Question about Home Depot and employees....?

Question

Is it me, or are Home Depot employees getting younger and younger? I honestly think that it's not the greatest of ideas. Here's why. My father and I headed over there to find parts and such to fix the plumbing among other things. We went to specific sections and couldn't find certain parts. We asked one employee who I think was around 19. That employee had a huge question mark on his head and referred us to another employee who was, guess what, just as young. Neither of them knew of what my dad was talking about. I think if you are going to get a job at hardware stores like Home Depot or Lowe's, you should have experience. The service was horrible. We eventually found what we were looking for, after talking to a much older employee who knew his stuff.

Answer 1

next time buy from Lowes, they are more knowledgeable
I was there at a home depot and had the same problem. Home Depot used to train their employees, but not so much any more. They also used to hire retired contractors, a thing of the past.
They hire very young mostly college students who only work part time, so they don't have to pay any benefits like the full timers, banks are doing this also as well as some supermarkets, saves them money. I guess good knowledge and service is the thing of the past . The small family hardware's are fading taken over by the big companies. the little guy is being pushed aside. I am probably your father's age so I know. I guess it is called progress, I hate it. I like the old times.

Answer 2

Yes, they are and I've had similar experiences at their stores. When they first took over the hardware market (and I mean in a big way), they had mature knowledgable staff who were very numerous and helpful. It didn't take long for those people to disappear and be replaced by these unfortunate kids who are not being properly trained to handle the job that we were led to expect. Once Home Depot won their monopoly, they had no need to continue holding their stores to a high standard because they left, in their path of destruction, very few local hardware stores. This was a despicable case of bait and switch and a lot of small businesses were forced to close and now we're forced to hunt through their stores for someone who knows something about what we need. Same situation at Lowes.

Answer 3

What is really sad is those same employees you are talking about could easily be trained the right way if the employer would take the time to do it.

I started in home improvement when I was 16 but my training was so intense and I use alot of what I learned still today.

Best training was at National Lumber & Supply

Answer 4

Spend the little extra $ and go to your local hardware store. You may pay a couple extra dollars on what you buy but the knowledge of the people working there is much better than big box stores. A little higher price but usually great customer service.

Answer 5

Those golden parachutes cost money .Younger & inexperienced = less money . Your experience is typical of those places. Anything else is a pleasant surprise.You've made the mistake of believing the advertising ,& that they actually mean what they say ( "..and we can help."), or care. Sorry to disillusion you , & at such a young age. ;D

Hey joe, Lowe's is the same , here , probably worse . It's hit and miss . Just depends on the individuals at the given store .

Answer 6

What? You mean that journeymen plumbers, electricians, cabinetmakers can't be enticed to work at HD for $8/hr? Selfish. Just selfish. What's this country coming to?

Answer 7

And that why I go to Ace Hardware. And some times to do it best hardware