Tool Buying in a Virus Economy

[mikester]

Homedespot here is refusing to sell tinted paint now. I bought paint the week before no problem, half a gallon short, HD says FU we dont sell tinted paint until further notice, just buy white paint. Somehow covids fault.

We cant even go into the store anymore...we have to buy online and drive to the store to wait around for half an hour someone to find and give you your order. Took 4 days to get a roll of painters tape. WTF??? HD service sucked even before covid. With covid HD is more than useless.

Thankfully homehardware lets me call in an order and I can go pick up in an hour. FU HD.

 

[Citydude]

I ordered some ornamental wooden door molding pieces from HD. When it came in I went to customer service to pick it up. The person behind the counter went and got it and promptly opened the box. I asked why she did that and she replied that she wanted to know if the order was complete. I guess I wasn't competent to know if it was complete when I got around to opening the box at home. Weird...

The self check out is always fun filled with an attendant coming over and getting in your personal space with the "home depot credit card" line of BS.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Tried to get a pair of (German) Knipex end-strippers from Home Depot. They are too frigged up for me to bother. Ordered a pair from Germany (Cheaper anyways) off E-Bay and buyer responded saying he could not ship on account of Virus, so refunded my money. Asked him why I can still get stuff from China but not Germnay? No Reply.

 

[3Ts]

Tried to get a pair of (German) Knipex end-strippers from Home Depot. They are too frigged up for me to bother. Ordered a pair from Germany (Cheaper anyways) off E-Bay and buyer responded saying he could not ship on account of Virus, so refunded my money. Asked him why I can still get stuff from China but not Germnay? No Reply.

My thought is that it depends on the country and what their (and our) customs and inspection criteria are, BUT ... being able to get stuff from China and not Europe? I'm still waiting on a shipment from Spain and I suspect it'll be several months yet before I get it. I got a message from the shipper that it's sitting in their warehouse ready to go, just waiting on permission from the governments to allow it's shippment.

 

[crazyal]

A lot of smaller companies don't have the people to even ship tools and stuff to their resellers. With every state having their own standards it's hit or miss.

On a side note since woodworking equipment came up I bought a folding HF engine lift and modified the legs. Instead of looking like a V when folded down they are now parallel to each other. I use it to move heavy woodworking equipment. I simply lift it up and put boards under the tool and on top of the legs and then set it back down.