Posted on 04/20/2004 3:29:44 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
This darn place is going to the dogs. As if the aisle-closing business wasn't bad enough, I have now encountered a new annoyance.
The Home Depot has introduced self-check-out stations. Fair enough, and a convenience, if you have just small items & no complications. However, there are now situations -- I just encountered my second -- where Home Depot employees apparently feel that the self-check-out business relieves them of the need to man check-out stations altogether. If for some reason you can't check yourself out, there may be no regular check-out stations manned. (Personned, whatever.)
I gotta stop using this store.
OK, so stop using the store. Actually, I've been using my local Ace Hardware more & more. I swear it has a better selection for many items and, amazingly, better prices.
For the record, I like the Home Depot self- checkouts.
People still can't figure out which side is up on their ATM/creditcards at the grocery store.
Totally the reverse situation here in WA state (Seattle-Everett area)
Lowes is the one who can't seem to have a pick in stock (yes, picks for picking the ground). I'm surprised they had hammers in stock.
Lowes is the one that blows here. Home Depot is both good and very helpful.
I go the the local nursery for my plants. It is a little more, but I can always find a salesperson to help me.
I hate Home Depot because their forklift operators take a 15-minute break with the forklift beeping.
Once, I just left my merchandise at the checkout and walked out because of the nonstop beeping.
Not last time I checked! Sorry, bad joke.
Back on topic... Gaithersburg has the only HD with a parking garage that I've ever seen. Too much hassle.
The Home Depot Home Office has been a nightmare to reach. I have been trying to get someone in payroll to pick up the phone for exactly one week now. My last paycheck was short one day of pay. The last day I worked, I had a mispunch. The manager that terminated out of the system me knew this and did nothing to correct it. I have been informed by HR that I have to call home office and get it fixed because I have already been taken out of the system. Each day I call around diffent times, and each day, I am on hold well over 30minutes and still no pick up. I cannot afford to run up my phone bill any longer. What can I do to get my money?
The DMV of commerce.
I've quit shopping at places that have self-checkout, such as Albertson's. I do all my grocery shopping at Publix, which has human beings at the registers. Many of them live in my neighborhood and like to chat, but they're very efficient and I enjoy shopping there.
I hate standing at a machine, trying to shove my stuff into a bag, being reproved by the machine if I hit the wrong key or do things out of sequence, etc. And incidentally, I'm not a million years old, I'm computer literate and I like things like ATM cards and direct deposit.
But the "self checkout" stinks. Maybe they should have one or two stations for people who like it, but they should also hire more clerks for the registers and be ready to call stockers and other people up front when there are lines. That's what Publix does, and it works just fine.
I am writing this email because I am furious with Home Depot and I thought everyone in my email address book should know why.
The week of 7/29 I attempted to order an arch window blind for my new home. Sound easy enough? Read on. The woman at the store told me I needed a template even though I knew the measurements. I said "ok, I will go to the front of the store and measure 47 1/2 by 24 on a piece of newspaper and bring it back to you" She said she would not accept it because she would know I did not go home to make it. (I am not kidding) I talked to the store manager. He went to talk to her and came back to tell me I was welcome to GO HOME and make a template and bring it back in (again, not kidding). I talked to another store manager the next day and I brought in a template that I used a ruler on a piece of newspaper and measured 47 1/2 across by 24. I was told it would take 10 days to come in. A MONTH LATER I called the store. They told me that the company lost the template! Why didn't they call and tell me? (Because Home Depot does NOT CARE) We made another template using the same method as before. We were called 2 weeks later to be told (I swear to God I am not making this up) that the company returned the template because it was not cut out. Now, 2 months after I fought and got the stupid thing ordered, I am being told my order is ON HOLD. The measurement on the template does not match what I verbally told them. The VERY RUDE employee who called said "All I need from you is to know which is right. She proceeded to get irate and hang up on me. I called the manager. When I told her that I will no longer make purchases from Home Depot, she said "OK" and hung up. Why? Because Home Depot does not care. I still do not have my stupid arch blind!
We probably have a thousand dollars or more on our Home Depot credit card. We bought $400.00 dollars worth of blinds during this time we were trying to get the arch. NEVER AGAIN.
I also did a search on the internet and found web sites devoted to Home Depot Customer Service horror stories.
Please. if practical, do not buy anything from Home Depot. If for no other reason you could end up in Home Depot Customer Service hell just like me.
Please pass this message on......................
P.S. After I originally sent this email, Home Depot called and said they would not order my arch until I brought in ANOTHER template. I swear, how incompetent can one store be?
A lot! I have found stores are vastly different. A lot depends on their manager and who they hire.
I have to tell you. For the moment, I'm far enough removed from my own home projects that I had to giggle a little about your post. It would make a great sitcom story. At the same time, I know the "pull out your hair" frustration of dealing with uncaring morons.
Never wear an orange shirt to Home Depot.
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