Warning, time to vent.  I’m usually pretty easy to get along with, but when that last nerve is struck I can become my father’s child pretty quick.  I work in economic development and try really hard to buy local even though the amazing amazon is my best friend for things I can’t readily access in my small,  rural community.

When I built the house in 2011, my contractor and I used our local home building supply store for practically everything, and I continued to use them as a “go to” even after a totally offensive experience when I returned a box of tapcon screws to replace with a slightly longer length and the proprietor of the store dumped the box of 100 out and counted them in front of me to be sure I hadn’t snagged one for a souvenir. For the record, they were all there.  Maybe next time I should have my bag of rock salt weighed before my purchase?  (I’ve always felt like those that accuse are more than likely guilty of the accusation themselves.)

Still, I continued to support this local business, even though I find myself driving past two of the big box stores at least twice a month.  Until last week.  In preparation for our work weekend, I called up and ordered three pieces of door trim and 35 feet of baseboard trim, unfinished.  Oh, and three sections of 4″ PVC pipe for a different project.  There was some debate about my ability to pick this order up in my dad’s truck because of the length of the baseboard, to which the salesperson, who worked with me on the house project, said, “We’ll just drop it off for you”.  (If I walk to the end of my driveway, I can see the back of their building.)

First, below is a picture of what they dropped off for me.

When I think about my experience in the context of the rules I try to live by:

Rule number 1 – treat others as you would have them treat you, and

Rule number 2 – work smart

I’m certain that the folks that run the building supply store wouldn’t have been happy with the product had I sold it to them. And, trying to pass off inferior product to a loyal customer just isn’t working smart in my book.

Second, I totally understand the price of fuel today and the necessity for a delivery charge.  However, I don’t understand a $13 delivery charge on a $94 order that is going less than 1 mile round trip, that I really wanted to pick up anyway.  I also think that had I picked my order up they wouldn’t have gotten away with giving me the worst couple pieces of door trim they could find.  So, the next day, my father, in his truck, exchanged all three pieces of door trim and the shorter piece of baseboard.  I was able to keep the two 16 foot pieces of baseboard and the PVC pipe.  When I pay the billing, I will be charging a reasonable $6.50 for my Dad’s fuel to make the exchange.  Stay tuned…

In the end,

Rule number 11 – Know when to try harder and when to walk away

will apply to my business relationship with this store.  This isn’t what Rule number 11 was written for, but I’m extending it to this situation anyway – – because I can!

Good-bye local store – Hello Lowes and Home Depot.