An open letter to the owners of every big box hardware, grocery, craft and other similar store in America.

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

I f you people would put your heads together and make a bit of effort you could put enough more merchandise, stock carts, and sales item in your aisles and in front of your stores to TOTALLY BLOCK ANYONE from moving through your stores to buy any damn thing.  Add another 25%-30% of employees who stand around doing nothing at all (try to find some more who don't care about the customers, ignore the customers,  have rudeness down to work of art, and don't know anything at all.) and you will have put the cherry on top.  I need  to include the meat counters that aren't stocked unto 9:00 am almost never have anyone there during the day.

 

This doesn't even address poorly maintained stores, parking lots, and driveways, wrecked shopping carts and empty produce bag dispensers and tie strip holders.  I also hate those motion sensor lights in the frozen food cabinets that either don't work at all or turn off just as you get in front of them.

 

There are exceptions ( but not many):  True Value is the first one that comes to mind and my hat is off to them.  I'd rather drive twenty miles to the there store and another twenty to get back home than go three blocks each way to some others.

 

My God it feels good to get that off my chest!

Edited September 4 by Forty Rod SASS 3935
Had more to bitch about

[Lone Spur Jake SASS #7728]

Most major big box stores and chain grocery stores did their stocking of received new merchandise either in the evening or over night.  Speaking of experience as former Walmart part time employee.   Now stocking of received merchandise is done during peak morning shopping time.  Saves a lot of payroll money.  BUT definitely pisses off customers trying to shop with aisles blocked by merchandise carts.  Oh, and stores have 20 registers but only 2 open hoping to make customers use self checkout.   Have had self checkout at Walmart's not taking cash, or accepting coupons, so have to wait for employee to fix problem.

And these stores wonder why some customers get pissed off and maybe get violent.

[John Kloehr]

I love my local hardware stores, the half of them that are still around.

 

Notable event... Came into a building and found a roof leak filling up the florescent light fixture with water. There was already enough water that there was no way to take the diffuser down and dump the water. Turned off the lights and booked it 7 miles to the local hardware store. Started pulling together a siphon and over at the hoses.

 

Ended up with 3 employees helping me fashion a setup to drain the water out of the fixture. They even grabbed screwdrivers and ran for clamps to hold the various parts together and then rushed me through checkout.

 

Got back to the building, inserted the business end of my setup into the fixture, ran the terminal end out of a door and started the siphon. It did not crash to the floor.

 

This is what customer service is about!

[Arkie Lee]

My biggest peeve is the rolling gondola units they are using to pick online orders in the grocery stores.  They take up the whole aisle and the employees will run you over.

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

14 hours ago, Arkie Lee said:

My biggest peeve is the rolling gondola units they are using to pick online orders in the grocery stores.  They take up the whole aisle and the employees will run you over.

Yeah!  Between them and the vendors and employees stocking shelves and idiot customers who add to the melee ....and they wonder why I buy almost everything but perishable food, clothes, and gasoline from Amazon.

 

I have to commend Tractor Supply, too.  They have the most helpful people anywhere.

Edited August 30 by Forty Rod SASS 3935

[Lone Spur Jake SASS #7728]

Well you have to understand the lazy asses who sit at home, or in the parking lot, placing their orders with their computers or I-phones, are more important than the customers who actually show up and walk the aisles looking for the items they want to purchase and then stand in line to make their purchases. 

 

[Pat Riot]

The Walmart nearest me was absolutely crowded with pallets and displays in their aisles. 
Recently they renovated it. It took months and I have to say it is very nice now. 
I encountered a group of Walmart Yes-Men and Yes-Women following a blatherhead wearing a tie and carrying a “look at me” attitude a few weeks back. I asked him when all this (arms raised) was going to be complete. He told me “pretty soon, in a few weeks.” I asked if we’d finally be rid of blocked aisles by products and online shopper employees pushing big carts. I also asked if they were going full “self checkout” or would there be registers with actual employees checking us out. 
He said the aisles would be open and there would be cashiers. He didn’t say anything about the online shopper carts all over the store. I asked about them again and he said “Would we put all this money into our store if we were only catering to online orders?” I said “I hope not.” and smiled, thanked him for his time and walked away. 
I did find out that all Walmarts are going yo be upgraded like the one near me. 
I sure hope so.

[Dantankerous]

9 hours ago, Arkie Lee said:

My biggest peeve is the rolling gondola units they are using to pick online orders in the grocery stores.  They take up the whole aisle and the employees will run you over.

 With the exception of the truly handicapped who the service is wonderful for most people who use this are just too damn lazy anymore to even pick their own food off of a grocery shelf. Convenience equates to lazy most of the time anymore, it seems. Of course people using this don't have to self check themselves out any more which is just us doing the work employees used to do so maybe online ordering is the way to go?

