Called home depot today... - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

Grumpy · 07-01-2006, 11:45 AM

I got a call from one of my roofers. A Velux flashing kit was installed improperly by the last roofer so we need to reflash the skylight. No big deal.

I call home depot by my office, which is actually what they call an express and only carries top selling items for home owners, not so much contractors. Normally I wouldn't call, but I wanted to see if they have this flashing kit in stock so I don't waste a trip. otherwise I have to go out of my way to pick up the kit at another regular size home depot.

So I call, and I get the computer answering of coarse. I choose the building department and it rings and rings and rings, finally I am spit out to the general operator, and on hold for 5 minutes. She answers and speaks very very very fast, obviously over burdened. She immediately hangs up on me before I have a chance to explain what I want.

I call back, instead of choosing the building materials dept, I choose the main operator, she answers within about 3 minutes and transfers me to the electircal department. This person then transfers me to god knows where, where I sat on hold for 7 minutes before I hung up.

What's the point to this rant? In the time I spent on hold trying to see if they had what I needed, I could have went to the HD out of my way and spent the same ammount of time, but known I would have what I went to buy. Now I have to go there, out of my way, anyways and lost all that time.

Man! Home depot is so friggin screwed up.

Bone Saw · 07-01-2006, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grumpy

I got a call from one of my roofers. A Velux flashing kit was installed improperly by the last roofer so we need to reflash the skylight. No big deal.

I call home depot by my office, which is actually what they call an express and only carries top selling items for home owners, not so much contractors. Normally I wouldn't call, but I wanted to see if they have this flashing kit in stock so I don't waste a trip. otherwise I have to go out of my way to pick up the kit at another regular size home depot.

So I call, and I get the computer answering of coarse. I choose the building department and it rings and rings and rings, finally I am spit out to the general operator, and on hold for 5 minutes. She answers and speaks very very very fast, obviously over burdened. She immediately hangs up on me before I have a chance to explain what I want.

I call back, instead of choosing the building materials dept, I choose the main operator, she answers within about 3 minutes and transfers me to the electircal department. This person then transfers me to god knows where, where I sat on hold for 7 minutes before I hung up.

What's the point to this rant? In the time I spent on hold trying to see if they had what I needed, I could have went to the HD out of my way and spent the same ammount of time, but known I would have what I went to buy. Now I have to go there, out of my way, anyways and lost all that time.

Man! Home depot is so friggin screwed up.

for fear of seeming like I'm "digging" at you grump, which I'm not, anyone else see the irony in this relative to the previous "copus vs. grump/bigger/better" debate??? Had you done this yourself grump instead of one of "your roofers", you'd be enjoying your saturday instead of this nonsence. Just my humble observation

**slickshift** · 07-01-2006, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grumpy

Man! Home depot is so friggin screwed up.

My vote for

Post Of The Day!!!

maj · 07-01-2006, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bone Saw

for fear of seeming like I'm "digging" at you grump, which I'm not, anyone else see the irony in this relative to the previous "copus vs. grump/bigger/better" debate??? Had you done this yourself grump instead of one of "your roofers", you'd be enjoying your saturday instead of this nonsence. Just my humble observation

This is my vote........

Tscarborough · 07-01-2006, 07:15 PM

No roofing supply houses open on Sat. or is that a HD exclusive?

Tom R · 07-01-2006, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grumpy

What's the point to this rant? In the time I spent on hold trying to see if they had what I needed, I could have went to the HD out of my way and spent the same ammount of time, but known I would have what I went to buy. Now I have to go there, out of my way, anyways and lost all that time.

Ahh, - - love when the world stops just so's I can get back on again . . .

I feel your pain, Grump, - - people ask me all the time "why would you run all the way there when you can just call"??

My answer is just "

"

Glasshousebltr · 07-01-2006, 07:41 PM

Sorry to bust into the party with 2 kegs and no tap, but I'm pretty sure Home Depot stopped carrying the Velux skylights.

Bob

RobertF · 07-01-2006, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom R

Ahh, - - love when the world stops just so's I can get back on again . . .

I feel your pain, Grump, - - people ask me all the time "why would you run all the way there when you can just call"??

My answer is just "

"

Hahaha even if I get someone to pick up when I do call, they typically don't know what I'm talking about and don't where to look for it. It bothers me when I know their store better than they do.

River Rat Dad · 07-01-2006, 08:01 PM

No kidding Robert.....

