I asked for a price match from Gale. She stated that she would not price match because it was not a major retailer. She stated that policy dictates that it MUST be a major retailer and it MUST be only local. I stated that the policy DOESN'T reflect that at all. She said "Ok well you could just be pulling up a wholesaler and I can't verify that. So I guess I'll have to call the manager." Rather than call the front lanes manager who I have dealt with before and was always quite pleasant, she called Jeff, the night manager I'm assuming.
It took him 5-10 minutes to get from the customer service area to the lane I was at, #2 I believe. He didn't come up and ask how he could help or what was going on, he came up and said "What's the problem?" Gale, while waiting for him, looked up the company I was attempting to use as a price match and verified that it was not a wholesaler. She responded to him by saying "He wants me to price match an online price for a company that is in Michigan and I wont do it." Jeff looked at me and said "No, that's not going to happen. The policy states it has to be local and a major retailer." I asked him to show me that in the policy. He again stated that policy states that and they WILL NOT even match online pricing if the company is not based in the same state. I asked him to show me where it states that on the policy. That if the policy does actually say it must be a MAJOR local retailer that I would pay full price and we wouldn't have any issues.
He said it does. I said ok, show me then, you have a computer right here. He reluctantly went over to the computer and started reading. He said "Part of the 'exclusions' are no volume or discount pricing." I said "Lumber is not considered volume. If I buy so many 2x4s from you I get a discount at "Bulk Pricing"." He doubled down and said "Volume includes lumber. Everyone knows that. It doesn't qualify." He never once asked to see the website I was looking at, or the company I was trying to use. I asked where on the policy it specifically listed "Lumber as a volume item". He also never read to me where it states it has to be a MAJOR retailer and MUST be local.
He sighed and said "Look, I'm going to give you the price this one time but I'm to ask you not to shop here anymore." I said "Ok, that's fine but show me where it states that lumber doesn't qualify and that's that." He said "if you want the discount you can have it, but again I'm asking you not to shop here anymore." I said "ok, fine." He walked over to Gale and said "Give him the discount but I asked him to not shop here anymore. He's done..." At that point I asked for the corporate number, he ignored me, so I asked for it again. Gale said "Jeff, where is the corporate number?" He said "He can just call 1-800-Home-Depot" I said "Ok and what's the store number?" Jeff said "You can just read your receipt." and walked away while I was asking for his employee number or something I can use to identify him.
I attempted to take the survey online and it told me that I was unable to due to the lack of valid User ID or Password. I don't know if Gale gave me the wrong receipt or what, but she did log out of the transaction while we were waiting in an attempt to modify the check out time.
I worked with Jeff previously at Home Depot and I can't be sure, but it feels like payback for something. While handing in my resignation he called me a coward and other names. On more than one occasion he refused to help my wife and I and often just told us to head in a general direction rather than actually help us find what we needed. He also ignored me several times while attempting to ask him for help in passing over several visits.
This is possibly the worst experience I've ever had at Home Depot. I was extremely calm during the whole exchange, I didn't use a single curse word or raise my voice. The only thing I did was ask him to provide backup for his claims. He and his little ego apparently didn't appreciate that someone would dare question the Great and Powerful Jeff. I would understand if I was yelling or screaming or causing a scene, however, none of that was the case. This was horrible customer service and if I'm wrong I'm wrong, all I was doing was asking him to show me where the policy states that I'm wrong. I am more than happy to admit if I'm wrong, because I'm not a Karen, but I sure as hell am not going to take his word for it simply because he says so especially given our history together and when so many other managers and employees had no issue with the price match prior. read more