Rant on shopping at Lowe's from an employee..

[hardliner]

1. Do some research online on what you are going to buy. No offense but we sell 5-10 different name brands of tools, lawn mowers, washers, dryers, etc. We aren't going to know the best ones because we don't have the time to sit down and read reviews.

2a. Doing a project that requires lumber, plywood, shingles, etc.? Measure everything if you are going to need things cut at the store. Don't walk up, using your hands and say, "I need this cut THIS far apart." You seriously think that is going to be cut to exactly what you need? Write it down, put in on your cell phone, whatever. The only thing that matters is you getting the materials cut exactly to what you need.

2b. Don't ask for someone to cut your materials when you haven't gathered them. "Hey.. can you cut some lumber for me?" If you are standing there with nothing around you, I will say, "Sure. Let me know when you've gathered your materials." You need help pulling them? Ask. I'm being paid to help the customer but please.. know what you are getting. Do some research on what lumber we carry, plywood we carry, etc. Asking me what I think is best for YOUR project makes me want to slap you. There is no time limit on walking around and doing research.. at least from my end. Don't blame me if you are in a rush to get a project.

3. Doing drywall work? I can't say this often enough. Do research such as YouTube videos. We can not do exact cuts on sheets of drywall.. at least I won't. If I screw it up, I have waste that sheet of drywall. I will only cut a 4"x8" sheet of drywall in half. If you want to do exact cuts, I will hand you my safety knife, T-square, and you can get to work. I've never done drywall work so I only know what I've learned online.. same place you will.

4. We can not rip lumber. What does that mean? I will not cut a 2" board down to 1". It's just not safe.

5. We can not cut anything large than a 2x4 piece of lumber. Most stores have a panel saw which cuts down or flat when ripping plywood and there are rails that allow the saw to slide. I can't adjust the rails. So 4x4, 4x6, and 6x6 posts.. can't cut them.

7. If you are needing thing such as concrete or play sand, check out the front of the lumber area. Typically, they will have a quick load area so me, the employee, or you, the customer, and easily load whatever you need. When it comes to bagged goods such as concrete, mortar, cement, sand, gravel, etc., I typically only want to touch it once. I know it is not always going to happen but I can be hopeful. And.. if you aren't going to help load it, and I can understand with 80 LB of concrete, please don't stand there and watch. That's really creepy.

That's enough ranting for today. Have any questions about Lowe's? Feel free to ask.

[Chung Tran]

that does it.. I'm shopping at Home Depot.. I don't like your attitude!

[Alyssa Marie]

Buy online through ebates and pick up at the front of the store.
You guys always want to save money, use ebates before you shop.
Use the money that you save to get laid.
Happy Hardliner too!!
You're all welcome.

[MrMarriott]

Sounds like someone needs a new job...hopefully one that's not customer service oriented. Maybe try programming or web development??

[hardliner]

Originally Posted by Alyssa Marie

Buy online through ebates and pick up at the front of the store.
You guys always want to save money, use ebates before you shop.
Use the money that you save to get laid.
Happy Hardliner too!!
You're all welcome.

Thank you reminding me about online orders. Please be smart about that. Don't do an online order of 6 2x4x8 pieces of lumber and a sheet of drywall. I've got 1,000 pieces of lumber and over 200 sheets of drywall. Just come in and we'll help you load it so you can get going. I can understand if there is a sale going on appliances, lawn mowers, etc. High dollar merchandise or even high volume items that sell quickly. Boy do customers take advantage of the web site at 12:01 Black Friday. We have employees that have to come in @ 3am to start pulling orders.

One last thing, for example, a grill. If you know which one you want and you want us to assemble it (which typically cost $10), and delivery it (typically free), we can do phone orders. Just depends on your comfort ability of giving us your credit card info over the phone. I suggest this so you don't have to drive up to the store and wait in line to do all of this. I know it drives the people at our customer service desk crazy but tough shit. The assembler will make sure nothing is bent or if there is anything wrong with it, he/she is knowledgeable enough to do something to fix it.

One last thing especially for those that visit the web site. You need to replace an appliance like dishwasher, refrigerator? Go up to your local store and see what has dings, dents, or been repaired. Write down the model # and do some research on it. You have cash or a Lowe's credit card? Perfect. We don't pay fees on either of those like we do when Visa, Mastercard, Amex, or Discover is used. Use that to your advantage. Ask what the cost is on it and offer something between what the last price they are selling it for and the cost. Worst the person can say is no but typically, they'll sell it. We don't want that stuff sitting around. We need space for other products. I remember a customer having a special order refrigerator for $3000 and when it came time to install it, the ice maker, which was manufactured specifically for that refrigerator, wouldn't work so it got returned to the store. The ice maker was replaced but because of the price, it sat for 4 months. We eventually sold for $800.

