Store Help - OT

[whateg0]

Well, I needed some stuff for the fixer-upper car I bought. So, thinking I might have a leaky radiator, and thinking I'd like to get the thing to stop leaking so I can drive the car for a couple of months to see what else it needs, I stopped in at Autozone to get some "Bars Leaks". The guy at Autozone had no idea what Bars Leaks was. He had to go ask somebody who came over and then he too had to go ask somebody. Meanwhile I found it on the top shelf. I showed it to them and they said they'd never heard of it.

Also stopped by Sears today to get a nut splitter, since, if I replace the rings, I'll have to get the exhaust free somehow and there is no way that exhaust pipe is coming free from the manifold. (Even with my "good" sockets, the nuts rounded off. :mad:) The guy who first asked me if I needed help said he'd have to get the "tool guy". So the "tool guy" comes over and had absolutely no idea what I was talking about. He kept asking me things like, "A what?", and "What does it do?" So he asked another guy if he knew what it was. After getting the description and being told where it was, he was still so lost, I finally went directly to the guy who knew what it was and asked for myself. So, then he took me over and showed me where they were and I bought one.

What a day for store help.

Dave

[JimDon]

Dave,
Unfortunately, most stores today have become self-service. Whether it is a big box Orange, a big box Blue, or some other combination like a Sears, they are hiring people who have not a clue. I heard a guy come into Sears once and ask the tool guy where the draw knives were located. I think he wanted to send the guy to where the art stuff is. I finally said something like, I don't think Sears is going to have a drawknife anywhere, you're going to need an old school hardware store or start looking at an antique store. I was in Big Box Orange one day and asked for furnace cement. The clerk didn't know what furnace cement was nor where it was located. I found it myself and then got the guy and showed him where it was and described for him what it is used for. I can't tell you the number of times I've stepped in and helped customers at stores where the clerks didn't have any idea what customers were asking for nor what kind of help they needed. The stores now tend to hire any monkey (my sincere apologies to all employed or unemployed real monkeys) off the street (who know nothing), put them in a vest or smock and call them a tool pro. Whenever I go to a hardware or tool store just to shop, oogle and look around, I always have something in mind that I know they won't have. That way, if an annoying clerk comes up and asks if they can help, I can send them on a wild goose chase and get rid of them. My favorite is to ask them where they're hiding the Kroil. 1. They don't know what it is, and 2. Have no idea where in the store it might be located. I have so much fun watching them chase their tails. Oh, well, I'm a mean old ******* I guess. LOL
Jim Don

[Broccoli1]

They have hamburger icons on the register at Burger joints:eek:

[JimDon]

that's priceless!

[TEK]

Well, I needed some stuff for the fixer-upper car I bought. So, thinking I might have a leaky radiator, and thinking I'd like to get the thing to stop leaking so I can drive the car for a couple of months to see what else it needs, I stopped in at Autozone to get some "Bars Leaks". The guy at Autozone had no idea what Bars Leaks was.
Dave

Not meaning to hijack here, but, have you ever tried 'Alumaseal'? In my experience it works way better than 'Bars Leaks'. I have had it seal some good sized holes and stay in there for some time. I never really got 'B-L' to work that well........
Anyhow, back to big box dumb clerk bashing:)

[fordwannabe]

I have used coarse ground black pepper for years as a radiator fix and it works very well. I used that on a leaky 18 wheeler for 2 years before it had to be recored. Have used it as a trail fix many times also. Cheap, biodegradable and it works. You may now return to your regularly scheduled thread. Tom

[Hotfoot]

Back in the 1950's, I joined the USAF, and was stationed in Biloxi, Mississippi. I could not even communicate "A pack of Lucky's" to a clerk, because there was such a wide gap in our accents.. Maybe yours was simply a communication problem...but I doubt it.

It really annoys me that all the clerks are so eager to ask if they can help, but they almost never can...I have a feeling their managers know as little as they do. I run into it in almost every type of store. The Very best, most knowledgeable might be the hustlers at Harbor Freight in Austin...the ones that work in the San Antonio store seem less interested in even knowing.

[smyrna5]

I have read before that they have found that greeting you and asking you if they can help cuts down on shoplifting. That is probably the main reason they do it.

[whateg0]

Back in the 1950's, I joined the USAF, and was stationed in Biloxi, Mississippi. I could not even communicate "A pack of Lucky's" to a clerk, because there was such a wide gap in our accents.. Maybe yours was simply a communication problem...but I doubt it.

It really annoys me that all the clerks are so eager to ask if they can help, but they almost never can...I have a feeling their managers know as little as they do. I run into it in almost every type of store. The Very best, most knowledgeable might be the hustlers at Harbor Freight in Austin...the ones that work in the San Antonio store seem less interested in even knowing.

I can speak Biloxi fluently, having been stationed in P'goula when it was a Naval Base.

Dave

[MrFriggsit]

As long as you are looking for Bars, look for the solid "six pack" of dry Bars OEM,not the jar of wet bunny pellets and liquid. We still can get it at our shop, so it is around.

