Menards — Local services in Eden Prairie

Crazy story here: I’ll try to keep it short…

I Rented a 12’ ladder today for 4 hours (After all, this is the right thing to do instead of buying one and returning it the same day). I checked out (along with one other item). The young lady working the counter apologized that she needs to find someone to retrieve the ladder. After some time, I politely offered to get the ladder for her if she could direct me to it. Only then did I realize that it was behind the counter less than 30’ away. Needless to say, I retrieved the ladder to begin my project.

After loading the ladder, the time on my truck was 1:28pm as I began to drive away.

Fast forward to 5:00pm. I arrive at the return counter and first proceed to return some items I purchased the day prior (this clearly took a few minutes). I then attempted to return the ladder that I had also carried in with me. The sales associate then tells me that I owe a remaining balance of $1. After inquiring as to why, he stated that the ladder was due back at 4:10. I asked what the checkout time was, it was NOT recorded on the receipt. The manager (Beau) was requested. Beau shows up, he cannot find the time entered into the computer as to the checkout time either. He spends several minutes (also interrupted by the fact that he took a phone call) and then tells me that he’ll be back as he has to go to the managers office. After about 5-10 minutes “Beau” returns and states that it was checked out at 12:10 pm. I attempted to explain my disagreement with the time while questioning why that time wasn’t on the receipt (not to mention having to wait to retrieve my rental ladder).

This is where it gets interesting: Beau then shouts, (yes, I do mean shouts), “It will be an extra dollar sir”! I confirmed again, what time did you say it was due back? Beau exclaims, “4:10, you owe me a dollar sir”! I then contacted, “If that’s the case, I walked into this store at 5:00pm, then you need to prorate this 1 hour charge! Beau exclaimed again, “You owe me a dollar sir”!

Ordinarily, I would have stood my ground but I was tired from working all day and Beau was not worth a dollar to me. So, I tossed a dollar bill on the counter and turned to walk away.

Much to my surprise, I hear Beau screaming, “You still owe me money, sir”! I stopped and turned (yes, several customers were witnessing this). “You still owe me tax”! “That’ll be 0.9cents”!

I started to re-engage Beau, but instead told Beau to call the police as I’m not giving him another dime. Beau kept screaming, “You owe me money sir”! To which I repeatedly replied, I don’t owe you 0.9cents, Call the cops”!

This will be the last time myself, my company, or my family ever shops at Menards.

Managers: I encourage you to check surveillance to...

After searching the Menards app for an hour, I was able to locate a black Larson screen door 32x80 at this location (available nowhere else in the Twin Cities). I called the store and asked if they could hold it for me to pickup later that day. Barry, a manager, assured me it would be held for me. I asked if he needed my name, but he said no, it would be there for me when I came in. When I came in that afternoon, after driving an hour to get to the store, he looked embarrassed and muttered something like "I knew that wasn't the guy." He excused himself for 10 minutes to check with the millwork department. When returning, he informed me that another person had come in shortly after my call and picked up the door. I was VERY frustrated. I had drove another hour to another menards to get a second storm door for this project, and the contractor had agreed to come on short notice to address our issue: a leaking Mastercraft exterior door. The Eden Prairie door was the one needed to protect the leaking door. Barry gave pretense of apology, but it was clear he was only embarrassed, and made little to none effort to offer a helpful solution. He told me the storm door was a 2 week custom order, and no one else held them in stock. I asked if he or a GM could approve delivery from another store in the region, since I needed it later that week - he said I'd have to customer order and ship to my home. He gave no effort to legitimately make recompense for a mistake he made. Based on this, I would not recommend frequenting this store. I am disappointed in the very poor service. When a manager makes a mistake, and a customer has given 3+ hours of their time to buy your product, there must be ways to find agreeable amends...

I was at the Menards in Eden Prairie last week, and I had brought an insulated water bottle in with me while shopping. It was a hot summer day, and I needed hydration (but technically it does NOT matter why I brought a water bottle in with me). After shopping, I went to the check out counter area, selected an available lane, and put my cart in the designated spot so that the cashier could ring up my purchases. After the cashier guy rang up my items, and after I had put them in bags, the cashier guy mumbled something to me about my water bottle so I had to stop and take the time to ask him what he said, which is frustrating in and of itself. It's also frustrating because my philosophy is that if you have something to say to me, then say it. Otherwise, I don't want you to waste my time. As it turned out, he was mumbling something about whether or not I brought in my own water bottle or it I stole it. Like whatttt? He didn't use the word "steal" but he didn't have to.... it was clearly that he was insinuating it, and it was clearly an insult. He even said that he "thought" they carry the same brand. He appeared to be very socially awkward, he didn't make eye contact with me, and he made me feel as though I did something wrong. It was the most awkward and uncomfortable exchange ever!! I don't ever want to shop at or support an establishment where the insinuation is that I may have stolen something. Omg. I will def be avoiding the Menard's store in Eden Prairie in the future and beyond, and I will also share this awkward (and accusatory??!) story with others. There are so many comparable competitors out there so I will NOT support a store that insinuates that I stole something from them. Like...