Should I feel bad about this

Bay Area Dave wrote:

> You did your best to correct her. You should sleep soundly tonight,
> under the circumstances.



And sleep with a big smile.

Now the conundrum: Do you charge your customer what you DID
pay or what you SHOULD HAVE paid?

What will you charge the customer??



>
> James D Kountz wrote:
>
>> Today I went to the Borg to pick up some maple for a job Im doing for a
>> customer.


--

Mark

N.E. Ohio


Never argue with a fool, a bystander can't tell you apart.
(S. Clemens, A.K.A. Mark Twain)

When in doubt hit the throttle. It may not help but it sure
ends the suspense. (Gaz, r.moto)

IMO you pointed out the error so your conscience is clean. It's really hard
to meaningfully interact with people who know everything. <g>

However, I recommend you call the manager. They need a better training
program or flat better people running the registers.

$0.02.

-- Mark

Dennis,
Have you ever spent an hour or so of YOUR OWN time educating/explaining to a
clerk AND 'Manager' about a blatant error, that was costing THEM money ?
Then going back to the store about a day later, then a week later . . . and
seeing the SAME thing going on ?!?!

THEY DON'T care one wit. Plus it's 'like trying to teach a pig to fly . . .
it wastes your time and annoys the pig'

Regards,
Ron Magen
Backyard Boatshop

"Dennis Vogel" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Jack, I'm on that limb with you. I'm surprised people think
> getting something undeserved isn't wrong. Clerk's error,
> stocker's error, cash register programming error, no matter.
> It's not what the stuff is supposed to cost and the buyer knows
> it. But, then again, I've found people can justify just about
> any damned thing they wish with very little effort.
>
> Dennis Vogel

In article <[email protected]>, Edwin
Pawlowski <[email protected]> wrote:

> They can't read, they don't listen
> and I've even brought it to the attention of the manager. So I don't feel
> guilty about it.

We have a major supplier who invoices us somewhere between $30K and
$90K a week (for printing). A year ago we were fed up with the number
and frequency of errors on their invoices, and I told them that from
that point forward we were going to ask ourselves "Are we prepared to
pay this invoice?" and not "Is this invoice correct?"

In 2003 we caught $3700 in overcharges on their invoices and corrected
those.

$6700 in undercharges we accepted.

djb

--
There are no socks in my email address.

"Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati"

Of course you have heard that time is money. That is the underlying reason
HD is hiring less (and less qualified) cashiers. They are maximizing their
profit. I'm not going to take a position on what someone else should have
done in this situation. Your argument here is essentially that time is
worthless unless it is HD's time. Seems that one of the main lines of
reasoning in this argument is that HD is some sort of Co-op we all have a
huge stake in and are required by honesty to accept contempt and come back
for more -- all in the name of helping them so we will all be able to
purchase wood. This is just the sort of "co-op thinking" they used to run
competition out of business.

Perhaps OP is managing his time in a way that bills each minute of the
workday to one project or another. Doing otherwise is more like a hobby.
You are saying because he is smart enough to know there is a problem he is
morally obligated to instruct the other party in the transaction? If an
attorney sees a person do something illegal, is he required to provide free
counsel to correct them? Remember those crotchety old people that think
they have a moral obligation to tell everyone the proper methods of life?
Are they somehow morally superior to the ones that just watch and smile?

HD clearly values time more than accuracy. To obligate a customer to
resolve their problems is to value their time more than their customers'
time. If this had gone to the store's advantage but OP didn't discover
until he left the store, do you think the store would have just handed him
some additional product to correct the error? Not likely.

Clearly the original poster had some misgivings about this whole deal. If
he didn't, he wouldn't have asked his question. He asked for opinions and
now is getting those opinions. Hurray to the power of the internet.

What would I do, you say? I'd fill the truck. After all, every action has
an equal and opposite reaction. If I owned stock in HD (I might in a fund
somewhere), I'd be disappointed in their performance and consider what I
could do about changing it. Perhaps I'd sell it and buy stock in another
company.

Here is a question for all you folks that believe OP is obligated to resolve
the problem. You know the store location of transaction. Have you spent a
little of your time writing a letter to HD explaining this happened and
instructing them to train their employees better? (as if you think they
aren't aware of this type of undercharge). If you haven't taken some of
your time to bring the problem to their attention, you really don't have
much ground to stand on.

Flame away...

Dave




"mel" <[email protected]> wrote

> If your time is so precious and the clock is ticking to the point that an
> inconvenience costs you your profitability, you might ought to look into
how
> you're managing your time and do a cost analysis...

Never try to teach a pig to whistle. Pisses off the pig
and wastes your time.

It was honorable that you informed her of the error and
explained why she'd made a mistake. You provided the
correct information and she chose not to use it - her
problem not yours. Your conscience is clear and she'll
come up short at the end of the day. Perhaps next time ...

Another honest man found. Another idiot also found.

charlie b

Anthony Diodati wrote:

> Yea, Or like the older wise ass guy in electrical, when I was rewiring a
> lamp, I wanted a polarized plug,
> Came back with a know it all wise ass answer, "that it didn't matter" It
> will work plugged in either way.
> Tony D.

That wouldn't be at the St. Pete. HD store would it? They have one serious
old wise ass in the electrical dept. My wife really chewed him a new ass. It
was great!

CR wrote:
>
> "mel" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >what I'm saying is sometimes doing the right thing costs ya.
> >
>
> Then that means that the big faceless corporations will never do the
> right thing, since their primary concern is their bottom line.
>
> As such, it's only fair for me to treat them with the same "respect"
> that they see fit to treat me with.
>
> email to [email protected] (remove the "notreal-")

I've been following this thread for several days now and it seems to me,
if you need to ask if you should feel bad, you probably realize you
should. I would think ethics and honesty would have made me seek the
manager and explain the situation. As an old Boy Scout I was taught to
have some sense of personal ethics and to be trustworthy. A lot of what
is wrong with our society can be seen by the answers you have gotten so
far. In a nutshell. "If you can rip someone off, you're a great
American." I don't live that way!!!

In article <[email protected]>,
[email protected] says...
> No, I haven't. But did it really take you an hour to
> explain the problem to the store manager? Somehow
> I doubt it. You're exaggerating to make a point. I
> do think I would have taken some time to explain
> and I'd be surprised if the manager couldn't be made
> to understand. After all, the lumber or the rack was
> marked in some way that explained the pricing. How
> is it that the manager couldn't understand what it meant?
>
> Dennis Vogel
>

Let's say someone like the original poster's time, including labor,
benefits, and overhead is on the order of $1 per minute (that is not out
of line for a skilled craftsman or laborer). How much of that person's
billable time should be spent in resolving another business's problems?


> "Ron Magen" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:1%[email protected]...
> > Dennis,
> > Have you ever spent an hour or so of YOUR OWN time educating/explaining to
> a
> > clerk AND 'Manager' about a blatant error, that was costing THEM money ?
> > Then going back to the store about a day later, then a week later . . .
> and
> > seeing the SAME thing going on ?!?!
> >
> > THEY DON'T care one wit. Plus it's 'like trying to teach a pig to fly . .
> .
> > it wastes your time and annoys the pig'
> >
> > Regards,
> > Ron Magen
> > Backyard Boatshop
> >
> > "Dennis Vogel" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:[email protected]...
> > > Jack, I'm on that limb with you. I'm surprised people think
> > > getting something undeserved isn't wrong. Clerk's error,
> > > stocker's error, cash register programming error, no matter.
> > > It's not what the stuff is supposed to cost and the buyer knows
> > > it. But, then again, I've found people can justify just about
> > > any damned thing they wish with very little effort.
> > >
> > > Dennis Vogel
> >
> >
>
>
>

"Andy Dingley" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
-------------------8<------------
> --
> Do whales have krillfiles ?

Yes, it's called baleen.

Steve

In article <[email protected]>,
charlie b <charliebATaccesscomDOTcom> wrote:
>Never try to teach a pig to whistle. Pisses off the pig
>and wastes your time.

Trivia. The actual quote is:

Never attempt to teach a pig to sing.
It wastes your time, and annoys the pig.

Attributed to Lazarus Long, in "Time Enough For Love", by Robert A. Heinlein.
Also shows up in "The Notebooks of Lazarus Long".



P.S. Heard on a radio talk-show, probably 20 years ago, a man _had_ managed
to teach his pig to sing. However, it knew only one song. Which was ....

























"Squealings. Nothing more than squealings. ...."

I'm sorry I've carried on this long in this thread, I was originally
defending an attack by the OP to another posting and this will be my last
response........

You are mistaken when you state the OP wasn't aware until he left the store
since in his OP he stated he questioned the clerk about the transaction.
His justification was due to her attitude not his ignorance of the fact.

You stated, "If you haven't taken some of your time to bring the problem to
their attention, you really don't have much ground to stand on."

Today I went to HD to purchase some synthetic abrasive pads so I could clean
up the rust off the jointer I gloated about. While ringing up some other
items I was purchasing the pads came up with an invalid SKU. The clerks
response to this was,"well I guess you get these for free."

"You're not going to charge me for those I asked?" "Do you want me to?"
"Yes please. I'd feel better about it." (Especially in light of all these
postings I've made. I wouldn't want to be a hypocrite.<g>) I waited while
she went to find out the price. Everyone behind me peeled off and went to
different checkout lanes. Not only was my time wasted but those of others
as well. From the logic I've seen here everyone of them should have gotten
something for free.... Like I've asked,"what do you expect when you shop at
these places?"

also today...

I ordered and paid for a part from Delta to replace the broken one on the
jointer. They called me and said it was in. I drove 96 miles in rush hour
traffic to pick it up. When I arrived they told me it had already been
picked up. How that happened? Nobody knows. I was ticked off.... a total
waste of my time...which BTW ain't cheap. I spoke with the manager by cell
phone on my way back and we agreed on the part being sent directly to my
house no additional shipping charges apply. When I got home I had a message
from the salesman offering to refund my money for the trouble. I called him
back and told him I appreciated the gesture but it was unnecessary. His
prompt attention and apology was sufficient. That's my friggin' point....it
sucks..lesson learned... move on....but I do not feel a need for
compensation, which by the way was offered by them...not taken unawares.
Total wasted time today..about 3-1/2 hours which I figure to be approx. $250

As I've stated this is my last response to this thread or others like it. I
apologize to those I may have offended but I will not be viewed as one who
would change his beliefs due to circumstance.

