Today I went to the local home center, and I found what we have found there all too often: employees who were well intentioned and enthusiastic … but didn’t have a clue about their departments. This happens even at places that claim to be staffing their places with ‘licensed professionals,’ or to have a ‘trade pro’ running the department.
So …. has anyone here ever offered their services to one of these places, to address the ‘incompetent help’ problem? What were your experiences?
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Replies
why would a pro work for $8 a hour so why would you think that HD knew what they talking about. A pro would be in the field amaking $20 a hour. I dont exspect HD to know how do anything but tell me where the 16 p nails are.
1 reason I've heard is for the benefits and steady paycheck. Not interesting to me though.
But why would you think anyone is making $8 an hour at HD? I know guys, experienced lumber salesmen for instance, making well over $20 an hour there. I actually don't think I know anyone who is making $8 an hour there. But I take your point and agree. If you're going to HD looking for advice you're already in trouble. I actually overheard a paint clerk telling a guy to buy a can of drywall texture spray to repair his pool deck because the texture would match.
But why would you think anyone is making $8 an hour at HD?
NOT $8 an hour, but probably not much more.
I have a friend and ex business partner who used to work there part time. He left when he was too busy.
When things slowed he went to another store and applied. He had been making $16.50 at the other store, working in millwork.
He was hired.....and told $9.50 an hour. He questioned that and was told it was the regional manager's policy.
He used to be a DURON sales rep and actually knew the regional manager....................so he called and asked.
YUP! new store policy. noone starts for more than $9.50 per hour. REGARDLESS of experience.
This is in Eastern PA, in an area that has exploded with NJ/NYC overflow.
Currently, orange does not pay very well.
If you got in before Nardelli swung the axe, pay was pretty decent.
The only well paying positions in the orange box are "pro plumber" and "pro electrical", and you must hold a current license to apply. Some stores may be phasing out the positions as people leave.
If you mean soliciting customers for work... well, you are going after people that may not want to pay a pro in the first place.
I am not familiar with any "pro" positions open at the blue store.
Brings back memories....
I worked in an old fashioned hardware when I was younger. I knew alot, especially about tools which was the department I worked in. If I didn't know I would find out.
However I worked under an older guy in the department, and I learned alot from him. If I didn't know what handle fit a not often seen gardening tool, all I had to do was ask Jack.
I felt like I knew alot and I did. However until I learned my way around, and got my foot in the door, I shut my mouth and listened to the older guys. When I had to ask if we had this or that, I would watch how the older guy handled the customer and what he told them. I learned alot.
The customer base was older folk who were used to dealing with dave, or jack, and when they saw a new face they often wouldn't give you the time of day. They would ask for the older guy. I would try to help them and tell them what they needed but then we would go find dave and he would tell them the same thing I told them.
Because I was quiet and resisted the pressure to feel like I had to handle everything myself and because I would ask for help in the prescence of the customer, I gradually earned the respect of the older guys. They would come to me and ask if we had a tool for this or that. It was a really good feeling to know that I had their respect and that I they knew that I knew what I was talking about....
...In retail you kind of develop an esp of how things are going to go when dealing with a customer. Like for example, I see two guys headed for the nut and bolt isle. One of them is carrying a reciprocating saw. I see that the saw is a bit older, and it is a makita so, -- I knew that they have come in to replace the allen screw in the blade holder, I knew that as I was getting a pop out of the machine, didn't even have to talk to them, I just followed them and openned the drawer to the screws and said you probably need one of these.....
I took pride in giving good information. Now when I go to the box store I can tell half of the workers dont know what I am talking about, and forget having them check anything on the phone for you. I called one time to check the price on something, he said "I don't think we have that." I said " Sure you do its down the shopvac isle about midway down on the left hand side" ...
Oh well, lots of good memories.Webby
>>....in the orange box are "pro plumber" and "pro electrical", and you must hold a current license to apply.....<<
I never knew that, but it does explain alot.
The only two competent people at the HD near me are the electrical guy and the plumbing guy.
I knew the electrical guy was licensed and works "on the side" from HD with his licenses (3 states actually, DE, MD, PA). The plumbing guy probably does also....
JimNever underestimate the value of a sharp pencil or good light.
