Who else has had a problem with HOME DEPOT?

[beachbunny]

Did you know that the Home Depot store won't match their on-line Home Depot sale prices? I placed an order for patio furniture at a Home Depot store and shipping has been delayed twice. In the meantime, the same furniture has gone on sale on-line. Well, the store won't price match because the on-line Home Depot is "different" from the store Home Depot. Does that make any sense? So they'll price match another store but they won't price match their internet pricing?

And where is customer service? I was treated like a complete moron by a condescending manager who yelled at me in front of the customer service desk. Then, when he figured he was done talking to me, he turned his back and made a call on his cell.

Now that this has happened to me, I'm being told Home Depot horror stories by friends and family. So what's your Home Depot story?

 

[ChristmasElf]

Did you know that the Home Depot store won't match their on-line Home Depot sale prices? I placed an order for patio furniture at a Home Depot store and shipping has been delayed twice. In the meantime, the same furniture has gone on sale on-line. Well, the store won't price match because the on-line Home Depot is "different" from the store Home Depot. Does that make any sense? So they'll price match another store but they won't price match their internet pricing?

And where is customer service? I was treated like a complete moron by a condescending manager who yelled at me in front of the customer service desk. Then, when he figured he was done talking to me, he turned his back and made a call on his cell.

Now that this has happened to me, I'm being told Home Depot horror stories by friends and family. So what's your Home Depot story?

I would be banging out a letter to Home Depots Corporate Offices about that manager, I'll tell you that!! He had NO business yelling at you, no matter what the problem was. Turning his back and making a call?
I would have yelled back at him that I hope he was calling about a new job as he was going to be needing one soon!

Have you tried going to another Home Depot and trying to get the furniture there?

 

[minniecarousel]

My sis used Expo Design (part of Home Depot) for her kitchen & bathroom remodel. They took out her only toilet and didn't put it back in for SIX MONTHS! She had her new refrigerator sitting in her living room for 3 months - when they went to install it, they discovered that it had the door opening on the wrong side and they had to send it back (it wasn't the kind you could just switch hinges.) She wasn't being pro-active - she was freaking out about the amount of time it was all taking - I would call to try to get some answers for her and they'd question why I was calling - " becasue she's falling apart you moron!" is what I wanted to yell at the guy. We know not to use Expo Design or Home Depot for any remodeling!

 

[beachbunny]

minniecarousel: That's awful about your sis. I hope she eventually got what she paid for.

ChristmasElf: Since I still have a month to wait for my patio furniture (already paid in full by the way) I'm trying to tread lightly with regards to how the manager treated me. I did, however, get his full name - but I don't know what I can or should do about it - other than to vent to my nearest and dearest thousands of friends.

My problem is that none of the Home Depot locations near me carry the patio set I want.

 

[bicker]

I could point you to thousands of horror stories about how customers are treated these days. Blame the fervant and consistent drive on the part of customers towards getting the lowest price regardless. That has driven the profit motive for providing quality service completely out of most of the consumer marketplace.

Having said that, it is very common for B&M (brick-and-mortar) stores to match only the prices of other, local B&M stores. Best Buy, Circuit City, Sears, etc., none of them match even their own Internet pricing. The costs of doing business via Internet are so much lower, that the prices can be lower. Price matching is not an unlimited consumer right, but rather a generous gesture, even in its limited form, offered by sellers. Whatever restrictions they put on it are reasonable.

 

[Poohbear123]

And only go in there to get my Lime Green Mickey Heads, thats IT! We went to Lowes and got GREAT service there.

 

[helenabear]

As the post above said, many places will not match online, even if it is their own store. Fwiw, I have found that 9 times out of 10 the online price for anything at a hardware store is higher online than in the store. For instance our door retailed $500 online and we bought it for $270. In my case, I am glad they don't match their online price

It's sadly, the nature of the game since so many places have gone around selling things for so cheap online. They do get their money back in shipping though. Just makes a store not willing to match online when the other place lower a retail price only to make up for it in shipping. The stores can't make up for it like the online retail places do.

Sorry to hear that though. You could try to complain a bit more, but what you said is the norm (and has been for years now) in our area.

As for bad service... that will vary from store to store of course. In our area Home Depot is far better in service than Lowes. And if an installer does a bad job, you have to remember that they use subcontractors. It is worth it to complain to the store so they pick someone new *AND* find out the name of the subcontractor so you can avoid them other places as well

 

[eeyoreiscool]

Our Home Depot isn't that bad. Either that or I know enough about what I am doing that I don't need their help and I can find everything I need. I still usually wind up having to go to Lowes as well because neither store will carry everything I need.

 

[Disney Doll]

Unfortunately, now that HD pretty much has the market cornered on home improvement supplies, they have gotten lax in their customer service area.

I would agree that I would be contacting someone higher up than a store manager in the HD corporation to complain about that manager.

 

[bicker]

We have several Home Depots and several Lowes here... nice healthy competition between the two and the several Ace hardware stores. Customer service is more a reflection of what customers are willing to accept and a matter of the price-value proposition and complacency.

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

I would be banging out a letter to Home Depots Corporate Offices about that manager, I'll tell you that!! He had NO business yelling at you, no matter what the problem was. Turning his back and making a call?
I would have yelled back at him that I hope he was calling about a new job as he was going to be needing one soon!

