BEWARE: Mostly rude and incompetent workers. I'll never step foot in this HD again.
Went here looking for a masonry drill bit, difficult to spot.
I asked for assistance. Older worker told me to wait, he was assisting a group ahead of me. Then a younger worker passed by, so I asked if he would help. He started looking at screwdriver bits. I reminded him I needed a masonry drill bit. He then walked over to the aforementioned older worker, asking one if the screwdriver bit in his hand was what I needed. The old guy scoffs, looks at me and says, "No, Ma'am. What you need is a masonry bit. I'll help you when I'm finished here!"
I waited.
15 minutes passed and a new male customer interrupts the worker, saying he needs a specific drill bit. Worker stopped and assisted the man.
Since he was being so generous with his time, I asked if he'd mind just showing me where a 3/16 masonry drill bit is, or something approximately that size.
"Ma'am, please wait," waving a finger in my face.
He then inexplicably proceeded to help other customers, both on the phone and coming down the aisle.
The group of 5 men, by this time, palpably agitated, gave me sympathetic glances.
I finally walked over to the self-check area overseen by a friendly young woman, Rachel, to ask if she could get someone else to help the crowd now gathered around the drill bits. By now I've waited 30 mn.
Rachel smiled, picked up the phone and told someone on the other end there was a woman in hardware (me) who needs assistance.
Another worker walked up and helped the most recent man who was in the area.
Mind you, I was the only woman. Apparently invisible.
He helped the guy and then I asked him if he'd be able to assist me. He looked around at all the men, starts to chuckle, and says,
"Well, ma'am, I can't do your nails."
I was gobsmacked. Furious. Speechless. At that moment, I really didn't care how funny he thought he was, at my expense.
Neither did any of the other men standing around, shaking their heads and silently conveying a message, "Not cool, dude."
He laughed, "Oh, come on now..."
I said, "No! That's just not ok."
He walked away and said, "Fine."
It was the kind of walk-away that said, "If you can't take my kind of joke, I'm not going to help the likes of you."
I had a project to finish and didn't want to waste any more of my time, so walked back to Rachel, who rang a manager, unavailable.
Another customer suggested I try the "Pro" desk.
I approached a "Pro" whose aloofness indicated he didn't appreciate the interruption. I explained what had just transpired. He offered to assist, and walked over to the -- get this -- screwdriver bits.
Again, I explained to the poor Pro that, no, what I needed was a 3/16 MASONRY DRILL BIT. (I didn't yell it, but I thought about it, between deep breathing exercises.)
Finally, another worker asked the Pro if he could help. Pro said I needed screwdriver bits for my concrete wall. The other worker corrected me, telling me that, "No, Ma'am, what you need is..."
I sighed..."Masonry drill bit, 3/16 inch."
He told me that I needed a plastic anchor. I whipped it out of my pocket. He told me I had the wrong screw. I explained, yessir, know that's not a masonry screw, but it's what came with the lights I bought from Costco which said I could use it for concrete. If you could JUST help me find a 3/16 MASONRY DRILL BIT, I would be most grateful.
He was eventually patient and helpful and led me exactly to the place.
45 minutes later, driving home, I called the manager. She apologized and offered me a $25 gift card for my next visit.
I'm shopping at Ace from now on.
The full version wouldn't fit herein, but it's going to Corporate. read more