Home Depot Woes

[have_blue]

I know what you mean.

I have a couple of "aces" locally. One works at the local Stein's lumber & hardware store and 1 at the local Radio Shack. When I ask for something, no matter how obscure, these guys have it in hand before I can finish describing it. The secret? They've been working there so long, they know the business. I can go to the same stores on the weekend when my aces are off, and I get nothing but stumbling and bumbling.

 

[MikeIA]

The thing I hate about the big box stores are the bins of little plastic bags filled with similar parts...the bags all look the same, even when the parts are pretty easy to tell apart. You reach in and grab a handful, assuming that everything in the bin is the same. (usually distracted, because you are designing your project in your head, based on what is in stock!)
I don't know how many times I've returned home from Lowes only to find that I didn't check every little bag to make sure that they contained what I thought I was buying. It's so frustrating to be ready to start a project only to find that it's going to be another 50 mile round trip to get the right part. It bugs the **** out of me that people pull something out of the bin and don't return it to the same place if it's not what they want. I've started throwing the "oddballs" on the floor when I'm digging through the bins and run across something that's in the wrong place, assuming (!) that the staff will put them away. I once pointed out to an employee that the area with the small pipe fittings was a complete disaster...He just kinda shrugged and said that they were about to remodel that entire section anyway.
At least the plumbing department now has a bucket hanging for people to toss their unwanted merchandise in, rather than whichever bin is closest. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Junkman]

Forgot to mention that when you are not in a rush for a high $$ electrical plug or receptacle, try eBay. I just enter the NEMA description in the search field and it usually comes up with an assortment of appliances that use that plug and also just the plug itself. I have saved a lot and I always go after the Hubbell items first for the quality aspect.

 

[George2615]

I too had a similar problem. I drove 18 miles to Home D for a 50A male plug end to hook up a cord for my Miller Bobcat 250NT welder/generator. They didn't have it. Said I had to go to an Elect. Suppy House. Since it was Sunday I came back home. On the way back I stopped at Ace for some other items and found the 50A plug there just 2 miles from home. Guess I should have went there first.

George

 

[Soundguy]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I didn't get the impression that anyone at HD felt responsible to help either of us )</font>

That's classic 'box store' mentality.

I just purchased a CUV from TSC.. multi-thousand dollar unit.. and had to 'badger' and beg them to get things like.. manual.. etc.. and for keys.. it was suposed to have 2 keys.. but they only had 1.. and the manufacturer gave me the run around on getting a new one.. said i needed a whole new lock... etc. I finally had a keymaker cut me one on a 'close' blank.. which i then had to hand touch with a file to make it work.. fit is not perfect.. but it turns the cylinder.

Things like that irk me..

Soundguy

 

[sneaky_pete]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Home Depot tries to carry what most homeowners need or purchase most often. They do not carry a full line of anything... HD does however cover most customers needs.

Ben
)</font>

I agree; for the *average* home owner, Lowe's and HD are a godsend - but the average home owner has a 1/4-acre lot and usually does not have a big 230-volt welder. The average TBN'er is likely to be frustrated with them at some point. I bet they know their market pretty well, that is, who spends the most money in their stores and exactly what and how much they buy - and it's probably not us!

 

[bobodu]

Been shopping at Lowes since they opened here,hate HD and built the whole barn from Menards.I find the lumber at Menards quite good really.I feel like yanking anyone aside buying mowers and such from these places and going over thier new purchase.Why do they let the PFY (pimple faced youths) assemble power equipment? My biggest beef (beside all the 1/2 nipples mixed in with the 23 3/4 inch nipples I needed...) is with Do-It-Best Hardwares...Sure...it's a great place to buy Tupperware and coffee pots...but try to find 4 1/2 inch black pipe connectors or 3 white sockets.Too bad their word HQ is one of my customers...I'd love to tell em off.

 

[Jstpssng]

Buying lumber is just like buying auto parts. You can go to a chain, where the help might be selling parts one day and changing oil the next; or go to a local store where people have been there a while and know something.
I can usually get lumber locally close to or less than HD prices. We also have several locally owned hardware stores in town, with people. And I'm keeping my money local, instead of shipping it out of state.

 

[sodamo]

re Lowes questions.

I just love it when I pay by credit card and the little screen asks if amount is correct? I often look to the clerk, say, "Do I look like a calculator?" Some laugh, some, judging the blank look, don't get it. I chuckle, sign, and leave.

 

[sodamo]

I know what you mean MIke. Even worse, we seem to have a seqment of population here that feels it's OK to slip and item or two from a bag. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
and of course, it's only when I'm in a hurry, need the exact count on the bag I get home and find it light one or two. and NEVER buy an open box, it always is missing something.