Southeastern Salvage Home Emporium — Local services in Irondale

I live reasonably close to this store and it it one of my favorite places to shop for our home. Sometimes there's less to see than others, but overall this place has been amazing... until today.

My parents and I dropped in to grab a flower pot as I got one too few this past weekend when I was there. We walked up to the automatic door and it didn't open. Assuming there was a malfunction, we just approached the exit door and it popped right open.

A young lady approached us and immediately said, "We close at 6".

"Oh, is it already 6?", I replied.

"It's 5:51", she said.

I then said, "Oh, I just need to grab a pot. It'll just take a minute. I know exactly what I need."... and we headed off to the garden center to find that they had already closed that door too.

I went back up front and said, "I need to get in the garden center. Can someone open the door?"

A gentleman who was walking from that direction (and had obviously just closed said door) did an about-face, clearly not happy about it, and went and opened it.

I got the pot... brought it to the register and checked out. The same young lady who alerted us of the store hours (of which we were never in violation and still weren't) was only able to muster enough courtesy to speak out my total. As I was leaving, I said "thank you" in the same kind tone I always do when I check out (check your cameras if you don't believe me) and the young lady walked over to the other register and flatly ignored me... and yes, then I got pissed.

I made diliberate eye contact and said, "THANK YOU!" I didn't scream it, but my point was clear. She at that point did respond and I walked out as she gathered her coworkers, no doubt to tell them a completely false version of what had just occurred. I know that because I saw all of them clucking like hens as we drove away.

This won't stop me from returning but it'll be a while and I won't have many nice things to say about Southeastern Salvage in the interim. I am not a big fan of those who dangle the amount of money they have spent with a particular business and expect SPECIAL treatment in return... and I am definitely not one of those people. That said, I am also no fan of not being shown common courtesy... especially when I have done nothing wrong and yes... I have spent a small fortune in that place... as has my mother. No special treatment required... but don't be rude. It's not necessary.

For the record, my receipt is time stamped 5:55. I was back on 20 before the clock ever struck 6:00 o'clock.

I don't need my "you-know-what" kissed, but I won't be flatly ignored by someone who's pissed because she assumes I might extend her work day (which I would NEVER do to a person in that position). I was raised in the grocery business. I've run a front end. This is the best way to run off good business, I...

New location. It's bigger and easier to shop, but they didn't have the A/C working yet and it was hot! They did say that they were working to get it up and running which will make a more favorable shopping experience. They always have lemonade and water at the register, which is great after shopping the entire salvage store. I know several of the people who work there and it's fun to see what new arrivals are out and they often have really good prices on the sale items they show in the main aisle. I lucked out and got 2 lights for my brick pillars that mark my driveway for $8.00 each! They are a decent brand and I have installed one so far and it looks so much better than the old ones from 1969! I also found some tile and an engineered wood flooring that I am thinking about using for the main floor of my house for a repair that was necessary due to a plumbing company flooding my house. Insurance doesn't give you a real-life budget, so places like Southeastern are necessary for those of us who don't want to put any more of our money in repairs. I hate to have to cut corners, but I am a widow who has managed to stay in the family home and I am on a budget..Also, I can't live through the whole sand, stain, and seal process of installing real hardwood floors. Overall, I enjoyed shopping and we left with a truck full of goodies! I can't wait to go back and enjoy A/C while shopping. I get too hyper to not have air conditioning when I am bargain shopping! I added some photos of the good bargains as we had fun looking...

Great selection puts them over the top. I'd easily give it 5 starts based on the performance of Sheree their store manager, but then...there's the A/C!

First, we have spent thousands there over the last few years remodeling our house. We have purchased stock items, special order, wood flooring, tile...lots of tile, monogrammed items, furniture, trim, doors, counter tops... you get the picture. If anything wasn't absolutely perfect, Sheree was there to quickly correct it.

Now to the AC. I see responses to reviews by someone at SE Salvage about the AC and the "current heat wave." Your A/C has been out for over a year?!? Last summer when I purchased monogrammed beach bags for a trip, it was out then. Once when I purchased tile, it was out.

I left abruptly last week and didn't buy anything because of the overwhelming heat. I don't know how why you want to do this to the customers and the employees. This air issue isn't new. I frequent the store enough to know that.

It's one of my favorite places to shop....IN THE WINTER. The people that work here are generally nice and your customers are hot... please get the air fixed permanently if you want to maintain a clientele and...