I knew the electrical guy was licensed and works "on the side" from HD with his licenses (3 states actually, DE, MD, PA). The plumbing guy probably does also....
*If* they are sidejobbing out of HD (ie: soliciting customers), they can be fired for it.
Didn't know that either, glad I didn't name him.....nice guy, good resource for me, I'd hate to see him leave. His name is "unique" and I'm pretty sure that there is only one person working for HD in the whole country with his name.
Big orange has ears everywhere......
I don't think he solicits customers from the HD customer base.
I solicited him once for a job I had in MD, didn't work out, so we never worked together.
JimNever underestimate the value of a sharp pencil or good light.
I wouldn't be surprised if Boss has tried to get a job at one. I'd do it if I thought they were hiring at all.
I was kidding around with the guy in the plumbing section at Lowes a month or so ago. I told him if the economy got much worse I'd be there helping him sort fittings. He leaned over whispered to me that they were hiring but weren't advertising the fact. I told him I was kidding but he kept insisting that I fill out an application. I ran.
Incompetent staffing at a Home Center?!! Are you sure?!!!!
What is this world coming too?
don't know it for the gospel but was talking to a friend yesterday who told me the local orange store is only offering 89 days of employment to new employees. that way they don't have to pay benefits.
Truth there.
However, the orange store merely *offers* benefits.
The employee has to pay for them, and the expense is significant for the coverage offered- especially for part timers.
that doesnt surprize too much .thanks for the additional info.
My painter worked at HD for years. He was a self employeed single Dad at the time and needed health insurance for himself and his kids. He worked 2 or 3 evenings a week, high school age kids watched the middle school age kids, and put in a full Sat or Sunday. He managed the schedule just enough hours to qualify to buy into the health insurance and worked just enough to cover the costs.
His take home pay was usually around $5 or so. Working there simply provided and paid for the insurance. The customers at that particular store got the benefit of a legitimate professional painter.
He's married now with most all the kids grown and out of the house. No more working nights and weekends at HD.
It's hard to think of Home Depot as having been around long enough to raise a family ... they still seem like they jusy popped up yesterday!
Well, his kids weren't babies when he started, but I do know what you mean.
They have been here for over 20 years. That's plenty long to raise a family.
Plenty time to make'em and move'em.
My younger brother worked his way through college at the orange box. He was handy, but no pro. At age 20 or so, never having installed tile, they had him doing tiling demonstrations....
After graduation they wanted him to stay on, in the management track. I think he said managers made $80K and up, and this was ten years ago. I convinced him to come work with me as a carpenter for a few months before he entered the "real world." He's still working with wood.
And of course he always makes more than 80k right?
Yes, but he's got a pretty sweet gig.
I worked at HD after retiring from the service. They did not hire me because I knew anything about building (I don't), they did not hire me because I knew anything about retail (I don't).they hired me because I was in the service and they figured I would do as I was told....I made it 55 days!
What HD (and others) is is Retail. What They Want you to do is buy things. What they hire people to do is sell things.
When I was there they had only two people that were Pro's. The guy in Mill work had done doors and windows most of his life. So they moved him to plumbing. The guy in Building material new more about lumber then anybody I have ever spoken to but he couldn't "sell" roofing installations and was let go.
If you are interested in "Retail" it's as good as any other place to work!
When I need help or advice I go here and the lumber yard across the street from HD.
from time to time I've investigated it, but backed away real quick for various reasons.
First off, you gotta disclose a whole bunch of details of your past and endeavours.
Of course, the insurances, liability, Workers comp, bus. Lic, etc, Stuff that a lot of folks don't bother with. But then they also ask for stuff like
your taxable income, for past years,
your client names,
and a bunch of other stuff that is really none of their business.
And you provide a quote for say, installing a countertop. Client wants you to install a new sink that they bought at a competitor. You can't do that, according to some of the contracts I've read.
Any complaints have to be resolved from the borg perspective by the borg folks, before you get paid. Did I say "charge backs". And it's all up to them, you got no input at all
And whats the point of scrabbeling for their business?
Betcha if you go to any of the departments and ask if one of the guys does installs on the side, you'll find someone to do it for cash money or has a "buddy" that does it.
