Northern Tool + Equipment — Local services in Blaine

Maybe I just caught the cashier Lynette on a bad day (today) or maybe she just shouldn't be in a customer service position. I approached the check outs (she was on the only one there/open) and she did not look up, acknowledge me or anything, I had to say excuse me, get her attention and ask if she was open. She then scanned my one item and said "phone number?" and I stated "Oh I don't have one in your system" (assuming this was for rewards etc) so she slowly typed in a random phone number. She then said "something isn't right" and I continued to stand there awkwardly for several minutes while she pressed buttons, to the point where another cashier came and helped the people now behind me. She then said "I have a dummy phone number I use, but it has a military discount on it and YOU CANT HAVE THAT." (how does she know I'm not military, and what is with the stern tone for her mistake?) I was obviously confused why the phone number was such a big issue, usually if you say no they just skip over it. So then I stood there longer. She deleted it, typed an another number in which was apparently her own because she then said "Well I don't want this on my account!!!" uhm okay then don't type your number in Lynette! So then I said "that's crazy it won't let you check someone out that doesn't have an account with you guys?" She ignored me. Then she goes "I don't see why people won't just give their phone numbers?" (Obviously directed at me) I said "I've never shopped here, I don't even have any account why would I give you a number?" she said "It's not for that IT'S JUST FOR RETURNS." I replied with "well you never said a word about why you wanted my number, most companies at checkout ask for your number if you are an existing customer/have an account, not just for returns. I think you should tell people the phone number is just for returns and you wouldn't have issues with people telling you it". She then mumbled several things under her breath. I'm not sure how the transaction ever even ended up going through or whose phone number my purchase was placed under.

Anyways, I have a lot of patience for people/situations in retail and tried to keep a friendly attitude/responses but her tone and under her breath comments were very off-putting and combine her attitude with the several minutes it took to check out one item was enough to make me unlikely to return to Northern Tool.

Ownership: Do you actually require a number be imputed or is that her misunderstanding? If Lynette is usually a friendly person maybe she was having a bad day. There were a few too many things that make me think that she's probably always like that, but maybe she either needs re-training in the POS system or customer service interactions because I don't think she should be the one and only employee I have ever spoken to from Northern Tool.

3 stars only because they are the only store that carry the item I needed, but should have just gotten from amazon instead like usual to skip the public...

I will never buy Northern Tool equipment again. I dropped off a North Star Gas pressure washer for Service (pressure was low) I was told it will be look at in 1 to 2 days it’s been 7 days now and have still not heard from them. I call service department spoke with JAKE he said “I will look at it when I get to it” after 8 days I went to the store. I spoke with JAKE from service and asked him if they had a chance to look at it. He said “ He hasn’t had time to look at it” he handed me a piece of paper and told me go to the front counter and get your $40 dollars that you payed when you drop off the machine. I spoke with the Manager Brad from Northern tool and asked why hasn’t my machine been looked at, so he went to ask Jake. I guess Jake was too busy on the phone the manager couldn’t ask, so he gave me a 1-800 number to call and ask where else I can get my pressure washer serviced. I spent $2600 on a pressure washer less then a year old. $250 dollars or so on insurance and they can’t...

Poor customer service. Was quoted 1-2 week turn around, they claimed i would get a call after a few days. After 15 days i gave them a call myself. Was told it was sent to rogers location. So I called them, it hadnt been looked at, the person i spoke literally said “ill get it on the bench right nowand give you a call back” word for word. You cant make this stuff up i tell ya. And i never heard back. So i called again today(next day) and was told it still wasnt looked at and that it “would be looked at next” so i asked for a refund. They tried giving me the same exact run around as the previous day. So I insisted on the refund. After lots of back and forth i was finally told the machine would be sent back and i would get a refund. Such a waste of my time. And they even tried claiming all the other shops are just as backed up, literally a lie. I called 2 shops was was told a 24 hour turn around on most repairs… dont WASTE your time with the service...