John wrote:

> That wouldn't be at the St. Pete. HD store would it? They have one serious
> old wise ass in the electrical dept. My wife really chewed him a new ass.
> It was great!

We have an old wise ass in the electrical department at the local Lowe's
too. He used to be an executive for IBM or something, and he's bitter as
hell. He feels compelled to tell everyone about it whenever they linger
too long on his aisle.

--
Michael McIntyre ---- Silvan <[email protected]>
Linux fanatic, and certified Geek; registered Linux user #243621
http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Rue/5407/

>After ringing up all the other maple boards the same way I pay
> the nice smartass kid and out the door I go. Bottom line was 20 boards @
> $1.25 each and the 1x6x8 I got for $2.57 each. I know I could have said
> something more but she really ticked me off with her know it all attitude
> and smart mouth. I was trying to help her and be honest at the same time. So
> if this is wrong, shoot me.

I'd go stock up on maple before they fire the incompetent cashier!

And where is this store and what's the checkers name ? <grin>
Puff

"James D Kountz" <[email protected]> wrote in message =
news:[email protected]...
> I do feel better having thought it through. Problem is now the little =
devil
> onmy shoulder is telling me to go back and get more maple!! LOL
>=20
> Jim
>=20
>=20
> "Bay Area Dave" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > You did your best to correct her. You should sleep soundly tonight,
> > under the circumstances. The problem lies squarely with HD not =
training
> > their employee.
> >
> > dave
> >
> > James D Kountz wrote:
> >
> > > Today I went to the Borg to pick up some maple for a job Im doing =
for a
> > > customer. They're paying and insisted on getting the wood there =
instead
> of
> > > my supplier because they "have an account". Anyway I load up about =
20
> > > 1x3x10's, 12 1x6x8's, all maple, and some 1x4x8 pine boards for =
another
> > > project altogether. Anyway as you may or may not know, maple at =
the borg
> is
> > > sold by the lineal foot, @ $1.25 to $2.57 depending on width of =
course.
> So I
> > > get to the checkout and the girl says "wheres the sku on these =
boards"
> and I
> > > turned one over and she scanned it. It came up $1.25 on the 1x3 =
and she
> said
> > > "how many of those you have there?" I tell her I have 20 but that =
I
> believe
> > > she scanned the lineal foot price since thats how its sold and =
that the
> > > total wouldnt be correct. She snaps back at me "well sir, whatever =
comes
> up
> > > when I scan it is what its sold for!" Smartass kid. Anyway I say =
fine
> > > sweetheart. After ringing up all the other maple boards the same =
way I
> pay
> > > the nice smartass kid and out the door I go. Bottom line was 20 =
boards @
> > > $1.25 each and the 1x6x8 I got for $2.57 each. I know I could have =
said
> > > something more but she really ticked me off with her know it all
> attitude
> > > and smart mouth. I was trying to help her and be honest at the =
same
> time. So
> > > if this is wrong, shoot me.
> > >
> > > Jim
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > ....
> > >
> > >
> >
>=20
>

And what makes you think the manager will be any better or know more ?

I went that route at least twice . . . then gave up. Now, if they try to
over-charge at the register, I simply point it out, if the cashier has the
'bad attitude' I just leave the product there. If it is an under-charge, I
point it out . . . same attitude and I walk out with a 'windfall'.

Regards,
Ron Magen
Backyard Boatshop
{"No, we don't carry that" . . . "Then, if I find it does it mean I get it
for FREE because it doesn't really exist ?"}

"Mark Jerde" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
SNIP
> However, I recommend you call the manager. They need a better training
> program or flat better people running the registers.
>

[email protected] (Scott Post) wrote in message news:<gFZPb.105316$nt4.342564@attbi_s51>...
> In article <[email protected]>,
> mel <[email protected]> wrote:
> >you sound like my 8 year old daughter..."that's not fair!!"...nope... it's
> >not. Fairness is highly subjective and the perception of such is usually
> >skewed in the favor of who stands to gain the most. What would be fair in
> >this case is accepting that you willfully chose to do business with this
> >"faceless corporation" and by doing so willfully subjected yourself to
> >whatever wastes of time you may encounter. Had you as a consumer been
> >forced into this encounter that would be a different story....
>
> He *WAS* forced into this encounter. Go back and re-read the first post in
> this thread. He went to the Borg for lumber because he was instructed to
> his customer who had an account there.
>
> You need to invent better strawmen.

Then based on Mel's logic and yours, he should have charged his
customer for any time spent dealing with "their" chosen vendor. If you
know what the price is and you know that the vendor did not purposely
reduce that price for you but made a mistake, it is not ethical. It
doesn't matter whether the seller is a BORG or the old widder lady
everyone is always yammering about. If you knowingly take advantage of
someone's unintentional mistake you know what you are doing.

Dave Hall

Oh lookie here ya'll he done went and questioned my morals!

Lol

Jim


"mel" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> the question shouldn't be what do we think for that is a poor standard to
> hold yourself to...what do you think?
>
>

I would not view this as a case of taking advantage of the cashier,
but of taking advantage of the store and its (in this case)
incompetent hiring policy.

HD chose to hire a minimally qualified individual and put them into a
job with minimal training. (Probably so they could pay them a minimal
wage and earn a maximal profit.) If the ill-trained and uncaring
employee made a mistake, it was not the OP's fault, but HD's

The OP made a reasonable effort to correct an error on the cashier's
part and his effort was unrewarded. He was not, IMO, obligated to
spend more of his valuable time summoning a manager to correct a
problem that was not of his making and that he had already tried once
to correct.

On Sun, 18 Jan 2004 00:57:50 -0500, "John E. Flatley, Jr."
<[email protected]> wrote:

>Jim,
>
>I think I'm going to crawl out on this limb all by my lonesome and cut
>it off at the trunk.
>
>I have felt the same frustration as you and many others when dealing
>with some of the folks hired by the mass merchandisers. Mass
>merchandisers like Home Depot, Lowe's, Wal-Mart, Target, Office
>Depot...
>
>Yet, I would not feel comfortable taking advantage of an incompetent
>cashier no matter how lousy her attitude. Not to spite her. Not to
>teach her to have a better attitude. Not to educate her in the way
>her employer works.
>
>I think I would have called the manager over and had him teach her
>that little piece of her job. Maybe to avoid a confrontation in front
>of other customers, I would have found him after the sale and reviewed
>what happened. And let him make a business decision how he wanted to
>handle the under charge.
>
>I find it hard to justify punishing the business because they hired an
>incompetent attitude. Well, maybe that's just me.
>
>There, I cut the limb off and I'm out here all alone.
>
>But, if I could just find one of the five or more local Home Depots
>that carried Maple...
>
>Jack

-- jc
Published e-mail address is strictly for spam collection.
If e-mailing me, please use jc631 at optonline dot net

The Associated Press
Updated: 11:24 a.m. ET Jan.

"The Home Depot said Friday it will spend $3.7 billion in 2004 to modernize
its stores, upgrade technology and open 175 new stores...

...plans to branch out and improve efforts such as at-home services, tool
rental centers and the company Web site...

... 'The Home Depot is creating dynamic stores through our offering of
innovative and distinctive products, store modernization efforts and
investments in technology and store associates',and especially our
scanning technology. It seems that we have a LARGE amount of maple this
is unaccounted for in our twice-yearly inventory.........

James D Kountz wrote:

> Today I went to the Borg to pick up some maple for a job Im doing for a
> customer. They're paying and insisted on getting the wood there instead of
> my supplier because they "have an account". Anyway I load up about 20
>

If you didn't rush right back out there buy up a lot more and stand in line
for the same cashier; then you should feel bad, because you missed out
on a great deal.


"James D Kountz" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Today I went to the Borg to pick up some maple for a job Im doing for a
> customer. They're paying and insisted on getting the wood there instead of
> my supplier because they "have an account". Anyway I load up about 20
> 1x3x10's, 12 1x6x8's, all maple, and some 1x4x8 pine boards for another
> project altogether. Anyway as you may or may not know, maple at the borg
is
> sold by the lineal foot, @ $1.25 to $2.57 depending on width of course. So
I
> get to the checkout and the girl says "wheres the sku on these boards" and
I
> turned one over and she scanned it. It came up $1.25 on the 1x3 and she
said
> "how many of those you have there?" I tell her I have 20 but that I
believe
> she scanned the lineal foot price since thats how its sold and that the
> total wouldnt be correct. She snaps back at me "well sir, whatever comes
up
> when I scan it is what its sold for!" Smartass kid. Anyway I say fine
> sweetheart. After ringing up all the other maple boards the same way I pay
> the nice smartass kid and out the door I go. Bottom line was 20 boards @
> $1.25 each and the 1x6x8 I got for $2.57 each. I know I could have said
> something more but she really ticked me off with her know it all attitude
> and smart mouth. I was trying to help her and be honest at the same time.
So
> if this is wrong, shoot me.
>
> Jim
>
>
>
> --
> ....
>
>

On Sun, 18 Jan 2004 22:58:39 -0500, "Dennis Vogel"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>I'm surprised people think
>getting something undeserved isn't wrong.

Hey, that's capitalism in action. I wouldn't do it in my local
toolshops, I argue with one of my favourite timber suppliers to take
more money (I'm afraid the guy will starve !), but Borgs are fair game
for any blatant exploitation that they leave themselves open to.
They're not people, they're stock exchange listings.

You should feel terrible about not saying, "This is all I could carry to
the register, I need some help getting the rest of the maple."

That's pretty much what I did when the cashier AND the store manager
insisted that the T&G cedar ($5.98) was pine carsiding ($3.29).

