Ever heard the expression ‘the right hand isn’t talking to the left hand’?

I have.

And have you ever heard the expression ‘what’s that got to do with the price of tea in China’?

I have…for the first time today, actually.

Here’s why I bring these bizarre grandfather-like sayings up with a huge orange logo occupying most of the right side of your screen:

1) the staff at The Home Depot at 2388 Cambie Street (aka - the right hand) could learn a thing or two about servicing their customers if they were only to spend some time talking to their orange-cloaked brethren (and sistren) at The Home Depot at 900 Terminal Avenue (the subject of this post and by transitive property, the left hand); and

2) whether you are asking about bathroom exhaust fan installation or what type of semi-transparent stain to use on your brand new deck is not important; rather, service should be consistent (read: the price of the tea should be the same).

I’m going to be severely honest with you here - it isn’t.

To put it into 19th century England terms, if you’re the first ship back to port from China with the tea, you get to charge the highest price.  I’m no economist, but I think that (no offense England) model of customer service is just bad business.  First ship, middle ship, or last ship…tea should cost the same, damnit!

Rather than struggling to find someone to help me (like I did before), Josh (and I haven’t changed his name), was more than eager to help me sort my way through everything I needed to start my (deck) project.  In fact, when speaking with him, he went so far as to suggest something that he thought I’d need but they didn’t have in stock.  So, instead of indicating that I was S.O.L., he went hunting, tore down some boxes, and found it.

The best part - he wanted me to follow-up with him next time I was there…went so far as to say he’d like to drop by and see how it was progressing next time he was near the house.

More saving..More doing?

I’d re-phrase that…

More service…More success.

darren