In other words these guys often (not always) pick off the cream of the crop for folks shopping for an installation, and leave the rest (ie "non-cream" to the "installation dept"
That's just my perspective on the topic.
Eric
First off, you gotta disclose a whole bunch of details of your past and endeavours.
They must not check the backgrounds too deeply. Not my painter, he's a clean as they come, but I do know several others that wouldn't pass a background check to ride the public transportation they take to work at Home Depot and Lowes.
Well, folks, I certainly appreciate the feedback.
Contracting through one of the home centers is another animal completely, and working through, or for, these self-proclaimed 'monster' firms certainly does have its' quirks. Perhaps that's why -at least in plumbing and electrical- I've not seen the "top shelf" contractors bother with them.
I was referring more specifically to the 'trade pro' personnell on the sales floors. We've all heard the stories - as well as the home center advertising extoling their wonderful help. On the surface, it looked to me as though the 'trade pto' positions were an opportunity to be part of the solution, rather than just sit back and complain.
Alas, the assurances of the firms aside .... my survey of the area shows absolutely zero interest by any of the home centers in actually hiring trade pros. Instead, I've found several stores that are -to be nice about it- weak. This seems to be directly tied to some shuffling going on at the store manager (and higher) level.
So, box stores, there you have it: the hourly folks mean well, but management is making it impossible for them to perform well.
I know some of those "pros" and their pay is in the $20+ an hour range... a range not too uncommon for old line employees.
In contrast, new hires at the cashier level are at $8... or whatever minimum wage is.
All of that is really a moot point as there is, essentially, a hiring freeze. For the most part, new hires are 89 dayers- that way HD does not have to offer benefits.
If a current trade "pro" quits HD or gets promoted to customer, I don't see that person being replaced with another high dollar employee. The whole "pro" program was started when the economic climate was much better.
So, box stores, there you have it: the hourly folks mean well, but management is making it impossible for them to perform well.
That about sums it up.
It's a slightly different situation here.
We have a few HD stores in Quebec, but mostly what we have are two home-grown big-box chains: RONA and BMR. They dominate the hardware and building-supply market in this province almost totally. There are very few independent yards or hardware stores left. The chains have either absorbed them, or run them out of business.
The floor workers get between $12 and $15 an hour; the materials counter people a bit more. No commissions. Plumbing and electric dept. are usually staffed by a retired plumber or electrician, and might make a few dollars more, or by a youngster with a trade-school certficate but no license (so they don't get the extra money).
Other departments--flooring, paint, tools, hardware, etc.--are staffed by anyone they can hire...and are theoretically run through a training course given by the franchisor. You notice that, because what they train them to do is push high-profit materials (like floating flooring) at the expense of traditional materials (like unfinished hardwood) for which the profit margin is much lower. Otherwise, they don't know jack.
The counter guys are a different story. Most of them are 'retired' (read: 'failed' or 'given up') contractors or independent tradesmen. Some are so bad, you know without even asking why they're standing behind a counter with their fingers up their nose.
But a few others really know their stuff, and I asked one guy I knew fairly well what the hell he was doing there.
'I was doing what you're doing,' he said. 'Working for myself, doing remods, all sorts of work. Making good money, but never able to handle more than one or two jobs at a time, because I could never find decent, dependable guys to work for me. Anybody any good was doing the same thing I was doing; anybody looking for a job was looking because he was a loser.
'So I packed it in, and took this job. Yeah, it's only a third of the money, but...no stress; steady work; and I don't gotta freeze my fingers off all winter.'
That was three years ago. He's not there anymore; went back to contracting last year....
Dinosaur
How now, Mighty Sauron, that thou art not broughtlow by this? For thine evil pales before that whichfoolish men call Justice....
I was laid off from a professional (manufacturing) position this spring. I had lots of time on my hands and as a "just in case" curiosity I struck up conversations with several employees of Home Depot to see how they liked working there, what their backgrounds were, and what typical pay was. They all said around the $10/hour range. Perhaps genuine pros are paid more, but $10 would be less than unemployment would pay.
Most liked their jobs, expecially retired folks. After a hard career, having a really low stress easy job that gets one out of the house was attractive.