[hankj]

Dave,

I've seen that in every big box store I've ever gone into, especially in the electrical and plumbing departments.

I stood next to some poor guy who was getting advice on a service install from some nitwit clerk in a Home Desperate one day and listened to the nonsense he was telling the customer.

Couldn't help myself. I butted in and told customer what he really needed, and the clerk got his panties in a bunch.

Sad state of affairs, eh?

Hank

[steve_o1989]

I have read before that they have found that greeting you and asking you if they can help cuts down on shoplifting. That is probably the main reason they do it.

Pretty much hit the nail on the head there. I just got out of a retail job at a tool store, Princess Auto up here in Canada. I can honestly say I will never worl retail again.

You have to approach customers and ask them if they need a hand. The managers keep an eye out to make sure you are doing it. It is supposed to give shoplifters the impression that they are being watched because they are constantly being approached. If they aren't a shop lifter, the store figures that they will just appreciate the service. The problem with that is most of the people who approach you to ask if you need a hand are in no position to help because they have no idea what they are talking about. In my defence, even though I am still young, I knew more than 90% of the people there, so im not going to include myself in this dumb bunch. There were countless times that I heard emloyees giving the worst information ever and actually pulled the customer away to get them to what they were actually looking for.

I hated approaching customers though and hardly ever did because:

1. I had too much other stuff to do other than walk around holding someones hand while they shop.
2. If someone needs help, they will ask me. I don't like constantly being approached when I am shopping, so I don't like to do it to other.
3. Trying to prevent the shoplifting is pointless when the company doesn't want to take the necessary steps to do so. No floor walkers, no camera, no security, you cant follow them out of the store, you cant loose sight of them at all while they are in the store. Asking if they need help is a lame way of cutting down on theft.

I agree that alot of the employees are super stupid and have no reason being there, but you should see some of the customers that walk in there... Im surprised that some of them even know their name they are so dumb...

All in all though not all of the employees are useless and neither are alot of the customers. Infact, I learned a ton from customers who came in there.

[CATM93]

Having worked at one of the big box stores for nine years, I can identify with your grief. We have a Licensed Master electrician in charge of our electrical department and I have a diploma in Industrial Electricity / Electronics (my degrees are in Industrial Technology) and have worked as a industrial mechanic/industrial electrician in a past life. Worked long enough to become the manager of an electrical division that handled warranty work for General Electric and Jet Tools. One of my co-workers retired from NASA and has an electrical engineering degree. I admit that we are probably an exception to the rule. Our plumbing department has two licensed master plumbers in it (one has 54 years experience). Our store hires a lot of us old farts who are retired and pays us very well for our knowledge. Unfortunately ,they also hire a bunch of youngsters who do not have a clue about anything other than a gamebox , but who will work for $10 or less an hour. Finding ex-trade people who are willing to put up with dealing with the public is getting harder and harder. Especially when you also saddle them with downstocking , putting up returns and any other task that might be designated for them. Notice that your stores have fewer sales associates to help you? Our store has cut manning by two-thirds in some departments and yet we are still required to perform to the same levels as we did when fully manned. You might ask the sales associate who is helping you in electrical if they actually work in that department before writing them off as an idiot. Did you just grab a lot attendent or a garden associate and expect them to be an electrical expert? I have closed at night and had a grand total of three associates covering an entire store (15 departments). Operations at most big boxes have been cut to the bone as far as manning goes (doesn't matter if it's blue ,orange or whatever) to ensure the low prices the customer demands as well as the profits the shareholders expect. I would suggest that you work retail for at least a year or two to fully appreciate the joy of dealing with the public. Have a bad day where you work at .....go dump on a sales associate who is not allowed to respond to your profanity or insanity. Learn patience by explaining to a customer for the fifth time (complete with drawings ) how to hook up the three-way switches they removed from both locations without marking any of the wires. Or why they should do the job correctly (you know , by the NEC that we are not supposed to quote but still must convey the essence of). even if it is not going to be inspected. Spending an hour telling someone how to do the job right, showing them the correct equipment , and then having them do it the way thier "friend the electrician" told them to do it. Then having them trying to convince a manager that you told them to do it the way they decided on, failed inspection, and want the money back on the wire you told them not to use but they used anyway.....oh the joys of retail.

[bandsawguy]

Not meaning to hijack here, but, have you ever tried 'Alumaseal'? In my experience it works way better than 'Bars Leaks'. I have had it seal some good sized holes and stay in there for some time. I never really got 'B-L' to work that well........
Anyhow, back to big box dumb clerk bashing:)

Alumaseal is an excellant product. But I also worked for a company that did vinyl siding and eavestroughing and all that stuff and one of the delivery vans had small hole in the rad repaired with ordinary exterior silicon.

[bandsawguy]

For plumbing needs I never ever go to the big box stores. I have a local plumbing store I always use. I'll go in thinking I know exactly what I need but when I talk to one of their people they often show me a easier/better way to do things. They are always busy but have 3-5 experienced people on at a time. As far as other stuff like Princess Auto the Canadian Equivelant to Harbor Freight. They sell cheap stuff. The advise/help you get is hit and miss. If you want quality find a professional shop for electrical, power transmission, hydraulic or whatever your need is and use them.

