A philosophical debate (Warning Longwinded)

[linear]

I always hit the cull bin at BORG, I rarely buy any lumber otherwise. Every stick or sheet goods remnant is either $0.51, $1.01, $2.01, or really rarely $4.01 (for the good stuff I guess). They spray a little blast of color on to help you figure it out.

What happens when I get to the checkstand is always a riot. For reasons I can't fathom, they have to enter the dimensions of every piece. I figure some bright management type thinks this will curtail the amount of full sheets walking out with a green blob sprayed on one end for 51 cents. But watching the cashiers get the tape out and measure each board is a real experience. the entertainment makes it worth the price, so I look at the boards as free. And by the way, it's not the size that determines the price, it's the color of the paint blob. I've occasionally paid less for larger culls.

Feeling generous one day, I commented that I had in my cart 18 4-foot 2x4 culls, and 12 4-foot 2x6 culls, thinking that I'd save them some time and aggravation. No way. She measured a good five of the 2x4s before deciding on her own they were all the same length.

I have to figure that the extra time they spend ringing up culls makes them a net loser for the company. It's gotta be cheaper for them to trash the stuff.

[scorrpio]

Differs from time to time. Sometimes good, sometimes bad. Here, I have one HD like 10 min away, another about 20 min away, but the one further away has Lowe's right next to it. Kinda makes the workers there try a bit harder. If I know that I will need special help (i.e. cutting/threading steel pipe) I'll go to that one. A couple times I went to the near place, I wasted like 30 minutes trying to get someone who would cut a pipe. Last time, the guy had almost no idea how to work the machine, I essentially did that myself. But this is still better than tolerate the attitude I get at plumbing supply houses since I am not a licensed plumber.

A cashier story - the other time I had a customer in front of me yelling at the cashier girl. He had a cartful of stuff, and he was complaining that she scanned something twice and was overcharging him $3 (on a 400-something total). Made her get the manager. The manager ended up scanning carefully every item one by one, as the customer watched very carefully with this "I am about to be vindicated" expression on his face. Guess what - turned out that in original count the girl MISSED a $40 item, so the accurate recount came out to a total not $3 less, but a $40 more. Seeing that customer's face was worth the time spent waiting.

Generally, I also prefer to use self-checkout whenever I can.

[Deadhead]

Working for near minimum wage doesn't do much for a kid's attitude, does it?

And it would be downright criminal for the government to force HD to pay her more.

You tried. That's all you can do in life.

At the BORG's here, the 2'x4' sheets are about double the price/sq ft as a full sheet. I always get full sheets and get them to cut them on the panel saw.

[Rob R]

i would love to add my story about buying plantation shutters from home depot. however, telling the story gets my blood so hot i'm not sure if i can handle it first thing in the morning.

i will say this, we did finally get them (8 weeks after they were promised) they were "custom made" in china, then shipped here, and they gave me 10% off for my trouble when i went in to b!tch.

still can't bring myself to hang them though!!!

rob

[Salty]

I'm curious about something Ken. Is it possible that the more expensive sheet of plywwod was in the middle and it was easier to scan either the top sheet or the bottom sheet twice, so that the cashier wouldn't have to touch the boards?
I've had cashiers like that myself. Seems some of them think the stuff they sell might get them dirty or they might get a splinter.
Good stories all.
As for myself, I've been dissappointed shopping at the box stores more often than not.

Dale