I Love Home Depot

 I needed a solution for a sheet metal screw that needed removal but
that become stripped. I went to Home Depot because all the small full
service hardware stores are now out of buisness due to competion from
the big box stores.

 I was in the store for about twenty minutes and could not locate an
employee to help me. I asked a customer who looked like he knew what
he was doing. The guy explained what I needed and how to do it. Thank
goodness for the kindness of strangers.

 I took the needed drill bit to the cahier and was faced with a long
line of customers waiting to be checked out. I was thinking of putting
the two dollar item in my pocket and walking out, when I saw the self
check out section.

 I scanned the item and the machine said I owed for two of them. What?
So I just went over to another machine and scanned the item again.
This time I was instructed to insert my two dollars. I looked for the
place to put in the money, instead I saw the the change return slot.
And inside of it was forty bucks. I looked around for the owner and
saw no one who might be the rightful owner. I considered reporting it
to a Home Depot employee, but this urge very quickly passed. I paid
for the item and still had nearly thirty-eight dollars change.

 I love Home Depot. Service is great and the prices are right!

  BeaForoni@msn.com wrote:


and their prices (and service) should get even cheaper as they replace
all their higher priced help with minimum wage help.

 Clams Casino wrote:

Yupper - that 35 cents an hour drop in wages is going to show in their
"customer service" getting so much worse. How much worse could it
possibly get? 9 times out of 10 if you ask someone where something is
you will get two answers: The wrong answer, sending you across the store
in the completely wrong direction to the completely wrong department. Or
"We don't carry that" when they actually do and you are (eventually)
lucky enough to find it yourself.

I've gone back to ye olde hardware storre whenever I can because the
amount of time you can waste canvassing a mega store when you can't find
the right aisle and can't find anyone to give you misinformation isn't
worth the quarter you might save on a box of nails. I can get a lamp
part in a hardware store and pay for it in under two minutes. I can't
even find/get to where the lamp hardware is in a Home Depot et al in
under two minutes. Is in in the lighting department? Might be. Is it in
the "electrical aisle"? Maybe. Is it in some obscure section that runs
at a 90 degree angle to all the main aisles? After walking around for 45
minutes and finally tripping across it - probably your best bet...

Unless I'm buying something that comes in 4x8' sheet sizes the places
drive me nuts.

Rick

 Maybe things will get better - here's what Morningstar has to say in
their report published 3-29-07:

=====================

Home Depot is re-evaluating its business strategy following the ouster
of CEO Robert Nardelli. During Nardelli's six-year tenure, he trimmed
store staffing levels and replaced many full-time employees with less
experienced part-timers. Deteriorating customer service opened the
door for competitors like Lowe's to gain share of the core retail
market. Nardelli became a lightning rod for public criticism of CEO
pay excess, and was ultimately replaced by Frank Blake in 2007.  

We're encouraged that Blake is focused on rejuvenating Home Depot's
retail operations. Home Depot is backing its commitment to retail by
aggressively reinvesting in its stores. In 2007, we estimate the
company will invest more than $2 billion to update its stores, refine
its supply chain, and cater to highly profitable professional
customers. Home Depot is adding full-time sales staff and recruiting
skilled trade specialists to improve customer service.



--

If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate.

...Henry Tillman

 
Okay let's translate this...

"During Nardelli's six-year tenure, he trimmed store staffing levels
and replaced many full-time employees with less experienced part-
timers."

So he laid off anyone who was worth having to make his bonus goals.

"Deteriorating customer service opened the
door for competitors like Lowe's to gain share of the core retail
market."

Customers said "to heck with this" and voted with their feet...do you
think they will come back...and if so, why?

" In 2007, we estimate the company will invest more than $2 billion to
update its stores,"

This means that he also was not stock inventory...

"refine its supply chain,"

This means they are going to lean on their suppliers to cut
prices...guess where the suppliers will go...to Home Depot's
competitors.

" and cater to highly profitable professional customers."

Yeah they wish...this means that they are going to try to gouge the
business accounts LOL...good luck with the housing bust in progress.

"Home Depot is adding full-time sales staff and recruiting skilled
trade specialists to improve customer service. "

Remember those employees who were fired...do you think they have
forgotten their hard earned lesson about corporate loyalty yet?

So now they are going to try to hire them back...if you were them,
would you go back?

Home Depot has a long road to travel before they can undo the damage
this slime ball from the Jack Welch school of "screw the public" did.

TMT