Have you tried going to another Home Depot and trying to get the furniture there?

You beat me to it. OH yes bang out a letter. I was once in Home Depot and needed to buy 3 ceiling tiles. The person in the aisle wanted me to buy a whole pack despite the fact that they had a price up for individual tiles. WE argued back and forth and he would not budge. I stood at the front of the store copying down the 800 number when another employee saw me, came up and asked if there was a problem. I told him and he opened a pack and sold me the tile. He said it was NOT a policy for the consumer to have to purchase a whole pack and they did sell them singely. This guy saved the company a letter and I could tell by his attitude that the DO NOT want to get letters or calls sent to the corporate office.

CALL CORPORATE and tell them you want to speak to the regional manager AND still write a letter. You can get most anything at a chain store when you tell them you are notifying corporate. THERE is no excuse for them to be rude to you no matter what the policy is.

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

As a Home Depot associate, I can tell you that the corporate office has been putting a greater emphasis on improving customer service. The way the manager treated you, beachbunny, is inexcusable. I can't imagine any of the managers at my store behaving like that, even when it's the customer that's flying off the handle.

On homedepot.com, go to customer support and click on contact us. There's a place where you can e-mail the customer care center as well as a toll free number to call. Make sure you have the right store number; if you need to find it you can use the store locator. I know for a fact that the customer care center will be in touch with the store to follow up on the situation.

 

[Big V]

I really like our local Home Depot. I find the employees very helpful. Sorry to hear the troubles you are having with them.

 

[PaulaSue]

I hate how ours plays music SO LOUD I get a headache every time I have been in. Now I refuse to go. Dh can do it if Walmart doesn't have it.

 

[IwasatWDWforamonth]

OMG YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was just about to write about my moms experience with home depot,

First problem she ordered a washer and dryer from home depot.com, they were the only place we could find the ge profile my mom wanted,

When they hooked it up they hooked up a part BACKWARDS and it caused the basement to be flooded, my mom called the store to complain(because the store hired who delivered it) anyhow they sent someone to fix it and said they didnt do it right because they arent paid enough.
Two days later my mom realized the hot and cold water were hooked up wrong, they said they wouldnt fix that because she should have noticed it before MY DAD HAD TO DO THAT.

Ok six months later she figured that was a one time thing WRONG
she ordered a grill and a flamingo lawn ornament anyhow the flamingo came with no hassle.
The grill well, 10 days later my mom called and asked when the grill might arrive, they said it sometimes takes 15 days, even though it states 5-7,
So on day 15 they say the delivEry people canceled the order because they couldnt call us WHAT nobody ever called,

Then they say WHY DONT YOU JUST GO TO THE STORE AND GET ONE, well the whole point of ordering online is not having to drive 40 miles to a store

my mom must have spent hours on the phone over this grill, wanted it for the 4th and guess what we still dont have it, ordered it June 5th and someone is supposed to bring it today,July 13th

everytime my mom called nobody knew anything" UM thats not my depatment"I conect you to-------- which meant another 40 minutes on hold.

UGH I say avoid home depot.com like the PLAGUE

 

[DVC-Don]

I have no problem with our local Home Depot (even though the place is a mess inside). We also have a Lowes almost across the street (inside it is very neat) but I've had problems with their service so tend to use HD most of the time.

 

[JayCT]

A while back I began a thread on HD and how awful it is to shop at. I mean it has to be the most uncomfortable shopping experience there is. The place is noisy with beeping forklifts and blaring intercom messages. Plus I found that there is a lack of knowledgeable staff. I hate it and avoid the place completely. There is one about a mile from our home and I do not go there unless absolutely necessary. JMHO Jay

 

[TheDisneyTraveler06]

I love our Home Depot- never any problems, great service, etc. I absolutely CANNOT stand Lowes. Guess It's just a personal opinion.

 

[cardaway]

No matching online prices is quite common place and not something that I think can be held against Home Depot. They give deals online because it's cheaper for everybody if you order online. All that changes when you walk into the store.

Personally I find all the mega hardware stores to be exactly the same in their suckage. I miss the days when everything that is now Lowes was a local chain called Eagle.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Did you know that the Home Depot store won't match their on-line Home Depot sale prices? I placed an order for patio furniture at a Home Depot store and shipping has been delayed twice. In the meantime, the same furniture has gone on sale on-line. Well, the store won't price match because the on-line Home Depot is "different" from the store Home Depot. Does that make any sense? So they'll price match another store but they won't price match their internet pricing?

And where is customer service? I was treated like a complete moron by a condescending manager who yelled at me in front of the customer service desk. Then, when he figured he was done talking to me, he turned his back and made a call on his cell.

Now that this has happened to me, I'm being told Home Depot horror stories by friends and family. So what's your Home Depot story?

The manager was out of line.

As far as the on-line versus bricks and mortar store...Home Depot is not the only one. Some do see their on-line store as a different business.

Heck there are stores who from one store to another their sale/clearance prices may be different. Has to do with moving merchandise.

I don't fault Home Depot or any business for that.

The manager on the other hand. ESCALATE ESCALATE ESCALATE.