Home Depot Threat?

Ken_8 · March 2005

Note the compression fittings on hot and cold; no shut-off.

The last time I saw anyone soldering BX was after Dan and I had about 20 Guinnesses. Dan held an impromptu class to show us how it's done. He did it with the juice on. When the sparks ignited his watch the sparks flew, he fell off the bar stool and Marianne picked him up off the floor.

The next morning she commented he was "incredible" that night.

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John Shea · February 2005

too funny...

but I think you're mistaken. They couldn't get the tank running, so the guy decided to give the HO some temporary hot water with that torch.

Jeff Lawrence_24 · February 2005

Interesting.

They are soldering the BX while the gozinta and the gozouta lines are connected with the flex connectors.

wow....

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Pety Boy · February 2005

home depot

Come on guys, He's not trying to solder the BX, He is obviously using the spark from the wire to ignite his torch.

singh · February 2005

check out the welding gloves!! how do you hold a roll of solder?
aluminum ladder,bx touching ladder,nice.
at least he's wearing googles.

tls_9 · February 2005

Hmmmmm

You dont suppose the other end of the bx is connected to the gas service???.............

"A Plumbing We Will Go"

tom

ed wallace · February 2005

mmmm

electric waterheater on a stand in a garage ?? must be baba land

Robert O'Connor_7 · February 2005

and..

The pan isn't even piped.. neither is the T&P..Looks like they recruited that chap on the ladder from Rahway State Ken. They didn't even hafta change the colors on his shirt............Hey, I got an idea!

Robert O'Connor/NJ

Weezbo · February 2005

You evidently missed the fact that hes using Mapp Gas!

that is so he can get the right plasma arc when the thing ignites thru the bx cable

....and apparently you didnt read the fine print...absolutely NO INTEREST in whatever these two do over the next 12 months :)oh ,... i also need to note he has the approve osha rubber sole shoes to defray the sparkage in the vicinity of the water heater stand...:)

Mark Eatherton1 · February 2005

But HEY...

At least it's on bricks so that it will make a big THUD when it falls on the ground from the kids rough housing in the basement.

At least they won't have to contend with the big BOOM that follows with a gas heater in that situation. Who knows, maybe the BX is strong to withstand the strees of 500 plus pounds hanging on it... Or maybe it will let the heater down easy so as not to wake the homeowners with a THUD.

I dunno...

ME

Al Corelli - Agix Associates · February 2005

You guys are too harsh.

The ones that shop there deserve what they get.

We probably would not want that type of customer anyway.

"But HD does it for xx dollars. Why do you charge xxx? You're a theif."

You also hear from those same people; "As long as it makes hot water/heat, it must be installed correctly. You're just trying to sell me something I don't need."

I've heard it all, and I think something my Father said today makes the best sense. He was complaining that all of the "new technology" building materials are not available around here because people are so used to low priced hacks doing all sorts of "creative" repairs with old fashioned materials. So no building supply carries what he needs.

The people who shop at the orange box, usually have a "handyman" or uninsured, unlicensed contractor with whom they can "save money". When one of us gets to the house after numerous attempts by the "pro" to fix something, the people are floored by what we charge. We fix the problem and are never called again. And if we notice high CO, or some other dangerous condition, we are just trying to sell them something. I guess Darwin had a point, huh?
Sorry about the rant. I'm happy to be rid of those type customers.

t. tekushan · February 2005

3 Stooges

Immediately comes to mind--

3 Stooges doing "plumbing"

CURLY: "No wonder the water doesn't work- these pipes are full 'o WIRES!"

Anyone remember that one?

don_52 · February 2005

i remember....

> Immediately comes to mind--

>

> 3 Stooges doing

> "plumbing"

>

> CURLY: "No wonder the water doesn't

> work- these pipes are full 'o WIRES!"

>

> Anyone

> remember that one?

don_52 · February 2005

i remember....

my favorite part was Curly plumbing himself captive
in the tub, perhaps the first "car wash"
shower?

one of my favorites, for certain.

nyuk, nyuk, neeeeyuk

tommyoil · February 2005

Its gotta be right

The other guy is reading him the instructions.

ScottMP · February 2005

Yes but

Dosn't he have that " What the hell does this mean ? " look on his face

.

I actually just lost a sales' to a customer who had Sears install their electric hot water heater. My man was there, On the Job, Ready to go....

