| 51525.18 in reply to 51525.17 | |
| I went to two HD in NJ with a Lowes on-line ad for a DW 745 Planer for 20% off (has the DW serial number and price – so they knew it was the same item), with an ad stating all power tools at Lowes are 20% off sale. The first store’s night manager said the best he could do was to match the 20% with Lowes because the best price guarentee didn’t cover sales items .. I even read their guarentee signs that states best price on everything except closeout sale and liquidations. He still would not budge. I went to another store, and their night manager stated they would not except internet price and would have to see the planer price in a local advertisement. I tried to explain to this manager that a planer of this cost would never be put in an advertisement because it a low volume item compared to the hundreds of other item they could market. This manager didn’t want to hear it. Suggest that I buy the one at Lowes and bring in the receipt then they would honor the 10%. I felt that would be rediculous. Needless to say…. so far HD best price guarentee is BS and they train their managers to stone wall every attempt at honor this bold sales promise. |
UPDATE !!!!
Got the DW 745 at HD for 20% off plus the additional 10% off for a total 359.28 plus tax and the DW 774 at Lowes. Here how it all went down.
DW745 at HD: I had to work late last night, so my wife called (she is better at staying calm than me) to speak to the Store Manager not the Night Manager. Basically, she explained that the night manager was rude, wrong (because even the internet price should have been at the very least matched), then read the HD policy that says any local competitors price printed from the internet, and then asked for the district managers and regional managers name. The store manager was very apologic and express sincere interest in handling this without the DM or RD involvement because they would basically send it back to him. He did mention that the internet was a grey area and they usually only match the item. But then my wife told the manager that on the Lowes interent print out that the item was only to be pick up at the store .. you could not have the tool delivered, therefore it had to be the store price. He agreed.
Lesson learned: 1. Never deal with HD night managers, only the store manager has real authority, 2. Bring or have handy all HD policy in print 3. Let my wife handle all pricing negotiations
DW744 at Lowes: My parent heard the issues I went through with HD and live very close to a Lowes, so they went in to buy the DW745 but the Lowes only had DW744 in stock for $285.60 plus a rebate for a $50 gift card at Lowes so the total would be $235.60 not bad at all.
So now I have both planer, even though I have both I think I will stick with the DW745, although I am afraid from reading other people comments about how loud the DW745 is and the neighbors.
Lastly, thanks for everyone for you suggestions and comments. Happy Holidays
Edited 12/21/2004 3:55 pm ET by RxTools
Replies
"I went to another store, and their night manager stated they would not except internet price and would have to see the planer price in a local advertisement. "
That was an ad that they posted on the internet. However, it was a not for an internet purchase.
(BTW, they also have an internet price match policy, but after taxes and shipping and no 10% extra).
And the same ads has run in the paper and you could probably find a handout copy at Lowes.
And there is no requirement that the price for a product be shown in an ad. It is up to the manager to verify it.
http://www.homedepot.com/HDUS/EN_US/corporate/about/our_products.shtml
Is it HD that has an 800 number posted by the checkout counters for complaints?
Why don't you just buy it at lowe's?
Dryden Construction Services, Inc
"He who xxxxs nuns will later join the church." -The Clash
Three basic reasons I wanted to get it at Home Depot was 1. I live alot closer to three HDs than to any 1 Lowes. 2. I have over 500 in gift cards at HD and I do all my business with HD. 3. Principal .. if you have a guarentee in writing and promote that guarentee then they should honor it.
At this point, I just may go to Lowes .. and tell my friends and family to stop buying HD gift cards.
Might be a good call, and who knows, there miht be a lowe's coming soon to your neighborhood.
i know it's a regional thing, but around here (western NC) the lowe's are a little more high end than HD. HD used to have them beat for tools, but now it seems all they carry is the full ryobi and ridgid lines with a few other brand rounding out the gaps, mostly PC which has fallen to the level of crap. lowe's carries some brand called gmc (not general motors) for your basic $50 chopsaw and $30 cordless drills, but they also have decent tools from hitachi, bosch, milwaukee et. al. neither has consistent lumber, and the staff at lowe's is better (they give you a blank stare instead of just ignoring you)
Good Luck
DCS Inc.
