Big Orange goes red, white, blue: Home Depot decides to do business with the feds

Atlanta Journal-Constitution ^ | 06/29/2002 | PATTI BOND

[Pokey78]

Home Depot has done an about-face on its policy of not doing business with the federal government.

The Atlanta-based home improvement giant announced late Friday that it's now willing to become a federal contractor, paperwork and all. The sudden change of heart comes less than two weeks after Home Depot insisted it couldn't handle federal reporting requirements.

Home Depot whipped up a national stir recently after it sent a memo to 1,300 stores nationwide reminding managers they should not accept purchase orders, credit cards or cash for products being bought for federal government use. Home Depot said the memo was reiterating a long-standing policy, but it kicked off a flurry of unflattering news reports.

By avoiding the federal contractor label, Home Depot doesn't have to file certain affirmative-action reports or disclose details about the hiring or pay of women and minorities. Civil rights groups and affirmative-action proponents criticized the retailer.

Officials at the General Services Administration, which oversees the purchase of most government supplies, also seemed irked. They talked to Home Depot executives following the media reports to find out what the retailer's problem was.

Home Depot apparently caught so much flak that it decided to change the policy. A Home Depot spokesman declined to elaborate on the new policy Friday.

GSA generates about $20 billion in business through 10,000 federal contracts. Spokeswoman Mary Alice Johnson said Friday the agency was glad to hear Home Depot had changed its tune.

"We always want to do business with good companies that want to do business with us," Johnson said.

[AAABEST]

By avoiding the federal contractor label, Home Depot doesn't have to file certain affirmative-action reports or disclose details about the hiring or pay of women and minorities.

We've let one of the very clear, very easily read parts of our constitution (freedom of association) get flushed down the toilet.

We've lost this argument so horribly, it's not even worth debating anymore.

[cornelis]

"We always want to do business with good companies that want to do business with us," Johnson said.

I sellitoyoo cheep, foyur my frriend.

[hole_n_one]

In a huge 4th of July weekend sale, hammers will be marked down to an incredibly low price of only $600.00

[Chi-townChief]

Good to see Home Depot come to their senses. Their example of not selling a guy in uniform ten gallons of paint was shameful.

[marvlus]

I've found over the past year that I enjoy shopping at Lowe's more and more & at Home Depot less and less.

[teletech]

Well, well, well. Wonder if this decision was due in part to all those phone calls HD received? I was one of those callers.

[supercat]

Well, well, well. Wonder if this decision was due in part to all those phone calls HD received? I was one of those callers.

Is it possible that HD was refusing to sell to the government because it refused to surrender its freedom of association? If so, I see nothing to criticize about such a position; if the government wants to buy from HD let it amend its unconstitutional regulations so as to not require unconstitutional paperwork.

[GaltMeister]

"if the government wants to buy from HD let it amend its unconstitutional regulations so as to not require unconstitutional paperwork"

That is exactly right. Figure the odds on them amending anything, but guess who get's to pay higher prices for the increased overhead at HD? Not to mention the lower productivity and attitude of the untouchable 'affirmative action' new hire?

You and me, the HD retail customer and taxpayer get to fork over the $$$.

[MoJo2001]

Indeed! Maybe they didn't want to do all that red tape paperwork that gets sent to the Federal Wasteland. Good grief!

[Greybird]

And so they accede to the "red, white, and blue" of government intimidation and paperwork burdens. Oh, what patriotism is being peddled these days! Here, I was thinking that at least one firm had cojones and was remembering what freedom of association once meant.

[monday]

"Good to see Home Depot come to their senses. Their example of not selling a guy in uniform ten gallons of paint was shameful."

The uniform wasn't the problem, it was all the paperwork the gov't made them fill out which means that every time they sell something to the Gov't they lose money. Don't believe me? Why else would they turn away business?

Now prices are going to go up at Home Depot because maroons like you think everyone ought to be forced into doing business with the Gov't against their will. Happy now? You know this country used to be free. Some of us wish it still was.

[monday]

"Well, well, well. Wonder if this decision was due in part to all those phone calls HD received? I was one of those callers."

I called to support them. I have a merchant account at Home Depot. Think I will call to complain that they have caved to the PC police.

You are aware that you are a badge carrying officer of the PC police aren't you? "Hiel Hitler!!!! Only Politically Correct behavior is permitted."

[Prolix]

I guess this means that when I go to Home Depot and ask for help from one of their employees, instead of an informative and pleasantly delivered response, I'll receive a "I'm new here" or "We don't sell lug screws" (or something of that ilk) response. Where will I shop for my hardware needs now?

[RFP]

Lowe's more and more & at Home Depot less and less.

Jimmy Johnson - good, Tony Stewart - bad. =;-)

[arm958]

Good to see Home Depot come to their senses. Their example of not selling a guy in uniform ten gallons of paint was shameful.

Agreed, but you're missing the big picture. The Home Depot must now fill out and submit those racist/sexist forms and send them to the gummint. God help them if just the right percentage of minorities and women aren't represented in "management".

[wingnuts'nbolts]

Lesson: Blackmail works.

[Chi-townChief]

Here was the comment made in a previous Home Depot thread:

'Some, especially those near military bases and large federal complexes, said the policy would cost Home Depot a significant amount of money, but they would make no estimates of how much.

One Home Depot associate at a store in San Diego said, "It feels weird telling some kid in uniform that I can't sell him 10 gallons of paint because we don't do business with the government."'

This smacks of the anti-war protestors spitting on American servicemen back in the 60's and 70's. And Home Depot refused to explain this part of their deal.

I guess "maroons" like Monday need to look a little further into this.

[PLK]

I read this in the AP report of this today:

"A company with more than 50 employees and annual government sales of more than $50,000 is subject to affirmative-action reporting rules. Those require the company to file hiring records and other data - a task which can lead to a mountain of expensive paperwork and legal fees."

Another government edict that costs taxpayers plenty. You can be sure Home Depot and all other companies doing business with the feds pass this cost to their customers. Sheesh.

[CDHart]

I sent them an e-mail supporting their stand, but I must have been in the minority. I can assure you, as a 58-year-old redheaded female, I am not often in the minority, at least statistically. I'm sorry to hear that they've caved.

Carolyn