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Grab A Cup Of Coffee And Read About Lowe's Bad Service

Posted Mon April 24, 2006, by Tee R. written to Lowe's

Write a Letter to this Company  |  Rate this Company


A very dissatisfied customer

Today I received the worst service in my life! I went into Lowes's to pay for a french door installation estimate that I had done. On my way in I grabbed a waterhose and a waterhose sprayer. As I proceeded to the checkout I noticed there was only one register open with about 12 people standing in line. I looked over at the customer service counter and noticed there was no less than 6 people behind the counter not doing anything. I decided to go to the customer service counter since there was only one customer in line at the time. I wasn't sure whether or not I could purchase my things at the customer service counter or not so I attempted to ask the woman behind the counter. She looked dead at me and as I proceeded to ask my question she turned away. So I just waited. By this time one of the twelve customers who was standing in line asked if they could open another register. The women behind the counter seem unfazed about the long line that was accumulating and unconcerned by the man's request, however, the woman who turned away from me did take 5 seconds to page all cashiers to their registers. I guess their sense of urgency was even less than peoples' who were standing behind the customer service counter because it took all of five minutes for them to get there and in the mean time the 6 people behind customer service were still doing nothing! By this time more customers had joined me at the customer service counter but did not stand where I was waiting. After the unconcerned lady who was helping the man that was there when I arrived was done she just hung out for a few while we stood there waiting to be helped staring at her and the others. I decided to join the other customers who were in line since there were now three registers open with about six people in each. So here I am waiting again and no sooner than I had left to go wait in yet another line did the unconcerned lady decide to help the other customers who had been waiting but had gotten there after I did. So now I'm waiting again to receive poor service at best. I finally make it up to the register (Horay!),the nightmare was almost over. The cashier proceeds to scan my stuff and when he gets to the waterhose sprayer it has no item code. The cashier then proceeds to page someone to get him an item code, mind you I told him the waterhose sprayer was $5.97, but I guess he didn't believe me. He called unconcerned lady over from behind customer service over, because of course she wasn't helping any customers, to ask her about it. Unconcerned lady does something in the computer, ask me if I knew how much it was and I told her, then says something to the cashier and walks off to continue not helping customers. Even after all of this had taken place no one had come to give this cashier an item code. I couldn't help but feel bad for the people behind me. They had already waited a ridiculus amount of time to be helped and now that had to wait even more because of the uncaring and incompetent people who worked for Lowe's. I suggested to the cashier that he just run over and grab another one since the section I got it from was about 10 seconds away. He told me he couldn't leave the register. Then I suggested that he send one of the six people standing behind customer service since they weren't giving any customer service. He didn't he respond to my suggestion. so me and the rest of the customers just continued waiting and by this point I was livid. Finally I went over myself and grabbed another sprayer that did have an item code. I spent $1055.00 in Lowe's the day I received the worst service of my life! Something that should have taken no more than five minutes took 25 minutes all because customers are not a priority for this store. I'm not sure what kind of training these people receive but my God they need to be re-trained. Lowe's is one of many companies who like to pride themselves on good service but how can a company provide good service when they obviously don't even understand the definition of service period. The lack of concern illustrated by these people sickens me to my stomach. I have never seen such a blatant disregard for customers in my life! Even after I asked for the number to customer service no one asked me what was wrong or if there was something they could do. I guess they already knew, they just didn't care!What kind of people let customers do their work for them?! What kind of company employs these kind of people?! This is the only home improvement store in Titusville, Florida #0504 so I guess they feel like they can treat customers like dirt and get away with it. I disagree. I will drive an extra 25 minutes and an extra 25 miles if it means that I could at least get decent service. The saddest part of it all is that another customer noticed how upset I was when I was leaving. She tapped on my window and said she couldn't help but notice how upset I seemed. Then she asked me if I had received bad service inside the store. I told that I had. She then suggested that I use planetfeedback.com to express my concerns. She said that calling the numbers wouldn't help but when she had received poor service that she used planetfeedback.com and the issue was addressed. She apologized for bothering me but insisted that she just had to stop because she knew how bad the service in this store could be. Wow! That really says something. I realize that $1055.00 may not be much to a multi-million dollar company but to a single woman who works hard for every penny its a considerable amount and if Lowe's can't appreciate it I will take my business to someone who can.