 

I need a drink.

Edited August 30 by Dantankerous

[Rye Miles #13621]

Wow you guys are a bunch of curmudgeons!

[Eyesa Horg]

I resemble that remark!

[Still hand Bill]

I recently had a pleasant experience in a big box lumber store.  Had a couple employees actually help and know products and locations.  But I do agree that service has dropped in most stores.  May just be Midwest vs big city. 

[Rye Miles #13621]

30 minutes ago, Still hand Bill said:

I recently had a pleasant experience in a big box lumber store.  Had a couple employees actually help and know products and locations.  But I do agree that service has dropped in most stores.  May just be Midwest vs big city. 

I think it's lack of employees to start with and then they hire anyone because they desperately need help! Help wanted signs everywhere! 

[Dantankerous]

Kind of the same topic...

 

When my son worked for a big box home improvement store he said they could not hire nor keep employees as they kept failing drug screenings.

 

I started to say something about legalized marijuana (although not in my state) and he cut me off stating, ..."but we don't test for marijuana.  Everyone fails due to meth!"

 

Wow.

 

 

[Chantry]

If you want good employees you need to pay them well, if they get paid well, then what you pay will go up.

 

And working retail sucks.

[LawMan Mark, SASS #57095L]

I have two local hardware stores.  One is only open M-F, from 7 am to 5 pm.  I work until 4:30 with a 25 minute commute.  

 

The other is a combination hardware store/convenience store.  They have about 40 to 50% stock of common hardware items.  Mostly plumbing supplies like connection lines and fittings for cpvc.  Almost no stock of nails, screws or bolts.  

 

So, I usually end up driving 12 miles to either Lowes or Home Depot.  Home Depot has better service, but higher prices.  Lowes has better prices, but it's a one in 3 chance that you'll have to use self checkout (unless you are buying lumber...that register is always manned).  

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

14 hours ago, Arkie Lee said:

My biggest peeve is the rolling gondola units they are using to pick online orders in the grocery stores.  They take up the whole aisle and the employees will run you over.

And the lazy pukes that drive up to get their groceries carried out to them get all the good parking spaces while the handicapped parking is at both ends of the lot.  I park in the carry out spaces anyway.

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

3 hours ago, Rye Miles #13621 said:

Wow you guys are a bunch of curmudgeons!

Thanks.  I appreciate being recognized for my efforts.

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

2 hours ago, Rye Miles #13621 said:

I think it's lack of employees to start with and then they hire anyone because they desperately need help! Help wanted signs everywhere! 

Why would anyone want to work when the government pays then not to?

 

I have a neighbor whose son is a sign holder for road repairs....earning $42.00 an hour.

[Rye Miles #13621]

8 hours ago, Forty Rod SASS 3935 said:

Why would anyone want to work when the government pays then not to?

 

I have a neighbor whose son is a sign holder for road repairs....earning $42.00 an hour.

How exactly does the government pay them not to work? I know there’s welfare but that’s not much. There’s no more Covid money so where are they getting it? Am I missing some government program ? Seriously.

[Lone Spur Jake SASS #7728]

There have been articles on the internet and newspapers and magazines that a "family" of 4 on welfare, will basically be receiving around  $50,000 dollars worth of gov't freebies and subsidies a year and not pay 1 penny in taxes while sitting on their asses and not doing a damn thing to contribute to anybody but them.   But, a family of 4, with an earned income from working, will have deducted from their paychecks around 20% of that same amount for Fed. income tax, SSI, etc.  They may get some back after annual tax filing, but not 100%.  And they are getting up and going to work and contributing to what made America great.  LBJ's Great Society with the Welfare program screwed America.  

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

Damned if I know, but there are a lot of people in this area living better than I do and not lifting a finger to earn it.  They have food stamps, food give aways, free medical, and a place to live, plus free transportation.

[Rye Miles #13621]

I believe to get welfare, at least in Ohio, you can’t own a home or have hardly if any money in the bank.

Theres unemployment also but you have to work for 6 months and then get let go for a good reason, you can’t just quit or get fired. Unemployment also requires you to look for a job and show them proof and it’s only good for a year I think. 
I don’t know how these people do it!

[Dantankerous]

36 minutes ago, Rye Miles #13621 said:

I believe to get welfare, at least in Ohio, you can’t own a home or have hardly if any money in the bank.

Theres unemployment also but you have to work for 6 months and then get let go for a good reason, you can’t just quit or get fired. Unemployment also requires you to look for a job and show them proof and it’s only good for a year I think. 
I don’t know how these people do it!

 

Institutionalized inbreeding.

[Charlie Harley, #14153]

I like my local Ace Hardware.  My go-to unless buying large commodities like lumber, for all the reasons mentioned earlier. 