"He who xxxxs nuns will later join the church." -The Clash
rx... time is money..
<<<<The first store's night manager said the best he could do was to match the 20% with Lowes >>>
there you were... that was your best deal ... and in your best interests..
you found out what the bottom line is .. now decide..Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
"there you were... that was your best deal ... and in your best interests.."Not really the "best deal" not when the corporate policy says otherwise.I have to tell you this story. A few years ago Lowes went through a process of getting rid of there line of Jet products and replacing them with lower cost Jet Homeline (or some similar name). Jet reps would go around to the stores and "reset the displays" and new goods would be returned to Jet and display items sold at a cheap price.Corporate had set the prices for the display items and they whwere about 40% of retail.But the local managers did not know this and the prices where often not remarked with the distributor rep where there.So they became common comment on the WW forms at the time including the name and extension of the someone at corporate that could confirm the prices. At the time we did not have a local Lowes, but about 4 in about 120 mile radius. Too far to go to for shoping, but not too far for a good deal. I wanted a 14" bandsaw which IIRC was selling for about $450, but the display units where selling for slightly more than $200.So I kept calling the different stores to see if they had the BS and if they had reset the displays. Two never had the BS and one had it but it was reset weeks ago and it was already sold.The last store had one and the store had not been reset. Called every few days. Got the name of the rep and found out when he reset the store.Called the next day and they did not have the price reset. Called back the next day when the tool dept manager was there. He did not know anything about it, but transfered me to the store manager.When I ask the store manager to contact corporate for a price varification. He called be back an hour later and implied that I was crazy with the price that I was giving me. He talked to the tool manager and offered me a "special deal" for about 60% saying that was his price and the BEST THAT HE COULD DO.Ask if he heard from corporate. He said no, but that would not change anything as it was the "best". He called me back about 2 hours later all appoligic wanted to know when I would pick up the BS at the 40%.BTW, 6 months later Lowes got rid of Jet all together and replaced it with Delta. Now I see the Jet contractors TS in the local store.
As a dyi-er, I ran into an issue with HD with some light blocks they sell in my area. Anyway, I wrote the CEO guy and got a letter back. Sometimes it seems the only way to get something done. Not much happened with the light blocks, but I sure felt better venting.
Most the time I go in there, the help is totally worthless (not always - just usually), I have to search high and low to get some help only to find the guy (gal) slaving away to get product on the shelf. Then they tell me "it's not my department" only to have them call someone and wait 5 plus minutes on isle. You listen to their ads, you think HD was a Godsent to mankind with the "know how" to create earth.
Really, really hate that company but many times they have what I need. I think they use the WallMart model. After running out the little hardware stores, raise the prices. Well, really, it seem the Corporate way now- a -days.
Mr. Robert L Nardelli Chairman of the Board2455 Paces Ferry Rd NW Atlanta, GA 30339
How much more time are you going to spend to save another $20? We all know (or should know) that HD and Lowe's managers will try to stone wall a customer, they are not Santa.
I fully support your desire for HD to honor their guarantee to it's fullest.
Now the HOWEVER, the last time I read their guarantee, been over a year, it did state for locally advertised items.
Imagine being in the middle of nowhere, where volume and distance added greatly to the cost of a product and you got a price from the town location that manufactured the product. There's no way your local retailer could even match the price.
The way I always look at the guarantee (and they have frequently matched a local competitors price) is that they will not be "undersold". I like HD because in our area, they are always kind and friendly, as helpful as they know how to be, and more than willing to "match" prices and get product that they are out of as quickly as possible from another store; and they are rarely out of stock.
If it's a bad price...drop the whole situation and drive an extra hour round trip to Lowes for the rest of your life.