[hardliner]

Originally Posted by MrMarriott

Sounds like someone needs a new job...hopefully one that's not customer service oriented. Maybe try programming or web development??

Well, I like my job. It's the lack of knowledge customers come in with when they have access to the Internet at home, at work, or even on their phone.

It's funny you suggested something in the I.T. industry. I'm actually going back to school in a couple of weeks to get my A+ cert (801 & 802), Network A+ cert, and Security A+ cert.

[Alyssa Marie]

Hardliner - just don't be upset when you read the posts where providers bash hobbyists!

[Boltfan]

Did you accidentally post to the wrong site?

[Boltfan]

Originally Posted by hardliner

Well, I like my job. It's the lack of knowledge customers come in with when they have access to the Internet at home, at work, or even on their phone

That is a recipe for unemployment. Take away the reason they talk to a real person.

[Chung Tran]

Originally Posted by Boltfan

That is a recipe for unemployment. Take away the reason they talk to a real person.

exactly.. I have to remind myself sometimes.. if the Client knows enough about what to do, he wouldn't need you at all..

[hardliner]

Originally Posted by Alyssa Marie

Hardliner - just don't be upset when you read the posts where providers bash hobbyists!

If I ever cause that then I will stop.

[LazurusLong]

Big Box home improvement stores do tons more sales to contractors and those who do said "improvements" for a living.

Most of those folks are at the store early and due to the typical sale volume, if Joe the Carpenter, who spends 10-15K a month on lumber and other goods needs help, and you total once a year purchase might total $500, guess who is getting the best person to help them?

Going to a Loews or Home Depot after about 5:30 or so means that they know when you walk in that you are the home owner type and not the guy who makes his living using materials they sell.

Sure they will try to be helpful but seriously, just how many times a day do you really think they want to repeat the same answer about which types of nails work best when hanging a large heavy mirror on a wall? (I'm was in the store recently when a female customer asked someone in the paint department that question. It took all I could do not to start laughing out loud.)

Try and educate yourself at least a little bit before walking in as he suggested can go a long way towards making both yours and the employees life easier.

The Youtube suggestion is great. Search engines can be one of your best friends.

If you are planning a big project and want to try and tackle it yourself, I know Home Depot has free classes on a bunch of different things all the time and if you've never done something, take a class!

Other ways to instantly save cash.

Price shop and compare.

Example: I recently needed to refill a propane tank. I swung by a national retail store very close to a Home Depot and took a phone photo of their price of a tank. Then took a photo of the Home Depot price. Went inside, showed the photos and they matched the price PLUS knocked off 10%.

In Dallas, the sales tax is over 8% so I more than made up for the sales tax just on the bonus amount but the difference in price was about $5 to start with.

Items must be the same but most are and it helps. Going online and printing the prices before you head in to the stores makes it very easy.

[Alyssa Marie]

If we all knew everything about everything, well......

It's so easy to be frustrated when we are annoyed by someone else's ignorance, but it's never easy to admit or step back for a second and realize that sometimes we play the role of the ignorant.

A little patience, sometimes a lot of patience, goes a long way in life. If I know something and someone is willing to learn I love to teach them just as I love to be taught when I want to learn.
Xx

[hardliner]

Originally Posted by Alyssa Marie

If we all knew everything about everything, well......

It's so easy to be frustrated when we are annoyed by someone else's ignorance, but it's never easy to admit or step back for a second and realize that sometimes we play the role of the ignorant.

A little patience, sometimes a lot of patience, goes a long way in life. If I know something and someone is willing to learn I love to teach them just as I love to be taught when I want to learn.
Xx

It may not seem like it but I do have a lot of patience. With parents that are technologically inclined, I've taught them everything I know about Windows, Android since my 68 year old father has a Google Nexus 10, and my mother, everything I know about iOS, who has an iPhone 4. She was in tears soon after my brother handed her that phone but her and I went to Barnes and Noble and bought her iOS 6 for Seniors - Dummies. Within a week, she knew more about what that phone was capable of and I told her I was proud of her being able to do that. It's amazing how much joy she gets when uses FaceTime to talk to my nieces.

I do get frustrated with how easy it is for others to just hop on a plane and fly especially after the fact that my grandfather was a pilot during WW II, my father was an aeronautical engineer during Vietnam, and my brother has flown all over the world during his time with The Texas Boys Choir and the jobs he's had. I, however, have had multiple panic attacks over the last 13 years that has made me leave flights before they even pull away from the terminal. Must be karma.