[Rye Miles #13621]

1 hour ago, Charlie Harley, #14153 said:

I like my local Ace Hardware.  My go-to unless buying large commodities like lumber, for all the reasons mentioned earlier. 

Ace is the place where the helpful hardware folks...................

[Dirty Dan Dawkins]

21 hours ago, Rye Miles #13621 said:

How exactly does the government pay them not to work? 

Deficit spending funded by fiat money printed out of thin air. But nothing is free. All the “free” things people ask and get is paid through inflation or bonds in the future. When future debts come due they will just print more money, dollar devalues more, price of everything goes up vs buying power. Biggest scam going ( along with public education) and few really understand taxes have little to do with spending, so long as the government can freely print money and sell bonds and issue credits to the private banking system at will.

[Rooster Ron Wayne]

I fixed the problem for myself. 

I stopped shopping at all the big chain stores .

I now only go to the small Mom and Pop stores to get all my needs or I have them order it if they don't carry it .

I'm only going to support little America Mom & Pop for the rest of my life .

I will buy second had before I will go to Wally World or Target. 

Sure I pay more .

But I know my money is feeding his family and not some rich guy in Chitcago on his Yat !

It takes work but the more you do it the easier it gets .

Rooster 

[Cold Lake Kid, SASS # 51474]

On 8/30/2023 at 11:01 AM, Forty Rod SASS 3935 said:

And the lazy pukes that drive up to get their groceries carried out to them get all the good parking spaces while the handicapped parking is at both ends of the lot.  I park in the carry out spaces anyway.

 

AMEN! to that.

An aging population, not enough Handicap spaces and the misuse of those that are there!

 

[Marshal Dan Troop 70448]

On 8/30/2023 at 11:01 AM, Forty Rod SASS 3935 said:

And the lazy pukes that drive up to get their groceries carried out to them get all the good parking spaces while the handicapped parking is at both ends of the lot.  I park in the carry out spaces anyway.

I noticed that also. Pick-up parking almost next to the doors and Handicap moved farther away. Also Veteran parking is gone at our Lowes now replaced with pick-up customers.

[John Kloehr]

2 hours ago, Marshal Dan Troop 70448 said:

I noticed that also. Pick-up parking almost next to the doors and Handicap moved farther away. Also Veteran parking is gone at our Lowes now replaced with pick-up customers.

I had never seen veteran parking ever on the left coast, do see it here in Tennessee.

 

Seeing it pleases me.

 

Things like this maybe should be tried in the big towns.

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

13 minutes ago, John Kloehr said:

I had never seen veteran parking ever on the left coast, do see it here in Tennessee.

 

Seeing it pleases me.

 

Things like this maybe should be tried in the big towns.

I'm told that if I have a disabled plate or placard I can park ANYPLACE that isn't an emergency entrance or exit.....and I do.  Got into a couple of  pi--ing contests over it and told them to go on ahead and call the police.  I also tell to them to get the hell out of my face until the police arrive.

 

The police have never arrived, although two officers drove by, parked and got out with their shopping list.  They walked right by me and a loud mouthed jerk and never even slowed down.  It doesn't hurt to know almost half of the town police and a deputy or two. 

 

I've complained to the police and town council about the disabled parking situation and no one has taken it seriously.

 

If I get into a fight over it I will not lose that fight.

[Rye Miles #13621]

Home Depot and Lowe’s and Ace hardware here all have veteran parking spaces. 

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

On 9/3/2023 at 5:45 AM, Rooster Ron Wayne said:

I fixed the problem for myself. 

I stopped shopping at all the big chain stores .

I now only go to the small Mom and Pop stores to get all my needs or I have them order it if they don't carry it .

I'm only going to support little America Mom & Pop for the rest of my life .

I will buy second had before I will go to Wally World or Target. 

Sure I pay more .

But I know my money is feeding his family and not some rich guy in Chitcago on his Yat !

It takes work but the more you do it the easier it gets .

Rooster 

We don't have many small stores around here any more.  Most are cafes, antique stores, thrift shops, and a very few jewelry, custom clothing stores, and the like.  There is only one dry cleaner in the quad cities area and it's 26 miles away.  I've been trying to get curtains for my bedroom and there are a few dozen place here.  Only two have agreed to give me quotes.  One was outrageously priced ("well we are a custom shop and you have to pay for quality." $1500 for four rectangular panels.?) and one sent a guy over who didn't know how to use a tape measure and had no idea how to get the curtain rods down.  He said he'd get his boss to work up a quote and get back to me.  That was seven weeks ago and I haven't heard from them yet.

 

We do have some little known but very nice cafes, but several have closed recently because people don't seem to want good food at good prices. They want fast food in paper bags handed out a window and pay more in some cases than a quality meal served in a good atmosphere by people who care...and get to know you.