Home Depot Hits & Misses

[gtaus]

It doesn't seem like using a military discount is something they should make difficult for the customer to access

I agree. Showing the ID was easy, but you never got the military discount for online purchases. Now that is possible.

Having to go online, fill out the form, and upload a copy of your DD214 discharge document only took me about 10 minutes. That was not so bad. Then you have to have a cell phone with internet to display the QR code. Home Depot has a cell phone app that you use to display the QR code. Since I don't have unlimited internet on my Track phone, I asked if my local store had guest internet, and they do. So, I can log unto their guest network and use the HD app.

I think the HD app also has the ability to scan the item bar code so you can look up specs and reviews. Not sure about that, but I think there are some nice extra features that are available using the HD app.

I am generally opposed to having to use cellphone tech for services, but in this case, I am happy to be able to get the military discount on my online purchases whereas before that was not possible.

 

[gtaus]

I hate Home depot, the people that work there are useless. And I use to work there longtime ago. lol.

People make a big difference. The people at my local Home Depot have been pretty good, so I have no complaints about them. Our local Fleet store has good employees, too.

Our Menards store, however, has a lot of turnover and unfortunately the people there are not much help. The older guys at the Pro Desk usually have good experience and are helpful. But the average salesperson stocking the shelves is not much help other than finding where an item is located.

I find myself buying things from all three of our local big box stores, but each store has some advantages over the others, so, you have to know where to get the best deal for what you want to buy. Since I bought into the Ryobi 18v One+ tool line 15+ years ago, I buy all my Ryobi stuff from Home Depot. HD also will cut lumber for you, free of charge, so you can fit it into your car. Our local HD is a good store, so I still go there fairly often.

 

[kcan2]

I am generally opposed to having to use cellphone tech for services, but in this case, I am happy to be able to get the military discount on my online purchases whereas before that was not possible.

It is good that they have, at least, made it easier to use the discount online. I'm not aware if the other stores are doing that yet. If it wasn't for that added benefit, it would tend to put one in reminder of the quote "Go where you're celebrated, not tolerated" or something to that effect!
I too find myself still shopping at all 3, but certainly some more than others. The qualifying factor is if the store is simply providing what is of value to the customer. In my area, the local Ace is doing a very good job of that, which I'm grateful for!

 

[gtaus]

It is good that they have, at least, made it easier to use the discount online. I'm not aware if the other stores are doing that yet. If it wasn't for that added benefit, it would tend to put one in reminder of the quote "Go where you're celebrated, not tolerated" or something to that effect!

Home Depot is the only store in my area that offers the 10% military discount. I will take advantage of that when I can. But it does not apply to all purchases, like special buys, and cannot be combined with other discounts and/or coupons you might have. So, the military discount is limited in that sense. But, nice when it applies.

On the other hand, Menards offers an 11% rebate on everything almost all the time now. If you are willing to go through the process of sending in your rebates, you can save a lot of money that way.

I too find myself still shopping at all 3, but certainly some more than others. The qualifying factor is if the store is simply providing what is of value to the customer. In my area, the local Ace is doing a very good job of that, which I'm grateful for!

We have a nice local Ace hardware, but it is very small and good mainly for specialty items. It's on the other side of town for me, so I don't have much occasion to stop in there to shop. Last time I was in there, I wanted to buy some seeds that were on sale in their flyer, but found out that our local Ace did not carry those seeds. It's just a small store and they don't even have all the items in their own sale flyer.

Back in the day, I was attending school on that side of town and would stop into Ace hardware at least a couple times a week. They always had "free" popcorn that you could eat while shopping. That "free" popcorn probably cost me lots of money. Too bad the popcorn went away with COVID concerns and it never came back. Last time I was in the store, the machine was even gone.

I miss things like the free popcorn we could always get when we went to the local ACE hardware store. I hope that tradition comes back, but I'm not holding my breath.