Carpinteria Valley Lumber — Local services in Carpinteria

I want whatever the previous reviewers are smoking. Lived here 15 years...dreaded every trip to this place. Unhelpful and lazy, with an attitude of superiority at the audacity of a customer seeking assistance. Needed a wall outlet not long ago. Upstairs is a vast assortment of outlets. Asked for assistance from a charming young lady at the desk. She delegated the task (understandable, as she was quite busy multi-tasking) to a very reluctant, tall man who informed me that "the person who handles this area is on lunch". It should be noted here that the employee turn around is virtually non-existent. (and why wouldn't it be...no skill, knowledge, manners, common decency or customer service is required. Seems all one needs to do is 'show up'.) After examining the outlet to be replaced (which I had brought with me because I was already fully aware of their ineptness), the man looked in a bin next to him. He reached in, grabbed an outlet and handed it to me. Then he started to leave. I looked at the picture and description on the box, then at my sample, then at the box. Opened the box and sure enough, looked just like the picture. Only problem was, it was nothing like the sample. I should pause here and give the man some credit...I mean the color matched, so that's a plus. Just as I was pointing out the differences between the sample and what he'd handed me, another man ( the regular guy who takes care of the second floor) showed up with his lunch. The tall man asked him if he had any of the outlets I needed. The regular guy said, in effect, "have you looked over there?" Tall man answered yes. Regular guy said to me, "Well, we must not have it." I said, "Are you sure? Looks like you've got all types of outlets here..". Regular guy (still holding his lunch bags) said, " If we don't have it, we don't have it." So there's the three of us standing there.. Regular guy holding his lunch bags, tall man (wanting nothing more than to go back downstairs and chat with the multi-tasker), and me, with undoubtedly the same expression I have on my face as when I hear how wonderful Trump is doing. I show the regular guy the sample and ask him to have a look, thinking that since he stocks the shelves he may know something tall man doesn't. (AT THIS POINT, customer service would dictate that he excuse himself, set his lunch down and return to inspect my sample and offer assistance). Sadly, instead of satisfying a customer, regular guy (without even looking at the sample) decreed to me, " If I had it, I'd sell it to you." As regular guy was walking back to wherever it is he devours his lunch, I said something to the effect of, " I can't believe you don't have this...it's not old, foreign, or special order. Seems weird to me." Over his shoulder, regular guy hollers, " I can't sell you what I don't have." Determined, I went to my vehicle, grabbed my reading glasses and headed back up stairs. After searching for all of 8 or 10 minutes, I came upon the sample replacement. Identical. Exact match. Muttered under my breath something like, " Back in my day these clowns would be out the door so fast . I hate this place. Never fails to disappoint me, so at least they rate high in consistency I guess." As I was paying for my item, tall man comes over from his apparently assigned position against the back wall and looks at the outlet I was purchasing and says, "Oh". Brilliant. I have to remember that. "Oh". Not, " Oh goodness, where did you find this. I want to be prepared for next time." Just , "oh". That's just ONE example...I have dozens. Now, don't get me wrong. The garden department personnel are tops. The yard folks ( IF you can find one) are hit and miss. But the folks inside the store are a joke. I've often wondered how they could stay in business with the attitude that prevails amongst the store help. I've concluded that they must have many 'accounts' and therefore feel it is justified to forgo standard practices regarding customer satisfaction, care...

Most often they are or fine to deal with, and in the past I have been happy. Today however was different, I called to ask if the had a hollow core 1 3/8" 3'X6'8" hardboard door in stock. A young girl answered, her response was: "You would need to come down and look, we have lots of doors in stock." I replied: "so no there is no one there that knows if you have a door in stock" she replied: "no"..... WOW! I will still give four stars because I am sure this young lady does not represent this company for what...

Lumber quality was garbage. Bought 3/4" plyboard, they loaded it, got to the job site and noticed one side had bubbled from moisture and there was an area(2"×2") that they had wood puttied. I Had to trash the whole sheet. I always try to utilize small businesses as opposed to big box stores, but this makes me think twice. It's one thing to have some damage on an area, but to try to hide it with putty, that's trashy. I wouldn't recommend this store, in fact I'd tell someone to head to...