Make it right by any means necessary!


Reply



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by Tara16 Posted Tue August 15, 2006 @ 10:32 PM

Expect the same bad service at the Lowe's stores in San Bruno. During
my most recent home renovation, I had to wait two months for my
refrigirator, overpaid for my gas range (they lost the one I wanted) I
was lied and felt disrespected throughout the entire process. Three
years ago I used the same stores without any problems, this time
around I had the most horible experience in my entire life. I will
not shop Lowe's again.

They do not care about the customer.

Reply
by John Doe Posted Wed May 3, 2006 @ 6:03 PM

wow!!! all those words in one paragrah!!!

Reply
by Joan Finigan Posted Wed May 3, 2006 @ 9:28 AM

It does not matter how this was written, I think it was written very
well. Lowe's and Home Depot in my area have bad customer service
anyway. It does not matter where the store is located. Customer
Service is a thing of the past. I have had similar problems with
Lowe's and Home Depot. I have complained to the management at the time
of the incidents. I still recieved no satisfaction so I have used this
site for complaints. Now the it seems that even if companies get a
letter from here , it does not matter. They just do not care. No, I am
not using paragraphs.

Reply

by Jonathan Gan Posted Mon May 1, 2006 @ 10:38 AM

Use them!

Reply

They are called paragraphs by VICKIT03 Sun September 24, 2006 @ 12:57 PM

Who cares by Joan F. Thu March 6, 2008 @ 1:37 PM
by mikey Posted Sat April 29, 2006 @ 7:00 PM

I agree with the customer. This type of service is unacceptable. I
have a Lowes and a Home Deopot, both 5 minutes from my house. I have
attempted on more than one occation to buy at the Lowes because I do
not want to spend all of my money in one place, like people do with
Wal-mart.

But every time I go in there no one can ever help me find what I am
looking for.

During my last visit I went in search of those small rolling wheels
for the shower doors. I started in the bathrooms department. Then
bathrooms sent me to hardware, then hardware sent me to plumming, then
in plumming there is no one there. I could not find them in plumming
by myself. Frustrated, I just left and went to Home Depot. They
directed me to where I needed to go and I found what I needed. I also
picked up a few more items while I was there.

I really don't plan on going back to Lowes any time soon. I mean price
is not an issue; they are about the same on every item as Home Depot.
But the service at Home Depot is much better than Lowes. Period.
They will have to lure me in with some type of promotion if they want
me to given them another chance because I don't plan on retu

Reply


by Mike R. Posted Fri April 28, 2006 @ 5:59 AM

If you had bad service, letting the company know is helpful. However,
you could have done so in a quarter of the space.

I would have suggested that you left out your comment of trusting you
on the price of the hose. The point of sale system may have required
more information about the item to adjust inventory.

I, like others have already pointed out, would have suggested not
purchasing from them if it upset you that bad. You ultimately vote
with your dollar and, as such, have told them you were okay with their
service.

Reply

Re: Grab A Cup Of Coffee And Read About Lowe's Bad Service by VICKIT03 Sun September 24, 2006 @ 1:00 PM
by VICKIT03 Posted Thu April 27, 2006 @ 4:05 PM

I was the woman that approached her and she was not at all rude or
discourteous. I was ovbious though that she was treated poorly and
this store is always like this. It is the "only" store of it's kind
in at least 40 miles and especially now with the gas prices customers
in this area are almost forced to go there. I am shocked at very few
people have any compassion for her. I have worked in customer service
field for over 20 years and "never" treated anyone like this even when
they were rude to me and didn't have the trainers that worked for me
train the sales associates to treat customers poorly. There is always
an answer to try to treat people how you would like to be treated but
that seems not to be in fashion now.

Reply

by mary jo Posted Thu April 27, 2006 @ 3:06 PM

A.) Paragrapghs PLEASE!

B.) A little less sarcasm would do your letter well. I understand you
are upset and have every right to be. But calling the employee
"Unconcerned lady" just shows you to be petty and immature and doesnt
reflect well on you.

