OT: Dishonest people - Home Depot

JML755

Well-known Member
Just came back from picking up an online order at HD. While waiting for the paperwork, I noticed a grey gallon jug on the counter behind the service desk with "FULL OF H2O" written on it in magic marker. I asked the clerk "someone return that?" "Yup", she said. I commented that people are unbelievable and how much could they have saved? She said it was $50/gal grout sealer and they returned 2 of them. :shock: I asked if they caught them, she said "no, that's just a reminder to check ALL returns".

Wondering if it was a homeowner (this HD is in an affluent area) or if it was a tile contractor who's pulled this stunt before. Posting the security video of the return online would be interesting. :lol:

Reminds me of the time a guy at Lowe's returned 2 rolls of DEAD SOD! I DID call him out on that while waiting in line.
 
Brother in law worked in plumbing dept. at Lowe's. He said copper pipe fittings and rolls
of copper tubing went out the door faster than they could restock it. Funny thing it never
went through the cash register. He caught a woman filling her handbag with 1/2 in copper
90's one day and another guy wrapping a roll of copper tubing around his waste under his
winter coat. He turned them in and the manager said let it go. It costs more to prosecute
them than it's worth. They know the system and can get away with it.
 
In this town, we now have quite a bit more retail business's, one being walmart. There is a regular occurrence of shoplifting, and or theft by their own employees at walmart. Read the NYS police blotter for troop G, the 2 most common crimes are DWI and shoplifting !
 
(quoted from post at 09:58:15 06/12/17) Brother in law worked in plumbing dept. at Lowe's. He said copper pipe fittings and rolls
of copper tubing went out the door faster than they could restock it. Funny thing it never
went through the cash register. He caught a woman filling her handbag with 1/2 in copper
90's one day and another guy wrapping a roll of copper tubing around his waste under his
winter coat. He turned them in and the manager said let it go. It costs more to prosecute
them than it's worth. They know the system and can get away with it.

That would be where "Bubba" might be handy to have working in the back room. No prosecution needed.
 

During my 5 week HD career, 1999, I remember a female manager telling us about the $100 gallon jug of grout sealer, and how that was the most popular item to return after stealing it.

This is a new wrinkle to replace it with water and then return that....but that implies they actually used the sealer, and not just stealing it to get some cash.
 
I was in a Lowes a few years ago and saw a cashier arguing with a customer before he turned and ran out of the store. I asked her what that had been about. She told me that he had tried to buy something in a sealed box, but she noticed that it felt heavier than it should, so she opened it. He had opened a box of something light and cheap, and put a power tool inside and sealed it again. Apparently, he had brought some kind of quick setting glue with him so the box would appear unopened. Good employee. I suspect that there aren't many like her. The employee not only has to be smart and observant, they also have to be self assured and somewhat brave. But mostly, they have to care.

In a different thread, I'll describe a recent event that impressed me with the care and competence of ordinary citizens, but I don't have time right now.

Stan
 
I always open the box and check the product wherever I go. No telling how many times I've found used car parts in a box. The last one had to be transferred from a store three states away and nobody noticed it was the junk part in the box. Not long ago I saw on the shelf at Home Depot several recessed light fixtures that had paint overspray all over them and inside. I can't believe they would accept them back in that condition. I've also taken defective products back to Walmart and explained what was wrong with them only to find the same one back on the shelf a few days later. I guess it's buyer be ware.
 
My daughter works in theft prevention at a large grocery chain. You would be surprised how many steal things they could get with their government provided welfare cards. Her boss has been know to give those an extra chewing out over this.
 
While not exactly shoplifting, there have been times when we've gone through line and had multiples of a specific item. I'd put one up on the belt or, if real heavy point to all of them in a separate cart, but would always tell them first thing how many. And keep in mind, I "start" with these items, so there's no excuse of being distracted! Often get home to find that they only rang up one item. Sometimes I'll catch it at the register and correct them, but often I'm too busy to keep watch.

Anyway, one time I took in a receipt where we had been charged too little, and the clerk thought we were nuts! Finally worked up to a manager and told the situation. He said not to worry about it - that the mistake was on their end, and to enjoy.

I don't often see anyone stealing something, but I'm not one to just stand there and let it happen. If more people would speak out, maybe these shoplifters would learn that they can't get away with it and would finally stop.

