The Home Depot — Local services in Annapolis

I have to say that I’ve been shopping at the store for over 30 years and was completely disappointed by what happened when I purchased a washer dryer combo from them last August 2023. I purchased the washer dryer with delivery and the people that delivered it damage the door to my laundry room and put the washer dryer in cockeyed, saying that it didn’t fit although it was the exact same measurements of the one they removed. The gentleman who delivered the washer said just let it run through a cycle and then they left. When the cycle was over, water began to come from the bottom in a full flow. Turns out they hadn’t bothered to hook up the hose to the back and everything that was in the washer came out onto my floor with my washer dryer on the second floor, it destroyed the ceiling below the hardwood floors and other things in my home. I immediately called the store and the response was “what do you want us to do about it?” Blaming it on the delivery company. They gave me the name of their insurance company who immediately dismissed it is not their problem and referred me to HB Hunt through delivery company a few few days later. Unfortunately, by that time anyone who’s ever had a problem with water knows that you have to deal with an immediately. So I had to call my own insurance company to come in and they had someone here with an hour and a half asking me why I waited a few days. Explain to them that I was waiting to hear back from. When I finally did talk to HB they told me that they had contracted another company who had contracted someone to deliver it. It was a process trying to figure out who that was and when you finally did, he called that number and a answering machine answered the phone. Obviously someone working out of their home , I didn’t have a problem with that but nobody refused to take responsibility. It is now nine months later and they still refused to pay. My insurance rates have doubled and I never got my deductible back. My insurance company was going through subrogation with them, which is where insurance company reimburses the other, but the final person doesn’t respond to their company so they won’t do anything about it. Strikes me I contacted Home Depot and they should be forward to the people they choose to do their deliveries. On top of the dryer, washer and dryer and I had returned. Subsequently I have purchased a wonderful washer dryer from Lowe’s. They delivered it covered their feet when they brought it home and put it in the exact same spot with no problems hooked it up and waited to make sure that it was working before they left. Turns out Loews does their own deliveries. So they stand behind the person who brings it to your home. I stood in the store. I could speak to the general manager, who promised that he would, but I’ve had no help. I am infuriated by the behavior of that store. Recently, I went in and spoke to a woman named Ava who works in the appliance department. She was helpful and getting me some documents that I needed since mine were destroyed in the flood. But still crickets I highly recommend not purchasing appliances from them, especially if you’re going to have them delivered. They simply don’t stand behind their products and they delivered my opinion from the time that I spent the money the time that was delivered properly was the end of their responsibility when they handed it off to someone who handed it off to someone who handed it off to someone. How ridiculous, they just lost over 33 years and Loews has gained one. We don’t have a in Annapolis. I’ll have to drive to least. I know if I purchase something they’ll stand behind it all the way to my doorstep. As of July 2024 they have not...

I'm not trusting my local Home Depot anymore. If there's no local control, why shop local? I was suspicious that the last brand of dehumidifier on the shelf was on such a good sale, but I figured, "It's Home Depot. If there's a problem, they'll take it back." No, not anymore, the Forest Dr. Depot Manager informed me today. I spent two weeks trying to get the drainage pipe on this G.E. 50 Pint Dehumidifier to stop leaking. I tried multiple hoses and connections. Not a small problem because when it leaks rather than drains into your sump well, the dehumidifier shuts off when the internal bucket fills with leaked water, and your basement fills with humidity. My basement got mold. And when I go back less than two weeks later to return this treacherous specimen of defective craftsmanship, my Home Depot Manager points to a xerox print-out, 8-1/2 x 11, hung in a corner above my 6'2" of height, which announces a new policy that there's a 5-day limit on returns. That little sign wasn't at the end-cap where I picked up the dehumidifier, nor at the register where I paid for it. The Manager tells me she's doing me a favor even taking it back as defective, which required her override, but she says the computer won't let her override store-credit only. If you can't trust your local Home Depot to stock dependable products and accept defective ones for return, what's the point of going there rather than to the Web? I'm replacing this unit with one off Amazon. I compared a dozen companies and their consumer ratings and reviews. It cost little more than the Home Depot "sale" price; it arrived in one day, with free delivery and a 30-day no-questions-asked return policy; and it drains great. All my Amazon returns have been hassle-free. The Depot Manager told me that she had no control over this return, this "Atlanta" policy, or the store computer. No local control? Then why shop local? This kind of corporate robotization of local retail is killing it. Atlanta is looking at their bottom line rather than to the customers in line. Their green-eyed greed is myopic. Well, I for one am not getting back into the so-called Customer Service line at my local Home Depot. I won't have trouble spending my $221.54 of Store Credit, but I'll have trouble spending any more after that. Hey, Atlanta, read my consumer policy: Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice,...

Comparing this location to the other Home Depot in Annapolis on Defense Hwy... They are literally next to each other but for Hwy 50 running between them. That said:

Customer service is almost nonexistent at this location. Many employees don't seem to wear the orange aprons, just a name tag, making it difficult to spot them. I think they do this on purpose, because none of them will walk up to you to ask if you need assistance. Meanwhile, over in the other store every employee is instantly recognizable, and every employee when they walk past you will ask if you found everything you need or do you need help.

The store layout does not match the information provided in the app. For example, I was looking for a specific plumbing part, and the app told me it was on aisle 7 bin 18. Aisle 7 bin 18 was paint. Where I actually found it was on the little stubby shelving behind the appliances, which if I remember correctly was labeled aisle 33. This is not the first time I have not been able to find something using the app at this location. I did double check to ensure that I was on the correct store location.

The parking lot has a terrible layout for a home improvement store. The worst part of it is the parking lot is uphill from the store, so when you're trying to get your heavy items up to your vehicle that's parked in the parking lot, it takes an inordinate amount of effort to do so. So. So what most people do is they bring their vehicle around to the front of the store and load there. The problem is on a busy weekend that could make getting past that area when you're trying to get into the store almost impossible.

Overall, I would give this store two stars, but for the fact that it has an equipment rental section. Now the availability of things in the rental section is another issue altogether, but the fact that they have one and the other location does not gives it an...