If they will match the price from the internet and it's not in a sale paper, don't waste any more time getting frustrated....if it's a fair price buy it and save yourself drive and haggling time...probably could have earned five times the savings in the time you've spent on it already....yes principle is at stake here but look at the real life business economics......
You get what you pay for; it's economics, as consumers we can't expect to pay minimum wage profits and get master expert advice.
However, I do get around this somewhat. As a general rule I have found the following to be true.
Need help loading....get the young guy....he hasn't yet thrown out his back for good. The middle age guy is tired of the work and will drag around. The old guy has learned with age how to shift the majority of the weight to your end.
Need helping choosing, fixing or installing something....the young guy is there because he impressed somebody with his ability to keep his area in order - otherwise doesn't know jack, middle aged guy is there because he knows some about the product but not enough to actually make a living at it in the trades...the old guy - usually knows the best way to get the most out of every product...he's simply tired of being in the field bending, lifting, freezing or burning up.
Good Luck!
yes principle is at stake here but look at the real life business economics......
We don't need no stinkin' real life business economics.
It is the priciple of the thing!
I repeat...the last time I read the guarantee....it stated locally advertised items....the internet is not a local place unless the offer originates from that local.......
Thats the priciple of the thing........
I still say you get what you pay for.....why else is Circuit City and the like suffering....low price is not always the best price.....
Oh...and I made all of my 86' of porch railing with HD 2x4's...hand picked through the pile.....kept 3 out of 4 that I encountered...over a year now and not a twist in the bunch.....saved about $100 over lowes...Great lumber....must be a southern thing....we've got an awesome HD in Fuquay-Varina.....10 miles south of Raleigh, NC.
I don't believe HomeDepot and Lowes are to be considered 'local' retailers' as much as national product distributors with widespread satellite storecenters.
Referencing the 2nd post in this thread:
That was an ad that they posted on the internet. However, it was a not for an internet purchase.
This is obviously a grey area decided solely at the personal discretion of the responsible manager without enforced regulation from the front office as to an exact implementation of a preordained defined response to a set of circumstances.
The manager's a greedy sob concerned over keeping his numbers up so he looks good to the powers that be.
For what it's worth, Years ago I had purchased a PC Bammer in NH at a local tool/lumberyard that had advertised matching any advertised price.
I walked in with an xeroxed copied page from an advertiser in FHB at a substantial discount. They called the number to verify and sold it to me at that price with a smile.
OK That data had no What of Worth except to add credence to the idea that an additional 10% off on an isolated item as the one in dispute at HD is no skin off their corporate nose and the fact that I was glad I didn't have to pay anymore for that POS tool than I had to! :o)
They should have given the discount to Rx and been done with for the positive PR if not for correct acknowledgement of their pricing ads.
Ya, I never have any trouble finding straight lumber at either Depot or Lowes.
be true
Edited 12/20/2004 11:20 am ET by rez
Yeah, find me a straight tree waiting to be straight lumber and I'll show you a stick hiding in the closet........
When buying in bulk, I use the best for studs, the sort of crooked for T's and corners which can then be alternated with one another and then nailed straight, the firewood pieces then get returned ...the bonus is that when they've been delivered, they get picked up for no extra charge when they drop off the replacements and they rarely take the firewood with them.....the firewood then becomes blocking....what a bargain then........
I agree with the PR of businesses.......customers are a commodity....how will they invest in that base will determine their long term financial reviews.
All in all HD has always served me well. My latest prize was when they clearly mixed the wrong color of paint from the chart I handed them....had the correct one circled....they mixed one of the other two.....I then got the four gallons for $5 each to use on the garage walls going up next year.....plus a friendly apology for having to wait while they mixed the correct ones....not bad considering the same paint was $35 a gallon at Duron.
