Hardware store advice liability?

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dpcarls1598

Master Electrician
Location
Minnesota, USA
Occupation
Master Electrician
Twice now in about a year, I’ve been at a local “hardware store” (I’ll call it) picking up electrical supplies and overheard an employee giving advice on wiring to a customer.
The first time he was showing the customer that pvc and especially fittings used for water is much cheaper - He made it very clear to have the wires in place before gluing the 90 degree elbow because he’d never push it through. The last time it was showing the guy how to change out a bad breaker. Both customers were obviously not electricians or even slightly educated in it. Both employees were obviously not electricians or even slightly educated in it.
My though is what kind of liability an employee or their employer would have if something went wrong.
I’ve been asked when buying something if I’m an electrician in hope of giving free advice and I politely refuse just on the off chance something I would say could be done wrong.
 
Unless the clerk is charging money like a consultant prolly not any real legal liability.

Only a case of extreme gross negligence that results in real bad bodily harm/death or a very large amount of property damage could cause the clerk to be in part responsible, and that would be highly unlikely and very difficult to prove.
 
There may or my not be any liability, but I'd politely mention to the store manager that the advice given doesn't actually comply with the electrical code; "sure, it might work and save a few pennies, but if anybody inspects the work, it won't pass". 'course if you're in an area that doesn't get inspected, that doesn't matter much.
 
jumper said:
Unless the clerk is charging money like a consultant prolly not any real legal liability.

Only a case of extreme gross negligence that results in real bad bodily harm/death or a very large amount of property damage could cause the clerk to be in part responsible, and that would be highly unlikely and very difficult to prove.
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Chances are they sold some materials. There probably is no documentation to prove any advice that may have been given making that difficult to be liable for. They likely don't end up being liable, but doesn't mean they can't be dragged into litigation.
 
kwired said:
Chances are they sold some materials. There probably is no documentation to prove any advice that may have been given making that difficult to be liable for. They likely don't end up being liable, but doesn't mean they can't be dragged into litigation.
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Are you rebutting what I posted or speaking to the OP?

It is unclear to me.

You quote me, but I fail to see what exactly what I wrote that you are disagreeing with.
 
jumper said:
Are you rebutting what I posted or speaking to the OP?

It is unclear to me.

You quote me, but I fail to see what exactly what I wrote that you are disagreeing with.
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I maye could have reduced the quote to

Unless the clerk is charging money
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As that is sort of what I was replying to. Chances are they did sell some product so some money was involved - which certainly can complicate any litigation over the whole thing.
 
dpcarls1598 said:
Twice now in about a year, I’ve been at a local “hardware store” (I’ll call it) picking up electrical supplies and overheard an employee giving advice on wiring to a customer.
The first time he was showing the customer that pvc and especially fittings used for water is much cheaper - He made it very clear to have the wires in place before gluing the 90 degree elbow because he’d never push it through. The last time it was showing the guy how to change out a bad breaker. Both customers were obviously not electricians or even slightly educated in it. Both employees were obviously not electricians or even slightly educated in it.
My though is what kind of liability an employee or their employer would have if something went wrong.
I’ve been asked when buying something if I’m an electrician in hope of giving free advice and I politely refuse just on the off chance something I would say could be done wrong.
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I almost went to the manager after Hurricane Sandy when I heard the Home Depot jerk (opps, clerk), telling someone how to back feed their generator through the dryer.
 
GerryB said:
I almost went to the manager after Hurricane Sandy when I heard the Home Depot jerk (opps, clerk), telling someone how to back feed their generator through the dryer.
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That makes absolutely zero sense to me.
 
GerryB said:
The depot guy told the customer he could back feed his panel by hooking up the generator to his dryer.
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The dryer receptacle, I'm sure. :roll:

A friend of mine has an assembled double-male-ended cord that was actually supplied by a generator manufacturer. :jawdrop:
 
I was going to post when the question was first asked. My thinking was along the lines of the business being libel since they took the customers money. Then I Googled "Home Depot sued for giving wrong advice" and was surprised to find nothing of consequence. So I suspect that the customers are even dumber than we thought. Not only do they take bad advice, when it goes wrong they don't blame it in the advice. Musta been something they did because Home Depot clerks know what they are talking about. :dunce:


-Hal
 
There is also many DIY information sources out there - not just for wiring but for about anything imaginable.

My wife is pretty good at googling how to treat sickness/injuries and trying some of what she finds on all of the family members instead of immediately calling the doctor at even the slightest illness/injury.

I have looked up how to make certain repairs on my truck instead of taking it to the mechanic. Often didn't learn a lot, but have picked up an occasional tip or trick that made a task easier then how I would have done it.
 
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