C.) You could have saved yourself a lot of time just by getting the
sprayer yourself. Should you have had to? No. Probably not. Would it
have killed you to do it? Certainly not. And the customers behind you
that you were so worried about would have been grateful to you.
Sometimes in life we have to just handle things ourselves.

D.) "I spent $1055.00 in Lowe's the day I received the worst service
of my life!" This is completely YOUR fault. You should have walked
right out the door and stopped by the customer service desk on the way
out and told the employees that since they didnt feel like doing
anything they just lost a $1000.00 dollar sale and you would be
letting their district manager and company president know about it.
The fact that you stayed there and accepted that treatment and then
PAID FOR IT only proves to them that you accepted it.

E.) I want to clarify here that the employees were most definately in
the wrong here. If, of course, everything went the way you said it
did. But to prove to them that you WONT take that kind of treatment
would have been to walk out. Not spend that much money and then write
a letter to complain about it. You said you would drive 25 miles and
then another 25 miles to go to another store. Yet you didnt. I hope
you hear something back and I hope they make it up to you but next
time I hope you let your actions prove your words.

By the way, we ALL work hard for every penny we make.

Reply


*clap clap* by Iconophiliac Sat April 29, 2006 @ 11:49 AM

by Brian D. Posted Tue April 25, 2006 @ 8:38 PM

you need to break up your writing into paragraphs it will make it
easier to read

Reply
by S. Brown Posted Tue April 25, 2006 @ 3:15 PM

It should be a federal law that everyone who resides in the United
States of America has to work in a retail environment for a minimum of
6 months before they can get a driver's license.

Reply


Why? by vc Tue April 25, 2006 @ 6:08 PM

working retail by Peregrina Wed April 26, 2006 @ 12:04 AM

No by S. Brown Wed April 26, 2006 @ 11:42 AM

I have worked in retail! by Joan Finigan Wed February 13, 2008 @ 4:03 PM


I have said that before... by dragonflygrrl Wed April 26, 2006 @ 10:23 AM


:( I hate to say it by poetry_babe Wed April 26, 2006 @ 10:35 AM


I hate to say it too... by dragonflygrrl Wed April 26, 2006 @ 10:38 AM


he he he he by poetry_babe Wed April 26, 2006 @ 10:43 AM

Sad by T C Wed April 26, 2006 @ 2:38 PM

Huh? by T C Wed April 26, 2006 @ 2:32 PM


Response by Iconophiliac Wed April 26, 2006 @ 9:04 PM


Excuse me? by dragonflygrrl Thu April 27, 2006 @ 10:47 AM


My Response by GuestsSuck! Fri April 28, 2006 @ 12:31 PM

You're right. by Nicky Dicky Fri April 28, 2006 @ 4:10 PM


Your contempt by vc Fri April 28, 2006 @ 5:42 PM


My monikor by GuestsSuck! Thu June 1, 2006 @ 3:00 AM

CUSTOMER SERVICE by VICKIT03 Thu April 27, 2006 @ 3:58 PM
by juwingsfan Posted Tue April 25, 2006 @ 12:29 PM

i had a range issue with it catching on fire and i shared it with the
team lead at the lowes on coliseum blvd in ft wayne and told him that
frigidaire was doing nothing eventhough it was proven that it was a
defective unit and he said kudos to them because they should stick to
their warranty and if i wanted service i should have purchased an
extended warranty.

Reply

Huh? by S. Brown Tue April 25, 2006 @ 2:54 PM


And I said, and I told him, I said, I'm going to burn down the building! by dragonflygrrl Tue April 25, 2006 @ 3:27 PM


by Iconophiliac Posted Tue April 25, 2006 @ 10:21 AM

"mind you I told him the waterhose sprayer was $5.97, but I guess he
didn't believe me. "


ARRRGGGGGGG When will people realize that price isn't enough and most
computers will require some sort of sku?

And people will lie for a cheaper price, so I don't blame her for
checking it out herself.

