Two days in a row, three sales associates in the paint department at Home Depot assumed I knew nothing about paint. The first man was harmless. He only showed his arrogance and ignorance. Tonight's experience had me pulling out my hair!
Home Depot sells two brands of paint -- Behr and Glidden. I have worked with both brands and I absolutely hate Behr. It is as thick and sticky as honey which I find difficult to work with. My choice, if I'm shopping at Home Depot, is Glidden. Tonight, I selected a can of Glidden flat paint from the shelf, took it to the paint counter, and after quite a wait, I laid the paint chip for the color I wanted on the top of the can of paint and asked the sales associate to mix that color for me. He said sure and went about his job of mixing paint while I went about searching the department for tools for faux painting techniques.
When I had found the supplies I wanted, I returned to find the mixed paint on the counter, but no associate. I took the can and headed for the check out. As I was scanning in my purchases at the self checkout, I discovered that the can of paint the sales associate had mixed up was Behr! I was irritated. Why would he take a can of Behr from the shelf when I had given him a can of Glidden?
I marched back to the paint department and waited at the counter for a long time before the associate came back. I explained his error after which he explained to me that because I gave him a Behr paint chip he had to use Behr paint. News to me. I have used all sorts of things to select colors for paints -- fabric, magazine ads, even a competitor's paint chip. I explained that, just yesterday, in that very store, I had purchased a Glidden primer and had it tinted using a Behr paint chip. There was no question about doing this, it was automatically done. This didn't convince the sales associate. He said he could lose his job.
I furiously marched over to the Glidden display and searched for my color. Of course, there wasn't anything close. I went back to the Behr display and found the paint chip that was used yesterday to tint the Glidden primer I purchased. I thought maybe if I could show the sales associate exactly what I purchased yesterday, he'd change his mind.
Returning to the paint desk, I showed the paint chip from Behr. "This is what was used to tint the Glidden primer I purchased yesterday." The man was not impressed. He just kept telling me he's lose his job. I explained that it was the department manager who tinted the primer for me. Of course, the sales associate wanted to know his name. I didn't know it, but to prove to him I was there, I said, "I didn't get his name, but I remember he was calling Haz Mat when I was here because some powdered paint had been spilled." This didn't buy me any recognition either.
By then, the second sales associate in the paint department had finished with his customer and came over. I calmly explained the situation. He assumed that I thought I needed Glidden pain because I had used Glidden primer. Ack! No, I wanted Glidden paint because I hate Behr paint. To which I got, "You're kidding."
"No, I'm not kidding. The stuff goes on like honey. I want Glidden." I finally got some recognition when this second sale associate replied, "I don't blame you. So, you want us to do a color match."
I nearly fell to my knees. "Yes!"
"Why don't you want to do a color match?" he asked the don't-lose-your-day-job guy. "Because it won't be a perfect match?" The guy agreed. "You don't care if it's a perfect match, right?" the helpful man asked me.
"No, I don't care, just something close to this will be fine." I knew that their not-exact match would be close enough that I couldn't tell the difference.
Finally, the man who claimed he feared losing his job just a few minutes ago but told his co-worker a completely different tune now, started mixing my paint. I have a feeling what he's going to lose his job over is the fact that he mixed a gallon of paint incorrectly. The can of Behr paint he mixed up for me, before asking if that's what I had wanted, will now be sold for $5 on their "Oops" shelf rather than for $20.
The paint was mixed. He put a dab of it on the lid to show me the color and, voila, a perfect match by these eyes!
I will NEVER buy paint from the Home Depot in Stoughton. I may give them one more shot in another department (third time's the charm) to see if this is just a paint department issue. But all future paint I will buy from someone else. Have any recommendations?
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Comments: 12
I suggest that you print a copy of this article and send it to the store manager with a short cover letter.
Generally speaking, the local Lowes, however, has sales folks who are more plentiful, eager to help & more knowledgeable. I've never shopped their paint, though.
I'm sure it varies from store to store.
Barb, staff does vary a lot by store. I used Home Depot almost exclusively in St. Louis and in Madison, WI. I loved going there. Rarely did I run into a bad sales associate. Sometimes I couldn't find one, but even that didn't happen often enough to make me want to stop shopping there. This is why I'll give this store one more chance in another department and see if it is the store or just the paint department.
Being new to the area, I have scouted out the smaller hardware stores yet, but you know I'll be doing that as soon as I'm settled! ;-)
i wouldn't walk away from anyone mixing pait (or getting fish or such) because who knows what could happen. and i say this as a long time retail peon. i'm one of the good ones-- but there are plenty who are not.
Personally I use Behr paints now. I haven't had them be like honey though. I've only used the indoors as well however. All I know is that they were indestructible when it came to kids. I could scrub the walls and not have the paint come off, or show discoloring. Nothing shows through either when I paint over stuff. I think they are great.
Bear is a good paint, and it's been proven. Usually if you have a problem then it's the user taking shortcumts (priming, etc...)
Glidden paint is ok too, but if you want to go with a deep color you should get Ralph Lauren (made my Glidden). If you have your primer tinted sometimes only one coat will do. Remember, you get what you pay for!
the original poster of this knows nothing about paint, just do your research.
As far as this guy loosing his job, he is correct. He could loos his job for mixing a Behr color into a glidden paint. Not too long ago, Home Depot got sued in court by Ralph Lauren for cross matching their colors into cheaper paint. Believe it or not, Behr, Glidden and Ralph lauren colors are trade marked and cant be copied.
Now dont get me wrong. Some stores will do it for you, but they are violating a court order to stop this practice. If you bring in a color chip from any other store, IE... Ace, Ben Moore, Walmart and the likes, they will gladly do it for you into any brand they sell. This they are allowed to do.
This is the same policy as taking a professional photo of your family that was done by a company and then going to Walmart and using their self serve Kiosk to print off many cheaper pictures. Do people do it, yes. Is it legel, No !