James D Kountz wrote:

> Today I went to the Borg to pick up some maple for a job Im doing for a
> customer. They're paying and insisted on getting the wood there instead of
> my supplier because they "have an account". Anyway I load up about 20
> 1x3x10's, 12 1x6x8's, all maple, and some 1x4x8 pine boards for another
> project altogether. Anyway as you may or may not know, maple at the borg is
> sold by the lineal foot, @ $1.25 to $2.57 depending on width of course. So I
> get to the checkout and the girl says "wheres the sku on these boards" and I
> turned one over and she scanned it. It came up $1.25 on the 1x3 and she said
> "how many of those you have there?" I tell her I have 20 but that I believe
> she scanned the lineal foot price since thats how its sold and that the
> total wouldnt be correct. She snaps back at me "well sir, whatever comes up
> when I scan it is what its sold for!" Smartass kid. Anyway I say fine
> sweetheart. After ringing up all the other maple boards the same way I pay
> the nice smartass kid and out the door I go. Bottom line was 20 boards @
> $1.25 each and the 1x6x8 I got for $2.57 each. I know I could have said
> something more but she really ticked me off with her know it all attitude
> and smart mouth. I was trying to help her and be honest at the same time. So
> if this is wrong, shoot me.
>
> Jim
>
>
>
> --
> ....
>
>

--
Larry G. Laminger
http://woodworks.laminger.com

Definetly don't feel bad. In fact, that's highly gloatable. So let me be the
first to say, you suck.

Warmest regards,

Kevin B


"James D Kountz" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Today I went to the Borg to pick up some maple for a job Im doing for a
> customer. They're paying and insisted on getting the wood there instead of
> my supplier because they "have an account". Anyway I load up about 20
> 1x3x10's, 12 1x6x8's, all maple, and some 1x4x8 pine boards for another
> project altogether. Anyway as you may or may not know, maple at the borg
is
> sold by the lineal foot, @ $1.25 to $2.57 depending on width of course. So
I
> get to the checkout and the girl says "wheres the sku on these boards" and
I
> turned one over and she scanned it. It came up $1.25 on the 1x3 and she
said
> "how many of those you have there?" I tell her I have 20 but that I
believe
> she scanned the lineal foot price since thats how its sold and that the
> total wouldnt be correct. She snaps back at me "well sir, whatever comes
up
> when I scan it is what its sold for!" Smartass kid. Anyway I say fine
> sweetheart. After ringing up all the other maple boards the same way I pay
> the nice smartass kid and out the door I go. Bottom line was 20 boards @
> $1.25 each and the 1x6x8 I got for $2.57 each. I know I could have said
> something more but she really ticked me off with her know it all attitude
> and smart mouth. I was trying to help her and be honest at the same time.
So
> if this is wrong, shoot me.
>
> Jim
>
>
>
> --
> ....
>
>

In article <[email protected]>,
James D Kountz <[email protected]> wrote:
>Today I went to the Borg to pick up some maple for a job Im doing for a
>customer. They're paying and insisted on getting the wood there instead of
>my supplier because they "have an account". Anyway I load up about 20
>1x3x10's, 12 1x6x8's, all maple, and some 1x4x8 pine boards for another
>project altogether. Anyway as you may or may not know, maple at the borg is
>sold by the lineal foot, @ $1.25 to $2.57 depending on width of course. So I
>get to the checkout and the girl says "wheres the sku on these boards" and I
>turned one over and she scanned it. It came up $1.25 on the 1x3 and she said
>"how many of those you have there?" I tell her I have 20 but that I believe
>she scanned the lineal foot price since thats how its sold and that the
>total wouldnt be correct. She snaps back at me "well sir, whatever comes up
>when I scan it is what its sold for!" Smartass kid. Anyway I say fine
>sweetheart. After ringing up all the other maple boards the same way I pay
>the nice smartass kid and out the door I go. Bottom line was 20 boards @
>$1.25 each and the 1x6x8 I got for $2.57 each. I know I could have said
>something more but she really ticked me off with her know it all attitude
>and smart mouth. I was trying to help her and be honest at the same time. So
>if this is wrong, shoot me.
>
>Jim
>
>
>
>--
>....
>
>

Bang.

--

Larry Wasserman Baltimore, Maryland
[email protected]

what I'm saying is sometimes doing the right thing costs ya.

I do feel better having thought it through. Problem is now the little devil
onmy shoulder is telling me to go back and get more maple!! LOL

Jim


"Bay Area Dave" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> You did your best to correct her. You should sleep soundly tonight,
> under the circumstances. The problem lies squarely with HD not training
> their employee.
>
> dave
>
> James D Kountz wrote:
>
> > Today I went to the Borg to pick up some maple for a job Im doing for a
> > customer. They're paying and insisted on getting the wood there instead
of
> > my supplier because they "have an account". Anyway I load up about 20
> > 1x3x10's, 12 1x6x8's, all maple, and some 1x4x8 pine boards for another
> > project altogether. Anyway as you may or may not know, maple at the borg
is
> > sold by the lineal foot, @ $1.25 to $2.57 depending on width of course.
So I
> > get to the checkout and the girl says "wheres the sku on these boards"
and I
> > turned one over and she scanned it. It came up $1.25 on the 1x3 and she
said
> > "how many of those you have there?" I tell her I have 20 but that I
believe
> > she scanned the lineal foot price since thats how its sold and that the
> > total wouldnt be correct. She snaps back at me "well sir, whatever comes
up
> > when I scan it is what its sold for!" Smartass kid. Anyway I say fine
> > sweetheart. After ringing up all the other maple boards the same way I
pay
> > the nice smartass kid and out the door I go. Bottom line was 20 boards @
> > $1.25 each and the 1x6x8 I got for $2.57 each. I know I could have said
> > something more but she really ticked me off with her know it all
attitude
> > and smart mouth. I was trying to help her and be honest at the same
time. So
> > if this is wrong, shoot me.
> >
> > Jim
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > ....
> >
> >
>

Good point Mike. She did ask me how many I had. I started counting and
figuring up the total footage real quick when she interrupted me and said "I
only need to know how many boards you have altogether. So I told her <g> To
answer some others questions, I did pass the savings on to my customer since
after all it was automatically charged to their account. Someone else asked
about it showing up short at the end of the day on her register. I believe
it probaby wont show up until inventory time which if its like Wal-Fart its
only a couple times a year. My ex has worked there for years and she always
dreaded inventory time for this exact reason. As for Mel, well I think
anyone with a brain in this group can see he doesnt play well with others.
No sense of humor to say the least. I think you will all agree thats not the
way it is in here. You got to roll with the punches and learn to take jokes
when they come your way without getting all huffy puffy offended. Since
after all it was intended as a joke in the first place.

Jim


"Mike Iglesias" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> In article <[email protected]>,
> James D Kountz <[email protected]> wrote:
> >project altogether. Anyway as you may or may not know, maple at the borg
is
> >sold by the lineal foot, @ $1.25 to $2.57 depending on width of course.
So I
> >get to the checkout and the girl says "wheres the sku on these boards"
and I
> >turned one over and she scanned it. It came up $1.25 on the 1x3 and she
said
> >"how many of those you have there?" I tell her I have 20 but that I
believe
> >she scanned the lineal foot price since thats how its sold and that the
> >total wouldnt be correct. She snaps back at me "well sir, whatever comes
up
> >when I scan it is what its sold for!"
>
> It may have had the wrong sku labels on it. At my local HDs, if they
> scan something that is priced in lineal feet, the register prompts them
> to input the number of feet I'm buying so it can calculate the price.
>
>
> --
> Mike Iglesias Email:
[email protected]
> University of California, Irvine phone: 949-824-6926
> Network & Academic Computing Services FAX: 949-824-2069

you sound like my 8 year old daughter..."that's not fair!!"...nope... it's
not. Fairness is highly subjective and the perception of such is usually
skewed in the favor of who stands to gain the most. What would be fair in
this case is accepting that you willfully chose to do business with this
"faceless corporation" and by doing so willfully subjected yourself to
whatever wastes of time you may encounter. Had you as a consumer been
forced into this encounter that would be a different story....

If your time is so precious and the clock is ticking to the point that an
inconvenience costs you your profitability, you might ought to look into how
you're managing your time and do a cost analysis on dealing with a merchant
such as the borg vs a reputable dealer of said goods.

you posed a question which I took as an invitation for response and no...I
only called upon you to question your own morals as opposed to seeking
validation...jerk

Thanks Kevin!!

My first gloat........."I feel good da na na na na na na".............

Jim


"Kevin B" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:DdgOb.76732$nt4.108403@attbi_s51...
> Definetly don't feel bad. In fact, that's highly gloatable. So let me be
the
> first to say, you suck.
>
> Warmest regards,
>
> Kevin B
>
>
> "James D Kountz" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > Today I went to the Borg to pick up some maple for a job Im doing for a
> > customer. They're paying and insisted on getting the wood there instead
of
> > my supplier because they "have an account". Anyway I load up about 20
> > 1x3x10's, 12 1x6x8's, all maple, and some 1x4x8 pine boards for another
> > project altogether. Anyway as you may or may not know, maple at the borg
> is
> > sold by the lineal foot, @ $1.25 to $2.57 depending on width of course.
So
> I
> > get to the checkout and the girl says "wheres the sku on these boards"
and
> I
> > turned one over and she scanned it. It came up $1.25 on the 1x3 and she
> said
> > "how many of those you have there?" I tell her I have 20 but that I
> believe
> > she scanned the lineal foot price since thats how its sold and that the
> > total wouldnt be correct. She snaps back at me "well sir, whatever comes
> up
> > when I scan it is what its sold for!" Smartass kid. Anyway I say fine
> > sweetheart. After ringing up all the other maple boards the same way I
pay
> > the nice smartass kid and out the door I go. Bottom line was 20 boards @
> > $1.25 each and the 1x6x8 I got for $2.57 each. I know I could have said
> > something more but she really ticked me off with her know it all
attitude
> > and smart mouth. I was trying to help her and be honest at the same
time.
> So
> > if this is wrong, shoot me.
> >
> > Jim
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > ....
> >
> >
>
>

Denis,
In his case I'm NOT exaggerating. Between getting the 'Customer Service'
people {that is where the Manager's 'cubicle' is}to contact the manager,
explaining the situation, showing him the 'ticket info', having him 'check
the log', then the computer, getting the 'cashier' and explaining the whole
situation AGAIN, it probably took MORE than an hour. While it was a little
frustration, I felt good about doing something 'positive' rather than just
'bitching' under my breath. The 'Manager' thanked me, and said he would
correct the error right away.

You can imagine how stupid I felt when I was in that store again a few days
later and say the SAME 'shelf ticket', with the same error . . . completely
unchanged. Whether the manager & clerk understood or not is completely
immaterial . . . they JUST DIDN'T CARE.