"This is obviously a grey area decided solely at the personal discretion of the responsible manager without enforced regulation from the front office as to an exact implementation of a preordained defined response to a set of circumstances."There is no gray area here. If there is a Lowes in the general area then it is a local store. Exactly the same if Sears had an ad on the TV for something. They are advertising something that you can go down to the local store and by.And also the guarantee does not say that it has to be advertised only it AVAILABLE FOR SALE LOCALLY."The Home Depot guarantees low prices on everything we carry. If you should find a lower price from a legitimate, local competitor on an identical item we stock, even if it's an "advertised special," we'll not only meet that price, we'll beat it by 10% to thank you for bringing it to our attention. To receive your discount, please contact your local Home Depot. (This guarantee excludes closeouts, liquidations, and clearance items)."Now they do have a completely separate price match for internet. " If you find a lower price from a competitor on the Internet on an identical item we stock, please print the product/item page (including applicable taxes and shipping) and take it to your local Home Depot for verification. We'll be glad to match the Internet price. (This guarantee excludes closeouts, liquidations, and clearance items).""They should have given the discount to Rx and been done with for the positive PR if not for correct acknowledgement of their pricing ads."ABSOLUTELY.These sound like our local HD. I went round and round with an HD manager about an internet price match. Claimed that there wasn't any and when I went back and gave him a printed copy he looked at each period and coma and called region manager to try and find some loop hole. All of this for about $5. Then he would not even give $2 more off for the extra trips that I had to make.On the other hand at the local Lowes I had to wait for them to load some modular wall blocks and the clerk sent me to the manage, without me saying anything, to have the order marked down by 10% because of the long wait.
Stop going to home cheapo . They don't honor a thing .I just would rather spend my money at a real lumber yard , than give them my money . When was the last time you found 12 straight 2x4's in the store . And when your gift card get's down to say 12 bucks , they dont give you cash . They tell you to use the card on somthing else . That way if you don't use the card , they make out .
$12?
I got one in the wallet for $1.70 !
Last one I wound down to $0.79 ... was pissed the cashier wouldn't give me the few cents change ... satrted to walk out ... then went back and handed it to the lady in line behind me ... Told her we shouldn't donate $0.79 to the HD cause ...
she laughed then handed it to the cashier ...
Trust me ... I'll find something that adds up to $1.70 minus the tax ....
Maybe this afternoon .. after I hit the office supply for some ink ... the rest of the afternoon is free ...
letsee ... 7% tax .... 1.70 times ... .07 ... round up to .12 ... minus that .12 ...
I have $1.58 to spend ...
I'll bring a coupla pennies just incase the math was off and I rounded wrong ...
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry in Carpentry
Pgh, PA
You can apply that $1.75 or whatever amount you have on a Gift Card towards a purchase and pay whatever the remainder is with cash or cc. Apologies if you already knew this and only want to spend the remainder of what is left of your gift card and be done with HD.I hate the that so many stores hijack you with their gift cards or worse when they will not give you cash back when you have a gift receipt.
That I know ... but also hating how they hijack your spare change ...
I try to avoid it ...
went in this afternoon ... had that $1.58 to spend freely ...
got 4 pencils ... which I also hate paying for .... but ....
those 4 with tax .... $1.67.
left me with $.03 .... gave it to the lady behind me ...
clerk looked annoyed when she said ... "well ... U still have a balance ..."
lady behind me laughed ... and then handed the clerk the card!
don't let the bastards get ya down ....
my other option was a bag of plastic zip ties for one penny more ....
I figured I'd use the pencils up faster ...
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry in Carpentry
Pgh, PA
ok..bill.. thanks for sharing .. and also for reiterating the actual corporate policy..
in the meantime.. life is short.. and the discount deal can rapidly become a pursuit of a diminishing return
Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Hey this is my specialty, Yea I guess I should work harder at work instead of jerk but it's a lot more fun.
The policy is posted. It's and offer and your accept it.
Because of the principle involved and the fact that it would now be an issue of consumer fraud.
But with out the lawyers, go ask for the deal, get the reply, write the reply down and have the jerk sign it or a witness sign it. Make the purchase. Go down to the small claims court and file for treble the price difference of what they didn't give you the additional 10% difference. Then include some reasonable punitive damages. Now if and when it goes to court #1 The person/mismanager has to show up.#2 They have to bring support troops. #3 you'll win, maybe not much but at least to prove the point. and perhaps if you want to go further you could talk with a class action attorney. How many drillion stores x how many times this action takes place????? Hmmmm$$$$$$$.
