All,
Just had to go to HD today (couldn’t stay away 🙂 to get some wood. While waiting in line the kid in front of me, who was about 3 years old picked up a small silver tape measure and was playing w/ it. His dad turned to him and said, “Let’s go!” and with that both the boy and the tape measure went out the door.
No alarm was sounded.
I remarked to the clerk that it appears that those tape measures don’t trip the alarm when they have not been scanned at the register.
Her reply, “I don’t pay attention to those type of things. I just check out the customers. I don’t know anything about it.”
I want that clerk to check me out everytime I go to HD.
dlb
p.s. Please no comments concerning why I did not stop the thief. That’s not the intent of this post – I can live w/ my own concience quiet well.
Replies
Be intersting to know if the Dad brought it back when he disccovered the kid had it.
Naw, his conscience is probably as porous as Dale's..
Phill Giles
The Unionville Woodwright
Unionville, Ontario
What, you think Dale should have gone after the guy himself? He reported to the store's representative; in my opinion he met any moral, ethical or legal responibility that might possibly exist in a situation like that.
And what evidencce in the original post can you point to support your conclusion about the father? Aren't you showing some biases here?
This post was not about me but about the very poor attitude the HD clerk had concerning theivery. I expected a reply along the lines of "I will tell the store manager so we can verify it" or "Thanks for the alert, I'll check it out"
Some people are conciously incompentent and this was a very fine example of such.
-o-o
dlb
Dale,
Exactly. I was responding to Phills response, which I felt was misguided.
####.
Jeff.......Sometimes on the toll road of life.....a handful of change is good.......
I was at the checkout in Sears last year, and a couple of people walked right out the door with a circular saw, that was on display in the isle. The two clerks watched them and then looked at each and shrugged and went back to checking me out. I shook my head and muttered something like. "Next time I oughta us the express checkout too." It kills me when employees show indifference.
Maybe we ought to go into the security business as there sure seems to be a lack of it.
dlb
That's nuthin'.
A high school pal of mine got a job at HD. (no I wouldn't hire him). Anyway, his first day the manager wanted him to be a thief, to eval. the store proceedures. (before anyone knew him). Needless to say, he spent all day, in and out, filling shopping carts. Thousands in DeWalt scm saws and compressors. Big stuff. I'm sure the staff got a stern meeting w/ the store manager that eve.
Can't I go 1 day without spilling my coffee?
I was at Ames department store, which is going out of business. My wife and I bought a bunch of craft supplies and as an afterthought, picked up a couple of Slim Jims that were at the register (an impulse buy.). The kid at the register tried to scan them with no success. He then punched at the keyboard with much fury. After a minute or so he gave up and just threw them in the bag. I thought that this was probably part of the reason they are going down the tubes, but took it a bit further. The kid is losing his job, management is woefully trained themselves, not to mention overworked. Add a couple more variables and the result is a surly workforce who doesn't give a damn, and a corporation that will accept certain losses as a write off, and higher prices for us all.
So you bring up an interesting point related to our business ... Quality control
Do you let others perform the work and you manage the results?
Do you work along side managing as needed?
In my 15+ months of being in business I have hired only 2 persons for less than one day so I can maintain the quality of the work being performed.
I feel that substandard work is prevalent throughout and we accept it with just a wimper.
Enough of my soapbox. I appreciate your input.
dlb
I used to work for myself, but I was a lousy businessman. I underestimated the time it would take because I was so persnickity. I also hate paperwork with a passion. I currently take care of a paper factory that has four buildings; the newest is 87 years old. I am also renovating my house that was built in 1660. Total gut job.
I am too much of a worker to be a distant manager. Quality is always number one, but that is not in vogue in the sevice industry. Good luck with your business.
Paul
I've got one for you about HD......
My wife and I went one day - I got 4 or 5 sheets of CDX, a few 2 X 4's, then headed to the pisser. My wife headed to the garden shop & I was to meet her there.....On the way, she picked up 2 gallons of primer for something she was working on independant of me.
I met up with her in the flowers and took off for a checkstand, said I load-up & pick her up there.
I went to the checkstands, the lines were long, except for the contractor's line. I scooted down there.
The checker scanned the boards & sheets, but didn't bother to BEND OVER to check under the wood lying on the damn cart!
I got to the van, threw in the boards, then the CDX. What a surprise, my HD 'Contractor's discount' for almost $30.00 was right in front of me!! <G>
*******
Being the honest & moral kind of guy, I returned them the next day..........
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for store credit! <LOL>
GeoD
It's common knowledge around here that Depot does not prosecute shoplifters. So even if your caught all they do is take the loot and let you go. So why should the employee care, most of them steal more then the customers.