I don't know if this is a 'they-don't-pay-me-enough-to-care' situation or
they simply don't hire people who have pride in themselves, and care to do a
job well - no matter what it is. It no longer matters. Now I just shrug my
shoulders, shake my head, and walk out the door. Sometimes I even mumble,
"What a Maroon".

Regards & Good Luck,
Ron Magen
Backyard Boatshop


"Dennis Vogel" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> No, I haven't. But did it really take you an hour to
> explain the problem to the store manager? Somehow
> I doubt it. You're exaggerating to make a point.
SNIP

"Mark" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> Group hug????
>

Have you ever been to a woodworker's show or demonstration? Just look at us
as a group. That would be one big belly bustin' hug!
Ed

Jim,

I think I'm going to crawl out on this limb all by my lonesome and cut
it off at the trunk.

I have felt the same frustration as you and many others when dealing
with some of the folks hired by the mass merchandisers. Mass
merchandisers like Home Depot, Lowe's, Wal-Mart, Target, Office
Depot...

Yet, I would not feel comfortable taking advantage of an incompetent
cashier no matter how lousy her attitude. Not to spite her. Not to
teach her to have a better attitude. Not to educate her in the way
her employer works.

I think I would have called the manager over and had him teach her
that little piece of her job. Maybe to avoid a confrontation in front
of other customers, I would have found him after the sale and reviewed
what happened. And let him make a business decision how he wanted to
handle the under charge.

I find it hard to justify punishing the business because they hired an
incompetent attitude. Well, maybe that's just me.

There, I cut the limb off and I'm out here all alone.

But, if I could just find one of the five or more local Home Depots
that carried Maple...

Jack

--
When I'm not in my right mind, my left mind gets pretty crowded.


|| something more but she really ticked me off with her know it all
attitude
| and smart mouth. I was trying to help her and be honest at the same
time. So
| if this is wrong, shoot me.
|
| Jim
|
|
|
| --
| ....
|
|

Which equates to a 'don't give a shit' attitude toward the customer . . .
which then filters down to all levels of employees. Or they sub-consciously
{consciously ?}hire individuals with this attitude, to begin with. "Keep the
shelves 'orderly' and move the 'buyers' rapidly to the cash registers".

Regards,
Ron Magen
Backyard Boatshop
{"You can't use 'that' for 'THAT' " . . Oh, yes I can - and here's the
picture to prove it !!}

"Renata" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I see you're never tried to find a manager at HD.
>
> They're either in a meeting, or don't really believe that you need A
> Manager and send you every flavor of non-manager there is; then tell
> you the managers are in a meeting.
>
> Renata
>
> On Sat, 24 Jan 2004 23:00:20 -0500, "Dennis Vogel"
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >"Mark & Juanita" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> >news:[email protected]...
> >>
> >> First of all, he did attempt to rectify the problem and was rebuffed by
> >> the company's representative, as poor a representative as she was, she
> >> was representing the company in that transaction.
> >
> >Yes, and I think you'll agree, a rather minimal attempt. And after
> >the clerk's reply it should have been clear that they were not the
> >right person to expect to solve this problem.
> >
> --snip--
> >Dennis Vogel
> >
>
> smart, not dumb for email

"John E. Flatley, Jr." <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Jim,
>
> I think I'm going to crawl out on this limb all by my lonesome and cut
> it off at the trunk.
>
> I have felt the same frustration as you and many others when dealing
> with some of the folks hired by the mass merchandisers. Mass
> merchandisers like Home Depot, Lowe's, Wal-Mart, Target, Office
> Depot...
>
> Yet, I would not feel comfortable taking advantage of an incompetent
> cashier no matter how lousy her attitude. Not to spite her. Not to
> teach her to have a better attitude. Not to educate her in the way
> her employer works.
>
> I think I would have called the manager over and had him teach her
> that little piece of her job. Maybe to avoid a confrontation in front
> of other customers, I would have found him after the sale and reviewed
> what happened. And let him make a business decision how he wanted to
> handle the under charge.
>
> I find it hard to justify punishing the business because they hired an
> incompetent attitude. Well, maybe that's just me.
>
> There, I cut the limb off and I'm out here all alone.
>
----------------------8<------------snip
> Jack


Is it a Maple tree?

Steve

Mark <[email protected]> wrote in
<[email protected]>:

>Does anyone remember when HD first started catching on and expanding,
>their claim to fame was that they employed ex-contractors and
>tradesmen(women), so anyone working in flooring, paint,etc was an
>'expert' in their particular department??? I guess those days are long
>gone.
> Mark
>
Yup! And I used to have to drive 30 miles to get to one. Now they are all
over the place and friggin useless!

Jerry

"Joseph Smith" <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:

> If you didn't rush right back out there buy up a lot more and stand in
> line for the same cashier; then you should feel bad, because you
> missed out on a great deal.
>

Bottom line:
Either the local database programmer has a beef and "forgot" to program the
cash register to ask for the # of feet;
or;
The cashier has a beef and inputs "1" when asked for the # of feet.

One or the other will have to use their own feet to go look for a new job,
soon!

--
Best regards
Han
email address is invalid

You did your best to correct her. You should sleep soundly tonight,
under the circumstances. The problem lies squarely with HD not training
their employee.

dave

James D Kountz wrote:

> Today I went to the Borg to pick up some maple for a job Im doing for a
> customer. They're paying and insisted on getting the wood there instead of
> my supplier because they "have an account". Anyway I load up about 20
> 1x3x10's, 12 1x6x8's, all maple, and some 1x4x8 pine boards for another
> project altogether. Anyway as you may or may not know, maple at the borg is
> sold by the lineal foot, @ $1.25 to $2.57 depending on width of course. So I
> get to the checkout and the girl says "wheres the sku on these boards" and I
> turned one over and she scanned it. It came up $1.25 on the 1x3 and she said
> "how many of those you have there?" I tell her I have 20 but that I believe
> she scanned the lineal foot price since thats how its sold and that the
> total wouldnt be correct. She snaps back at me "well sir, whatever comes up
> when I scan it is what its sold for!" Smartass kid. Anyway I say fine
> sweetheart. After ringing up all the other maple boards the same way I pay
> the nice smartass kid and out the door I go. Bottom line was 20 boards @
> $1.25 each and the 1x6x8 I got for $2.57 each. I know I could have said
> something more but she really ticked me off with her know it all attitude
> and smart mouth. I was trying to help her and be honest at the same time. So
> if this is wrong, shoot me.
>
> Jim
>
>
>
> --
> ....
>
>

"mel" <[email protected]> wrote:

>what I'm saying is sometimes doing the right thing costs ya.
>

Then that means that the big faceless corporations will never do the
right thing, since their primary concern is their bottom line.

As such, it's only fair for me to treat them with the same "respect"
that they see fit to treat me with.

email to [email protected] (remove the "notreal-")

"Dennis Vogel" <[email protected]> wrote:

>First of all, it's not the "twerp" who's getting screwed.
>It's the company, which is to say the shareholders. You
>might be one. HD is in a lot of mutual funds.
>
>I would have gone to the manager as someone else
>suggested. It's clear the clerk didn't know what you
>were talking about. There's nothing else you could
>have done with her. Sure it would have taken some
>effort. But it would have been the right thing to do.
>Do you disagree? Do you were think you were "right"
>in the fullest sense of the word?
>
>Dennis Vogel

In a perfect world, where the big corporations actually care about
their customers and/or employees, it would be fair to expect that we
care about them. Unfortunately, that's not the world we live in
today.

Since the corporate greed of the past decade, turning employees into
disposable commodities and treating customers like dirt with insane
policies, is it fair to expect me to still treat the corporation with
respect?

I think not. They are just reaping what they've sown. I would have
done exactly as the original poster did. Point out the error, then
drop it when the cashier's attitude came up.

Think about it. If the BORG really cared about you, would they have
10 closed checkouts, and only one or two opened with a long line of
customers waiting? They're just saying that your time is worthless,
and their lowered payroll is more important.



email to [email protected] (remove the "notreal-")

He Would.
Tony D.
"James D Kountz" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I do feel better having thought it through. Problem is now the little
devil
> onmy shoulder is telling me to go back and get more maple!! LOL

Yea, Or like the older wise ass guy in electrical, when I was rewiring a
lamp, I wanted a polarized plug,
Came back with a know it all wise ass answer, "that it didn't matter" It
will work plugged in either way.
Tony D.
"DexAZ" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> You've ALL been there, right?
>
>

I think he was sort-of "kidding"
Tony D.
"mel" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> you posed a question which I took as an invitation for response and no...I
> only called upon you to question your own morals as opposed to seeking
> validation...jerk
>
>

I don't think she'll come up short will she?, the register will just show it
as "X" amount of linier feet,No?
Tony D.
"charlie b" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Never try to teach a pig to whistle. Pisses off the pig
> and wastes your time.
>
> It was honorable that you informed her of the error and
> explained why she'd made a mistake. You provided the
> correct information and she chose not to use it - her
> problem not yours. Your conscience is clear and she'll
> come up short at the end of the day. Perhaps next time ...
>
> Another honest man found. Another idiot also found.
>
> charlie b

Well Jim, now you know why they have an account there.

"James D Kountz" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Today I went to the Borg to pick up some maple for a job Im doing for a
> customer. They're paying and insisted on getting the wood there instead of
> my supplier because they "have an account". Anyway I load up about 20
> 1x3x10's, 12 1x6x8's, all maple, and some 1x4x8 pine boards for another
> project altogether. Anyway as you may or may not know, maple at the borg
is
> sold by the lineal foot, @ $1.25 to $2.57 depending on width of course. So
I
> get to the checkout and the girl says "wheres the sku on these boards" and
I
> turned one over and she scanned it. It came up $1.25 on the 1x3 and she
said
> "how many of those you have there?" I tell her I have 20 but that I
believe
> she scanned the lineal foot price since thats how its sold and that the
> total wouldnt be correct. She snaps back at me "well sir, whatever comes
up
> when I scan it is what its sold for!" Smartass kid. Anyway I say fine
> sweetheart. After ringing up all the other maple boards the same way I pay
> the nice smartass kid and out the door I go. Bottom line was 20 boards @
> $1.25 each and the 1x6x8 I got for $2.57 each. I know I could have said
> something more but she really ticked me off with her know it all attitude
> and smart mouth. I was trying to help her and be honest at the same time.
So
> if this is wrong, shoot me.
>
> Jim
>
>
>
> --
> ....
>
>

In article <[email protected]>,
James D Kountz <[email protected]> wrote:
>project altogether. Anyway as you may or may not know, maple at the borg is
>sold by the lineal foot, @ $1.25 to $2.57 depending on width of course. So I
>get to the checkout and the girl says "wheres the sku on these boards" and I
>turned one over and she scanned it. It came up $1.25 on the 1x3 and she said
>"how many of those you have there?" I tell her I have 20 but that I believe
>she scanned the lineal foot price since thats how its sold and that the
>total wouldnt be correct. She snaps back at me "well sir, whatever comes up
>when I scan it is what its sold for!"