Nope, A quick phone call and Seasr was less money " We just got back from vacation and don't have the money ! ".

You know what ? This guy had spoken to me about building a website. Guess I'll have to call him and let him know I found someone cheaper " He's going to do it for much less than you we're going to charge me ! "

The wheel goes around, dos'nt it !

Scott

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don_73 · February 2005

threat

you best believe it is,rather you guys think so or not.The
only reason you can point out all thats wrong,is because you
are the professional.A ho has no ideal.

Personally I have not sold a replacement waterheater and a
very long time.Because of price.

And when a big company can buy bulk has hq does,they can lower there price.Dont believe that is because they simply to shoddy work,it because they can adversite at a lower price infact they can do everything we cant do at a lower
price.

Why is it that mom and pop store are a thing of the past,it because the big corporate enitity can do what poor mom and
pop could not.

Again I'll speak for myself here I cant compete and I'll
hear people say any contractor that is worth his weight in
gold has no worry.

Well again I say,Mom and Pops thought the samething.

tls_9 · February 2005

Actually...

The biggest threat is in the Orange balloon. "No Payments, No Interest for 12 months"

How many of you can do that?

Water heaters, like pipe valves and fittings have become a commodity. HD and others like this are simply exploiting the fact that nobody has any cash any more. And they are doing a very good job of it.

tom

Ken_8 · February 2005

Actually,

I was wondering if there was any linkage between the fact that the guy on the ladder has his "package" resting on the top of the ladder, while the other guy is tape measuring an 8" piece of PVC with an elbow attached...

A tad kinky? Hey, it is Homey after all - dontchaknow.

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steve gates · February 2005

I'd take the high road, tell him you found someone better. Yep, he's more but worth it.

JohnNY8 · February 2005

You're right, Ken!

He must be soldering the BX. There's nothing on the water lines requiring a torch.
Great job, HD!
Keep the craft alive!

Just wondering, who has the higher rank: Grey shirt or red shirt?

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John R. Hall · February 2005

Wetstock visitor

How about inviting a big orange employee to Wetstock where he/she can set up a display table and talk about the many ways HD is trying to put contractors out of business. I'd like to see that!

Dean_7 · February 2005

Homeowners

I find adds like this interesting. Why? because I like to point out whats wrong in them. How do I know? I come from a long line of skilled trades people. My parents, grandparents, uncles, cousins were all plumbers, electrictions, heating contractors,etc. And I drove them all crazy when I was kid until they showed me how to do these things the right way. However even though I have these skills and knowledge when it comes to doing the installation of these items I call a pro. Why? because they probably have more up to date knowledge than I have and the proper tools to do it correctly. I'm a critical care RN and I don't do these things for a living. Personally I don't care what the professionals charge as long as the job is done right. But as a homeowner I seem to be in the minority with my opinion all anyone cares about today is how cheap it will be not the quality. The fact that quality in the long run is always cheaper is beyond people today.

jim lockard · February 2005

If I sell you a water heater

and the relief valve is defective you need not disconnect and return the heater to obtain a warrenty replacement. J.Lockard

ed wallace · February 2005

home depot

needed a 2 inch cast iron union last week guy in home depot tried selling me a 2 in pvc union even tho i told him it was for a steam system duh

John Shea · February 2005

I don't care for Home Depot too much myself, but...

I just looked at an invoice from the local plumbing supply (very reputable) for a couple of 1 1/2" unions and they charged me $11.60 each. I'm going to price them at Depot tomorrow. I think they're only $5 or $6 though. I understand the whole import/quality thing, however, paying twice as much as I have to for a fitting may come to an end.

As far as taking advice from a 'Depot' employee, I'd take it from my 4 year old daughter first.

Spunkmeyer · February 2005

"Hey Moe! Hey Larry! I'm... I'm surrounded!"

Mike T., Swampeast MO · February 2005

Mass Communication

All those mass communication majors being produced by colleges have to do something...

David Sutton_5 · February 2005

He's looking for the pilot hole

Just wait till he tries to hook up the gas line

S Ebels · February 2005

Been there done that..................

Bought a couple 1" unions for a gas pipe job we were finishing late at night. HD was open and we didn't want to come back. Upon attachment and assembly of the unions it was readily apparent that they weren't bored straight. What a bifurcated cluster of a mess they made out of a previously well hung piping job. The pipe diverged an actual measured 7* from its true path at the unioin joint. I don't think $5 is worth making a mess of a neat and clean project.

