Bkessler

I was at the hd last night and I saw three fifty amp murray gfi breakers. Opened and then resealed with a standard 50 amp two pole. My guess is someone made a few returns for some extra profit. They should have some one halfway competent to do returns.

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John Valdes

Just like the panel I bought that had several KO's removed. Both 2" on top and bottom and a few 1/2" and 3/4". I know what happened. It was a lug panel and the HO did not realize he needed a main until he was almost done. I should have checked it before I bought it, as the box was re-taped. They did give me a $50.00 credit though.

Speedy Petey

If you buy at a supply house this is not likely to happen.

Bkessler

True, but some items are just way cheaper at hd for example I needed a QO panel and breaker last week. 24 space single phase and eight QO 20's and a QO 70, HD only had a QO 12/24 space panel and I did not want that so I went to the supply house that I know of that supplies Square D. Order what needed 8 20's 1 2 pole 70 and the 24/30 main lug indoor panel. I sat there with a hundread ready to pay and he says something like 245 with tax! He was going to charge me 15 bucks for each QO 20 and 44 for the 70. The panel was 90 bucks. I am not allowed in that supply house any more. I did not with hold my feelings, before I ordered I told him I was a small two man shop without an account and paying in cash but still asked for good prices as I am a licensed contractor. The small panel at hd was 30 bucks and the breakers were 6.50. To top it all off I had to get the panel, and it was another 20 for the cover. I was so ffukking pissssed. Same with wire, as a small time company know one will give me good prices on wire. In fact a lot of the supply houses will rape you first chance they get. Another example stopped to get some stuff at a Walters wholesale house were I am in the computer and after checking by receipt later I learned I paid 50 bucks for 50 mc connectors.

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480sparky

I've seen where people have swapped high-dollar devices with low-end stuff before they check out.

I need, say, a 4-way decora switch, so in a pinch I go to Big Orange. Pull one off the shelf, and look at it before I get to the register. Inside is a SP switch. Someone switched them and got a 4-way, paid for the SP.

I used to work retail, and we had a name for these people. Yes, I know you're thinking theif, but we called them professional customers.

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MF Dagger

I haven't been very impressed with the local supply houses. I too have gotten a panel from menards though that had every knockout in the top punched out. Then they acted like I was the one who did it. The supply house on the other hand tried to charge me 20 bucks for a spinner phillips screwdriver. Fat chance. I got it for 7 at home depot. Also have been screwed on emt fittings before. And don't get me started on the anchor kits at the supply house. On the other hand I'm not able to buy siemen's panels at the hd or menards around here. Make new friends but keep the old I guess.

HighWirey

They do.

Work'in For That Free Tee . . .

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Bkessler

Maybe .75 instead.

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HighWirey

I agree.

Been out of the loop for a while, however I doubt if things have changed much. In dealing with a bonified electrical supply house you receive service before and after the sale, a fixture and switchgear quotations department (their help will many times get you a job), application engineers certifiable advice on lighting, gear, the latest technology; jobsite delivery, and sometimes you must even consume their coffee, donuts, and lunch (but always check their invoices).

Try that at the 'box'. "You have to see Juan, think he is down in the paint department, aisle 56".

In exchange for the supply house service you must do a few things:

1 - Meet the manager, and establish credit. BS with him every so often, as well as with your inside salesman. They do not bite, most of them.

2 - Keep current.

3 - And, if you really, really must, go out for a day on his chartered boat. Used to hate it when that happened!

Work'in For That Free Tee . . .

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brian john

They do, problem is sometimes you get the other half.

Joefixit2

I saw someone returning paint one day, they opened each can to check.....they said people use the paint, refill the cans with water and return them.

KayJay

Oh man…that is just plain bad. Unfortunately, weasels and scum bags that do stuff like that are part of a continuously growing section of society that thinks they are entitled to something for nothing.

randomkiller

The competent guy is only there Mon-Fri 8-4, he never gets to meet the "professional" shoppers for returns. They have his schedule down.

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Chris Simms

The guy at our local HD told me of a 40 circuit Value pack GE panel that normally is around 130.00 for 60.00 the only thing missing was the outer box and the ground screw. The breakers were even still there.
Chris

Bkessler

The competent guy is only there Mon-Fri 8-4, he never gets to meet the "professional" shoppers for returns. They have his schedule down.


I am sure that is true, this is the same a-hole who knows enough about electrical to know which copper wire's to steal without getting blown away.

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itsunclebill

Material costs are a big(er) deal these days. Those of you who install what the boss supplies or sign unpriced tickets at the supply house work in a different world than those of us who have to run things down ourselves.

I'm pretty loyal to a couple of supply houses, but I buy almost all my wire that is #10 or smaller at Homer's or Lowes because the stuff is SIGNIFICANTLY cheaper there. So are breakers. And, I never have to rely on the mood of the counter guy or how buddy-buddy we've gotten to get the best pricing. As to the quality of the help, I buy only sealed boxes or check contents before I put stuff in the cart.

The houses seem to forget that there are a number of us that don't do big gear orders very often but are there several times a week all year long and buy significant amounts of material. I don't feel like I ought to have to beg for pricing in a place where even the secretaries know you by name.

Folks can argue that Homer's sells more NM-B than the supply house and offer better pricing. I doubt that's the case with THHN though - but maybe it is. I've seen several trucks at a time from some of the largest contractors backed up to the dock at Homer's loading up pallets of THHN. I don't care what kind of volume the supply house does, this has GOT to be hurting. Given the environment lately, maybe the houses need to look at pricing policy a bit.

waco

I agree with itsunclebill, the supply houses give away our business because we only buy maybe 40 or 50 thousand a year. I did get a good deal from one supply house, but darned if they don't carry Cooper devices!

They did beat Lowes on wire and breakers, but my local Lowes is suffering some pretty bad price creep, like a cheap car insurance company.

Slider

Depot is getting creative around here and sealing back up the boxes like new. You cant even tell it was ever opened. If I have to buy there I open everything in the store before I buy.

John Valdes

I bought the panel with the KO's out because the supply house (Graybar) did not have it in stock. So off to HD I went. Just down the road. 200 Amp lug panel, NEMA 1, 40 spaces, main breaker ready, 1-50, 2-30, and 5-20 amp breakers, $98.00. Last one on the shelf. Granted it was a GE. Fortunately they got an order in and I was able to get it replaced the next day, plus the $50.00 credit. Last year I priced wire at Lowes, HD, and two supply houses. Graybar beat all (THHN) by 40%. I was floored as I though the supply house would be more. Graybar told me that they price wire based on the market price for that week or day, I'm not sure which. But they told me to call the day I need it so they could give me a price on the spot, and if I ordered it on the spot, they would hold the price until delivery. Anyone else hear of this? I wonder if it is true, or was the counter guy just blowing smoke? Ps.....Ever try to get hold of a supply house on weekends? I know several smaller contractors that use HD and the other's exclusively for this reason. Nights too.

brian john

Yep call them all the time 24X7, just like me there is a "opening charge" but this is passed on to the customer.

Ever try to get a 4000 amp fuse from HD?

Each place has it pros and cons. The real con of the big box stores is they take the bread and butter money from the supply houses, which changes the way the supply houses stock material and charge for the same.

But times change and we need to adapt to it.