It may have had the wrong sku labels on it. At my local HDs, if they
scan something that is priced in lineal feet, the register prompts them
to input the number of feet I'm buying so it can calculate the price.


--
Mike Iglesias Email: [email protected]
University of California, Irvine phone: 949-824-6926
Network & Academic Computing Services FAX: 949-824-2069

No, Pittsburgh Airport area,Home depot in "The Point"
Tony
"Silvan" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> John wrote:
>
> > That wouldn't be at the St. Pete. HD store would it? They have one
serious
> > old wise ass in the electrical dept. My wife really chewed him a new
ass.
> > It was great!

"DexAZ" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> I'd rather wait in line than put 3
> more checkers out of work.

That's a good one. Shop at WalMart, who is putting companies
out of business by the low cost they demand from their suppliers,
then worry about a few cashiers. Brilliant!

Dennis Vogel

Jack, I'm on that limb with you. I'm surprised people think
getting something undeserved isn't wrong. Clerk's error,
stocker's error, cash register programming error, no matter.
It's not what the stuff is supposed to cost and the buyer knows
it. But, then again, I've found people can justify just about
any damned thing they wish with very little effort.

Dennis Vogel

"John E. Flatley, Jr." <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Jim,
>
> I think I'm going to crawl out on this limb all by my lonesome and cut
> it off at the trunk.
>
> I have felt the same frustration as you and many others when dealing
> with some of the folks hired by the mass merchandisers. Mass
> merchandisers like Home Depot, Lowe's, Wal-Mart, Target, Office
> Depot...
>
> Yet, I would not feel comfortable taking advantage of an incompetent
> cashier no matter how lousy her attitude. Not to spite her. Not to
> teach her to have a better attitude. Not to educate her in the way
> her employer works.
>
> I think I would have called the manager over and had him teach her
> that little piece of her job. Maybe to avoid a confrontation in front
> of other customers, I would have found him after the sale and reviewed
> what happened. And let him make a business decision how he wanted to
> handle the under charge.
>
> I find it hard to justify punishing the business because they hired an
> incompetent attitude. Well, maybe that's just me.
>
> There, I cut the limb off and I'm out here all alone.
>
> But, if I could just find one of the five or more local Home Depots
> that carried Maple...
>
> Jack
>
> --
> When I'm not in my right mind, my left mind gets pretty crowded.
>
>
> || something more but she really ticked me off with her know it all
> attitude
> | and smart mouth. I was trying to help her and be honest at the same
> time. So
> | if this is wrong, shoot me.
> |
> | Jim
> |
> |
> |
> | --
> | ....
> |
> |
>
>

First of all, it's not the "twerp" who's getting screwed.
It's the company, which is to say the shareholders. You
might be one. HD is in a lot of mutual funds.

I would have gone to the manager as someone else
suggested. It's clear the clerk didn't know what you
were talking about. There's nothing else you could
have done with her. Sure it would have taken some
effort. But it would have been the right thing to do.
Do you disagree? Do you were think you were "right"
in the fullest sense of the word?

Dennis Vogel

"James D Kountz" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Dennis, Just so I understand you right, are you saying that you would have
> stood there and took the smartass kids attitude AND on top of that took
your
> own time to educate her and show her the error of her ways and to explain
> this to her? Or could it be you would have just thrown your hands up too.
> Keep in mind I DID make an effort to correct her and was snapped at in a
> very condescending way for it. So screw the little twerp. That how I
justify
> it.
>
> Jim
>
>
> "Dennis Vogel" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > Jack, I'm on that limb with you. I'm surprised people think
> > getting something undeserved isn't wrong. Clerk's error,
> > stocker's error, cash register programming error, no matter.
> > It's not what the stuff is supposed to cost and the buyer knows
> > it. But, then again, I've found people can justify just about
> > any damned thing they wish with very little effort.
> >
> > Dennis Vogel
> >
> > "John E. Flatley, Jr." <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:[email protected]...
> > > Jim,
> > >
> > > I think I'm going to crawl out on this limb all by my lonesome and cut
> > > it off at the trunk.
> > >
> > > I have felt the same frustration as you and many others when dealing
> > > with some of the folks hired by the mass merchandisers. Mass
> > > merchandisers like Home Depot, Lowe's, Wal-Mart, Target, Office
> > > Depot...
> > >
> > > Yet, I would not feel comfortable taking advantage of an incompetent
> > > cashier no matter how lousy her attitude. Not to spite her. Not to
> > > teach her to have a better attitude. Not to educate her in the way
> > > her employer works.
> > >
> > > I think I would have called the manager over and had him teach her
> > > that little piece of her job. Maybe to avoid a confrontation in front
> > > of other customers, I would have found him after the sale and reviewed
> > > what happened. And let him make a business decision how he wanted to
> > > handle the under charge.
> > >
> > > I find it hard to justify punishing the business because they hired an
> > > incompetent attitude. Well, maybe that's just me.
> > >
> > > There, I cut the limb off and I'm out here all alone.
> > >
> > > But, if I could just find one of the five or more local Home Depots
> > > that carried Maple...
> > >
> > > Jack
> > >
> > > --
> > > When I'm not in my right mind, my left mind gets pretty crowded.
> > >
> > >
> > > || something more but she really ticked me off with her know it all
> > > attitude
> > > | and smart mouth. I was trying to help her and be honest at the same
> > > time. So
> > > | if this is wrong, shoot me.
> > > |
> > > | Jim
> > > |
> > > |
> > > |
> > > | --
> > > | ....
> > > |
> > > |
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

"Andy Dingley" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Sun, 18 Jan 2004 22:58:39 -0500, "Dennis Vogel"
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >I'm surprised people think
> >getting something undeserved isn't wrong.
>
> Hey, that's capitalism in action. I wouldn't do it in my local
> toolshops, I argue with one of my favourite timber suppliers to take
> more money (I'm afraid the guy will starve !), but Borgs are fair game
> for any blatant exploitation that they leave themselves open to.
> They're not people, they're stock exchange listings.

And who do you think owns that stock? I know you know
it's people like you and me. And cheating a corporation
isn't any definition of capitalism I've ever heard of.

Dennis Vogel

No, I haven't. But did it really take you an hour to
explain the problem to the store manager? Somehow
I doubt it. You're exaggerating to make a point. I
do think I would have taken some time to explain
and I'd be surprised if the manager couldn't be made
to understand. After all, the lumber or the rack was
marked in some way that explained the pricing. How
is it that the manager couldn't understand what it meant?

Dennis Vogel

"Ron Magen" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:1%[email protected]...
> Dennis,
> Have you ever spent an hour or so of YOUR OWN time educating/explaining to
a
> clerk AND 'Manager' about a blatant error, that was costing THEM money ?
> Then going back to the store about a day later, then a week later . . .
and
> seeing the SAME thing going on ?!?!
>
> THEY DON'T care one wit. Plus it's 'like trying to teach a pig to fly . .
.
> it wastes your time and annoys the pig'
>
> Regards,
> Ron Magen
> Backyard Boatshop
>
> "Dennis Vogel" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > Jack, I'm on that limb with you. I'm surprised people think
> > getting something undeserved isn't wrong. Clerk's error,
> > stocker's error, cash register programming error, no matter.
> > It's not what the stuff is supposed to cost and the buyer knows
> > it. But, then again, I've found people can justify just about
> > any damned thing they wish with very little effort.
> >
> > Dennis Vogel
>
>

"CR" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "Dennis Vogel" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >First of all, it's not the "twerp" who's getting screwed.
> >It's the company, which is to say the shareholders. You
> >might be one. HD is in a lot of mutual funds.
> >
> >I would have gone to the manager as someone else
> >suggested. It's clear the clerk didn't know what you
> >were talking about. There's nothing else you could
> >have done with her. Sure it would have taken some
> >effort. But it would have been the right thing to do.
> >Do you disagree? Do you were think you were "right"
> >in the fullest sense of the word?
> >
> >Dennis Vogel
>
> In a perfect world, where the big corporations actually care about
> their customers and/or employees, it would be fair to expect that we
> care about them. Unfortunately, that's not the world we live in
> today.
>
> Since the corporate greed of the past decade, turning employees into
> disposable commodities and treating customers like dirt with insane
> policies, is it fair to expect me to still treat the corporation with
> respect?
>
> I think not. They are just reaping what they've sown. I would have
> done exactly as the original poster did. Point out the error, then
> drop it when the cashier's attitude came up.

So you're saying that because the corps are doing something wrong
so that justifies you doing something wrong as well?

> Think about it. If the BORG really cared about you, would they have
> 10 closed checkouts, and only one or two opened with a long line of
> customers waiting? They're just saying that your time is worthless,
> and their lowered payroll is more important.

They care about you. They're doing exactly what you've asked them
to do: give you lower and lower prices on thousands of items. As
you know, labor is their biggest cost so of course they're going to hire
as few, low educated clerks as possible so we all can get what we
demand. Why are we surprised when they do?

Dennis Vogel

"CR" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "mel" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >what I'm saying is sometimes doing the right thing costs ya.
>
> Then that means that the big faceless corporations will never do the
> right thing, since their primary concern is their bottom line.

As strange as this may sound, every corporation's primary concern
is their bottom line (unless that are a charity). Their sole reason
for being in business is to make money. Some decide to offer
superior service to get it; some decide to go low cost/service.
Don't make the mistake of expecting superior service from one
of the low cost operations.

> As such, it's only fair for me to treat them with the same "respect"
> that they see fit to treat me with.

Now you lost me.