[Sberry]

I will agree with CATM here. The box stores have some good people but they can be spread thin.

[sunpeople]

You know i must be lucky i live next to an old fashion hard ware store and dont even go to the box stores for most of my needs unless i need something simple. The hard ware store i go to has crap every were but the old guy that runs it seems to know were everything is and is very helpful.

I dont know what will happen to his store once he dies seems like none of the young people want to learn any of this stuff, unless it has a gameboy hooked up to it. They will probley just close his store and sell everything off, too bad our young people dont know what they are missing.

Sometimes i just like to go into his store and look around, i never know what great little item i might find, One day i was in his store and found a replacement switch for a old Rockwell drill i have, i had been looking for that switch forever, like i said you never know what you will find in an old store like his.

One thing i will say for sure is that, when this old man comes up to you and asks if he can help you find something, he knows what you are talking about and knows right were to find it, now thats the type of customer service we all wish we could have in the box stores.

[Sberry]

Yup, I can understand the sentiment and you bring up a point of sorts. Yes, this old guy that runs it likely isn't at true market value in some sense, is he capitalizing it, adding value and charging or running it at a subsistence level? Is he making any payroll, apprenticing any people, looking ahead at all? You are right, a lot of these businesses cannot stand the loss of the owner.
I have an uncle that farmed, while its true that the lights were on and the cows got milked at the end of a 50 yr career there was nothing, no potential for the son and wasn't going to be able to stand the loss of half the labor force, a guy who didn't truly value the 80 yrs a week. Really left it with nothing, an under valued auction, land sale to some extent and that was poorly managed at that. 2 generations of hard work left with some very modest means and a social security check for a few years.

[Blacksmith]

My wife works in a garden center like that. The owner has everything, whether it sells this month or five years from now and he takes a beating on inventory taxes and cash flow. I can't count how many times he's taken a second or third mortgage on his house to put money in the business, almost pay it off and have to do the same all over. With the decline in housing values, when he goes through the latest line of credit, he may be done. There is no right model, the have everything stores are dying and the big boxes are surviving, but don't have eveything you need!

[Roger]

States charging sales tax on inventory doesn't help.

[Sberry]

The amount of stock the box stores have, astronomical. 30 yrs ago I buy a utility tub from local hwd, 40$ and wait a week, 30 yrs later 15 as many as I want from HD. They have boxes, pallets, bundles, never out of the stuff, really rare of them to be out of common stock. Most noticeable thing I ever see was shortage of 100A main breaker panels in town and a run for week on 3/4 grey plastic pipe.

[LarryL]

I have used coarse ground black pepper for years as a radiator fix and it works very well. I used that on a leaky 18 wheeler for 2 years before it had to be recored. Have used it as a trail fix many times also. Cheap, biodegradable and it works. You may now return to your regularly scheduled thread. Tom
When I worked as an engineer for Allied Chemical Corp. in the San Francisco Bay Area, we had a unique customer service rep named Harry Rideout. Harry had all kinds of unusual, homegrown tips that he loved to pass on to us during coffee breaks. One of them related to sealing your auto's leaky radiator when you had to deal with it out in the country far from an auto parts store. He said that a good sealer could be found in a nearby pasture. Just pick up a dried cow patty, shred and powder it by rubbing it between your palms, and put some of the fine powder into the radiator. He guaranteed that it worked well as a sealant. :eek: I never tried this tip as I always managed to get my car to a radiator shop when a leak developed.

Do any of you recall the voyages of the first nuclear powered submarine, the USS Nautilus, under the arctic ice? Before its second voyage under the arctic ice the Nautilus developed a leak in its salt water condenser system. The crew was unable to find the source of the leak. So before they ventured under the ice, they sealed the leak with Bars Leaks, puchased in Seattle! Here's the story that I copied from a Navy journal:

"But before another polar attempt was made, Nautilus made a transit to the Pacific. This was a two month cruise which would culminate, according to the press releases, in a return through the Panama Canal. Actually, Nautilus intended to return via the Arctic Ocean. The cruise began well, but off the Pacific Coast of Panama disaster struck. A fire broke out in the engine room. The source was an oil-soaked liner in a turbine, and it was quickly brought under control. The submarine was forced to surface under duress for the first time in its career to clear the smoke cloud. The incident shook up the normally calm Anderson, for he realized that had the fire erupted in the arctic, it would have been difficult if not impossible to surface the boat. That could prove fatal.

Another problem which rattled Anderson was that one of the submarine's steam condensers, a vital part of the nuclear propulsion system, developed a severe leak which could not be easily located or repaired. After several attempts failed, Anderson ordered his crew to purchase cans of "Bar's Leaks", a commercial radiator leak product made for automobiles. Incredibly, 140 quarts of Bar's Leaks did the trick, repairing the $20 million submarine."

Put a product on the market and some guy with a clever mind will find an unusual use for it. :D

LarryL