Monday, November 26, 2018
This is How Bad Your Customer Service Is.
I was looking online for a utility car/trailer for my riding lawn mower, and I found one at your store.
Here's the link to that item for your reference:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Brinly-Hardy-650-lb-10-cu-ft-Tow-Behind-Poly-Utility-Cart-PCT-101BH/203210748
I drove to your store this afternoon. I went to the Lawn and Garden Center, but was not able to find that item, initially. Several Home Depot employees passed me by, both times with their heads lowered and moving quickly. None asked if I needed assistance.
I went back into the store, looked around again, then back to the outside Lawn and Garden area where I found the item.
There was only one; it was fully assembled (although dirty as it may have been used), but a little water would resolve that.
There was a floor level sign with the description of the item and the price, $179.00, which was the same price as listed on the Home Depot website.
So, I brought the item to the outdoor cashier. She seemed to be very inexperienced and very hesitant, perhaps because she's a temporary, seasonal worker. Or, perhaps because there wasn't a UPC barcode on the utility cart. I pointed her to the aforementioned sign, and she walked over and looked at that. She came back to the register and called someone (a manager?) to get clarification on the price. Apparently the fact that the item was assembled caused her to think that it might be more expensive than the same item in the box.
The person she called her apparently told her to ask one of the two Home Depot employees that were also in the Lawn and Garden area. She went over to talk to them. One of them suggested she call the manager, but she told them the manager had told her to talk to them.
So, after several more minutes of uncertainty, she rang up the utility cart and I paid for it and proceeded to my car.
After opening the trunk of my car, I realized I wouldn't be able to fit the entire cart in the trunk. I was going to have to disassemble the cart from the axle and wheels to fit.
Fortunately, I had my tools with me and I began the disassembling process. While doing so, a Home Depot customer was leaving, but he walked over to me and asked if I needed any help. I thanked him but told him I would be able to get the cart disassembled and into my car.
As I continued the process, another Home Depot customer came over to me. He was driving a pickup truck and offered to put the cart in his truck and drive it to my house. I was taken aback by such a kind and considerate gesture, but thanked him as I finished up and headed home.
How ironic: two strangers see somewhere that might need some help, and the two strangers come up to me and offer their assistance.
Meanwhile, the Home Depot employees who are being paid to assist their customers didn't even bother to look at me while I was in their store, much less utter any words about assistance, such as a simple "can I help you find something?"
Unfortunately, this is not the end of the story.
Once home, I take the cart out of my car. I note that the axle and the inside wheels are both rusted slightly. Also, two of the screws that hold the axle and wheel to the plastic cart have come through the plastic. A note to the manufacturer: When attaching hard plastic (the cart) to metal (the axle and wheels), it would be beneficial to put a washer on the plastic-side up against the screw to provide for broader support.
I'll be returning this utility cart on Tuesday. It is a cheaply constructed product, and for the $179.00 I paid for it, I could probably build one with an axle, wheels and some lumber.
I hope this letter will stimulate, at minimum, some thought as to what level of customer service you and your staff are providing to your customers. As a frequent Home Depot shopper, and almost always at your store, I have seen a decline in the level of service over the last five years in particular. A quick glance at Home Depot, Inc. 2017 revenue and statement from your CEO: "Our ongoing commitment to enhance the interconnected retail experience for our customers, provide localized and innovative product, and deliver best in class productivity resulted in record sales and net earnings for 2017," said Craig Menear, chairman, CEO and president. "I would like to thank our associates for their solid execution and exceptional work in service to our customers."
That's quite a lofty statement by Mr. Menear and perhaps his lofty words are playing out in Home Depot stores across this country.
Unfortunately, they ring hollow to me, based on my local experience shopping at your store. read more