Menards — Local services in Grand Forks

Ordered decking material a week and a day before my project was to begin. Brought in all product info down to the sku# and quantities listed. Verified online that all components were either in stock or able to be direct shipped beforehand. The supply counter clerk managed to screw up portions of my order and when I called him a half hour after getting home and verifying - he lied to me and said i could exchange these items free of charge. He also managed to screw up my shipping address for items they didn't directly have in store - the sheets had my correct name address telephone in the upper corner with the shipping address directly below it! After I discovered all orders were being sent to the wrong address, I went in for help and spoke to 2 clerks (useless) before getting a manager. I was calm and polite until I was told I should have verified correctness myself. After some fumbling around the manager did fix my issue. My story gets better...My order was on Thursday (a week before) - I get a call Wednesday afternoon from Menards to tell me that did not have any more of the blocks I needed and they are the only supplier in the area. I asked him how that could be since there were 80+ in stock when i made my order. He told me they dont pick the order until the day before. I asked him when they would arrive - he said he had no idea and gave some push back when i asked him to find out - he never did. He then asked if I wanted to hold my delivery date otherwise I could get them on my own - about 800 lbs worth of material! I told him that I had been planning this for weeks and had family coming into town and that I needed to keep my delivery date. I asked that they ship the blocks when they came - he said they dont do that - it would be an extra delivery charge. I called the same manager again. Once again I was able to get minimal answers, however he did state that he would have them sent to my house free of charge when they arrived. I asked if they could get them from the Bismarck or Jamestown store as these were the only stores in the area that still had some in stock and was told they dont and/or wont do this. I called Thursday - they werent in. I called Friday - they werent in and I was told that the company was still awaiting the mold to make them and wouldnt start making them until next week. I went to patio world in GF to get blocks that I had to modify to fit my posts. Menards claims they will reimburse the difference. I find it hard to believe that a store/chain of this size and supposed caliber can be completely incompetent with inventory control and supply chain management. On top of this - customer service - other than that of the one manager - was pathetic at best. Not one regular employee had the gumption or competence to make themselves helpful or useful - and whats more - they werent...

Have gone there many times and purchased many products for home improvement. I love the selection and abundance of options they have on hand and online. The staff in the main part of the store always are helpful when you all ask it, they may not always know the answer but do try to find it for you.

However, customer service at the register's and in the customer service area (bad name for it at the Grand Forks store) is horrid. they have no idea where anything is and make it a point to not care if they help you or not. they also act like everything is your fault and you are a total annoyance to them.

In my last visit:

To get a receipt after the cashier messed up printing it out involved 3 calls by the cashier (to whom I don't know) and waiting about 5 minutes. then being sent to customer service by the register's. (first sign of bad customer service)

Talking to the first customer service desk where I was informed, by a very annoyed and pissed off looking lady, that I had to go talk to the other customer service desk by the entrance for that and she could do nothing. (yet another sign of bad, or should I say NO customer service)

Back to the main entrance, i walked through the store with my cat full of paid items add I want leaving the store without my proof of purchase aka receipt, where I came in an hour ago feeling happy (that had passed by this point) . I talk to the young lady there, who was staring at her cell phone, I tell her "i need a receipt as they messed up printing my original and I don't have one." She says "I can't help you, you have to go to the kiosk and print it yourself." then why in the f#%& didn't the first few people say that I thought to myself..... such wonderful customer service yet again.

So I go to the kiosk which the first "lack of customer service lady" or any of the people my original cashier called could have told me to go and print and leave.

I do prefer shopping at menards or Lowe's, (Kmart still has cashiers, I don't care for wal mart and target and all their self check outs)as they still have real people at the register's. home depot had been getting rid of them and going with self checkout, which may be faster but it takes away so many jobs. after this last visit, part of me hopes they do this at the menards in...

I will start by saying i live in Manitoba Canada I was at menards last year as doing renovation to my kitchen talking to a nice gentleman In Kitchen cupboards and he sold me latch less drawer openers which first i was hesitant about buying as not sure will fit second because living in Canada not easy to return cause I don’t travel there more than once a year he was confident that no doubt would fit second as long as kept receipts can return believing him I purchased but going to checkout along with other purchases I verified again about return policy as being from Canada she assured me that I would get money back a year later went to return product as didn’t work with my cupboards the person behind refunds informed me that after ninety days only give in store credits even thought I told her not good for me as come from Canada. Plus how long is in store credit good for as that was never mentioned . There was no reasoning with her as only kept saying that is the policy. I’m sorry but any company dealing with with customer know there is a exception I’m very disappointed as I found many things there i like to purchase but now knowing no refunds and what else would they tell customer to make a sale. Thinking twice about purchasing In Future and no longer recommending menards as a reliable company...