Home Depot to close more stores

[heehaw]

heard on the news tonight that Home Depot is laying off a bunch
of folks and will be closing some stores: but they didn't say
where the stores are that will be closed.
heehaw

 

[Dmace]

I heard there were 4,000 layoffs planned but they did not say anything about closing stores...

 

[Ductape]

Yup...... I heard closing their stores for high end kitchens and baths, Expo. This is all no surprise to me. Also many other large companies announcing lots of layoffs also.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. We are far from hitting bottom. Things are gonna get much worse before they get any better. The government getting involved in bailing out private business is only making things worse as far as i'm concerned. Just wait till all the Green laws go into effect. I predict the working middle class will soon be paying well over 50% of our income in taxes.

 

[kenmac]

Bad customer service will put you out in good times. We all know what the times are like now. They should have learned in good times. It might would have helped in bad times. I don't sure don't sorry feel for them

 

[Scooby074]

Great, now there will be 4000 less associates to find when you need one (yes i know that all the layoffs arent coming from the HD stores)

 

[ultrarunner]

Home Depot serves more contractor/builder types and Lowe's serves more home owners according to an industry article I read.

The Home Owner Market isn't down as much as the Building Trades and Home Depot is feeling the pinch...

Some places have 3 Home Depots within 20 miles or less...

 

[QRTRHRS]

Home Depot serves more contractor/builder types and Lowe's serves more home owners according to an industry article I read.

The Home Owner Market isn't down as much as the Building Trades and Home Depot is feeling the pinch...

Some places have 3 Home Depots within 20 miles or less...

There are contractors and there are contractors. I would have to say that the contractors that used HD to source their materials rather than a good local yard were those ones that you used one time and never called back again. I could never see how a business man could waste time with HD where as every yard that I ever frequented would get you in and out so much faster with none of that cart pushing around the store.

 

[EddieWalker]

There are contractors and there are contractors. I would have to say that the contractors that used HD to source their materials rather than a good local yard were those ones that you used one time and never called back again. I could never see how a business man could waste time with HD where as every yard that I ever frequented would get you in and out so much faster with none of that cart pushing around the store.

Not sure if I'm a Contractor or a Contractor, but I it is how I make a living. I shop all the stores and lumber yards, and I base my buying decisions on what they carry, where I'm located and what it will cost. Home Depot has some good prices on some items, but the also have a good selection for allot of things that you won't find in the lumber yard. I get a pretty good discount at McCoys for building materials, but if I want a some Walnut, or trim or lighting or tile or.... I can get it at Home Depot pretty darn quickly. I know the store down to what is on what shelf. I can go get exactly what I want and have it paid for while others are still trying to decide what isle to go to. Home Depot has good prices, large selection and very good hours. While I don't care for what a hassle it is to get help, I will admit that in the last few months, I've had somebody come up to me asking if they could help me find something. It might be that they recognize me, but it also might be that somebody is getting nervous at Home Depot and they are trying harder.

Eddie

 

[JB4310]

Kinda the same storey here.
We have 5-6 HD's in a 20 mile radius, not sure if any of them are in trouble, they all get pretty good business.
I opposed Home Depot when they first started popping up, use to call them Home S#*tpot, they did force a couple local yards to close down, wasn't to happy with that, but now I like Home Depot and rely on them to help me run my small contracting business, I do all rough maintenance/restoration type work, don't do remodeling or building so I'm not buying home building materials/furnishings, but more of maintenance materials, supplies, tools etc etc.

I use them as a huge well stocked hardware store with a good selection and decent prices, I shop mostly in an urban demographic store, probably the slowest one around so I hope this one doesn't close, the associates are not the most knowledgeable but are very polite, I know many of them by name and I know the store like the back of my hand.

For my own building/remodeling projects at home I will buy some utility type home furnishings like lighting, electrical fixtures, plumbing supplies etc. I'll buy their plywood but I don't like the quality or price of their heavier framing lumber.

JB.

 

[ultrarunner]

There are contractors and there are contractors. I would have to say that the contractors that used HD to source their materials rather than a good local yard were those ones that you used one time and never called back again. I could never see how a business man could waste time with HD where as every yard that I ever frequented would get you in and out so much faster with none of that cart pushing around the store.

My brother is a commercial real estate portfolio manager and he has several Home Depots and a couple of Lowes in the centers he oversees.

One center has both a Home Depot and Lowes... Lowes sales are down a little and the Home Depot is down a lot more... He said it was due to the mix of clientele each chain serves...

When you have both stores in the same shopping center... you know location isn't a factor.

I almost never patronize Home Depot... my service truck was broken into twice at HD and that was enough... I do know a custom/spec home builder that has a Home Depot outside sales rep come to his job sites and he does earn some business from the builder.

My Hardware Store of Choice for get something quick is Orchard Supply. I have accounts at the local electric supply house, plumbing supply and a family owned hardware store.

For Industrial Supplies, I really like to do business with Graingers. I can order something at noon and generally have it UPS the next day with normal shipping. Prices are very good on negotiated contract items...