Dennis Vogel

None that I know of. Would that have mattered
in determining right from wrong? That is what
we're talking about in this thread, isn't it?

Dennis Vogel

"Dave" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:jVeQb.134312$na.210035@attbi_s04...
> I'm guessing you are owning some of the stock. Am I right?
>
> "Dennis Vogel" wrote
>
> > And who do you think owns that stock? I know you know
> > it's people like you and me. And cheating a corporation
> > isn't any definition of capitalism I've ever heard of.

"Mark & Juanita" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> First of all, he did attempt to rectify the problem and was rebuffed by
> the company's representative, as poor a representative as she was, she
> was representing the company in that transaction.

Yes, and I think you'll agree, a rather minimal attempt. And after
the clerk's reply it should have been clear that they were not the
right person to expect to solve this problem.

>How much of his
> client's money should the OP have been willing to spend in order to help
> HD fix a problem that was HD's problem and in no way the responsibility
> of the clients? At some point, spending your client's money for
> something that they have not authorized one to spend it on is also
> unethical.

Why does it have to be billed to the client?

> How comfortable do you think the OP would have been billing
> his clients for an hour of time that he spent with an HD manager
> rectifying a corporate HD problem?

Who said, or even hinted, that it would take an hour to explain
this to the manager? That's a wild exaggeration intended to make
the answer obviously in your favor. What if it took on 5 minutes?

> If you argue that the clients made
> the OP go to HD, therefore they deserve what they got, you are then
> making exactly the same argument that you are excoriating those who feel
> that this is HD's problem because they hired and trained the clerk.

No, it has nothing to do with the client.

Dennis Vogel

"James D Kountz" <[email protected]> wrote in message

> She snaps back at me "well sir, whatever comes up
> when I scan it is what its sold for!" Smartass kid. Anyway I say fine
> sweetheart. After ringing up all the other maple boards the same way I pay
> the nice smartass kid and out the door I go. Bottom line was 20 boards @
> $1.25 each and the 1x6x8 I got for $2.57 each. I know I could have said
> something more but she really ticked me off with her know it all attitude
> and smart mouth. I was trying to help her and be honest at the same time.
So
> if this is wrong, shoot me.
>
> Jim

What you should do now is go to the other Borg and have them price match
less the 10%.

Hey, why were you giving the kid a hard time? They have been trained and
know what they are doing as a professional.

I gave up trying to educate the cashiers. I often buy a fancy Asiago cheese
bagel at the local supermarket. They have special bags for them right in
the tray. The bag is printed with the SKU number for 1 - 5 bagels and
another for 6 or more. They ask me what is in the bag, I tell them exactly
and I'm sure to mention it is the Sourdough bagels. At least 50% of the time
they charge me for the generic 30¢ ones. They can't read, they don't listen
and I've even brought it to the attention of the manager. So I don't feel
guilty about it.
Ed
[email protected]
http://pages.cthome.net/edhome

I was just kidding. Dammit man if you cant take a joke you are most
definitely in the wrong group Mel.

Take a pill and calm down.

Jim


"mel" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> you posed a question which I took as an invitation for response and no...I
> only called upon you to question your own morals as opposed to seeking
> validation...jerk
>
>

In article <[email protected]>,
[email protected] says...
> [email protected] (Scott Post) wrote in message news:<gFZPb.105316$nt4.342564@attbi_s51>...
> > In article <[email protected]>,
> > mel <[email protected]> wrote:
> > >you sound like my 8 year old daughter..."that's not fair!!"...nope... it's
> > >not. Fairness is highly subjective and the perception of such is usually
> > >skewed in the favor of who stands to gain the most. What would be fair in
> > >this case is accepting that you willfully chose to do business with this
> > >"faceless corporation" and by doing so willfully subjected yourself to
> > >whatever wastes of time you may encounter. Had you as a consumer been
> > >forced into this encounter that would be a different story....
> >
> > He *WAS* forced into this encounter. Go back and re-read the first post in
> > this thread. He went to the Borg for lumber because he was instructed to
> > his customer who had an account there.
> >
> > You need to invent better strawmen.
>
> Then based on Mel's logic and yours, he should have charged his
> customer for any time spent dealing with "their" chosen vendor. If you
> know what the price is and you know that the vendor did not purposely
> reduce that price for you but made a mistake, it is not ethical. It
> doesn't matter whether the seller is a BORG or the old widder lady
> everyone is always yammering about. If you knowingly take advantage of
> someone's unintentional mistake you know what you are doing.

First of all, he did attempt to rectify the problem and was rebuffed by
the company's representative, as poor a representative as she was, she
was representing the company in that transaction. How much of his
client's money should the OP have been willing to spend in order to help
HD fix a problem that was HD's problem and in no way the responsibility
of the clients? At some point, spending your client's money for
something that they have not authorized one to spend it on is also
unethical. How comfortable do you think the OP would have been billing
his clients for an hour of time that he spent with an HD manager
rectifying a corporate HD problem? If you argue that the clients made
the OP go to HD, therefore they deserve what they got, you are then
making exactly the same argument that you are excoriating those who feel
that this is HD's problem because they hired and trained the clerk.

>
> Dave Hall
>

In article <[email protected]>,
[email protected] says...
> In article <[email protected]>,
> charlie b <charliebATaccesscomDOTcom> wrote:
> >Never try to teach a pig to whistle. Pisses off the pig
> >and wastes your time.
>
> Trivia. The actual quote is:
>
> Never attempt to teach a pig to sing.
> It wastes your time, and annoys the pig.
>
> Attributed to Lazarus Long, in "Time Enough For Love", by Robert A. Heinlein.
> Also shows up in "The Notebooks of Lazarus Long".
>
>

Don't know who the attribution for this one is (might be Clements):

Never wrestle with a pig, you just get muddy and the pig enjoys it.


>
> P.S. Heard on a radio talk-show, probably 20 years ago, a man _had_ managed
> to teach his pig to sing. However, it knew only one song. Which was ....
>
> "Squealings. Nothing more than squealings. ...."
>

aaaargh! :-)

Jim,
Have you ever heard of the 'Peter Principle' ? Roughly, it's about people
rising to their highest level of IN-competence.

In your case it was because you HAD experience . . . you were
'over-qualified'. Because it is either illegal {or should be} to say that,
or because prior utterances of this STUPID statement have really pissed
people off, they use a more legally defensible excuse.

It is also the reason I made a previous comment on this thread . . . What
makes anyone think the 'average' Manager has any better 'handle' or
knowledge of of the specific products? They 'manage' the 'location'. It
could sell 'Bread' or 'Bombs' . . . it is all simply 'Product X'.

The 'Professional' aspect ?? Take a look at the 'Pro Desk' sometime . . .
also what the 'Pro's' wheel out the door. Carts loaded with 'sheathing
grade' plywood & OSB, 'stud grade' 2x4's, sheets of 'Drywall', buckets of
drywall 'mud', boxes of nails & 'drywall screws', lengths of copper & pvc
pipe, etc. The 'simple & standard' items. Those that usually go behind a
wall, or make up that wall. The most 'idiot proof' of items.

Regards & Good Luck,
Ron Magen
Backyard Boatshop

"James D Kountz" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
SNIP
several winters back when things
> were real slow around the shop I thought of doing some part time work at
the
> Borg. Went through the whole screening process and ya know what? I was
told
> I needed more experience. I was applying for the tool department........I
> can safely say there isn't a single tool in the tool corral at Home Depot
> that I don't own already or have at least used a few thousand times over
the
> last 20 years. The next week I went in there and "Megan" was working the
> tools. I asked "Megan" where I could find countersink bits and she tried
to
> send me to kitchen cabinets...........This is really funny now..........
>
> Jim
>
>
> "John E. Flatley, Jr." <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > Jim,
> >
> > I think I'm going to crawl out on this limb all by my lonesome and cut
> > it off at the trunk.
> >
> > I have felt the same frustration as you and many others when dealing
> > with some of the folks hired by the mass merchandisers. Mass
> > merchandisers like Home Depot, Lowe's, Wal-Mart, Target, Office
> > Depot...
> >
> > Yet, I would not feel comfortable taking advantage of an incompetent
> > cashier no matter how lousy her attitude. Not to spite her. Not to
> > teach her to have a better attitude. Not to educate her in the way
> > her employer works.
> >
> > I think I would have called the manager over and had him teach her
> > that little piece of her job. Maybe to avoid a confrontation in front
> > of other customers, I would have found him after the sale and reviewed
> > what happened. And let him make a business decision how he wanted to
> > handle the under charge.
> >
> > I find it hard to justify punishing the business because they hired an
> > incompetent attitude. Well, maybe that's just me.
> >
> > There, I cut the limb off and I'm out here all alone.
> >
> > But, if I could just find one of the five or more local Home Depots
> > that carried Maple...
> >
> > Jack
> >
> > --
> > When I'm not in my right mind, my left mind gets pretty crowded.
> >
> >
> > || something more but she really ticked me off with her know it all
> > attitude
> > | and smart mouth. I was trying to help her and be honest at the same
> > time. So
> > | if this is wrong, shoot me.
> > |
> > | Jim
> > |
> > |
> > |
> > | --
> > | ....
> > |
> > |
> >
> >
>
>

James -

You're clean on this - call the manager if you want, but I'd go back and get
more...

Think of how many times Home Depot has pissed you off, and the deal today
will be a drop in the bucket.

Heck, knowing you got that deal makes ME feel better.