Oh, another little scam is coming into the store wearing rags and carrying a child (or 4!), then conveniently not having enough money for the food. I've paid the difference a time or two, but the last time I saw the woman go out and get in this pickup that cost more than our 80-acre farm did!!
 
whats worse than that was one afternoon i was behind a really, really large woman with two girls maybe 7-8. she had 2 carts full of what i call junk food. no fresh meat, veggies, egg, or milk.
total bill was over $400.00. she paid for it with a lonestar card aka food stamps.

got my stuff and followed her out the door. this very large woman and kids were getting into a new ford 3/4 ton King Ranch pick up , still with paper tags. that really chaps my back side knowing that I paid for all that junk food while she is driving a brand new pick up.

bass
 
(quoted from post at 09:38:43 06/12/17) Just came back from picking up an online order at HD. While waiting for the paperwork, I noticed a grey gallon jug on the counter behind the service desk with "FULL OF H2O" written on it in magic marker. I asked the clerk "someone return that?" "Yup", she said. I commented that people are unbelievable and how much could they have saved? She said it was $50/gal grout sealer and they returned 2 of them. :shock: I asked if they caught them, she said "no, that's just a reminder to check ALL returns".

Wondering if it was a homeowner (this HD is in an affluent area) or if it was a tile contractor who's pulled this stunt before. Posting the security video of the return online would be interesting. :lol:

Reminds me of the time a guy at Lowe's returned 2 rolls of DEAD SOD! I DID call him out on that while waiting in line.
the honest customers pay for the shrinkage/loss thru higher prices. Losses will vary from place to place with losses the highest where it is expected.
 
I almost went to jail over two whales doing the same thing. Two carts full of junk food then out to a 2016 Dodge 3500 dully. Park beside my truck. I
went off when they told me not to scratch their truck. Couldn't hold it in any longer. Let the whole parking lot know. That these two whales were
buying food with food stamps. While driving a new 55 thousand dollar truck.
 
I was at my local HD one day, standing at the check out counter, overheard the manager talking about shoplifting.

I butted in to the conversation as it sounded interesting. She was telling about an elderly lady that appeared to be somewhat disabled as she was leaning heavily on the shopping cart as she walked.

She had a cart full of merchandise, then as she approached the check out, timed the opening of the door, and made a run for it, cart and all!

I asked if they caught her.

No, the policy is to not chase them, too dangerous for the employees, and if the thief were to get hurt by falling or hit by a car, the store could be sued!

I also learned different stores have different policies. The HD I was in is close to my house in a low crime area. They don't have special employees to work security.

But a few miles up the freeway, the store I go to when I'm at work, they are in a high crime area. They have a "special forces" team, plain clothes, all they do is patrol the store watching.

One day I was shopping and these 3 big goons came through the front door, half carrying a man they had caught in the parking lot! I don't know what he had done, I assume shoplifting, but they were being none too gentle with him. He was making some attempt to get away, but they had a firm grip, he was going with them to the back of the store, whether he wanted to or not!
 
A couple years ago i went to Menard's for a new well pump. Box the pump was in was taped shut like it would be for a new pump. Got ti home to find a well used junk pump in the box. I called them right away and then went back to get a true new pump. But this time before I left the store I opened the box to make 100% sure it was in fact a new not a used pump
 
I bought a Moen fawcet from HD. Got around to installing it a year later. Box had the plastic banding on and looked undisturbed. Missing pieces inside. The place that has "everything" never seems to have what I need.
 
(quoted from post at 15:46:27 06/12/17) A couple years ago i went to Menard's for a new well pump. Box the pump was in was taped shut like it would be for a new pump. Got ti home to find a well used junk pump in the box. I called them right away and then went back to get a true new pump. But this time before I left the store I opened the box to make 100% sure it was in fact a new not a used pump

That happened to me one time - can't remember now what it was I bought. Took it back to the store and....you guessed it, they didn't believe me! They eventually gave me a new whatever-it-was, but they sure didn't like it.
 
I've learned to be real careful about buying opened merchandise at HD. I bought a Delta shower cartridge once in an obviously opened package, but all the parts appeared to be present and it was the only one they had. Wouldn't fit. Went to another store and bought the same part number cartridge and it fit. Someone had swapped out the cartridge in the first package with a different part. I returned the first one and explained the situation; the clerk seemed to understand, but I'll bet they put it back on the shelf.

One of the HD stores I frequent is a popular target for the Pontiac druggies. A favorite tactic is to lift expensive items, then return them for store credit cards they then sell for drugs. A couple of years ago, two druggies loaded up a shopping cart with power tools and ran out the door. A bystander took it upon herself to shoot out the tires on their getaway vehicle, which turned out to be a bad idea as she was charged with reckless behavior. The druggies didn't get far before they abandoned their car. They were later arrested, having traded a thousand dollars worth of tools for a gram of crack.
 
