What the hell is wrong with our retail stores today?

Gofirstclass

Gofirstclass

Well-Known Member
Apr 20, 2010
11,695
Tri Cities, WA
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Yesterday I went into my local LOWE'S store to get one pressure relief fitting for a hose bib. I spent about 10 minutes looking for the part in their bins so I wandered around until I found one of their employees. I showed him a photo of the part I needed and he looked in his hand held 'puter. After searching for a few minutes he told me the aisle and bin where it was supposed to be. We were standing right there. So I asked him if he couald find it and he stood there dumbfounded and said 'I can't find it". Well no shit bro.

At that point I asked him to see how many were supposed to be in stock. "18". So I asked where they were. He looked at the jumble of boxes on top of the shelving for about 30 seconds and said "I can't find them." Then he walked away, leaving me standing there wondering WTF?

I finally found a different employee and he couldn't find them either.

So then we bought a few other things and I tried to pay with two Lowe's cards. They were rejected because the computer did not recognize my driver's license number. They kept inputting the number and it kept getting rejected.

Know what the definition of Insanity is? Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. They told me to call the number on the back of the cards and have them digitally tied to my driver's license. Me. I gotta call. It's not my frickin' problem that something is wrong with their computer, but I gotta wait on hold for probably 20 mins before I get to talk with someone.

So I finally paid for the stuff we were buying and left.

F'n Lowes.
 
That hand held computer is nothing more than a phone. I have got to the point that I look it up at home on the website, and write down the isle and bin. Then if I have a problem finding the part in store, I call the store from the isle and ask to speak to the head of the department. Then wait for them to come to me. I've called and talked to the store manager from an isle before, They really hate when I do that. Home Dump is worst. They barely can find the door at closing time. I've hated that store since before that douche, Smoke drove the orange car
 
Gofirstclass said:
Yesterday I went into my local LOWE'S store to get one pressure relief fitting for a hose bib. I spent about 10 minutes looking for the part in their bins so I wandered around until I found one of their employees. I showed him a photo of the part I needed and he looked in his hand held 'puter. After searching for a few minutes he told me the aisle and bin where it was supposed to be. We were standing right there. So I asked him if he couald find it and he stood there dumbfounded and said 'I can't find it". Well no shit bro.

At that point I asked him to see how many were supposed to be in stock. "18". So I asked where they were. He looked at the jumble of boxes on top of the shelving for about 30 seconds and said "I can't find them." Then he walked away, leaving me standing there wondering WTF?

I finally found a different employee and he couldn't find them either.

So then we bought a few other things and I tried to pay with two Lowe's cards. They were rejected because the computer did not recognize my driver's license number. They kept inputting the number and it kept getting rejected.

Know what the definition of Insanity is? Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. They told me to call the number on the back of the cards and have them digitally tied to my driver's license. Me. I gotta call. It's not my frickin' problem that something is wrong with their computer, but I gotta wait on hold for probably 20 mins before I get to talk with someone.

So I finally paid for the stuff we were buying and left.

F'n Lowes.
Click to expand...

Lowes Blows, everybody knows...
 
Lowe’s came to Canada by buying a respected and well run Canadian hardware/ lumber store chain called Rona. Thn they brought their style of business “business model” to Rona and did a big box expansion with new large stores staffed with nothing but part timers that know nothing about hardware, building supplies etc. Well they failed and are selling out and closing those stores. Rona is still here. At least the few stores Lowe’s didn’t close when they did the big box thing. Good riddance.
 
We sound like a bunch of old guys lamenting the loss of the good ‘ole days! :rolleyes::rolleyes:
That said, the retail world has Absolutely forgotten what ‘Customer Service’ means.

I think one good example of that is the simple example of Consumer Cellular’s business model. They have decent rates, they don’t say a word about guaranteeing great coverage, BUT….they are making a good living GUARANTEEING all of their customer service reps are US based, speaking the King’s English!:p:p:cool:
 
Pirate Lady said:
. . . And they wonder why everyone shops Amazon.
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Your fundamental point is well taken and difficult to dispute, however, there are some of us who prefer to be inconvenienced by shopping and maybe even paying a little more, rather than to feed Jeff Bezo's coffers. The self proclaimed richest man in the world sure as **** doesn't need my help.

We already subsidize the US Post office (while they continue to loose money) to deliver mail across the street in 4 days, while JB sub-contracts them to deliver his packages at a loss, even on Sundays. This may be the only thing I find more discussting than Wal-Mart-s business model of putting all the local guys out of business. I avoid that mess as much as possible as well. Which leads to another current reality that grinds my gears . . .

Back in the day, there was an alternator shop AND a radiator shop in every town big enough to have one traffic light and two four-way stop signs. NOBODY bought a new alternator, starter, or radiator because 'the local guy' could/would repair/rebuild it with new diodes, brushes or a little flux core for a few dollars (or less).