HTH


John Moorhead
Lakeport, CA

"James D Kountz" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Today I went to the Borg to pick up some maple for a job Im doing for a
> customer. They're paying and insisted on getting the wood there instead of
> my supplier because they "have an account". Anyway I load up about 20
> 1x3x10's, 12 1x6x8's, all maple, and some 1x4x8 pine boards for another
> project altogether. Anyway as you may or may not know, maple at the borg
is
> sold by the lineal foot, @ $1.25 to $2.57 depending on width of course. So
I
> get to the checkout and the girl says "wheres the sku on these boards" and
I
> turned one over and she scanned it. It came up $1.25 on the 1x3 and she
said
> "how many of those you have there?" I tell her I have 20 but that I
believe
> she scanned the lineal foot price since thats how its sold and that the
> total wouldnt be correct. She snaps back at me "well sir, whatever comes
up
> when I scan it is what its sold for!" Smartass kid. Anyway I say fine
> sweetheart. After ringing up all the other maple boards the same way I pay
> the nice smartass kid and out the door I go. Bottom line was 20 boards @
> $1.25 each and the 1x6x8 I got for $2.57 each. I know I could have said
> something more but she really ticked me off with her know it all attitude
> and smart mouth. I was trying to help her and be honest at the same time.
So
> if this is wrong, shoot me.
>
> Jim
>
>
>
> --
> ....
>
>

In article <[email protected]>, [email protected] says...
> Jim,
>
> I think I'm going to crawl out on this limb all by my lonesome and cut
> it off at the trunk.
>
> I have felt the same frustration as you and many others when dealing
> with some of the folks hired by the mass merchandisers. Mass
> merchandisers like Home Depot, Lowe's, Wal-Mart, Target, Office
> Depot...
>
> Yet, I would not feel comfortable taking advantage of an incompetent
> cashier no matter how lousy her attitude. Not to spite her. Not to
> teach her to have a better attitude. Not to educate her in the way
> her employer works.
>
> I think I would have called the manager over and had him teach her
> that little piece of her job. Maybe to avoid a confrontation in front
> of other customers, I would have found him after the sale and reviewed
> what happened. And let him make a business decision how he wanted to
> handle the under charge.
>
> I find it hard to justify punishing the business because they hired an
> incompetent attitude. Well, maybe that's just me.
>


You have some valid points. But I would offer the following counter-
point. The OP was buying this material for a client and a job he was
performing for that client. Now, one would assume that his time also
has value (not to say that if I was going in for something for a weekend
project, my time would not be valuable either, it would just be harder
to place a $ amount on that time). The action you are counseling would
require that the OP expend additional (perhaps billable time) in dealing
with what should, by all rights, be an assumed competency of the
business with which we was dealing. So, either the OP was going to have
to "take himself off the clock" so to speak, or he was going to be
expending his client's money to spend additional time in finishing his
purchase or afterwards so that HD could then educate its supposedly
already trained employee. Having attempted to deal with "customer
service" following a sale, this could have resulted in a significant
expenditure of time.

The OP did his due diligence in informing the cashier of the correct
pricing for the material. The attitude he encountered was definitely a
problem, and a quick word to the manager might have been in order if
that did not result in significant additional time wasted.

"James D Kountz" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> Today I went to the Borg to pick up some maple for a job Im doing for a
> customer. They're paying and insisted on getting the wood there instead of
> my supplier because they "have an account". Anyway I load up about 20
> 1x3x10's, 12 1x6x8's, all maple, and some 1x4x8 pine boards for another
> project altogether. Anyway as you may or may not know, maple at the borg is
> sold by the lineal foot, @ $1.25 to $2.57 depending on width of course. So I
> get to the checkout and the girl says "wheres the sku on these boards" and I
> turned one over and she scanned it. It came up $1.25 on the 1x3 and she said
> "how many of those you have there?" I tell her I have 20 but that I believe
> she scanned the lineal foot price since thats how its sold and that the
> total wouldnt be correct. She snaps back at me "well sir, whatever comes up
> when I scan it is what its sold for!" Smartass kid. Anyway I say fine
> sweetheart. After ringing up all the other maple boards the same way I pay
> the nice smartass kid and out the door I go. Bottom line was 20 boards @
> $1.25 each and the 1x6x8 I got for $2.57 each. I know I could have said
> something more but she really ticked me off with her know it all attitude
> and smart mouth. I was trying to help her and be honest at the same time. So
> if this is wrong, shoot me.

I would have gone back for more. Normally, I consider myself fairly
moral, but my "oh yeah, smart ass?" circuitry often overrides my
morality.

-Chris

In article <[email protected]>,
[email protected] says...
> How much of that person's
> billable time should be spent in resolving another business's problems?
>
> so whay you're saying is it's that merchant's responsibility to insure your
> profitability and not yours for seeking out a merchant that doesn't waste
> your time?
>
>
>


I can see why you are confused, seeing as you snipped all the context
from around my statement.

It appears that what you are saying that it is up to the OP to reduce
his profitability (or bill his client for time spent) seeking out a Home
Depot manager to explaining the situation in which the original poster
was improperly charged too little and in which the OP was snapped at by
the cashier when he pointed out the error to the cashier. The OP would
need to spend additional time (either his or his clients, depending upon
whether he was going to remain on the clock or take himself off the
clock) resolving the situation that the merchant (Home Depot) had caused
through its own errors and improper training of its employees. i.e.,
turning things around, you are saying it is up to the original poster
and either his business or the clients he is billing to assure Home
Depot's profitability.

In article <[email protected]>,
[email protected] says...
> "Mark & Juanita" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> >
> > First of all, he did attempt to rectify the problem and was rebuffed by
> > the company's representative, as poor a representative as she was, she
> > was representing the company in that transaction.
>
> Yes, and I think you'll agree, a rather minimal attempt. And after
> the clerk's reply it should have been clear that they were not the
> right person to expect to solve this problem.
>

At which point, the OP had to make a decision, a) accept the decision
of the business's representative and move on or b) Search out a
manager, explain the situation and work to rectify the problem, the time
required to do this being an unknown, based upon the availability and
training of the manager 1) while still billing his own client, thus
making his client pay for HD's ineptness -- at the same time reducing
his own competitiveness by raising the price of the job, or 2) stop
billing his client for the time and utilize his own time, to the
detriment of his own business, thus penalizing his own business for HD's
ineptness.


> >How much of his
> > client's money should the OP have been willing to spend in order to help
> > HD fix a problem that was HD's problem and in no way the responsibility
> > of the clients? At some point, spending your client's money for
> > something that they have not authorized one to spend it on is also
> > unethical.
>
> Why does it have to be billed to the client?

Why should the OP have to suspend billable time from *his* business in
order to correct HD's business? He tried, yes, it the attempt was
minimal, but not having knowledge of where the manager was nor the time
that would be required to fix the problem, I am not in a position to
criticise the OP for his actions.

In article <[email protected]>,
mel <[email protected]> wrote:
>you sound like my 8 year old daughter..."that's not fair!!"...nope... it's
>not. Fairness is highly subjective and the perception of such is usually
>skewed in the favor of who stands to gain the most. What would be fair in
>this case is accepting that you willfully chose to do business with this
>"faceless corporation" and by doing so willfully subjected yourself to
>whatever wastes of time you may encounter. Had you as a consumer been
>forced into this encounter that would be a different story....

He *WAS* forced into this encounter. Go back and re-read the first post in
this thread. He went to the Borg for lumber because he was instructed to
his customer who had an account there.

You need to invent better strawmen.

--
Scott Post [email protected] http://home.insightbb.com/~sepost/

I see you're never tried to find a manager at HD.

They're either in a meeting, or don't really believe that you need A
Manager and send you every flavor of non-manager there is; then tell
you the managers are in a meeting.

Renata

On Sat, 24 Jan 2004 23:00:20 -0500, "Dennis Vogel"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>"Mark & Juanita" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>>
>> First of all, he did attempt to rectify the problem and was rebuffed by
>> the company's representative, as poor a representative as she was, she
>> was representing the company in that transaction.
>
>Yes, and I think you'll agree, a rather minimal attempt. And after
>the clerk's reply it should have been clear that they were not the
>right person to expect to solve this problem.
>
--snip--
>Dennis Vogel
>

smart, not dumb for email

Group hug????

mel wrote:

> sorry...i was a wee bit touchy you might say
>
>

NOT a very pretty mental picture. Reminds me of a group of "WOODBADGE"
types at Scout camp.

DexAZ


"Edwin Pawlowski" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Mark" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > Group hug????
> >
>
> Have you ever been to a woodworker's show or demonstration? Just look at
us
> as a group. That would be one big belly bustin' hug!
> Ed
>
>

I'm guessing you are owning some of the stock. Am I right?

Dave

----

"Dennis Vogel" wrote

> And who do you think owns that stock? I know you know
> it's people like you and me. And cheating a corporation
> isn't any definition of capitalism I've ever heard of.

"Ya pays peanuts, ya gets monkeys"


Jim, no don't feel bad. You tried to point out her error. But NOOO, _she_
knew better. And you did not exploit the situation by saying, "Well if that
is the price, just a second, I guess I need to fill my truck up."

If the borgs insist on hiring the marginally qualified, not giving them
enough training and supervision, this is exactly what they end up with.

I gave up years ago trying to correct the checker at the borgs and the other
big box types. I will point the error out once and let it ride from there.
Those MBA's at the home office developed the current recipe and as they are
MBA's, they do know it all. I love going into the new Super-Wal-Mart's,
Targets etc. and seeing 30-48 check out aisles, all equipped with the latest
& greatest in scanning technology...as I wait in a long line at one of the
3-6 lanes that are open. Have you _ever_ figured that one out? BTW, I
refuse to use the new "self check-outs". I'd rather wait in line than put 3
more checkers out of work.

Love to go to the local ACE Hardware, where I am greeted with a smile from
ALL the help. _Both_ the check out counters are manned at all times. The
help, many of whom are retirees and know what _I'm_ talking about, are
knowledgeable and polite. And if I bring in a part or some hardware I need
more of, I can show them and they promptly lead me to the right bin and dig
some out for me. At the borg, _if_ I can find someone to ask, they look at
my part like it was a moon rock or something from MARS. Then I'm told, "Hey
man, I'm just filling in over here 'cus, like Jeremy's on break. I'm from
flooring and to tell you the truth, I've never seen _anything_ like that,
DUDE!!! What did you say that was?" (KREG pocket screw)

You've ALL been there, right?

