To the CEO of Home Depot: I have tried numerous times to reach someone at the corporate office, but this seems to be impossible. The assistant manager (Big Mike!) at the local store in Blue Ridge GA can’t or won’t resolve this problem on a local level. HomeDepot.com associates are also unable to resolve this problem. I’ve called homedepot.com so many times that I have lost count. I talked with Tiffany, Victoria, Wally, Shekatlyn (very helpful), Charles (rude, snappy, and hateful), and someone called Big Mike (rude). I talked with a few other people who didn’t give me their names. I asked to speak with the Blue Ridge store manager, Mike Gordon, but was told by “Big Mike” that would not happen!!!!! At the writing of this email, about 1430, the problem is still not resolved
Ok Here is the situation:
I bought a GE washing machine from our local Home Depot in Blue Ridge GA. The machine does not work. I called Home Depot in Blue Ridge for a replacement, but was told that it was not a local store problem. I was instructed to call HomeDepot.com. However, there were so many issues with HomeDepot.com that I told them to forget about the replacement, and give me my money back.
Finally, after FOUR (4) calls, I was able to talk with someone who somewhat knew what to do. I scheduled the pick-up for today, Wednesday April 19, 2023.
I was told by Victoria that I would get a call the day before, giving me a FOUR (4) hour window for the pick up. I must say this extended time frame is for the benefit of the delivery company, and very poor customer service from Home Depot.
I gave Victoria my HOME PHONE NUMBER for the number to call to schedule the pick up. I also asked for someone to call at least THIRTY (30) MINUTES before coming to give us time to put our dogs up.
I NEVER RECEIVED A CALL TO SCHEDULE THE FOUR (4) HOUR PICK UP, nor the call 30 minutes prior to the delivery, giving us time to secure our dogs.
The guys arrived about 0800 this morning 04/19/2023 to pick up the washing machine. We were not ready for the pick up , because we DID NOT RECEIVE A CALL to schedule the pick up or to make sure our dogs were secured. Thank goodness the dogs outside were secured, but the dogs inside were not.
We had to secure the dogs, go get the keys to the shed and get our hand-trucks, and then get the washer outside, which took some time. My husband asked the delivery driver if he could borrow their hand-trucks. The delivery driver refused to let us borrow their hand-trucks to move the machine!
If we had known the four hour time period in advance as we were told, everything would have been ready and waiting. However, we never received a call to schedule the pick up time frame.
The pick up driver was getting into the truck as we were coming out the door with the washer. My daughter told the driver to wait, because we were coming out with the washer. The driver stated that he had waited long enough! HE GOT INTO THE TRUCK AND DROVE AWAY!
I immediately called to have the driver turn around. I was informed that Home Depot does not have the ability to call the driver. I was told that Home Depot contracts their deliveries and pick ups with an outside vendor not a part of Home Depot.
I was told that the driver could not turn around (or in this case back up) because it was a policy of the delivery company and COULD NOT BE CHANGED.
I called HomeDepot.com and the local store in Blue Ridge GA. I spoke with EIGHT (8) DIFFERENT people who DID NOT know what to do to RESOLVE this problem.
On one call to HomeDepot.com, I asked to speak with a supervisor. I spoke with Charles, a HomeDepot.com supervisor, who is very rude to say the least. I asked to speak with his supervisor, and was told that his supervisor did not talk with customers. Charles went on to say that Home Depot had policies. Charles stated that I may not agree with the policies, but the policies could not be changed.
I asked for the number to call the corporate office. Charles informed me that they did not have a number for the corporate office. Charles stated that corporate did not talk with customers, so I could either talk with him (Charles) or no one. Charles also said that I could NOT call and talk with every supervisor going up the chain to the corporate office.
I was told as a matter-of-fact by Charles that the pick up would be scheduled for Friday April 21. Take it or leave it attitude!
Charles stated that Friday was the earliest I could schedule the pick up, because the PICK UP WAS NOT HAPPENING TODAY!!!!
Charles went on to say that I could waste my time calling, but no matter who I talked with, the answer would be the same. Charles said he had EIGHT (8) hours and he didn’t care how he spent his time.
I asked Charles for the Friday pick up time frame. Charles said Home Depot did not make those decisions, and I would get a call the day before to set the time frame. Again I made sure my correct phone number was in the Home Depot system. Charles went on to say that if I didn’t get a call by 1800, on April 18, 2023 to call HomeDepot.com to find out the time frame myself!
Talk about CUSTOMER SERVICE!!!
DIY is truly applicable to Home Depot CUSTOMER SERVICE.
Home Depot DOES NOT know the meaning of CUSTOMER SERVICE!
Well, you can thank Charles for the loss of several customers. We own a family organic farm business, a small personal livestock farm, a kennel boarding/grooming business, a home and commercial painting business, and a vehicle restoration/painting business. We will no longer buy anything from Home Depot!!
I don’t care if we have to pay more for what we need. Business with Home Depot is too much of a hassle for us to deal with. Home Depot does not care about their customers or associates.
The extra cost will be worth the CUSTOMER SERVICE!!!
I have the security videos of the pick up ordeal. If you would like to have a copy of the videos let me know.
THANK YOU GABRIEL!!!
Finally, I received a call from Gabriel from the Blue Ridge GA store. Gabriel apologized for the lack of customer service and inability for Home Depot to resolve the problem.
Everyone I spoke with (except Charles and “Big Mike”) were friendly and courteous. They didn’t know what to do, but they were still professional! The lack of associate knowledge is the fault of the company CEO!
I hope Home Depot uses this situation to train their associates in CUSTOMER SERVICE.
The way a business operates starts at the TOP!!!!!
Employees require thorough and continuous training and education by a knowledgeable person to be able to perform their job. Continual education keeps employees up to date with changes, new skills, use of new technology, and as a refresher for earlier training. Your EMPLOYEES are your GREATEST ASSETS, you need to train them.
Your customers keep your company in business!!!! The company should treat customers with respect, dignity, and courtesy, not as a waste of supervisor time and effort.
I’m sure I haven’t written everything I’ve dealt with to try and resolve this problem, but I have things I must do today. I will not allow Home Depot’s problem to become my own within our business operations.
Have a BLESSED day,