I am truly dedicated to buying anything and everything local.
I know this ACE HArdware has had some economic challenges and I am trying to buy as much as they have that I need.
Today I went to buy a shovel. I could not see any of the prices on their diplay so I choose what I thought was the best/highest quality. I looked around and Idid not see any folks in their red vests so I went to the check out. I asked the cashier , ""Is this the best shovel in this model you guys sell?"" I was somewhat confident that she was probably not an expert in shovels; she said, ""I have no clue."" So I smiled and asked her if she could page an ACE shovel expert and she quickly did.
I did not know it a the time, but the gentleman that came prompltly is the store manager, Larry. Larry, apprears to be thee perfect person to work in a hardware store...kinda the guy you simply would like to have as a friend. I asked him if he could help me identify the best quality shovel to buy and I asked him if the one I was holding was indded that shovel. He took the shovel from me and held it and said,'Wowo it sure is heavy.."" I asked if that was a good thing. He said he had, ""No clue.."" .I had just heard the same reply from the cashier within the minute. I asked if he knew which is the best shovel, he again said, ""I dummo..."" I asked if there was a person there who knew about their shovel inventory. He said he was the supervosor of the store and he knew nothing about shovels...At first when he said this to me I smiled because I was sure he was kinda making a joke about himself and the situation. There was a long pause, I said does anyone here know about shovels. Her eis exactly what the Ace Hardware store supervosor said to me, "" Yea I don;t know anyhting about shovels, yes and I am the store manager, and I really don't really care..ya know..."" He schrugged his shoulders and walked away. I just stood there...embarassed for him and me and walked out of the store.
As I wirte this I am trying to find the store owner...I am super confident that something is not right there AND that the owner wants to know about this poor customer service incident. I can excuse and pass on some of the new young kids that are just now working for the first time and understanding the correct sentences when they do not know the answer. But this situation was the store supervisor/manager? Poor very poor...
I did end up buying a great shovel at MeLendons HArdware in Renton.
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