 

[charlz]

Home Depot has good prices, large selection and very good hours. While I don't care for what a hassle it is to get help, I will admit that in the last few months, I've had somebody come up to me asking if they could help me find something. It might be that they recognize me, but it also might be that somebody is getting nervous at Home Depot and they are trying harder.

Bob Nardelli was CEO of THD from 2003-2007... which is when it slid. He left abruptly in Jan '07 with $20mil cash and $77mil in deferred stock (priced at the time). The stock was tanking, the customers were staying away in droves due the poor customer service and yet he had nice a compensation package.

Frank Blake was appointed Chairman and CEO. Frank has issued public apologies for the way the stores were run and vowed to return to the 'old ways' that built the company. He even goes and does 'secret shopper' at stores. This is why you get more attention now when you go into the store.

 

[NuBota]

I've noticed a vast improvement in customer service, both at HD and Lowes, over the last few months, but also that they are not nearly as busy as usual - don't know if the sales folk have been re-trained, scared, or just have more time to help since they're slow.

I have habitually avoided both stores (they're a 1/4 mile apart) because they're in a busy town, always long lines (until lately), service stunk and hated "carting" large stuff through the store. I only went to them if I was doing work at my MIL's house, since they are within a half mile

I have 2 nurseries, 2 lumber yards and a True Value in same radius outside the town - prices are a little higher, but like the service and can hit mutilple places faster than going to the home stores.

A new Lowes opened in a smaller town nearby (extra 10 miles) and I went in there once and was impressed. Popular building material (2x4 studs, 2x4 PT, drywall, sheething, etc) outside under contractor canopy - pull right up to it to load like the lumber yard (other Lowes and Home Depot don't do this), great service, and not very busy. So now I'm flirting with the "current" convenience and price of these places again - we'll see what happens when the economy improves - still love the mom & pop though.....

 

[Cat_Driver]

Home Depot is about as good and bad as any other. Selection is fine. Around here Home depot shut down about five Mom and pop shops, but they never carried much any way.

The one thing I like about them is they did price match even if I find a better price on the internet they matched it, and it actually ended up cheaper than the net because I would have had to pay shipping, but no tax.

The return policy is liberal almost too liberal as I always saw people bringing bacg dead plants for a full refund - "hey lady try a little water next time"

They would always order anything I could find, but the in store service was lousy but i wrote that off to the current generation work force, kids that move from job to job on a whim, not like when I grew up. Heck they never stayed long enough to know where anything was. Sure they would stay if you paid them $50.00 an hours, but them customers would not shop, so round and round we go.

 

[kenmac]

I've noticed a vast improvement in customer service, both at HD and Lowes, over the last few months, but also that they are not nearly as busy as usual - don't know if the sales folk have been re-trained, scared, or just have more time to help since they're slow.

.

When the hd & lowe's 1 st.opened around me they were always standing in the entrance door waiting to help you. Then, it all of a sudden it stopped & it was like pulling hen's teeth trying to find someone to help. I stopped going to hd & lowe's for the most part. Starting going to the local ACE H.W. plenty of help there

 

[RobertN]

When the hd & lowe's 1 st.opened around me they were always standing in the entrance door waiting to help you. Then, it all of a sudden it stopped & it was like pulling hen's teeth trying to find someone to help. I stopped going to hd & lowe's for the most part. Starting going to the local ACE H.W. plenty of help there

I noticed this too. I think our ACE has better hardware, nuts/bolts kinda selection. They have also closed down their rental section; not making much money. In it's place, they put in a RC car/boat/airplane hobby section Their business overall has gone up...

 

[dgl24087]

The Home Depot closest to me has improved greatly over the last 6 months. I went there Sunday to check out a few things, they had an employee stationed at each entrance asking customers if they needed help. First thing I noticed after I got further into the store was that it had been reset. I also noticed many more employees in the store, and was asked several times if I needed assistance finding anything. The Lowe's store is a highly disorganized mess, with employees very hard to find.

 

[charlz]

I like being able to get help when I need it but I am not helpless. ACE always has so many employees looking for something to do they won't even let you go to the bolt bin by yourself. I have a pretty good memory so I like to walk up and down aisles for future reference when I might need something (know exactly what store to go to). Getting asked a dozen times if I need help gets old.

 

[Bedlam]

Ive found that as well. but if you go often enough they will recognize you , I usually catch them before they speak and say thanks. I'm all set thanks for asking. If i need help ill look for you.
Hate it when i am in the middle of counting out 150 1/4 inch nuts and loose count. lol

 

[Bigbubbasdad]

We have a Lowes and HD here. The Lowes seems better run, cleaner and easier to deal with. As for the contractor thing, there isn't a lumber yard within 20 miles. HD and Lowes put all the locals out. Lowes hired the manager of the last local lumber yard as manager. A lot of guys who used to be contractors are now working at Lowes and HD.

 

[Lasgambler]

The return policy is liberal almost too liberal as I always saw people bringing bacg dead plants for a full refund - "hey lady try a little water next time"



I was in line behind a woman one time that was returning 4 magazines, She said, "There was nothing in them that interested her". When it was my turn at checkout, I said, do you mean, I can buy "Fine Homebuilding" read it, and return it? The girl said, "YEP" Go figure.
Terry