Melissa · 07-01-2006, 08:29 PM

OMG I can't even tell you how many times I've gone off on HD or Lowe's managers for such poooooooor service. Ours has a "Pro desk" supposedly specifically for all contractors needs and only contractors. However, when you go there to order tile, they send you to flooring.

Or at least try. I went off on the guy. Then when you get the tile, it's broken. Then you re-order and get the tile again, and it's broken again.

I could go on and have many different stories

Decided it's better for my health if I don't deal with H.D. anymore.

River Rat Dad · 07-02-2006, 06:12 AM

I'll buy some tools there. I buy small amounts of lumber, cause its stored inside and you can hand pick it. I bought a lawn mower there and a couple grills.

But I never ever try to call them. But I'm lucky because I can drive to Home depot in 5 minutes and Lowes in 7. And they're right down the street from each other....

Downeast · 07-02-2006, 09:26 AM

Ive called HD and had some good results.As far as shoping there on a regular basis,they are just to dang big and I prefer the smaller lumber yards.

Grumpy · 07-03-2006, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bone Saw

for fear of seeming like I'm "digging" at you grump, which I'm not, anyone else see the irony in this relative to the previous "copus vs. grump/bigger/better" debate??? Had you done this yourself grump instead of one of "your roofers", you'd be enjoying your saturday instead of this nonsence. Just my humble observation

I don't see the irony at all. It's their job to roof, not pick up material. Had I been working with them on the roof I'd be the one picking up the kit anyways.

Enjoy a Saturday off? What are you lazy? When the world stops turning, I wills top working. Either that or after my 3rd heart attack.

Grumpy · 07-03-2006, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tscarborough

No roofing supply houses open on Sat. or is that a HD exclusive?

Nope. Not yet anyways. Pretty soon, they start to extend their hours and are open saturday mornings, but not yet.

Grumpy · 07-03-2006, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glasshousebltr

Sorry to bust into the party with 2 kegs and no tap, but I'm pretty sure Home Depot stopped carrying the Velux skylights.

Bob

Nope they have them. That's where I get my brochures

however I usually get the skylights from my roofing supply houses. They do not carry all the sizes in stock however. For exaple the 606 is a special order at HD. They also only carry the comfort glass, not the comfort plus.

Grumpy · 07-03-2006, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobertF

Hahaha even if I get someone to pick up when I do call, they typically don't know what I'm talking about and don't where to look for it. It bothers me when I know their store better than they do.

The thing is, ya'd think the person answering the phone could jus type the product into the computer and say "Oh no we don't carry that item." or "we are out of stock". I mean, jeez! You ask if they have an item and they start searcing for burried treasure in a 300,000 square foot store packed to the ceiling with chit.

Grumpy · 07-03-2006, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Melissa

OMG I can't even tell you how many times I've gone off on HD or Lowe's managers for such poooooooor service. Ours has a "Pro desk" supposedly specifically for all contractors needs and only contractors. However, when you go there to order tile, they send you to flooring.

Or at least try. I went off on the guy. Then when you get the tile, it's broken. Then you re-order and get the tile again, and it's broken again.

I could go on and have many different stories

Decided it's better for my health if I don't deal with H.D. anymore.

I special ordered tile from them. SOme of it came broken, but they didn't make me pay for the broken boxes. The best part was, it was just the top tile or two which were damaged and the rest was ok. I ended up with alot of extra tile.

Bone Saw · 07-03-2006, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grumpy

I don't see the irony at all. It's their job to roof, not pick up material. Had I been working with them on the roof I'd be the one picking up the kit anyways. .

perhaps you should reread that thread then.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grumpy

Enjoy a Saturday off? What are you lazy? When the world stops turning, I wills top working. Either that or after my 3rd heart attack.

far from it, I reap the benefits of being self employed by taking full advantage of my flexible schedual low volume/high margin and reinvest a small fraction of my profits into my lifestyle which equals no heart attacks

Grumpy · 07-05-2006, 09:18 AM

Well obviously a topic for another thread. Oh wait we seem to be discussing the same topic in 4 threads? DO we need yet another?

I still do not see the irony.

Multi-Tasker · 07-05-2006, 07:44 PM

Grumpy,
You have called it right.
I have HD,menards and Lowes in town , sometimes I could just "choke" the person at each of these stores .Then the next time that I am dealing with them I get a good person who knows thier job,but not that often.
I think there is a need to train the employees better !

Joe