Lowe's guy wouldn't sell a FPE to a customer

[peter d]

I do belive you are right, but I also know there has been discussions on here as to who we have chosen not to service. We feel we have the right to decide that.

Yes, and nobody has said an individual business owner is devoid of that right to make that choice. A large corporation like Lowes does not have that right without a written policy of some sort that allows its employees that freedom to pick and choose.

 

[mdshunk]

I do belive you are right, but I also know there has been discussions on here as to who we have chosen not to service. We feel we have the right to decide that.

Yes, and many of those decisions are based on the working conditions we'd have to subject ourselves to, or the likelihood of getting paid. Abnormally poor working conditions or a feeling that it might be difficult to get paid are both valid reasons to not service a customer. I have bid work really high, in hopes of not getting it, simply based on my perception of the customer's personality.

 

[wbalsam1]

I can just see the store of the future...a pharmacy/hardware that has this sign on the front door and perhaps a sticker on the cash register:


"Welcome to Harry & Pauline's Hardware & Pharmacy. We appreciate your patronage and ask that you follow our simple rules.

• Chris is our employee of the month and due to his personal preferences refuses to sell antibiotics to electricians and steam fitters since he doesn't believe in them. If you'd like to purchase antibiotics please see our management to make other arrangements
• Wilbur has been with us a short while but we like him and he has expressed a disinterest in serving those who may have tested positive for HIV, so if you're in the hardware store looking at electrician tools and fall into this category, be sure and ask for Karen who has reserved her opinion and simply wants to work for us and not influence our business one way or the other.

 

[steelersman]

There's a beauty supply shop here that has a big stop sign on the door that saying something like they only sell to licensed cosmonauts, or some such thing.

FYI it's cosmetologists

 

[steelersman]

Those laws apply to everyone and not just the people that some policeman thinks is to dumb to drive without a seatbelt.

What if some car sales person decided that you couldn't buy a certain model of car because you have to many speeding tickets. It may be for your own good but the sales person does not have the right to make that decision.

yes but with the seatbelt laws which are only intended to give the cops a reason to pull someone over hoping to find a bigger violation, you can only harm yourself by not wearing one, not others, so it shouldn't be a law to have to wear one yourself as the driver if you choose not to.

 

[kbsparky]

.... I have bid work really high, in hopes of not getting it, simply based on my perception of the customer's personality.

And how many times have you actually gotten those jobs anyways?

I've had a few, and my bank account appreciates them as well.

 

[~Shado~]

What about a bartender who has someone in front of him that has fallen off the bar stool three times and is slurring about how rough a drive home it is going to be and then orders another drink? It is legal to purchase a drink but don't you think the bartender should have the discretion to cut that person off?

I tended bar for a few years (easiest, funnest money ever) and yes it was my right and obligation to decide when to cut them off, as I was also liable for any lawsuits that might have been filed on behalf of the patron. When I would cut them off, I also informed the waitresses and manager, then we would offer to call a cab and pay for it. I could also be fined and sued for serving minors or anyone (even if I knew they were old enough) without a ID on their person. Simply the law here. I ticked off ALOT of folks, even got into several brawls, but my life and family takes priority over anyone elses.

As far as the box employee refusing to sell, I disagree with his decision. Homeowners going to the box stores do not always understand the requirements for install of of items in any area of homes, plumbing, electrical, etc....but depend on the sales agent to help them. I am a perfect example, as I do not know load bearing calcs for lumber, pressures for plumbing, etc. It is my right to be able to do the work myself, and seek the correct info from them. He should have only offered/informed them of the correct item and be done with it.

As far as giving out bad advice, I have and probably always will correct them. Life safety, for me, takes priorty over sales any day.

 

[Power Tech]

And how many times have you actually gotten those jobs anyways?

I've had a few, and my bank account appreciates them as well.

Love it when I get a job and say,"Bid that job like I didn't want it".