Son was building a privacy fence LAST WEEKEND.. bought about 500.00 worth of wood, cement & SCREWS..
Got home & found he had gotten the wrong type screws..
Went back to exchange them & didn't have the receipt..
The clerk pulled his cc# & found the purchase.. low& behold, the screws WERE NOT on the receipt..??
They gave him so much crap.. they did everything BUT called him a thief..
He said, I DONT WANT MONEY!!! I just wanna exchange them.. The clerk said, NO.. & said, take them w/ you when you LEAVE..HE SAID>> I didn't pay for them so THAT would be stealing & left them on the counter & went to Lowes & bought some screws..
IDIOTS..
 
(quoted from post at 18:52:47 06/12/17)
(quoted from post at 15:46:27 06/12/17) A couple years ago i went to Menard's for a new well pump. Box the pump was in was taped shut like it would be for a new pump. Got ti home to find a well used junk pump in the box. I called them right away and then went back to get a true new pump. But this time before I left the store I opened the box to make 100% sure it was in fact a new not a used pump

That happened to me one time - can't remember now what it was I bought. Took it back to the store and....you guessed it, they didn't believe me! They eventually gave me a new whatever-it-was, but they sure didn't like it.

I had that happen a few week ago at Lowes. I bought a new side grinder in a sealed and banded box. Got it home and opened the box, and the grinder was used, and had a worn cut off wheel on it. Took it back to Lowes and they made it right.

Dusty
 
Went to walmart looking for a cheap pair of workboots one time. Found a pair I liked and even found a box in my size. Best part was they were on sale! Went over to bench and sat down, took off my shoes to try on boots and when I opened the box it had some nasty old worn out cheap boots in it. I left box open and put my shoes back on. My daughter who was about 8 at the time asked me why I didn't just put them back on the shelf when we started walking away with the box. I explained to her why there were old boots in the box and that I was looking for an employee to give them to. When I found an employee and showed them they just frowned and said "It happens all the time".
 
thepumpguysc:

So the issue isn't whether he stole the screws---which he clearly didn't---but whether he paid for them, which he may not have through no fault of his own. If the cashier missed them at checkout, then they weren't paid for, and having the receipt wouldn't have done your son any good if the screws weren't on it. When he got home and checked, were the screws on the receipt?
 
Last week I drove back several miles to pay 58 cents for a doughnut I ate in store while shopping and forgot to tell cashier when checking out . I am cheap but not crooked!!!!!!
 
Wilson ind; It also wouldn't have been dishonest for you to wait until the next time you were in that store to pay. That's what a cheap but honest person would have done. Last I heard, being honest didn't require being unreasonable. Are you sure honesty was your only motivation, or was there an element of showing off involved?

Stan
 
If I lived close by, I would have driven back right away rather than risk forgetting. However, we're an hour from the nearest small town!
 
Had same issue back in the mid-90's when I bought a Liberty gun safe at Sam's Club. Bolted to a pallet with what looked like a sealed box over it. They had to get help to load in the back of my pickup lying flat then more help of my own at my house to unload it plus use a HD appliance dolly to get it in the house. Pulled the cardboard box off the top once in the house and found a used, heavily scratched safe with a a broken door handle and missing insides, hand scratched combination on a piece of paper. Had to reload and haul it back to Sam's Club. I took a big black magic marker and wrote "Used, broken - DO NOT SELL" all over all four sides of the box before I took it back. When I got to Sam's Club I asked for the store manager and proceeded to chew his @ss out in front of other customers for knowingly selling me an almost $1000 damaged and broken safe. All I got was a weak apology but at least they couldn't try to pawn that safe back onto someone else. I got a pristine brand new one that we pulled the cover box off before I left to make sure it was new. Somehow I've managed to move it now over the past 20 years into 3 different houses without breaking it or scratching it up. Mike
 
Was talking to the owner of our ACE store a while back.
He was telling me about a mutual friend of ours that was well off and that he came in and bought 2 extension cords, one cheap and one expensive. later that day he sent his son back to return one of them, he had put the cheap one in the expensive packaging, gotta wonder.
 
I was in Lowes returning a broken light fixture in early fall. I was standing in line behind a guy returning 3 string trimmers. They were the
biggest Lowes sold and not the cheap models. All were well used and still had fresh grass clippings all over them. He was returning them as
grass season was over. I asked if he was trying to sell them as I was interested. He said they didn't run. I said bull. They ran this morning.
As he was returning them I asked the lady if I could buy them. She said no. After he was gone, she said he did it several times a year for his
lawn care business. Theft.

Aaron
 

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