Reply

exactly... by gb Thu April 27, 2006 @ 4:02 PM

by dragonflygrrl Posted Tue April 25, 2006 @ 10:15 AM

1) It is so annoying when there are lots of people waiting on one
cashier. I understand where you are coming from there.
Unfortunately, that's where my understanding ends.

2) If there is one cashier, there is one cashier. The people at
customer service are not cashiers, and there didn't happen to be
anyone in their lines at that moment. That didn't mean they could
just all go man registers. Anyone who has worked in customer service
can tell you that the minute you leave your "post," a swarm of people
who need whatever it is you do will descend upon it.

3) If an obviously "livid" person came roaring up to me and asked for
the customer service number, I would probably just give it to them and
let them take it from there myself. I have learned there is no future
in trying to help someone who is spoiling for a fight. From the tone
of your letter and the way you describe these events, I would be
willing to bet you were belligerent. When will people realize that no
one wants to help you when you are obnoxious?

4) "The saddest part of it all is that another customer noticed how
upset I was when I was leaving." You are right there, that is pretty
darned sad. If you were so upset that a total stranger noticed it,
you need to work on your self-control, maybe check out an anger
management class.

5) You are writing a letter to a corporation. That means you should
be using professional language, or at the very least proper grammar.
I would suggest that you calm down, think about what happened and
whether your attitude was at least partly to blame. Then, if you still
feel you have a complaint, re-write this mess into a clear concise few
paragraphs. Maybe that will accomplish something.

Reply


CLAP!!!! CLAP!!! CLAP!!!! by tickytack Tue April 25, 2006 @ 12:47 PM


Also: by GuestsSuck! Tue April 25, 2006 @ 1:33 PM


I agree... by mary jo Thu April 27, 2006 @ 3:10 PM

by Giselle Posted Tue April 25, 2006 @ 9:37 AM

I read the entire letter. Its not *that* long, its just that the
writer failed to use paragraphs.

Anyway, overall I'd say the writer did experience bad service due to
the customer service desk employee.

Comments: surely the writer did not really expect the cashier to leave
their register to retrieve an item that was "10 seconds away" (why
didn't the letter writer get it then??) For future reference: no
employee at any store I'm familiar with can leave the register and
walk around the store.... As far as the employees standing around,
they may be associates assigned to the floor and are not cashiers and
therefore cannot ring up customers. I will agree though when a store
is busy, it doesn't look good to have employees standing around.

You should have spoken to a manager if you were THAT upset.
Personally, I get annoyed at long lines but I don't get so upset that
people around me notice and comment. I would be embarassed if that
happened and it would be a reality check that I need to get control of
my emotions.

P.S. If this was the worst service of your life, I envy you.

Reply

by Alan M Posted Mon April 24, 2006 @ 11:07 PM

There isn't a cup of coffee large enough at all of Starbucks for this
one.

Reply


I scrolled down, by Iconophiliac Tue April 25, 2006 @ 7:04 AM


I already know what you are going to say! :P by dragonflygrrl Tue April 25, 2006 @ 10:16 AM


*That he will too* by dragonflygrrl Tue April 25, 2006 @ 10:48 AM


LOL that was you by Iconophiliac Tue April 25, 2006 @ 3:07 PM


Not to be an ass, by vc Tue April 25, 2006 @ 5:59 PM


Oops! by Iconophiliac Tue April 25, 2006 @ 6:17 PM


I swear, by vc Tue April 25, 2006 @ 7:03 PM


No Worries :) by Iconophiliac Tue April 25, 2006 @ 7:29 PM

Wait a minute by Venice Tue April 25, 2006 @ 11:31 PM


OH! In that case by Iconophiliac Wed April 26, 2006 @ 6:29 AM


All I can say by vc Wed April 26, 2006 @ 12:54 PM


I'm not sure by poetry_babe Wed April 26, 2006 @ 2:04 PM

Wait a minute by Venice Tue April 25, 2006 @ 11:31 PM


Actually... by rebekahsue Wed April 26, 2006 @ 4:56 PM

Yes, by Venice Wed April 26, 2006 @ 5:28 PM


YOU used a double negative. by olie Wed April 26, 2006 @ 10:41 PM


YOU used a double negative. by olie Wed April 26, 2006 @ 10:44 PM




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