Posted on 11/19/2005 8:16:40 PM PST by raccoonradio
(CBS4) METHUEN-- A Lawrence man has been banned from all Home Depots for one year after accidentally walking out of the store with a sharpened pencil he used to write down some notes after buying over $100 worth of lumber.
Michael Panorelli, 51, was with the owner of Salas Auto Repair, George Salas, when the incident occurred. The Eagle-Tribune is reporting that Panorelli and Salas were heading to the parking lot of the Methuen Home Depot when the stores security guard stopped the two men.
Apparently Panorelli put the pencil he used to take notes into his pocket and forgot about it.
The guard brought Panorelli into a back room in the store where he was given a statement accusing him of trying to take merchandise out of the store without paying for it. He was also informed that civil charges may be brought up against him.
Salas, who accompanied Panorelli into the store was not banned because he did not have the pencil.
"What I don't understand is how there could be a sharpened pencil for sale".
Couldn't they talk their clients out of making asses of themselves in less time than that?
If they're smart, they'll give Mr. Panorelli a gift card and an apology. This whole situation is terrible PR.
I hope the name of the security guard and the manager is leaked out.
If they aren't unemployed by now, they are going to die every day from the tauntings inflicted upon them by HD coworkers.
Go to Lowes....they'll give you a pencil.
LOL! There's a good chance he did! The assistant manager wasn't too smart from a business perspective as well; this is definitely bad PR For Home Depot. I wonder how much business in that area will now go to Lowes? (personally, I prefer Lowe's anyway).
The excellent Mirado pencils can be bought pre-sharpened, including at Walgreen's:
Thanks for your informative reply! I will keep these in mind. It fits well with Walgreens theme of "the perfect world"....where pencils are always sharpened.
Update; according to WCVB-TV 5, Home Depot has apologized,
is not pursuing any lawsuits, and welcomes back the man to any and ALL of its stores. However the man has said he would feel uncomfortable going back and does not plan to shop there
again.
Home Depot apologizes.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1525783/posts
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.