[CJ Wolf]

I went to hell depot for 40 stone for a small garden wall. I didn't see a check out person at the nursery, so I went up to front. The only check out open was the self, so I started to wait in line, then a clerk came up and told me to go to the tool check out line at the other end of the store. I got there and it was a very long line. After the wait the check out person tried to charge me 4.80 per stone, they were 1.87, get management lock out register...blah blah blah. The next time I went to Hell Depot, I decide to get a pallet of paver stone to build a patio, they picked it up with the forklift and put it near my truck and left. I had to load each stone into the truck, they guy says "I got other customers to help". Next time I go in to buy blinds for my new windows. I have to get them cut. I tell the cutter to cut them to various sizes. She says they will be done in an hour. I come back in an hour, they are not done, she had cut about 5 of 14. She says it's not her 'biggest priority' and that they would be done later. I said ok, and went to lowes. I think they are still waiting for me to go back and pick them up. Never going back, I swear. And they are NOT Cheaper then lowes.

I think they should start hiring druggies instead of the cream of the crop they got now.

[Snerfling]

Never going back, I swear

We recently completed a major home improvement campaign, so I got chance to become quite the expert on the various hardware/home improvement centers.

The rule of thumb with HD is (1) go early and (2) don't ask any questions and/or ask for any service. What we really did was use HD as a baseline for about 50% of our purchases.

Anything other than generic products were purchased elsewhere. For example, HD has decent 2x4s, but for anything else like nicer redwood, etc we went to a local lumber provider. Same for plants: run of the mill shrubs, fertilizer, etc were purchased at HD, harder to find specialty plants were acquired at a local nursery.

Finally, as most DIYs know, timing & momemtum are everything; even though you might save a little more at HD, if you need a couple of small items, the local hardware store (Ace in our case) is the only way to go. Just getting there and back in 5-10 minutes is a blip compared to the 5 min park/walk alone at HD.

PS Lowes sucks. I could never place my finger on it until a eearlier poster mentioned that they cater to women. Makes sense now - it masquerades as a hardware store if you actually need something, but is probably less intimidating.