DexAZ


"James D Kountz" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Today I went to the Borg to pick up some maple for a job Im doing for a
> customer. They're paying and insisted on getting the wood there instead of
> my supplier because they "have an account". Anyway I load up about 20
> 1x3x10's, 12 1x6x8's, all maple, and some 1x4x8 pine boards for another
> project altogether. Anyway as you may or may not know, maple at the borg
is
> sold by the lineal foot, @ $1.25 to $2.57 depending on width of course. So
I
> get to the checkout and the girl says "wheres the sku on these boards" and
I
> turned one over and she scanned it. It came up $1.25 on the 1x3 and she
said
> "how many of those you have there?" I tell her I have 20 but that I
believe
> she scanned the lineal foot price since thats how its sold and that the
> total wouldnt be correct. She snaps back at me "well sir, whatever comes
up
> when I scan it is what its sold for!" Smartass kid. Anyway I say fine
> sweetheart. After ringing up all the other maple boards the same way I pay
> the nice smartass kid and out the door I go. Bottom line was 20 boards @
> $1.25 each and the 1x6x8 I got for $2.57 each. I know I could have said
> something more but she really ticked me off with her know it all attitude
> and smart mouth. I was trying to help her and be honest at the same time.
So
> if this is wrong, shoot me.
>
> Jim
>
>
>
> --
> ....
>
>

I'd go back and get some more for yourself.
If the price rings up the same,clean them out. Don't mention the previous
sale.
"Andy Dingley" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Sat, 17 Jan 2004 05:44:30 GMT, "James D Kountz"
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >She snaps back at me "well sir, whatever comes up
> >when I scan it is what its sold for!"
>
> The price of commercial incompetence is financial loss.
>
> It's their fault if they train their staff so poorly, even if you
> didn't go out of your way to try and correct them.
> --
> Do whales have krillfiles ?

Anthony Diodati wrote:

> I don't think she'll come up short will she?, the register will just show
> it as "X" amount of linier feet,No?

You're right. Their inventory will come up short eventually, but nobody
will ever know exactly why.

--
Michael McIntyre ---- Silvan <[email protected]>
Linux fanatic, and certified Geek; registered Linux user #243621
http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Rue/5407/

Dennis, Just so I understand you right, are you saying that you would have
stood there and took the smartass kids attitude AND on top of that took your
own time to educate her and show her the error of her ways and to explain
this to her? Or could it be you would have just thrown your hands up too.
Keep in mind I DID make an effort to correct her and was snapped at in a
very condescending way for it. So screw the little twerp. That how I justify
it.

Jim


"Dennis Vogel" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Jack, I'm on that limb with you. I'm surprised people think
> getting something undeserved isn't wrong. Clerk's error,
> stocker's error, cash register programming error, no matter.
> It's not what the stuff is supposed to cost and the buyer knows
> it. But, then again, I've found people can justify just about
> any damned thing they wish with very little effort.
>
> Dennis Vogel
>
> "John E. Flatley, Jr." <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > Jim,
> >
> > I think I'm going to crawl out on this limb all by my lonesome and cut
> > it off at the trunk.
> >
> > I have felt the same frustration as you and many others when dealing
> > with some of the folks hired by the mass merchandisers. Mass
> > merchandisers like Home Depot, Lowe's, Wal-Mart, Target, Office
> > Depot...
> >
> > Yet, I would not feel comfortable taking advantage of an incompetent
> > cashier no matter how lousy her attitude. Not to spite her. Not to
> > teach her to have a better attitude. Not to educate her in the way
> > her employer works.
> >
> > I think I would have called the manager over and had him teach her
> > that little piece of her job. Maybe to avoid a confrontation in front
> > of other customers, I would have found him after the sale and reviewed
> > what happened. And let him make a business decision how he wanted to
> > handle the under charge.
> >
> > I find it hard to justify punishing the business because they hired an
> > incompetent attitude. Well, maybe that's just me.
> >
> > There, I cut the limb off and I'm out here all alone.
> >
> > But, if I could just find one of the five or more local Home Depots
> > that carried Maple...
> >
> > Jack
> >
> > --
> > When I'm not in my right mind, my left mind gets pretty crowded.
> >
> >
> > || something more but she really ticked me off with her know it all
> > attitude
> > | and smart mouth. I was trying to help her and be honest at the same
> > time. So
> > | if this is wrong, shoot me.
> > |
> > | Jim
> > |
> > |
> > |
> > | --
> > | ....
> > |
> > |
> >
> >
>
>

the question shouldn't be what do we think for that is a poor standard to
hold yourself to...what do you think?

You should feel bad! Bad James! Bundle it up, ship it to me, and I
will give you absolution. ;-)

mahalo,
father jo4hn (just ask my kids)

Does anyone remember when HD first started catching on and expanding,
their claim to fame was that they employed ex-contractors and
tradesmen(women), so anyone working in flooring, paint,etc was an
'expert' in their particular department??? I guess those days are long
gone.
Mark

DexAZ wrote:
> "Ya pays peanuts, ya gets monkeys"
>
>
> Jim, no don't feel bad. You tried to point out her error. But NOOO, _she_
> knew better. And you did not exploit the situation by saying, "Well if that
> is the price, just a second, I guess I need to fill my truck up."
>
> If the borgs insist on hiring the marginally qualified, not giving them
> enough training and supervision, this is exactly what they end up with.
>
> I gave up years ago trying to correct the checker at the borgs and the other
> big box types. I will point the error out once and let it ride from there.
> Those MBA's at the home office developed the current recipe and as they are
> MBA's, they do know it all. I love going into the new Super-Wal-Mart's,
> Targets etc. and seeing 30-48 check out aisles, all equipped with the latest
> & greatest in scanning technology...as I wait in a long line at one of the
> 3-6 lanes that are open. Have you _ever_ figured that one out? BTW, I
> refuse to use the new "self check-outs". I'd rather wait in line than put 3
> more checkers out of work.
>
> Love to go to the local ACE Hardware, where I am greeted with a smile from
> ALL the help. _Both_ the check out counters are manned at all times. The
> help, many of whom are retirees and know what _I'm_ talking about, are
> knowledgeable and polite. And if I bring in a part or some hardware I need
> more of, I can show them and they promptly lead me to the right bin and dig
> some out for me. At the borg, _if_ I can find someone to ask, they look at
> my part like it was a moon rock or something from MARS. Then I'm told, "Hey
> man, I'm just filling in over here 'cus, like Jeremy's on break. I'm from
> flooring and to tell you the truth, I've never seen _anything_ like that,
> DUDE!!! What did you say that was?" (KREG pocket screw)
>
> You've ALL been there, right?
>
> DexAZ
>
>
> "James D Kountz" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
>>Today I went to the Borg to pick up some maple for a job Im doing for a
>>customer. They're paying and insisted on getting the wood there instead of
>>my supplier because they "have an account". Anyway I load up about 20
>>1x3x10's, 12 1x6x8's, all maple, and some 1x4x8 pine boards for another
>>project altogether. Anyway as you may or may not know, maple at the borg
>
> is
>
>>sold by the lineal foot, @ $1.25 to $2.57 depending on width of course. So
>
> I
>
>>get to the checkout and the girl says "wheres the sku on these boards" and
>
> I
>
>>turned one over and she scanned it. It came up $1.25 on the 1x3 and she
>
> said
>
>>"how many of those you have there?" I tell her I have 20 but that I
>
> believe
>
>>she scanned the lineal foot price since thats how its sold and that the
>>total wouldnt be correct. She snaps back at me "well sir, whatever comes
>
> up
>
>>when I scan it is what its sold for!" Smartass kid. Anyway I say fine
>>sweetheart. After ringing up all the other maple boards the same way I pay
>>the nice smartass kid and out the door I go. Bottom line was 20 boards @
>>$1.25 each and the 1x6x8 I got for $2.57 each. I know I could have said
>>something more but she really ticked me off with her know it all attitude
>>and smart mouth. I was trying to help her and be honest at the same time.
>
> So
>
>>if this is wrong, shoot me.
>>
>>Jim
>>
>>
>>
>>--
>>....
>>
>>
>
>
>

How much of that person's
billable time should be spent in resolving another business's problems?

so whay you're saying is it's that merchant's responsibility to insure your
profitability and not yours for seeking out a merchant that doesn't waste
your time?

On Sat, 17 Jan 2004 05:44:30 GMT, "James D Kountz"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>She snaps back at me "well sir, whatever comes up
>when I scan it is what its sold for!"

The price of commercial incompetence is financial loss.

It's their fault if they train their staff so poorly, even if you
didn't go out of your way to try and correct them.
--
Do whales have krillfiles ?

sorry...i was a wee bit touchy you might say

You raise an interesting and valid point somewhat I feel. The conclusion I
came to though was they (the store itself) is ultimately responsible for
their employees. I think that with just a wee bit more attention to detail
things like this wouldn't happen as much as it does. I mean don't you think
that if you're going to put a person in a certain position, they should KNOW
that position? At the larger stores it just doesn't happen. You have a few
and I mean a very few who know what they're doing but the majority of the
associates walk around in a daze most of the time and couldn't buy a clue.
What's really really funny to me is that several winters back when things
were real slow around the shop I thought of doing some part time work at the
Borg. Went through the whole screening process and ya know what? I was told
I needed more experience. I was applying for the tool department........I
can safely say there isn't a single tool in the tool corral at Home Depot
that I don't own already or have at least used a few thousand times over the
last 20 years. The next week I went in there and "Megan" was working the
tools. I asked "Megan" where I could find countersink bits and she tried to
send me to kitchen cabinets...........This is really funny now..........

Jim


"John E. Flatley, Jr." <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Jim,
>
> I think I'm going to crawl out on this limb all by my lonesome and cut
> it off at the trunk.
>
> I have felt the same frustration as you and many others when dealing
> with some of the folks hired by the mass merchandisers. Mass
> merchandisers like Home Depot, Lowe's, Wal-Mart, Target, Office
> Depot...
>
> Yet, I would not feel comfortable taking advantage of an incompetent
> cashier no matter how lousy her attitude. Not to spite her. Not to
> teach her to have a better attitude. Not to educate her in the way
> her employer works.
>
> I think I would have called the manager over and had him teach her
> that little piece of her job. Maybe to avoid a confrontation in front
> of other customers, I would have found him after the sale and reviewed
> what happened. And let him make a business decision how he wanted to
> handle the under charge.
>
> I find it hard to justify punishing the business because they hired an
> incompetent attitude. Well, maybe that's just me.
>
> There, I cut the limb off and I'm out here all alone.
>
> But, if I could just find one of the five or more local Home Depots
> that carried Maple...
>
> Jack
>
> --
> When I'm not in my right mind, my left mind gets pretty crowded.
>
>
> || something more but she really ticked me off with her know it all
> attitude
> | and smart mouth. I was trying to help her and be honest at the same
> time. So
> | if this is wrong, shoot me.
> |
> | Jim
> |
> |
> |
> | --
> | ....
> |
> |
>
>