Home Depot to close more stores

[charlz]

Home Depot has good prices, large selection and very good hours. While I don't care for what a hassle it is to get help, I will admit that in the last few months, I've had somebody come up to me asking if they could help me find something. It might be that they recognize me, but it also might be that somebody is getting nervous at Home Depot and they are trying harder.

Bob Nardelli was CEO of THD from 2003-2007... which is when it slid. He left abruptly in Jan '07 with $20mil cash and $77mil in deferred stock (priced at the time). The stock was tanking, the customers were staying away in droves due the poor customer service and yet he had nice a compensation package.

Frank Blake was appointed Chairman and CEO. Frank has issued public apologies for the way the stores were run and vowed to return to the 'old ways' that built the company. He even goes and does 'secret shopper' at stores. This is why you get more attention now when you go into the store.

 

[NuBota]

I've noticed a vast improvement in customer service, both at HD and Lowes, over the last few months, but also that they are not nearly as busy as usual - don't know if the sales folk have been re-trained, scared, or just have more time to help since they're slow.

I have habitually avoided both stores (they're a 1/4 mile apart) because they're in a busy town, always long lines (until lately), service stunk and hated "carting" large stuff through the store. I only went to them if I was doing work at my MIL's house, since they are within a half mile

I have 2 nurseries, 2 lumber yards and a True Value in same radius outside the town - prices are a little higher, but like the service and can hit mutilple places faster than going to the home stores.

A new Lowes opened in a smaller town nearby (extra 10 miles) and I went in there once and was impressed. Popular building material (2x4 studs, 2x4 PT, drywall, sheething, etc) outside under contractor canopy - pull right up to it to load like the lumber yard (other Lowes and Home Depot don't do this), great service, and not very busy. So now I'm flirting with the "current" convenience and price of these places again - we'll see what happens when the economy improves - still love the mom & pop though.....

 

[Cat_Driver]

Home Depot is about as good and bad as any other. Selection is fine. Around here Home depot shut down about five Mom and pop shops, but they never carried much any way.

The one thing I like about them is they did price match even if I find a better price on the internet they matched it, and it actually ended up cheaper than the net because I would have had to pay shipping, but no tax.

The return policy is liberal almost too liberal as I always saw people bringing bacg dead plants for a full refund - "hey lady try a little water next time"

They would always order anything I could find, but the in store service was lousy but i wrote that off to the current generation work force, kids that move from job to job on a whim, not like when I grew up. Heck they never stayed long enough to know where anything was. Sure they would stay if you paid them $50.00 an hours, but them customers would not shop, so round and round we go.

 

[kenmac]

I've noticed a vast improvement in customer service, both at HD and Lowes, over the last few months, but also that they are not nearly as busy as usual - don't know if the sales folk have been re-trained, scared, or just have more time to help since they're slow.

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When the hd & lowe's 1 st.opened around me they were always standing in the entrance door waiting to help you. Then, it all of a sudden it stopped & it was like pulling hen's teeth trying to find someone to help. I stopped going to hd & lowe's for the most part. Starting going to the local ACE H.W. plenty of help there

 

[RobertN]

When the hd & lowe's 1 st.opened around me they were always standing in the entrance door waiting to help you. Then, it all of a sudden it stopped & it was like pulling hen's teeth trying to find someone to help. I stopped going to hd & lowe's for the most part. Starting going to the local ACE H.W. plenty of help there

I noticed this too. I think our ACE has better hardware, nuts/bolts kinda selection. They have also closed down their rental section; not making much money. In it's place, they put in a RC car/boat/airplane hobby section Their business overall has gone up...

 

[dgl24087]

The Home Depot closest to me has improved greatly over the last 6 months. I went there Sunday to check out a few things, they had an employee stationed at each entrance asking customers if they needed help. First thing I noticed after I got further into the store was that it had been reset. I also noticed many more employees in the store, and was asked several times if I needed assistance finding anything. The Lowe's store is a highly disorganized mess, with employees very hard to find.

 

[charlz]

I like being able to get help when I need it but I am not helpless. ACE always has so many employees looking for something to do they won't even let you go to the bolt bin by yourself. I have a pretty good memory so I like to walk up and down aisles for future reference when I might need something (know exactly what store to go to). Getting asked a dozen times if I need help gets old.

 

[Bedlam]

Ive found that as well. but if you go often enough they will recognize you , I usually catch them before they speak and say thanks. I'm all set thanks for asking. If i need help ill look for you.
Hate it when i am in the middle of counting out 150 1/4 inch nuts and loose count. lol

 

[Bigbubbasdad]

We have a Lowes and HD here. The Lowes seems better run, cleaner and easier to deal with. As for the contractor thing, there isn't a lumber yard within 20 miles. HD and Lowes put all the locals out. Lowes hired the manager of the last local lumber yard as manager. A lot of guys who used to be contractors are now working at Lowes and HD.

 

[Lasgambler]

The return policy is liberal almost too liberal as I always saw people bringing bacg dead plants for a full refund - "hey lady try a little water next time"



I was in line behind a woman one time that was returning 4 magazines, She said, "There was nothing in them that interested her". When it was my turn at checkout, I said, do you mean, I can buy "Fine Homebuilding" read it, and return it? The girl said, "YEP" Go figure.
Terry