Home Depot Rant #476,352,939

[rcrcomputing]

On another note, my wife won't hardly step in Lowe's because they make here listen to mexican on the automated phone when you call there.

Oklahoma legislature just voted down the "english language" law. Of course, once again, it won't stand. Terril will take it to a vote of the people like he always does and people overwhelmingly support English as the language..

He riles up some folks, but all he does it take things to a vote of the people.. Imagine doing what the people want.. What a novel idea..

 

[MarkV]

Times sure have changed from when I started in the building industry. For years I would pick up the phone and call Bud, the salesman that always handled my account, tell him what I needed and when I would have someone pick it up. It would be ready on the dock with someone to load it. Larger orders were always delivered the next day like clock work. Then the box stores ran that yard out of business along with two others in town. Now the remaining yard is so busy you need to get on a list for deliveries and hope to get it that week. For smaller pick up items they are not much better than the box stores because of low staffing to keep the overhead down so they can compete with the box stores.

I predict it is going to get worst with the home building and remodeling industry at a low. The independent stores aren’t moving enough volume to make it though the industry slump where the box stores cut employs and services to wait it out. Once the independent yards are gone the big boys will have the monopoly they have been working towards. Once you control the market you control the prices and we all lose.

MarkV

 

[EddieWalker]

I predict it is going to get worst with the home building and remodeling industry at a low.

I can only speak for my area, but house prices are holding there numbers, they are taking longer to sell. Time on the market is now measured in months, and the buyers have become allot more picky. That's to be expected with a large number of homes to pick from.

For me, as a remodeler/handyman type contractor, it's a booming market. I have realtors that I work with in fixing up homes for sale by either doing those things the homeowners always put off, or never thought was important. Now that they want to sell the house, making it as attractive as possible is very important.

Then there are those who were planning on selling and buying a new house. They have changed their minds, and are fixing up the house they have. My last client said that they know what they have in this house and don't want to start all over with a new one.

My current waiting list is into mid August. I have clients that want to get on the list that I'm seeing this week. I'm spending thousands of dollars a week at the box stores and from what I can tell, there are allot of others doing the exact same thing.

I'm actually worried what might happen if the economy picks up and people start buying houses again. I guess I can always go back into building spec homes.

Eddie

 

[RobertN]

use of John Madden for advertising and I can't tell you what I think of him.

I know, it is tough for a Texan to talk about a real and true football great that is not a Dallas Cowboy But it is true, great player, awesome coach, and gifted commentator. I wish the Raiders would bring him back, even if only a consulting coach. Then maybe they'd win again like the old days with Madden, Stabler, Guy, Upshaw...

 

[Charlesaf3]

We've still got a lot of independents up here. But yeah, they are geared towards contractors, and for little lots like $500 (from their perspective) they may or may not be interested. Most of the time the retail guy takes 5 times the time for a tiny percent of the profit.

Doesn't mean you shouldn't go there, just trying to explain the business.

Ultrarunner, where are you that is so bad? I leave stuff in the back of my pickup in Boston all the time, no issues. I expect if I left a trimmer out for days I'd lose it, but what you are describing sounds crazy to me.

 

[N80]

Doesn't mean you shouldn't go there, just trying to explain the business.

I've got no problem with that, if a lumber yard doesn't want $500 worth of business that's their prerogative. But if that's the case, they shouldn't whine about the HD and Lowes putting them out of business.

As far as Sunday sales, well, I'm an old fashioned guy. I do my best not to 'shop' on Sunday and I have nothing but admiration for someone who is willing to close on Sunday whether is for the benefit of the employees, religious reasons or both.

And I don't really buy it that a business can't survive without being open on Sunday. Two names come to mind Chik-fil-a and B&H. Chik-fil-a does not open on Sunday and I dare say they are doing well. B&H is one of the biggest camera retailers around and is run by Jews that are strict Sabbatarians. They close on Saturday and all Jewish holidays....and there are tons of those. On the Jewish holidays, you can't even place an order on the web site...at least it isn't processed that day. B&H is extremely successful.

Ultrarunner, where are you that is so bad? I leave stuff in the back of my pickup in Boston all the time, no issues. I expect if I left a trimmer out for days I'd lose it, but what you are describing sounds crazy to me.

I've been hearing about this more and more. Seems like theft in these big box parking lots is becoming a trend. Just the other day a friend had the ball and receiver hitch stolen off of his truck in a Lowes parking lot. Might not seem like a big deal but have you priced those things? They aren't cheap. And all you have to do is slide the pin out. He now has locking ones on his truck but they cost even more and are a PITB to deal with if you have to change them often.

And if you think about it, those places are prime for that sort of theft. Most of the time when I go in one, I'm headed for my place with all sorts of tools and stuff in the back. And no one is going to notice someone casually taking stuff out of the back of a pick up. I've started leaving someone in the truck.

 

[Charlesaf3]

George, makes sense about big box parking lots, but it still strikes me as really sad. I wouldn't have thought those things went on in your neck of the woods, but I guess that's idealizing on my part.

I agree with you that $500 should be enough, and for the guys I deal with it would be. My order will still get filled first, as I do closer to $500 a day - yours may get delivered the next day. For pickup you'd still get helped when you drove up.

Most of the places that deal mainly with pros are closed on weekends - they get very little business those days, the retail isn't enough to pay the guys generally.

 

[dmccarty]

We have had trucks and trailors taken from the big box store parking lots. They find the truck/trailors later but the tools, the big money, are all gone.

I have been approached twice over the years in the parking lots from guys selling stuff. One was selling a Dewalt Circular saw and the other brand new in the box wall/ceiling mount speakers. All just freshly stolen from the job site...

Later,
Dan

 

[Western]

As far as theft, I think this is the tip of the iceburg, as the economy suffers weak minds will turn to theft. "weak" may be a little strong, maybe I should say "desperate" dunno..

I've had good and bad trips to HD and Lowes, I take it either way, make my diss satisfaction or satisfaction known and thank God I'm not the CEO of either. Of course I would'nt mind the pay, a couple of 100 million for a crappy job sound fun.
If most of us contractors worked like them we would be out of work.

 

[riptides]

I've been hearing about this more and more. Seems like theft in these big box parking lots is becoming a trend. Just the other day a friend had the ball and receiver hitch stolen off of his truck in a Lowes parking lot. Might not seem like a big deal but have you priced those things? They aren't cheap. And all you have to do is slide the pin out. He now has locking ones on his truck but they cost even more and are a PITB to deal with if you have to change them often.

Locking hitches,
locking gas/diesel caps,
locking lugs and
locking doors.

I never tank up anymore. Why bother. if they wanna siphon, they will need to work at mine.