Why I HATE Hardware Chainstores

[oldandslow]

So, my family and I put out a large garden (about 2 acres) every year. As you might guess we use a tiller quite a bit. Last fall, my old tiller, a Troy built rear tine, finally bit the big one after 12 years of use. I decided to go out and buy a new one. So I do some comparison shopping and finally decide on a Husque-Varna rear tine tiller from Bomgaars.

I buy one. I bring it home, put the proper amount of oil and gas in it, take it around the garden twice, and it starts smoking and loses all power. I freak a bit, but feel confident that Bomgaars will take care of me.

How wrong I was. I just got off the phone with the mgr and he tells me its the company's (Husque-Varna) problem, not his, and to take it to a repair shop and then bill the company. So I load the thing in my neighbor's old truck, find a repair shop, and find out engine was leaking oil into the piston and we have major damage. It's gonna take the guy quite some time to fix it and it will be costly.

So I call Husque-Varna and am told to work with the people who I bought it from...

I hate corporate America....

[Mile High Mania]

What time elapsed between purchase of the product and the problem...

What is the return policy on such a thing, per the wording on your receipt...

You always have the ability to mention the local Better Business Bureau to either the retailer or the manufacturer if things don't go your way.

[Calcountry]

Originally Posted by vailpass

In Phoenix Home Depot is everywhere and going great guns. The stores are clean and well stocked, and you can get everything you need.
Lowes are nice too, not considered as much of a hard-core hardware store. All of the contractors/construction guys shop HD.
Plus if you need an illegal dayworker of two they are right there in the back of some HD parking lots.

Nice. Just don't forget to leave the light on at your place sometime when you are gone, they tend to remember locations.

[Brock]

Originally Posted by Chief Chief

Is that the fancy term for 'titty bar'?

Uh, yeah.

[Chiefmanwillcatch]

This sh** doesn't happen with Honda. Thats why they get loyalty.

[Chiefmanwillcatch]

Originally Posted by ottawa_chiefs_fan

I went to Home Dumpo last week to get 2 garbage cans. They had the cans but no lids. I walked for 5 minutes or more around this gigantic store to find someone to help me. went to the customer service counter - on the phone, returns - on the phone. So I went back, moved all the garbage cans out into the aisle and left. I FELT GREAT and **** Home Dumpo!!!

In your anger did you also forget where you parked your car? BAD BAD home depot.

Why didn't you check out the cans before you bought them?

[stlchiefs]

Originally Posted by Chiefmanwillgetyou

In your anger did you also forget where you parked your car? BAD BAD home depot.

Why didn't you check out the cans before you bought them?

I think he was saying he was wanting the purchase the cans, but couldn't find the lids that went with them. Not that he'd purchased them and went back for lids.

BAD BAD reading comprehension Chiefmanwgy.

[ottawa_chiefs_fan]

Originally Posted by stlchiefs

I think he was saying he was wanting the purchase the cans, but couldn't find the lids that went with them. Not that he'd purchased them and went back for lids.

BAD BAD reading comprehension Chiefmanwgy.

you are correct, sir!

[dtebbe]

Originally Posted by DaKCMan AP

We needed to buy some stainless steel 1/8" and 1/4" thick bars to make a scissoring mechanism and some other items but they would have stuff that was already in an L-bracket shape.

Here's a good source for stuff when you don't need a ton. They ship most everything UPS.

http://aircraftspruce.com/

[alanm]

Originally Posted by oldandslow

http://www.bomgaars.com/index.html

They are all around NE, SD, ND, and MN.

That's funny I live in NE and I've never heard of them.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by NewPhin

I think there is a regional difference between Lowe's and HD. It seems in the South and Midwest that Lowe's is much more popular, and they seem to have better stores in general. However, if you follow remodeling and such online, people on the East Coast seems to be absolutely bonkers for Home Depot. I don't know if they don't have Lowe's there, or if their stores just aren't as good of quality there as they are here.

In my mind, there's no comparison. Our HD is completely unorganized, and you can never find anyone on the floor to help you out.

There are Home Depot's all over SoCal but there's only one Lowes that I know of in Los Angeles.

The Home Depot Hollywood is open 24 hours. It's jam packed any time of the day or night (and I've been there 2am and couldn't believe how long the lines were that night). It's reasonably clean and organized (considering the amount of traffic) but parking's always a PITA, even with two levels but the good thing is that they usually have everything I've ever needed.

Lowes, OTOH, is more of a glorified Great Indoors or Sears. They don't have much in the way of tools, hardware (nuts & bolts) and seem to be more geared towards kitchen and bathroom installations and renovations than a true hardware store. That could just be in SoCal though, as almost every home is renovated out here at one point or another.