And if your going to put offers in writing then expect people to take you up on the offer.
UPDATE: Got the DW 745 at HD for 20% off plus the additional 10% off for a total 359.28 plus tax and the DW 774 at Lowes. Here how it all went down.
DW745 at HD: I had to work late last night, so my wife called (she is better at staying calm than me) to speak to the Store Manager not the Night Manager. Basically, she explained that the night manager was rude, wrong (because even the internet price should have been at the very least matched), then read the HD policy that says any local competitors price printed from the internet, and then asked for the district managers and regional managers name. The store manager was very apologic and express sincere interest in handling this without the DM or RD involvement because they would basically send it back to him. He did mention that the internet was a grey area and they usually only match the item. But then my wife told the manager that on the Lowes interent print out that the item was only to be pick up at the store .. you could not have the tool delivered, therefore it had to be the store price. He agreed.
Lesson learned: 1. Never deal with HD night managers, only the store manager has real authority, 2. Bring or have handy all HD policy in print 3. Let my wife handle all pricing negotiations
DW744 at Lowes: My parent heard the issues I went through with HD and live very close to a Lowes, so they went in to buy the DW745 but the Lowes only had DW744 in stock for $285.60 plus a rebate for a $50 gift card at Lowes so the total would be $235.60 not bad at all.
So now I have both planer, even though I have both I think I will stick with the DW745, although I am afraid from reading other people comments about how loud the DW745 is and the neighbors.
Lastly, thanks for everyone for you suggestions and comments. Happy Holidays
Surprising! I have taken in mail order ads (in the back of HB) and they have honored the mail order price less 10%.
Just checking ? are you Randy from SLC awhile back?
No, I am in OKC, Oklahoma.
I think it is nice to go to HD or Lowe's and look around and get ideas. Most of my lumber/tools and hardware shopping is done in so called privately owned home town stores. I get much better service, better wood and I know who to talk to when I have a question. The selection and quality is equal or better and I even get screws and nails made in America. The price is sometimes a little bit more but I save by getting good quality and by keeping a peace of mind.
Keep tryin'!
I got a DW 55155 compressor for about $250 by finding a sale elsewhere then making HD beat the price by 10%. The guy was giving me the same BS your getting but this guy was standing directly under the banner declaring the policy! I pointed up. At that point they just called the other store and made the deal.
I also had HD meet the 20% off Lowes deal last week on an item Lowes doesn't even stock, but their ad said "all power tools" so they honored it.
I guess it's just the luck of the draw. Around here they're pretty good about that. But it's starting to get like stereo store where Pioneer makes several almost identical items with different stock numbers so stores can proclaim price guarantee knowing full well they are the only ones that stock that model.
Around here HD and Lowes have about 75% of power tool stock compltely different to avoid this. Check it out and see if it's not going this way in your area.
Cor.
buy at Lowes..
take the reciept to HD....
force the issue....
take the item back to Lowes and get a refund....
or use the HD reciept at Lowes to knock a tad more off...
Sell one of the items on the open or settle for a refund...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
so what happened???
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
See track 51658.29. I got the DW735 and kept it. It works great.
this is good
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
While I commend your persitence (actually your wife's) I must share this little, totally unrelated, HD Incident that occurred just yesterday.
Went in to return items not used/needed on current job and got stuck behind an older gentlemen returning some tubes of Quickcrete filler material. Both tubes were obviously old/defective as the bottoms moved only slightly while remaining, pliable material had found its way out of the backside of the tube.
Stood there for 10-15 min as returns clerk STUDIED the application instructions and grilled this customer regarding ambient temp, etc., etc.
Made up my mind right then, that, if at all possible I will take my buisness elsewhere!!
With Best Regards
not married...
just me and the dog...
I do business elsewhere too..
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!