On Thu, 8 May 2008 12:24:09 -0400, "Tim J."
wrote:

Larry L typed:
Recently I pointed out that "customer service" is a good place for
real, breathing, humans.

Apparently I have too much effect on the local Home Depot.

My wife wanted me to do a few things before I leave in a week for my
Montahoming trip, so I went shopping. I found the needed
materials and headed to check out only to find that there was ONE
register manned by a human ( with a huge line ) and the rest
contained talking machines ... "Self check out"

Now I admit being, may even be a bit proud of being, a grumpy old man
fed up with many of the trappings of our 'culture' like everyone
looking like they are in the Borg collective Bluetooth stuck in ear,
or 'reality' TV. But, honestly, I find having a machine talking to me ( to
take my
money, for god's sake ) effectively telling me to "bend over now, and
insert your card" is just too dehumanising.

Hmmmm. . . I purposely look for this type of checkout. I find it much faster
because all of the grumpy old farts are in this really long line, for some
strange reason, writing these things called "checks" (whatever *those* are)
which they don't even pull out of their pocket and start writing until AFTER
the clerk gives them the total. . . and I don't recall the "bend over"
drill. Are you sure this was a Hom_E_ Depot?

Seeing a large sign hanging from the ceiling with the word "service"
( the place you take returns ) on it I went over to find 5, yes FIVE,
pimply 20 somethings laughing at each other's jokes, and not a
customer in sight. I piled my stuff on the counter and said, "I don't want
any of this
badly enough to check myself out." And I left to go to the mom
and pop hardware store for my purchase.

So, if you're still listening out there .... when I suggested real
humans at "customer Service" I did NOT mean just under the sign that
says "service" ... if you want real, breathing human beings to part
with their money and want to come back ... treat them like real,
breathing human beings, not just bar codes

When I go into Home Depot, I'm normally stopped by two or three employees
who ask if I'm finding what I need, and, if I'm not, they usually take the
time to walk me to the spot I can find it. I think that's fairly decent
service, but that's just me.

Interesting. I've had this very conversation several times over the
last 3-4 years, including just recently. Weird thing about Home Depot
and Lowe's, at least as I've found it: rarely are they both good (or
bad) in a particular area. For example, on the MS/AL gulf coast, HD is
a mess, usually empty, and you'd wonder how they manage to stay afloat,
whereas Lowe's is always full of customers, helpful staff, wide product
selection, etc. However, in the DFW area, I've found it to be the
opposite - Lowe's is iffy and the management is terrible, whereas HD
seems to be the better store. In New Orleans, it's Lowe's over HD, but
in S. Florida, it's HD over Lowe's. I can't recall any area where both
have been either good or bad - it always seems like one is good, one
bad. I could understand such in a highly specialized market where there
would only be enough skilled staff to supply one vendor, but in this
case...

TC,
R