Today is the last day I will shop at this Home Hardware in Strathroy. A shame because it's so close to home.
It's far too much of a hassle to buy wood. You pay for it sight unseen then pick it up in the yard. THAT is not a problem. The problem is that they just want to give you the crappiest wood and get you out.
I am aware that 1x4x12' spruce isn't the highest quality, and I am aware that it is generally used as strapping. That's not what I need it for. I don't want the wood that's covered in mold and that looks like a dog has been chewing on it. So when the guy that works in the yard says "maybe you should have bought pine cause this is used for strapping"... Yeah maybe, or maybe I don't want to spend more on pine or maybe it's none of your business what I need it for. I can go through the pile and not make a mess of it without you hanging over my shoulder, thanks.
Which brings me to the 1x2x10' cheap spruce that I needed. There were 8 or 9 loose pieces and I needed (and already paid for) 5. 3 out the 9 were good, the rest were bowed and damaged. Right next to the loose pieces were bundles of 12. I was told that if I wanted more I had to buy a bundle of 12 and that he couldn't break open the bundle. My other alternative was to go back inside and return the 2 out of 5 that I couldn't get and get a refund.
RETURN wood and get a refund. So they would rather lose money (albeit not much) than open a bundle and let me pick 2 more pieces?
I had to go back inside, talk to the wood manager and get him to tell the yard guy to break open a new bundle.
Now I understand this isn't Lowe's or Home Depot where you can cherry pick the better pieces at your leisure then pay for it (and why wouldn't you want the better pieces?? You are paying for it.). But when you're telling people to not buy merchandise isn't that counterproductive? Too bad because I will always try to support local business rather than big box stores whenever possible.
I should mention this has happened on more than one occasion.
I should also mention that most of the staff there are very helpful and friendly. There's also one guy in the yard (wish I knew his name) who was always very accommodating and helpful. Unfortunately I rarely get to deal with him.
I doubt anyone will have read this far but I feel as though this is just another business who figures "oh well, we lost one customer, and a few hundred/thousand dollars. It won't put us out of business".