 

[growler]

FYI it's cosmetologists

I think Marc is right, Russian astronauts are called cosmonauts and they do like to look good for those long space flights. That's why they buy all those beauty products. Image is very important in that part of the world, Linen would spend hours polishing his head.

 

[480sparky]

..... Image is very important in that part of the world, Linen would spend hours polishing his head.

Lenin.:smile:

 

[wallyworld]

Isn't it the policy of this website not to help DIYers do electrical work? So what if they kill themselves by doing shoddy work, its their right to do so?

 

[mdshunk]

Isn't it the policy of this website not to help DIYers do electrical work? So what if they kill themselves by doing shoddy work, its their right to do so?

In a nutshell, yes. Just don't ask me to assist them in that endeavor.

 

[growler]

So what if they kill themselves by doing shoddy work, its their right to do so?

Look at it another way. Should people only be allowed to do things that are safe? You would have to outlaw hunting, swimming, bicycling, rock climbing, hang gliding, scuba diving, football ( all contact sports really), racing of all types, and the list could just keep going.

The reason that a person has the right to do certain stupid things is that's about all the government control that people are willing to live with. I don't think any of us wants to live in a society where we are only allowed to do what someone else may think is in our best interest.

If you don't have the right to do a few stupid things or make a few offensive comments then you are not free.

I try to live with the existing laws but I'm in no hurry for them to put more restrictions on the books.

 

[480sparky]

...... So what if they kill themselves by doing shoddy work, its their right to do so?

But who else are they going to take out with them in their endeavor to save a few bucks?

 

[Minuteman]

If people were not allowed to do dumb, dangerous things, how else would we thin out the herd?

 

[bradleyelectric]

As far as the box employee refusing to sell, I disagree with his decision. Homeowners going to the box stores do not always understand the requirements for install of of items in any area of homes, plumbing, electrical, etc....but depend on the sales agent to help them. I am a perfect example, as I do not know load bearing calcs for lumber, pressures for plumbing, etc. It is my right to be able to do the work myself, and seek the correct info from them. He should have only offered/informed them of the correct item and be done with it.

As far as giving out bad advice, I have and probably always will correct them. Life safety, for me, takes priorty over sales any day.

The problem with that thought is in most areas the electrical specialists were given a 2 week course in the back of the store detailing what they sell. Do you think in 2 weeks big box employees get enough knowledge to be able to give information about electrical work? If so why would you have to correct the information they give? Do you think the lack of knowledge is limited to the electrical department? I don't.

 

[bradleyelectric]

yes but with the seatbelt laws which are only intended to give the cops a reason to pull someone over hoping to find a bigger violation, you can only harm yourself by not wearing one, not others, so it shouldn't be a law to have to wear one yourself as the driver if you choose not to.

It costs taxpayers money to scrape human remains off the road that fly through windshields due to not wearing seatbelts. That said I prefer to take that chance and don't mind paying the extra for those that feel the same way.

 

[Minuteman]

My son is home on leave and we were discussing this issue. He reminded me of a principle that I taught him. "What I don't know, I'm not responsible for. What I do know I am a accountable for".

So, If a customer wants me to install grow lights for his marijuana operation, am I accountable enough to at least tell him that I can't do it?

 

[steelersman]

It costs taxpayers money to scrape human remains off the road that fly through windshields due to not wearing seatbelts. That said I prefer to take that chance and don't mind paying the extra for those that feel the same way.

Like I said it hurts nobody other than the person not wearing it. Paying a highway worker to clean up after it isn't hurting anyone. In fact it could be job security.

 

[steelersman]

If a customer wants me to install grow lights for his marijuana operation, am I accountable enough to at least tell him that I can't do it?

I'd have no qualms about installing a grow light for someone. I don't care what they are using it for. If it happens to be for growing marijuana, I wouldn't care as that isn't hurting anyone. And FWIW I don't smoke it. I'm not an advocate. But I certainly don't think it should be a crime for one to partake in that activity if they aren't harming anyone else by doing it.