Unwanted assistance at my HD

Status
Not open for further replies.
mark32

mark32

Senior Member
Location
Currently in NJ
This morning a customer approaches me holding a Halo trim, telling me he'd like to use a BR40 with it. He believes he has a Halo 6" IC housing, soo I grab said housing off the shelf and discover that the trim he's holding (301) is not compatible with the housing. As I try to explain this to the customer and offer a solution a voice from behind me asks, "What size bulb are you using?".

Cust: The big one, T8 40
Me: He wants to use a BR40, but he has this IC housing and he wants to use this trim
Random Electrician: Ok, you can do that
Me: How is that, this trim is not listed for use for this housing
Random Electrician: Well yeah
Cust: So I can use this trim?
Me: No you can't, if you stick a BR40 in this housing look how much it will stick out
RE: Just loosen up this wing nut and push this bracket up (He demonstrates this)
Me: You can't bypass that tit, it's an IC housing dude, not to mention this is an unlisted trim, an inspector probably wouldn't let that fly
RE: AH, an inspector only cares if it's grounded. (He then quizzes the cust if he grounded the housing)

At this point I'm being called to help another customer so the electrician asked me where he could find door bell transformers, which I tell him.

Now during this conversation the customer entertained this guy but was still unsure who to believe. He begins,

Cust: Uh, I need a T8 40 for this...
Me: Sorry, I've got to go
 
celtic

celtic

Senior Member
Location
NJ
I'll turn my t-shirt inside out or leave my jacket in the truck to avoid such situations...
 
Dnkldorf

Dnkldorf

Senior Member
You guys got it all wrong.

They ain't your customers anyway, are they?

Have fun with them, have them buy stuff they don't need, or the wrong things altogether.

Tell him how cheap PVC pipe is now, and how he should stock up now for future projects.

That kinda stuff.

He won't remember you....
 
mark32

mark32

Senior Member
Location
Currently in NJ
Thanks Dennis,

It wasn't clear in my post but I do work at the Home Depot, I'm the "Specialist" or as they call it the master trades specialist, which I can't stand.

Yes NolaTigaBait, I agree with you, but this nosy guy, if he were a seasoned profession, would have known what I was saying to be true and not to confuse the customer or step on what I was trying to convey. Of course some guys bypass the little tit on IC housings but I can't recommend that to a customer, what a jackass. It just burned me up.
 
Dennis Alwon

Dennis Alwon

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Chapel Hill, NC
Occupation
Retired Electrical Contractor
Well Mark I am glad to know there is someone at a home depot somewhere that knows something about electrical. We hear so many stories of the salesman giving bad advice. Congrats to you. :smile:
 
A

Aledrell

Senior Member
Hmmm.

Hmmm.

You know what they say....."Those who can do, and those who can't work at HD" lol......but Mark you must be the exception not the rule.....:grin:
 
mark32

mark32

Senior Member
Location
Currently in NJ
Thanks for the kind words Dennis and Aledrell.

Aledrell, yeah I can't really bad mouth HD, they've been good to me although I understand what you are saying. Realistically they can't have an entire store staffed with the best and most knowledgeable folks, the money and sane scheduling isn't there for that kind of talent. Like anywhere the problems lay with unmotivated employees, employees that don't take their job seriously, that don't educate themselves, and don't care what the outcome maybe. What really drives me crazy about HD, aside from customers ripping open boxes and taking parts, is keeping stock on the shelves. The guy we have doing our ordering is a nice fellow but doesn't know anything about electrical parts and has a hard time anticipating when and what to order. Right now I'm out of deep strut, been that way for a week, probably be another week before I get it in stock. Last year I was out of ground rods for close to two months, the list goes on so when a contractor comes in and we're out of #4 copper or something we should never be out of I feel foolish and sympathetic. Foolish because I represent HD and we don't have what you need and sympathetic because I know what that feels like, to have to waste more time running around town for common supplies, damn! HD really tries to do the right thing but there are weak links in the chain right now, hopefully this will improve, I know we can do better.
 
mark32

mark32

Senior Member
Location
Currently in NJ
Dennis Alwon said:
Well Mark I am glad to know there is someone at a home depot somewhere that knows something about electrical. We hear so many stories of the salesman giving bad advice. Congrats to you. :smile:
Click to expand...

Dennis, I'm actually in Celtic's territory but he hasn't stopped by yet, as far as I know. Come on by Celtic, I can get you a good deal on some 12/4 romex we received by accident ;)
 
P

pbeasley

Senior Member
Location
Orange County, CA (for now)
mark32 said:
What really drives me crazy about HD, aside from customers ripping open boxes and taking parts, is keeping stock on the shelves. The guy we have doing our ordering is a nice fellow but doesn't know anything about electrical parts and has a hard time anticipating when and what to order. Right now I'm out of deep strut, been that way for a week, probably be another week before I get it in stock. Last year I was out of ground rods for close to two months, the list goes on so when a contractor comes in and we're out of #4 copper or something we should never be out of I feel foolish and sympathetic.
Click to expand...

Just ran into this at the local HD... went looking for 1 and 2 device, 1" mudrings. They stocked the single device in 0", 1/4", 1/2", 5/8", 3/4", 1", and 1-1/4". 2 device came in 1/2", 3/4", and 1-1/4". I asked one person why no 2dev. x 1", the answer I got... "yeah, sorry, the guy ordering this stuff has never been in the field." :roll:
 
celtic

celtic

Senior Member
Location
NJ
mark32 said:
Dennis, I'm actually in Celtic's territory but he hasn't stopped by yet, as far as I know. Come on by Celtic, I can get you a good deal on some 12/4 romex we received by accident ;)
Click to expand...


Where were you yesterday when I was humping door slabs into my truck? :grin:
 
S

SmithBuilt

Senior Member
Location
Foothills of NC
Mark it happens on both side of the isle. There is a "specialist" at a HD near me that tells everyone aluminum wire has been completely outlawed by the 08 nec. After wasting 1 minute of my life trying to convince him otherwise I ask why they still stocked it, he said they couldn't sell what they had because of the code change. :confused:
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top