HD & Seal Coat

Bob,
Nice letter and 'nice' corporate response . . . .

However, NOT what I have found in REALITY !!

Not only is 'Special Order' in another language, unknown to the several that
I have dealt with, but there can't even order REPLENISHMENT STOCK for what
they have on the shelves !!

What I have found {note - this seems to be a recent phenomena}is that
although there are truck shipments on a regular basis . . . NO ONE knows
what they contain. If a 'Sales Associate' puts in for a 'Stock Reorder', or
if a Vendor's on-site man does the same thing, the order is REJECTED or
IGNORED at Corporate. The only time these orders are filled is when the
ENTIRE REGION is low {or out} and Corporate issues the order. This I heard
from a finish vender when I was talking to him about getting a new product.

I remember looking for some 'Stick-On' numbers & letters for a boat
registration. They were out of a few & very low on others. 'We'll get some
more next week". Needless to say, never happened. I got what I needed at
Lowes, but checked the HD supply every so often. I think it took over
6-months !!

It used to be that a 'special order' of an Accessory for my Ryobi BT3000
Table Saw {I LIKE IT - - FORGET the 'flames'}was a simple matter of a day
to a week. Now . . . when you ask about 'Special Orders' of ANYTHING . . .
all you get is a shrug and, "We don't do that". The other 'kicker' is when
you go in to purchase more of something you've gotten before, and even if
you have a sample in hand you get the response, "We never had that here".
That's when I really explode !!

Regards,
Ron Magen
Backyard Boatshop
[PS: I'm going to copy the Corporate Response you got. Next time I need to
'Special Order' something I'll take it with me to the 'manager du jour'
office and watch the fun]

"Bob Bowles" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> To: <[email protected]>
> Subject: Re: Contact Us - Product/Project Information - Paint
> (KMM2170007C0KM)
> From: "homedepot.com" <[email protected]>
> Date: Mon, 13 Oct 2003 15:25:26 -0400
>
> Hello Valued Customer,
>
> Thank you for your e-mail to homedepot.com!
>
> Home Depot's product selection may vary in different regions of the
> country. This is due to regional climate and seasonal differences. We
> also partner with local manufacturers whenever possible to bring you
> the broadest selection available. As a result, you may find that a
> particular product is carried in one Home Depot, but not in another.
>
> The Zinsser seal coat may be available through special order. Since
> special orders are placed through our stores, please contact an
> associate in the Paint department at your local Home Depot. They'll be
> happy to provide you with more information about availability and
> pricing.
>
> To make certain that you get the most accurate information on special
> orders, be sure to stop by your local Home Depot between the hours of
> 8 AM and 4 PM. This will ensure that our associates are able to
> contact the supplier during the supplier's office hours and provide
> you with all the answers to your questions from pricing to the
> estimated shipping time involved.
>
> For your convenience, your local store information is as follows:
>
> "Oxnard-Relo" Home Depot #1040
> 401 W. Esplanade Drive
> Oxnard, CA 93030
> (805)983-0653
>
> We appreciate the opportunity to assist you and hope that you enjoy
> shopping at The Home Depot. If you have any other questions about how
> our associates can help with your home improvement projects or product
> inquiries, please visit us again at homedepot.com!
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Will
> homedepot.com
>
>
> Original Message Follows:
> ------------------------
> "Contact Us" Form Message From:
> Submitted: Mon, Oct 13, 2003 10:36:03 AM
> Email: [email protected]
> Phone: 805-983-1825
> Zip/Postal Code: 93030
> Subject: Product/Project Information - Paint
> Store Locator:
> Service Number:
> Comments:
> Why doesn't Oxnard, CA store carry Zinsser Seal Coat? Newsgroup posts
> indicate others carry it.
>

With increasing MBA "management" of corporate America, this type of
inventory _management_ is getting worse, and more irrational, as time goes
by. Case in point:

Favorite shop attire is shorts and short sleeve T-shirts ... "Pluma" brand
from Sam's Club to be exact. I've bought these tough, long wearing,
inexpensive short sleeve T-shirts by the dozen down through the years.

