy that I'm leaving $500 worth of building supplies on a cart because no one would help me get FOUR 2 x 6's.

He says "Okay".

I put up with this kind of junk for months when I was building my cabin. I spent tons of money there. Never once did I ever find all of what I needed on any given trip. Well, I'm done. I'm never going back to Home Depot again.

I wasted most of an afternoon. Wasted gas. And will now have to waste time Saturday going goodness knows where to get my supplies.

As Fred Toones once said "this place has sho gone crazy!"

Just for grins, Google: 'home depot closing.'

 

[MrJimi]

We had a home depot problem and we do all our shopping at Lowes and loving it

 

[Bird]

I can certainly understand your frustration. It just seems to depend on which individuals happen to be working at the time you're there. I had about the same thing happen several years ago at a Lowe's store, and when I got home I called the manager and told him about it. But a few months later, I had occasion to go into that same store, needing all the material to install a new electrical service, happened to get a very young employee, but he knew his business, promptly went about gathering up everything I needed, and got it right, too. So I called again when I got home (figured if I'm going to complain, I ought to also compliment when appropriate) and they had a new manager (that might have made a difference). But at times, I've gotten very disgusted with both Lowe's and Home Depot, while at other times, I've gotten excellent service.

 

[George2615]

In my neck of the woods we have a Lowes within 1/4 mile of HD. I too have gone from one store to the other to get supplies. I bought a new air compressor at HD a few weeks ago. I went to the compressor first and told a sales associate I was buying one and to get the forklift. He called about 4 times on his radio for a fork and got no answer. I told him I'd be back in 15 minutes since I had a few other items to pick up and I would be spending about a grand. I told him if the fork wasn't there when I got back I'd go somewhere else to spend my money. As I was walking back to the compressor I could see nobody around it at the end of the aisle. I got to the compressor and nobody was there. I put all my items down and started to walk out. I was going to stop at the service desk on my way out and tell them they just lost the sale. As I approached the service desk, the fork lift came up the aisle with my compressor and the basket of items I left by it followed by the store manager. The manager also gave me an additional discount on my entire purchase. Sometimes they make the sale, sometimes they don't and the original associate new they'd lose the sale if they didn't get it quick.

 

[Tig]

Last fall I dealt with home depot and was not impressed. When it came time to build my 26x36 garage I went to Cole's TimBR Mart in Brighton. They were so helpful and friendly that I got all confused. (been living in the city too long). They saved me time and money. Dean even drove out to my place after work to drop off a piece of trim.
If you can find a good locally owned lumber yard tell the manager what you are building and see what kind of pricing he can give you. I did try this at home depot in Ottawa, they don't care what I am building. The places that do high volumes of materials will have the best material and lowest prices. Good luck.

 

[Skyco]

I've had problems at both Lowes and Home Depot
A couple of years ago I was trying to buy the roughly $250 Ryobi cordless set they had...all were on a top shelf requiring a forklift to get the pallet down.
Same story, clerk told me it would be 30 minutes so I left to run another errand, came back in an hour and they still weren't down. Then they told me it would be about 2 hours more their only forklift operator was unloading a truck and they wouldn't divert from that to help a mere paying customer.
Needless to say I walked out.
Doing a slow burn I called HDs corp customer service in ATL and told them the story. They sent me a coupon for 10% off as an apology which I later used to buy the Ryobi set making sure to go to a different store.
If I could have bought that Ryobi set anywhere but HD I would have but they are apparently Ryobi's ONLY retailer At least I got $25 for my hassle.

BTW I found a place called Oswald Lumber in Batesburg SC that is local and their lumber prices are LOWER than HD or Lowes and the quality is better. Even though they are farther away- guess where I go for lumber now and if you go on anyday but Wed or Sun you can pig out at Shealy's BBQ nearby

 

[N80]

Mr. Jimi, our Lowes is a mirror image of our Home Depot. Same service, same selection, 5 miles apart. That's why we always had to go to both to get what we needed.

Mr. Bird, like I mentioned, I've done a ton of business with this Home Depot and I used to get good service there. Found the right guy when I was buying electrical supplies and that was a big help. It has gone steadily down hill. And today, I talked to 3 different people. In fact, I talked to every person I could find. None of them was very helpful or interested. The guy in contractor service never came up off his elbow.

We do have a local lumber store. I think it is a national franchise but locally owned. That's where I'm going on Saturday morning. Their prices aren't as good and service can be hit or miss there too. But I'm going to hand the guy my list and see what he can do for me. I bought the metal roofing for my cabin from them.

 

[MossRoad]

Here's what I do at these types of stores...

Go in and buy all my hardware fist, then take it out to the truck and lock it up.

Then I go back in and walk up to the service counter and tell them my back is injured and I need them to load my lumber for me. They get someone and that person will usually find a second employee to help them, as they do not want to do it themselves. And I stick with that person and do not let them out of my sight until I have everything I need. Works every time. Once in a while they will try and ditch me in the employees area, but I politely, but firmly, ask them their name and where they are going. That usually stops them. They get annoyed, but I get my stuff.

 

[EddieWalker]

For small jobs, I just shop with whoever is closest to the house that I'm working on. For bigger jobs, I go to McCoys. They are geared up for contractors and only have a very small display area. The yard is massive.

I tell them what I want, pay for it and drive around back, where they load me up. Same price, but I never have to leave the cab of my truck.

