Goodbye, Home Depot - Page 4

a.k.a. Patrick · 05-20-08, 10:14

Quote:

it's a toss up of where the best service will be.

Hmmmmm......So customer service is important after all!?

Setec Astronomy · 05-20-08, 10:15

Patrick, if you ever go to self-serve checkout, I'll kill you! Besides, Maxy would take all the mints!

CaptinFocker · 05-21-08, 08:53

I know exactly what you guys are talking about, I work at a hardware store/lumber yard and its amazing if I have to go to hd when we are closed. Just not the same, no one really knows much and always has something better to be doing.

TigerMike · 05-21-08, 09:15

Both HD and Lowes are about the same around here. Maybe Lowes is a tad more organized and cleaner overall, but about the same really. I find myself equally going to both as they both carry unique products/lines that I need. One thing about Lowes that kinda keeps me coming back is their coupons ($10 off, 10% off, kind of deals). HD never ever does a coupon, AFAIK. I even signed up for their 10% off moving coupon but never got one! I've got about half dozen lowes coupons though.

As far as customer service, I haven't noticed that the service levels are any different between them. They both do self checkouts and have maybe 1 or sometimes 2 registers actually open.

It's no secret these guys are the "Walmarts" of the home improvement world, so it's no surprise really about things going downhill. I guess noone has really figured out how to be a "Walmart" AND provide good service...well, I'm sure it could easily be worked out, but it'd cost too much and you know Wall Street doesn't like costs!

But, honestly, in this day and age, everything already costs so damned much, I'm willing to give up something (customer service), if it keeps prices lower for me. With inflation these days, I simply don't have the money to pay a premium for better service alone...

Eliot Ness · 05-21-08, 09:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by TigerMike

.........But, honestly, in this day and age, everything already costs so damned much, I'm willing to give up something (customer service), if it keeps prices lower for me. With inflation these days, I simply don't have the money to pay a premium for better service alone...

You gotta do what you gotta do, and I respect that many have to save as much as possible these days.

In my area the neighborhood hardware store closed for about a year. I really missed not having their selection of small hardware, service, and advice when they closed. Thankfully they reopened last year and I made a conscious decision to support them with both my large and small purchases. When it came time to replace my lawn mower and then then my gas grill I bought them from my local hardware store instead of going to Lowes or HD for a better price. Yes, I paid more than I would have at Lowes or HD, but it was worth it to support a neighborhood business. You don't really miss them until they're gone.

karburn · 05-21-08, 10:00

Setec, your intial entry above described my local HD to a tee. It's an extra 10 miles to Lowes, (HD is 1 mile from me), but it's worth the trip. I still rely heavily on the Westlake Ace hardware store when I'm in a hurry, but I too hesitate to hit HD first. It's a shame. They could be just as good if they wanted to.

Yal · 05-21-08, 10:11

Well Home Depot is suffering from all you guys going to Lowes. Apparently they have started closing down stores across the country.

iDetail · 05-21-08, 11:53

Im not gonna read 4 pages but I will say this. I worked at HD and HAAAAATED it. I was a cashier, which sucks in general, but the customers were complete asses. The majority of them would just talk on their cell phones. I eventually just started giving anything they had on the bottom rack of the cart to them from free just to get them out of my face faster.

But I quit that sh!t fast. Now my gripe with the HD is that they have NO "associates" in any of the isles. You go into plumbing and there is not one person even close to your isle. I know its a big place, but they really need to invest in more customer service. And train those monkeys!

I would much rather go to Lowe's, but the closest HD is 5 miles away and the closest Lowes is 20-25 miles away...not gonna do that.

weekendwarrior · 05-22-08, 08:26

"But I quit that sh!t fast. Now my gripe with the HD is that they have NO "associates" in any of the isles. You go into plumbing and there is not one person even close to your isle. I know its a big place, but they really need to invest in more customer service. And train those monkeys!" - iDetail

Last fall, my wife and I were at HD, and were looking for a special plumbing part. I couldn't find it, so I started to leave. My wife started fussing that I needed to ask an associate for help. Just to pacify her, I found an associate, and explained what I needed. For the next 15 minutes, the associate began to pull every part out of the drawers other than what I needed. I thanked them and left. I then explained to my wife on the way to the car that what just happened was the exact reason I never ask anyone for help at those stores. I then went to the local hardware store (which is where I should have gone to start with), and got my part.

I hate to make false assumptions regarding people's knowledge based on age, but when you see a 19 year old associate on the department's cell phone - and you can tell he is talking to his buddy about social stuff, I just don't have any confidence that he can answer questions I may have about the project I am working on.

kompressornsc · 06-12-08, 05:05

I do have to say that I had a good customer service experience at Lowe's last night. Went to get a new trimmer and where they were supposed to be stocked was empty, and it was hard to see what was stocked above. So I rang the little buzzer and a guy came to help. We went over and he looked, but couldn't locate one either. Then he got on the phone to the back and asked if there were any on the truck that had just been unloaded. Happened to be that there were! He ran back and got one for me and I was good to go. I thanked him profusely for helping me.

...and I was walking out the door, I realized that what he did should be (and use to be) the norm. How many times have you heard 'If it's not on the shelf, I guess we don't have any'?

JonP · 06-12-08, 05:26

I agree, the Lowes here is really good. Only down side to the one here is it's way across on the other side of town, about 17 miles away. I only go there if I happen to be on that side and need something. Other than that, it's the Home Depot that I go to which is improving but not as good as Lowes. IMO. Now if Lowes would just hire some of the girls at HOOTERS, then I will make the extra trip over there even if I don't need anything.

RZJZA80 · 06-12-08, 06:30

I've always thought Lowe's was a better place to shop, but there's a Home Depot everywhere you go, so convenience is a factor too. BTW does one have better prices than the other?