Suddenly last summer, some yo yo at Sam's decided that short sleeve T's are
"seasonal" items and should no longer be stocked past August, in favor of
the long sleeve model.

No consideration given that this is South Texas, that there will be likely
less than one month of weather cold enough to consider wearing anything but
short sleeves throughout the year, and that the stores are overstocked with
an item that is demonstrably NOT selling in this climate.

... so much for the hope that "corporate greed" would occasionally override
"corporate stupidity" to the benefit of the consumer.

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 9/21/03


"Ron Magen" wrote in message
> Bob,
> Nice letter and 'nice' corporate response . . . .
>
> However, NOT what I have found in REALITY !!
>
> Not only is 'Special Order' in another language, unknown to the several
that
> I have dealt with, but there can't even order REPLENISHMENT STOCK for what
> they have on the shelves !!

'Swing',
Reminds me of my stint with 'Uncle'.

At a specific date; 'Winter Blues' are the regulation 'Uniform of the Day'.
The fact that you are transiting from San Francisco to Clark AB, Philippines
makes no nevermind.

Ditto for the year I spent in tech school, in Biloxi, Mississippi. A lot of
people don't know it gets cold enough for the rain puddles to freeze . . .
especially when you are formed up to march a mile to class at 0400 !!. A
bunch of us went to Supply to try and get Liners for the light field
jackets; "This Region is not eligible for that issue".

Regards,
Ron Magen
Backyard Boatshop
[PS: I now wear shorts & 'T' shirts {changing to Hawaiian shirt & Black
Pearl erring if we go out for dinner}till I can't feel my knees]

"Swingman" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
SNIP>
> Favorite shop attire is shorts and short sleeve T-shirts ... "Pluma" brand
> from Sam's Club to be exact. I've bought these tough, long wearing,
> inexpensive short sleeve T-shirts by the dozen down through the years.
>
> Suddenly last summer, some yo yo at Sam's decided that short sleeve T's
are
> "seasonal" items . . .> No consideration given that this is South Texas,
that there will be likely
> less than one month of weather cold enough to consider wearing anything
but
> short sleeves . . .

"Swingman" writes:
> With increasing MBA "management" of corporate America, this type of
> inventory _management_ is getting worse, and more irrational, as time goes
> by. Case in point:
>
> Favorite shop attire is shorts and short sleeve T-shirts ... "Pluma" brand
> from Sam's Club to be exact. I've bought these tough, long wearing,
> inexpensive short sleeve T-shirts by the dozen down through the years.
>
> Suddenly last summer, some yo yo at Sam's decided that short sleeve T's
are
> "seasonal" items and should no longer be stocked past August, in favor of
> the long sleeve model.
>
> No consideration given that this is South Texas, that there will be likely
> less than one month of weather cold enough to consider wearing anything
but
> short sleeves throughout the year, and that the stores are overstocked
with
> an item that is demonstrably NOT selling in this climate.

Ah yes, corporate America, ya gotta love it.

Seems the bean counter types that set inventory policy at corporate level
all seem to play the 80-20 game.

I'm not much for the 80% stuff myself.

As far as your T-Shirt problem, do you have the staple of SoCal shopping,
the $2, T-Shirt store?

About twice a year, I drop $20 for T-Shirts for use at the old boat yard.

HTH


--
Lew

S/A: Challenge, The Bullet Proof Boat, (Under Construction in the Southland)
Visit: <http://home.earthlink.net/~lewhodgett> for Pictures

On Tue, 14 Oct 2003 07:40:07 -0400, Bob Bowles <[email protected]>
wrote:

>The Zinsser seal coat may be available through special order.

Why not simply WALK into a decent paint store and buy it?

Do you always torture yourself?

Barry