[.Rant Over, BEFORE it builds momentum.]

I really ain't a grumpy old man yet, but I damn sure will be if I reach the point where I can't get offshore every couple weeks. ;)
 
Yendor said:
Your fundamental point is well taken and difficult to dispute, however, there are some of us who prefer to be inconvenienced by shopping and maybe even paying a little more, rather than to feed Jeff Bezo's coffers. The self proclaimed richest man in the world sure as **** doesn't need my help.

We already subsidize the US Post office (while they continue to loose money) to deliver mail across the street in 4 days, while JB sub-contracts them to deliver his packages at a loss, even on Sundays. This may be the only thing I find more discussting than Wal-Mart-s business model of putting all the local guys out of business. I avoid that mess as much as possible as well. Which leads to another current reality that grinds my gears . . .

Back in the day, there was an alternator shop AND a radiator shop in every town big enough to have one traffic light and two four-way stop signs. NOBODY bought a new alternator, starter, or radiator because 'the local guy' could/would repair/rebuild it with new diodes, brushes or a little flux core for a few dollars (or less).

[.Rant Over, BEFORE it builds momentum.]

I really ain't a grumpy old man yet, but I damn sure will be if I reach the point where I can't get offshore every couple weeks. ;)
Click to expand...
I go to my local ACE for all things hardware; but it’s ridiculous to pay twice as much for an item regardless who’s pocket its going in. Quite certain the guy who owns Advance isn’t hurting to put food on the table.
Amazon doesn’t make the products themselves. The vast majority of products they sell are from small businesses. So Bezos gets a cut, so what, still supporting small businesses.
 
Amazon is basically wish, but with faster shipping. I can find things on both, if I'm not in a rush. But prefer to spend with locals, when I can. But as far as hardware and lumber, the local asshardware is three times or more than driving the 26 miles one way and the time lost doing it. His lumber is 3rd or 4th grade quality but sold at grade 1 and better. Lowes might have their uneducated staff, but I've never ordered a load of lumber, paid for it and had them only deliver half of it and telling me my photos of the offloaded materials were doctored. Same with the bill only showing half on the truck was delivered and being told I doctored their paperwork. The Dump got me for $5800 on one order, and nobody cared. Now that is customer service and satisfaction at its best.
 
techmitch said:
Lowes Blows, everybody knows...
Click to expand...

I do not shop Home Depot nor Lowes. Menards products are almost always cheaper.

One day I went into Home Depot to buy a washer and dryer. We stood around and waited for about 10 minutes for one of the staff to come and talk to us. And then went up to the front counter, they announced over the intercom for help in the Appliance area. We waited 10 more minutes and left. I think I’ve been at Home Depot two times in the last 10 years.

I only go into Lowe’s because some of my customers give me Lowe’s gift cards. But before I do go in, I check on their website for their price over Menards price. If it’s within a dollar or so, I will go to Lowe’s. If not Menards is one minute away.
 
If there's choice, I shop in local stores. I have a basic Amazon account but I think I've used it twice over the last 3 years.
I have both Lowe's and Home Depot close to me and generally I can find what they sell between one or the other. But, I admit Lowe's individual inventory on their app isn't up to date. As far as Menards, I hate their 11% discounts that you have to apply for.
 
I buy very little from Amazon ever since getting Chinese knockoff Motorcraft fuel and oil filters. They have got the packaging down to almost exact, the filters not so much. After noticing it I researched it. It’s all over the Motörhead forums. I had no idea.
 
I think the issue is those stores use to hire experienced people (mostly retired). And now they are hiring young inexperienced people who think deserve more then what they are being paid, so they don't take the time to learn the store. Then it gets compounded by similar types becoming managers etc. no one cares about anything.
 
SKybolt said:
I think the issue is those stores use to hire experienced people (mostly retired). And now they are hiring young inexperienced people who think deserve more then what they are being paid, so they don't take the time to learn the store. Then it gets compounded by similar types becoming managers etc. no one cares about anything.
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Problem is the guys who knew how to do things are all up there in age and retiring. The younger generation doesn’t know anything. They are basically helpless when it comes to fixing stuff.
 
Golfman25 said:
Problem is the guys who knew how to do things are all up there in age and retiring. The younger generation doesn’t know anything. They are basically helpless when it comes to fixing stuff.
Click to expand...

Exactly, the young just want to pay "someone" to do/fix things for them, but don't have the job to support that mind set.
 
It’s not an issue with the retail stores, the problem is with the workforce that is willing to sign up.

do we really think the upper management of a retail chain sits in a meeting and discusses “ how can we systematically lower Customer service” across our stores?

the issue is the labor force.
 
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