I purchased my kitchen cabinets at Lowes and had them do the install. It was a complete and utter nightmare. One of the installers was clearly drunk. After the cabinets were installed, they mounted all of the handles incorrectly. Every single handle was crooked and not level. So Lowes had to replace every door and drawer face (as well as order more materials because their "design" program was inaccurate). It took 5 full months and a visit from the store manager to my home to finally complete my kitchen.

Fortunately, the $3,000.00 install fee was refunded. It was a true nightmare.

[go bo]

Originally Posted by Phobia

Actually - the reason for this policy is because people buy tillers, generators, and other one-time use or emergency use items and then return them - used.

Home Depot and Lowes would have told him the same thing. Their policies have recently changed.

For those of you with better service at Lowes - they're the very same. I spend about 10 hours a week in one or the other of these two stores and they're identical with their service. Sometimes you'll find somebody who is a little bit worse (or better) than the next guy but that's usually due to the individual.

FWIW, Home Depot (in my town) still offers a Veteran discount program. Lowes did until last week when they abandoned it. Guess where I'll be going for the materials I have to buy at a lumber yard now?

veteran discount?

can any veteran get that?

i probably don't do enough shopping at hd for it to make any difference, but it sounds like a great program...

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by go bowe

veteran discount?

can any veteran get that?

i probably don't do enough shopping at hd for it to make any difference, but it sounds like a great program...

Only if you bring pie

[88TG88]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

There are Home Depot's all over SoCal but there's only one Lowes that I know of in Los Angeles.

.

? Theres a bunch in my part of town.

The one I frequent is on 120th and Crenshaw. Might be a little far from you though.

[Chiefmanwillcatch]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

There are Home Depot's all over SoCal but there's only one Lowes that I know of in Los Angeles.

The Home Depot Hollywood is open 24 hours. It's jam packed any time of the day or night (and I've been there 2am and couldn't believe how long the lines were that night). It's reasonably clean and organized (considering the amount of traffic) but parking's always a PITA, even with two levels but the good thing is that they usually have everything I've ever needed.

Lowes, OTOH, is more of a glorified Great Indoors or Sears. They don't have much in the way of tools, hardware (nuts & bolts) and seem to be more geared towards kitchen and bathroom installations and renovations than a true hardware store. That could just be in SoCal though, as almost every home is renovated out here at one point or another.

I purchased my kitchen cabinets at Lowes and had them do the install. It was a complete and utter nightmare. One of the installers was clearly drunk. After the cabinets were installed, they mounted all of the handles incorrectly. Every single handle was crooked and not level. So Lowes had to replace every door and drawer face (as well as order more materials because their "design" program was inaccurate). It took 5 full months and a visit from the store manager to my home to finally complete my kitchen.

Fortunately, the $3,000.00 install fee was refunded. It was a true nightmare.

Why you stealing a cart mother****er?

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

There are Home Depot's all over SoCal but there's only one Lowes that I know of in Los Angeles.

The Home Depot Hollywood is open 24 hours. It's jam packed any time of the day or night (and I've been there 2am and couldn't believe how long the lines were that night). It's reasonably clean and organized (considering the amount of traffic) but parking's always a PITA, even with two levels but the good thing is that they usually have everything I've ever needed.

Lowes, OTOH, is more of a glorified Great Indoors or Sears. They don't have much in the way of tools, hardware (nuts & bolts) and seem to be more geared towards kitchen and bathroom installations and renovations than a true hardware store. That could just be in SoCal though, as almost every home is renovated out here at one point or another.

I purchased my kitchen cabinets at Lowes and had them do the install. It was a complete and utter nightmare. One of the installers was clearly drunk. After the cabinets were installed, they mounted all of the handles incorrectly. Every single handle was crooked and not level. So Lowes had to replace every door and drawer face (as well as order more materials because their "design" program was inaccurate). It took 5 full months and a visit from the store manager to my home to finally complete my kitchen.

Fortunately, the $3,000.00 install fee was refunded. It was a true nightmare.

I don't recommend Lowes or Home Depot install services at all. They choose the guys who can't get work elsewhere - who are willing to work for peanuts. I've seen the results of their jobs plenty. In fact, my bids frequently get beat out by Home Depot or Lowes on the low end. The high end stuff is padded sufficiently that I can compete there. But if you can imagine Home Depot taking about 60% of the profits on that job - what's left if for the contractor. There's not too many skilled guys who are gonna work for that, which is why you had that experience.