John Shea · February 2005

S Ebels

Your point is well taken. 7deg is bad.
I don't have enough experience to compare for myself, but I'll take your word for it.

I bought a box of drywall screws when they first opened only to find a burr on every other one. I'd personally like to see some of the stuff built with their lumber. You have to go through a gross of 2x4's to get 20 or so decent ones. Somebody buys the other ones I would have to assume.
...hmmm maybe an arch for my front porch...

gotta go

jack_11 · March 2005

The irony

jack_11 · March 2005

The irony

of this add is that HD probably went with the cheapest advertising agency they could find. I bet they solicited bids from a number of companies who could produce this add. But you know, the ad agency that would have gotten this correctly was more expensive! I'm sure they would have done their homework, consulted with a professional ( a non HD contractor), learned what a basic up to code installation looks like.

I imagine the HD employee who solicited the bids saying "You want how much money to take a picture? The other company was half as expensive!"

--jack

Weezbo · March 2005

the guy in the orange shirt is also..

looking like 'I wonder what this dial on this POS does'

))

Dave Yates (PAH) · March 2005

must be the same installers

who ripped out an oil-fired water heater, installed an electric model and left the 6" flue piping hanging loosely - uncapped - still connected to the chimney where an oil-fired boiler was spewing by-products of combustion into the same chimney. No thermal expansion tank, no drip-leg and the relief valve was drizzling. No BX - just romex. Sitting directly on the damp (now wet) basement floor. D'oh!

Or the gas model installed with duct tape on the flue pipe joints (nice & brown from the heat) - sure beats zip-screws I guess - and they never bothered to check the flue where it penetrated a basement wall - single-wall & against the wooden stud. Had they bothered to look, they'd have discovered the rotted flue piping that was filling the basement with CO (on the 6' horizontal run in the next room). No drip leg at the gas - just a flex connector. And those wonderful corrugated (type-M?) copper quick-connects - man, they sure do look sturdy and professional - eh?

There's a hundred more I've seen in a few short years. Kitchens with cabinets and countertops askew, dishwashers that leaked and ruined floors, bathrooms I'd be embarrased to have my name associated with, doors that leak air like a sieve, windows - same deal, ceramic tile that looks like someone's kindergarden class was let loose & so on. It's not just HD - it's the entire group of low-balling direct-sales outlets that advertise "professional" installations. Over & over I keep hearing the same words - "I'll never use them again."

A threat? To themselves and their customers - not to me. Their installers make it easy for our work to look outstanding.

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Mitch_4 · March 2005

don't laugh

I was doing a job one time and the sprinkler fitters apprentice tee'd into our gas main...Could you imagine the result if the head on that sprinkler ever popped? it would add to the fuel...not suppress it.. The fitter and I shuddered when we found it. (it caused my pressure test to fail)

Boy learned that not all the black iron was theirs...

PS · March 2005

Points on big box shortcomings are well taken - but real emphasis should be on the installers and inspectors. As I read here every day - "it's not the equipment, it's the installer!" As long as the industry and regulators allow this to happen, someone will always be there to try to cash in!

Dave Yates (PAH) · March 2005

for a real eye opener

on the power of the net - Google the outlet center of your choice and add the word "complaints".

Lots of unhappy consumers!

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Geno_15 · March 2005

this is one of the new hi eff elec heaters

they have found that by melting the wires to the cabinet the h/w output is increased 75% 1st hour rating and 50% after that, this also keeps the homeowner from playing with the unit. In this configuration it is recommended to install an additional relief valve in the cold water inlet.

nyuk nyuk

S Milne · March 2005

Right On, Brother

AS usual David hits it right on the head. The installers of these products are only a threat Once ! If they are a threat every time then you after the wrong market or you best look in the mirror.

We will never compete on price, we compete on service and the job well done. I lost a water heater replacement. I have thought hard about how to address the situation. I think the best thing for me is to go see my customer and ask to see the install. Hopefully while we have a discussion about service, I can point out some problems with the install.

Scott

John Starcher_4 · March 2005

Here's a link......

...to a site I found.

http://www.my3cents.com/

Home Depot Threat?

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