Why do the Home Depot people always flee when they see a customer that needs help?

Question

For instance: The electrical guy is in the plumbing aisle and the plumbing guy is in hardware. Ever time you ask for help finding something, they say, "I don't know it's not my department."

When the guy is in his own department, he flees the scene as soon as he sees a customer coming to ask for help. And those guys supposed to be experts that are just there part time to help customers? They look more like shelf stockers to me.

Answer 1

Actually, they are afraid you are going to ask them a question. Chances are, you already know more about the subject you were going to ask them than they do.

Answer 2

GREAT QUESTION! i used to work at home depot, for 5 years!! i was a cashier supervisor, and i know exactly what u mean. i dontknow where exactly the department workers would go, but it always seemed i was the "all knowing" associate that could help because i was the only one there. most of the time i would try to call the department people, and the were always on lunch and break, so i had to wing it. i mixed paint, sold power tools, helped in plumbing, garden, although i wouldnt touch electrical.. i didnt want to burn people's houses down...lol!

the company went down hill in the last 5 years. the two original starters of the company retired, and bob nardelli took over. he got rid of all the merits that the employees' had, he cut hours in all departments so that there wasnt any overlapping on associates for more than an hour or so. it was horrible, and is the main reason that i quit. im sorry that u have problems finding people, but since i know the store like the back of my hand, feel free to ask me anything! :)

Answer 3

When you see the guy in the wrong aisle it's because he was showing a customer something somewhere. He may not have an answer to every question though seeing he's not in his own dept. They are shelf stockers as well so that's why they may appear to be shelf stockers.



I used to work at Home Depot and I was always as friendly and helpful as possible. There are sometimes though that a rude customer would not only expect me to tell them where something is, but read the label for them, got the item off the shelf, and bring it to the car for them. That my friend is not my job, especially since I'm 5 feet tall and a little more than 100 pounds. Some people expect the world of you.



My bf worked at HD for awhile when a metal object fell off the shelf and wacked him in the forehead causing his to practically get knocked out and bleed profusely from his head. The customers he was helping just looked at him like, "are you just gonna' stand there or are you going to get someone else to help us?" He was rushed to the hospital and received 10 stiches.



There's 3 sides to every story. Each side and then there's the truth. :)

Answer 4

It could be the Lack of Proper Customer Service Training. There may be an issue of the employee not really caring about the job that they were hired to do. Perhaps it could be a Lazy issue also. I would contact a Manager at the store and express your issue. Also you may want to find the headquarters phone number or address to discuss your concern. Most times you can do a web search for a business address that may also include an email address for costumer complaints.

I have had the same issue as you have described. They don't seem to be professional.

I will not enter another Home Depot Store, even if they gave their merchandise away for free.

I am now a loyal Lowe's customer because of the same exact issue.

Good Luck

Answer 5

keep in mind, most of the people working in HD are either new to the work force, or semi-retired. My HD has two part-timers that are licensed electricians, retired. Those two are a wealth of information. There is a plumber that works on the weekends, he's not a friendly cuss, but he knows what he's talking about.



Now, in the flooring dept. and the building material, those kids are just for stocking and moving heavy stuff. The service desk has 1 guy that was a job superintendent before he got hurt, he has some good info on spec'ing a job (board lengths, and hardware), but he don't want to be there so he gets grouchy sometimes.



Try to keep in mind, these are people too, and they might have been dealing with people that might have been having a really bad day and took it out on them. And, it might have happened 50 times that day, before you got there. So if you walk up and ask a question that he has answered 52 times already that day, he might seem a little short with you. He also has another job to do. He is expected to keep the shelves stocked and clean, which is hard to do when he is answering the same question over and over.

Answer 6

Usually, I enter Home Depot wearing a one piece yellow bathing suit.

Being a 6 foot, 250 pound black man, it is sometimes considered intimidating. But the fact that I always wear water wings and diving fins makes them a little afraid also and they always start running in the opposite direction.

This is particularly true at coffee shops. Since I am fluent in many languages. I make it a point to only speak Yiddish or any of the remaining Romanion dialects. There is something about a 6 foot, 250 pound black man wearing water wings and swim fins and sounding like Bela Lagosi that turns people off.

Go figure!

People are SO odd that way!



But thank you for asking

Answer 7

i worked in a large hardware store and i know the employees ignored people because they didn't know where to find what you wanted.if you had a plumbing or electrical problem,they didn't know how to fix it.most of the employees are young and have never had to learn any of this.they get hired mainly to do carry-outs for customers,and doing the grunt work. otherwise the help is too lazy,so they look busy doing something so you won't ask a question.

Answer 8

I have never had a good experience at Home Depot so we only do business with Lowe's from now on! The people at Lowe's are willing to help and ask us if we need help before we even start walking up to them. Ugh! I don't shop at HD anymore....can't stand their bad service.

Answer 9

Home Depot was one of many companies that laid off"fired" higher paid employees with experience. These employees were replaced with"minimum wage" personnel. Seems the people they hired, have no clue how to answer questions for the areas they are in.

Answer 10

Bob Nardelli took over and destroyed that company. He's a loser manager that couldn't run a hot dog stand. Now he left home depot and some other idiot company hired him.

Answer 11

Not all, but i know what your saying. A lot really dont know, they are their for a paycheck only, customer service is optional, so for us who need help especially at building material stores, well we are pretty much on our own.

Answer 12

I like Lowe's a lot better.I seem to have a better shopping experience and the people are friendlier.

Answer 13

I thought Lowes was the worst. The nut you need is always out to lunch or on break

Answer 14

They do the same thing at Lowes. There is no such thing as customer service anymore.

Answer 15

Let me give you a name and see if that helps! Tony Stewart!!! Their all a**....s well... you know!!