Eddie

 

[Charlesaf3]

home depot is miserable for all but basic tools. Lowes is a bit better. But find a good local lumberyard - better prices, service, selection and quality. Only catch is they really only want to do business with people doing a fair bit of business, but youre barn should count.

 

[Charlesaf3]

eddie beat me to it!

 

[Tom_H]

I would get out a pen and pad and say, "Would you spell your name for me? I want to get it right when I send my letter to the regional manager."

 

[N80]

That's what I'm going to do.

The only thing I like about the big stores is that I like looking at what I'm going to buy. Especially hardware, plumbing etc. Often times I know what I need to do but I'm not sure what how to get it done. In the big stores I can look at stuff, handle it, see how things fit, etc. But, I can live without it.

 

[CDsdad]

For small jobs, I just shop with whoever is closest to the house that I'm working on. For bigger jobs, I go to McCoys. They are geared up for contractors and only have a very small display area. The yard is massive.

I tell them what I want, pay for it and drive around back, where they load me up. Same price, but I never have to leave the cab of my truck.

Eddie

Same at the local yard here in town (nearest Lowe's or HD is 40 miles). They pretty well have everything, and price is close if not as low. They'll load you, too. But I better check what they load. Inside they can be intelligent, but on the yard they ain't got the sense God gave a shiny brown rock.

 

[MossRoad]

For small jobs, I just shop with whoever is closest to the house that I'm working on. For bigger jobs, I go to McCoys. They are geared up for contractors and only have a very small display area. The yard is massive.

I tell them what I want, pay for it and drive around back, where they load me up. Same price, but I never have to leave the cab of my truck.

Eddie

Besides the box stores, we are down to one lumber yard in our town. They no longer want small customers and look at you like you're an infected skunk if you walk in the door. They also charge way more than the box stores. So you get treated poorly AND have to pay more for it.

There are a few lumber yards in other towns nearby that still treat small customers well and I use them if at all possible, but sometimes they just don't have what I need. And there is one Ace hardware left nearby that still has tons of stuff with a staff that actually knows stuff. Refreshing!

 

[hazmat]

One of the unexpected benefits (thought it would go the other way) of trading my truck for a sedan 3 years ago is that I now have to order my lumber from the local lumber yard. I spend 5 minutes on the phone & then they deliver it (free). It costs ~10% more than the depot, but is much better quality - and hey my time is worth it.

I can understand wanting to "try before you buy" when you're not 100% sure how things will go together. Being a mechanical engineer, I can usually visualize pretty well. Plus I'll let you in on a little secret - pick up "the book" at the lumber store - you know the one with all the millwork, doors etc. in it - It has pictures and dimensions.

For hardware - McMaster Carr UPS ground shows up the next day. One of the best online shopping experiences - they often have technical drawings of the products.

For Tools - Amazon

I still shop at Lowes & The Depot, but go there with the expectation that I will not get 100% of what I want. (Case in point, last night no gas burner switch plate at Lowes). I feel bad for folks who do not have a local lumber yard.

 

[riptides]

I don't think this level of service indicative to the brand of store where one shops. Service is more human oriented. And well, there are people who help and there are some who do not.

My HD story is quite different. I went in for some light bulbs. I found them and went to self checkout. I scan the bulb and it comes across as .01 cent instead of .99. The scanner calls selfhelp. I turn to the cashier watcher who is engaged with another customer and on the phone. They motion for me to come forward. I point to my already engaged transaction. They attempt to scan my bulbs in anyway. Same issue. The person stops engaging the other customer, being polite. They examine the bulb issue, tell the person on the phone to hold and call a manager over. The manager dismisses the transaction on the cashier machine, examines the bulbs, looks aroud to see other people waiting, and proceeds to say the bulbs are the problem. Please pay .02 cents and have a nice day. I say the bulbs are .99 cents and they say, thanks for pointing that out, we will fix it, and have a nice day.

 

[mjarrels]

Look for a forklift with the keys in it and start to move the lumber yourself... bet you will get some ones attention!

mark

 

[kenmac]

I feel your pain with hd. I e-mailed the home office once & complained about their cust. service They sent me a 10% off card for my next visit. Most of the time I go to lowes & found the same problem

 

[N80]

Look for a forklift with the keys in it and start to move the lumber yourself... bet you will get some ones attention!

mark

I seriously considered climbing up the lumber rack, but 1) it was waaay up there and 2) the lumber was still banded.

The thing that puzzles me so much is that HD is apparently in trouble as a company. Mr. Jimi emailed me a link to an HD hate site (it is very funny). And if you look over the long list of complaints and subtract out the ones from their EMPLOYEES, the most common complaints have to do with the terrible service. Apparently HD treats thier employees poorly and it would appear that the employees pass it on to the customers.

This indicates to me a top down problem which I suspect is equal parts poor management and trying to improve the bottom line by not hiring enough people to provide adequate service. Once again, for an eye opener just Google: home depot closing. I have no patience for management and employees that run a company into the ground.

And this rant was not because of a one time incident for me. Over the last five years I've spent more time and money with HD than I care to admit. This was just the final straw. I think I have been more than patient with them, I've always been polite and honest, I try to be understanding but no more. I'm never going back, and a 10% discount card would not help. I'm not calling or emailing them, I just taking my money somewhere else.