The Home Depot — Attraction in New York

I arrived at the store sometime around 8:30pm... the closing shift. I knew most associates in the store would be preoccupied with recovery and closing procedures, so I did not expect any of the usual "overly helpful" customer service, which was fine. I knew what I was looking for and planned to use the app to locate items in the store. Occasionally, I did ask a nearby associate what direction a certain aisle was because I was new to this particular store and had not oriented myself with an initial walkthrough yet. All went well, considering the late hour and the amount of customers roaming the store at the time.

Toward the end of my shopping run, I was getting frustrated at the self checkout because the first item I tried to scan was covered with shipping wrap from the manufacturer, and there were all sorts of stickers and barcodes covering it. I scanned all of them before I realized what the problem was. The actual UPC barcode was under the other stickers, under the shipping shrink-wrap and because it was hidden, and because I had not realized my mistake, I was frustrated and annoyed. Not at anyone else... I was annoyed at myself.

So, I decided to pull the wrapping off the box so I could get to the actual UPC barcode and scan it. While doing this, I must have looked annoyed, I am sure, because one of the front end associates approached and asked "Are you okay?"

I replied "Yes, I'm fine. I am just trying to scan my stuff."

He then said "Are you SURE you are okay?" He was looking at me like I was from another planet.

"Yes", I replied, "...why do you ask?"

"Because you look upset." he explained.

"I am upset... but I am not upset at YOU... I was trying to scan this air filter, but the barcode was hidden."

I had dropped the wrap onto the floor next to me after removing it from the merchandise, but planned to pick it up after I finished paying.

The associate then said "This is a trip hazard"... then picked up the plastic shrink-wrap and walked away, annoyed.

Never to return again.

So... the cynical version of my experience was this: I visit this store to shop late, not expecting nor seeking much assistance from associates, find all my own items while navigating the aisles in recovery phase (open boxes, shrink-wrap, banding and pallets here and there, understandably... ALL could be "trip hazards" if someone wasn't paying attention or wanted to scam a lawsuit). I was friendly and polite to anyone I asked for directions and was minutes away from checking MYSELF out of the store, using my Home Depot card to purchase AND telling other customers to sign up for the card while waiting on line... when instead of the associate who saw me struggling trying to HELP me with the product wrapping (which should have been removed before it was set out on the shelf) decided instead to give me a lesson in "Safety First, Customers... well, they are annoying".

I am not going to mention his name. That is not what this is about. Anyone can have a bad day. I was actually having a bad day before I walked in there and I did not want to take it out on this guy who is just doing his job.

But, this guy knows who he is. I just hope he gets a chance to read this and remember that everyone is carrying all sorts of problems around with them. We walk into your store with all our problems which have nothing to do with you and all we want to do is get our stuff, pay and get out of there.

Thank you for helping us along the way, really. But please... try to remember we are also people.

Thank you. And yes, of COURSE I will be shopping...

Absolutely horrific customer service! Stay clear of short black lady named Terry! I live very close to this store and will have to drive out of my way now to boycott this store and highly recommend everyone do the same! I spend on average of $3,000- $4,000 a month in home depot to get stuff for my real estate business and will gladly take my business elsewhere. Recently went in to get a bunch of very expensive LED bulbs that cost $13 each and took all the ones off the shelf and asked for two ladies to help me find more...one lady looked up in her computer and said they definitely have many more boxes of these bulbs and introduced me to another lady named Terry to help me find more bulbs...Terry pointed to a shelf and gave me some stock numbers and said look for it. I tried to explain that I didn't understand where the numbers were on the thousands of boxes that I was looking at and she went off on me like a mad woman literally yelling so hard that she had spit flying from her mouth. I told her that I don't need her help anymore and she literally would not leave me alone, just kept yelling to other customers "do you see whats going on here? Do you here this guy?" I haven't seen such an anger filled person in a long time and will gladly take my business somewhere else. The store is littered with empty packages behind every box on every shelf, shoplifting is out of control, and when you try to find people to help you they pretend that they don't see you and literally turn around and walk the other way to avoid you. One of the worst stores all together I have ever been to in my life. Big waste of time going here, I have wasted hours in this location looking for items before,...

Horrible service ever! Home depot sent me wrong delivery. I was transferred to the store representative. She has no empathy about the delay and messy delivery. She told me they can pickup the wrong merchandise at my home 2 days later. And then they will ship my order again. When I asked why they can’t send my order at the same time when they pick up the wrong one? She tried to educate me that the merchandise in my possession does not belong to me. I am like, you guys are the one who sent the wrong order to me! I have no interest whatsoever to occupy these merchandise! I asked given the situation, will Home Depot’s send me any confirmation so I can feel comfortable? She tried to educate me again. She said Home Depot is a big company which implies I am being too serious about the confirmation document. I asked what’s her name? She only provided me with first name. And she keeps criticizing me that I don’t let her finish.. at the end, I am holding the phone waiting her keep yelling at me. I asked did you finish now? She said yes. The whole experience is so horrible. Home Depot should hire more professional staff to provide decent customer service. I am the one who suffered from their mistake and now she acted like she try to help me! I spent 1hour calling them, need to wait for home so they can pick up wrong merchandise and then I need to wait another few more days for them to give me my order. By the way, she never disclosed to me when my new order...