OK I'll admit I like home improvement stores. Somewhere on the Y chromosome there is a caveman with a stone hammer but what he really wants is the 204 piece tool kit with the adjustable wrenches and adjustable bits. It's not that the stone hammer isn't useful, but the tool kit gives him the possibility of doing some serious fixing. And you can't unlearn that out of your average guy. It's part of his DNA see?
So I bring boy #2 with me to the Eagan Home Depot to show him how to sooth his growing urge for tools. He loves his Little Tykes tool bench he got last Christmas and I'm still working on expanding his tool repertoire so he doesn't always see everything as a nail using only his plastic hammer to bonk every said nail with. See bump on boy #3's head in attached diagram.
So I'm partial to Home Depot because it's really the only big home improvement superstore in Eagan. We have smaller hardware stores too and I go there for other specific things but that's another story - literally.
Boy #2 is three so he's also partial to the riding shopping carts most stores seem to have now. And he got bug eyed when he saw the kiddie carts here. The kids ride up high closer to the parent pushing the cart while the actual basket part is up front where it should be. Rainbow Foods in Eagan has the kids riding in the pseudo car down low in the front of the cart. Can't tell you how many times I'm almost colliding with other carts and it makes it hard to see them down there - plus they like to get out, dance or adjust something, and get back in all the time. But the Home Depot pseudo kiddie car is far too high up to allow jumping in and out so he stayed put really well. I'm also less concerned about his limbs getting hacked off when I turn a corner.
But after 5 years living in Eagan and shopping here I'm most impressed with the employees. They offer to help but not in the annoying in your face way like some stores do. They'll usually say "Can I help you find something?" and that's perfect because I usually saying yes even if I'm within smelling distance on my own. (Tool DNA is good for hunting) And even when crossing paths, the employees will usually give a smile and a "hello" that seems genuine and not forced.
I'm sure it's by design but two big thumbs up for hiring older or retired employees. Unlike going to Target or Best Buy, when I ask an older Home Depot employee a question, I know they've either used the tool, have done what I'm trying to do, or are super helpful helping me figure it out. Experience is the key at home improvement stores and the older employees exude that in spades.
Last excellent point: Boy #3 has some genetic developmental and physical delays so I've become more aware and protective of how our society treats and accepts kids and adults with disabilities. The Eagan Home Depot has had a hearing disabled woman as a cashier since I've been going there and she does a fantastic job every time even if the price tag or something else isn't ringing up correctly. I've had zero problem communicating with her when that's happened.
People trash the big box stores as if they're all the same. Some of their arguments can be validated, but the Eagan Home Depot management is paying attention to customer service details and that makes my inner caveman feel pretty good. read more
