Posted on 06/29/2015 3:35:15 PM PDT by Roos_Girl
So we bought a shed from Home Depot. I really despise Home Depot, but the price was right (next shed size up with a door wide enough to meet our needs is 30% more expensive at any shed supply store we looked at) and it was locally available and had a 10 year warranty. The shed we bought was advertised on the HD website as having a 64" wide door opening, which we knew would be tight, but would work for our mower. We bought the shed and material for the foundation with cash. My husband worked for 2 days preparing the foundation and putting the shed together. It is one of the resin ones that kind of snap together. It's a nice enough shed, but after spending the weekend building everything he discovered that the door opening was less than the 64" advertised and the mower won't fit. I called the store and explained everything and the assistant manager told us to take it apart and return it. Well, the snap together stuff doesn't just snap apart. My husband feels that if he tries to take it apart that many of the plastic snaps will be damaged. I could tell I was getting nowhere with the assistant manager and asked to speak to the manager. She never returned my call so I call corporate customer service.
Corporate customer service has basically been a liaison between me and the local store manager. I initially asked that the local store send someone to disassemble the shed. When it was clear I was going to get the runaround I told them I wanted someone to come out and disassemble the shed, an appropriate size shed delivered at no additional cost plus the cost of materials for a larger foundation to fit the bigger shed, figuring that we would negotiate down to some reasonable middle ground. I requested that local come out and inspect the shed, take their own measurements, etc. but they said they could not do that.
It has now been a week of back and forth with the corporate liaison and the store is still at "return the shed in the condition it was purchased". Which means, if we attempt to take it apart and it does indeed break like my husband believes it will we're out a shed and out the money the store should refund us. I spoke with corporate this afternoon and told her I wanted the district manager involved and I felt my next step was file in small claims court, that I hoped it would not have to come to that, but in light of their false advertising and putting all responsibility on us to disassemble a product that was not meant to be disassembled I felt there was not much choice left.
I then offered that we would keep the shed and put it to other use, buy another shed (not from them) and requested they cover the cost of materials for the foundation of the new shed. This is what corporate said she would discuss with the district manager.
Anyone have any good advice or input on how to fairly resolve this?
Seems to me that with all your negotiations you’re making this more complicated than necessary. Return the shed in whatever shape it winds up. They probably won’t look at it anyway. Get your money back and go else where.That’s my two cents.
Is the 64” there w/o the door on?
Yes. Take it back. If they don’t refund you, if you paid on plastic, see if the credit card co. Will work for you. If not, then file the claim in small claims
Court.
home depot is the best buy of home improvement stores..
I bought a snow blower from them, it flew apart in less than 30 days, and they would not exchange it.. they sent it out for repair..
after 30 more days of waiting for it to be repaired, I went to the repair shop, picked it up and took it home..
the problem was a pulley that had poor resistance weld on it..
I called the company, told them I would repair it if they sent me the part..
they overnighted the part, I repaired it and it is still running today..
home depot will not back any warranty, period..
shop at lowes or menards...
If the actual door frame opening is not as wide as what they say, you have more of a moral right to keep pushing, than if it is a situation like the way the door is hinged causing the effective opening to be less.
In 20/20 hindsight, of course, you would have measured that door before putting anything else together, if it were not possible to measure it in the store display.
Unless you are in a terrible pinch, it might minimize your headaches if you just sell the shed, then get a more suitable one from someone else, expand the foundation to install it, and don’t look back. Depending on where you are, there could be Lowes, Menards, and other hardware/home improvement stores.
Lots of luck.
My experience has been they accept returns without examination or question. Try it. Then sue.
You’re being unreasonable.
You might also consider filing with your local consumer affairs office, if any, or your state AG. They often have jurisdiction over such matters.
Do they have a built shed of that model in the store?
I don’t see why at all they would owe you a larger shed and a foundation at no cost. It’s ultimately up to you to make sure it fits your needs.
Seems to me that with all your negotiations you’re making this more complicated than necessary. Return the shed in whatever shape it winds up. They probably won’t look at it anyway. Get your money back and go else where.That’s my two cents.
Your absolutely right if it breaks during tear down so be it. go get your money back!!
Send a tweet to home depot. That usually gets their attention.
https://www.facebook.com/homedepot?brand_redir=367773226675582
(2) If you charged it, by law, the credit card company backs up your complaints and can negotiate a deal...but do it within 90 days.
(3) Contact the shed mfg.
This would make sense if this were a case of the bare door opening (without door) being too small, which is a case of incorrect specifications.
It’s likely that the retailer would just send it back to the manufacturer for credit, in this case. So they’re out nothing but the overhead of handling that merchandise.
I don’t know old you guys are and how long you have been consumers of products with guarantees, warranties, return policies and the like. I am 75 and the reality is that the Home Depot manager is under pressure to make a profit...a basic demand that is not in your favor. Most likely, the “corporate contact” is laughing. We are not talking here about a moral or “do the right thing” matter, rather do what is necessary to minimize Home Depot’s loss of money or reputation. Home Depot does not hate you, but neither are they in the business of making decisions that work against their capitalistic self-interest. Lesson is never purchase anything from a company you despise, no matter how attractive the price. Hopefully you know too, that Home Depot is gaga gay and should be avoided under the best of circumstances.
“...Door Opening Width (In.) 64
Door Opening Width (ft.) 5 ...”
?????????????
Your demand letter should be a model of accuracy and brevity while stating the pertinent facts. It would be useful to include photos of the shed as installed, with photos showing that the opening with a measuring tape is less than claimed. Look for and include anything that shows the false claimed dimension of the shed opening in writing, such as packaging on the box, advertising, or a printout from the HD website.
Your demand letter should conclude not just with a demand as to what you want -- ideally, a set money figure, such as the price of the shed -- but also a reasonable deadline and a lawyerish phrase like "Govern yourself accordingly."
That may work, at least to get a counter-offer. Ultimately, you may well have to sue HD in small claims court.
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