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

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bradleyelectric said:
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.
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Oh no..I'm not saying that...just that customers go there for help and advice, be it right or wrong.

Yes, the training is very minimal...at the HD near me that I have been trying to get on PT, the head of electrical dept told me that he started 5 years ago in the door department and worked his way into this position....he has never had any electrical training, except from HD, yet heads the dept, along with having to know the dept on either side of electrical isles.

Told him that was why he should have a licensed sales associate working for them, to advise correctly. Also informed him about code violations with materials they were selling...ie....2005 Ugly's book, we are on 2008 here....Bucannon crimp sleeves, no correct crimper....etc...
 
Anybody think about the reverse of the liability issue? The house burns down and the HO goes after the "Electrical expert" badge wearing guy for selling him the wrong part? Because of his rights, I guess i would have to sell it to him, but not before I tried to discourage it with the facts about why it is the wrong part and the consequences.
 
The stores in area have signs that say something like we reserve the right to deny sale to anyone for any reason. It's never happened to me, but I've been questioned a few times on what I was trying to accomplish with the things I wanted to purchase.
 
As to "losing our rights:"

As I see it, we all have the 'right to contract.' Every sale is a contract. Both parties have nearly absolute right to decline to enter into any specific contract.

To carry this to an absurdity, if Lowes decided to sell only to folks driving pink Volvos, or those who drew a winning Blackjack hand ... that's within their rights.

There are only a few 'protected classes' who may not be discriminated against. Without getting off on THAT tangent, suffice to say lawyers will have plenty of (paid) fun debating whether an "idiot" is a protected "disabled" class.
 
boy i'm thinkin of going to hd for a job...25hr + benefits + warm
and all the side work you can muster up from all the idiots that come in....:D
 
roger said:
And it really shouldn't however, one city close to me has a very simple test to show mechanical skills and basic electrical understanding a HO must take and pass before they can pull a permit.

IMO, I think weekend warrior mechanics working on brakes and front ends put more people at risk than the DIYer electrical repairers.

Roger
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You are right about the weekend mechanics, I spent a number of years in the automotive trades to witness their feeble attempsts at safe repairs; I saw som scary stuff undre some rice rockets.:rolleyes:
As for the idea of testing HO's before issuing a permit; You're making a prety broad assumption that anyone performing such a subpar repair would even consider pulling a permit, or even that they would know you are supposed to!
 
I did a short stint at Lowes a ways back as a commercial sales rep and was helping out at the counter when a older gentleman brought up a aluminum poled extension chainsaw for cutting high branches.

He went on to describe his situation. After the storm his neighbors tree fell on his service drop, and he had multiple branches laying on it. He planned to cut and remove the branches.

His question was "do you think that the fact that it's raining - it will wreck the motor in the chainsaw (electric)?"

I know I'm not supposed to butt in, -BUT- I couldn't help myself.

"So" I said "is the power still on?"

He said "yes"

"you know the power co will come cut the branches for free - right?"

"yea, but I cant wait"

"have you considered the fact that this saw and what you're attempting to do could electrocute you?"

"no I am going to be insulated"

"how's that?"

"I'm going to be standing on my aluminum ladder!"



I didn't sell him the saw and explained why, and I don't really care if someone didn't like it (I didn't get fired and the guy seemed to appreciate my concern)

I didn't preach, I just asked questions in a friendly manner. When I felt I was going to be reading about this guy tomorrow, I had no choice but to protect him from himself - be it my concern or not.

Just because he had the right to kill himself doesn't mean I have to be an accomplice because he has rights's...

Glad I don't work there any more - I saw a lot of these type problems!

Jim
 
Stand in line

Stand in line

A couple of years ago I went to the local HD to pick up a couple of lamps for the garage. While picking up the lamps I was standing next to an electrical sale clerk who was trying to help out a customer with a fixture bar problem. He really didn't know what the guy needed, so of course I had to jump in and help. I helped the customer with the fixture bar problem and the next thing I know someone else is standing there asking me for help on another electrical problem. I looked up and the sales clerk is nowhere to be found. To make a long story short, I gladly helped out three customers with their electrical questions before getting out of the store. You just got to love the big box stores.
 
stevenje said:
. . . so of course I had to jump in and help. I helped the customer with the fixture bar problem and the next thing I know someone else is standing there asking me for help on another electrical problem. I looked up and the sales clerk is nowhere to be found. To make a long story short, I gladly helped out three customers with their electrical questions before getting out of the store. You just got to love the big box stores.
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so what did they pay you?


you didn't give your services away for free, right? :wink:
 
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