How times have changed

[TheKid]

I specifically went to the elite lumber yard in my area to buy the plywood for a countertop I'm building, because they always carried top-notch materials. I haven't gone there since I left the home improvement business 10 years ago, but they still have a reputation for being the best lumber yard around. I had the plywood cut to size, because it's too difficult for me to manage full size pieces these days. In the past, this place always cut lumber perfectly. If you wanted a 1x6 ripped to 5 3/16", it was not only perfectly sized, but the cut side looked like it went through a planer. Things changed.
I didn't mind paying top dollar for the quality I thought I was getting. The plywood was junk. 4 of the 5 pieces of plywood were cut wrong. 2 were 1/8" too short, 3 were 1/8" too large. Every cut had a crown, which is hard to do. Every cut side had start and stop sawblade marks. The incompetent morons at Home Depot could have done a better job. If these small companies want us to do business with them, they should stop charging top dollar for the same garbage and incompetence we can get at the big box stores.
I called them to let them know that they cut the plywood wrong, and it's now unusable. Luckily, one of the guys from the old days is still working there, and he convinced the boss that I'm a good customer and they should make good on the plywood. It was delivered yesterday, and I cut the pieces myself, with no crowns, and no sawblade marks. My neighbor was good enough to help me move the big piece into place to cut it, and fed it into my table saw.

[Richie Rich]

I didn't mind paying top dollar for the quality I thought I was getting. The plywood was junk.I know exactly what you mean, Kid. For example, I bought some hack saw blades today, but I had to search through the packages to find American made blades and not the ones from India, China or Malaysia. As you said, 'Times change...', but unfortunately not always for the better.

.....Richie >

[TheKid]

Right. I went to another lumber yard about 5 years ago to get the heavy molding that doesn't have to be pre drilled to prevent splitting. It usually costs twice as much as the Home Depot garbage. When the clerk told me the price, I was surprised it was so low. When I went to the yard to get it, the yardman handed me the same crap that Home Depot sells. I went back in to see if he had the heavy stuff. He said they had to compete with HD, and went to the thin stuff. I got my money back and went to the yard I got the countertop plywood from. The clerk there said his customers were all top notch contractors, and demand only the best, and they would never sell inferior products. I guess all that changed, as well as the quality of the workers they hire. When I was in the business, they hired craftsmen to cut the lumber for customers. Many times we were in a pinch for time, and had coutertops cut by their guys. No problem cutting plywood in an L shape with a neocorner. I should have been wary this time when the clerk said they only make straight cuts. They even got that wrong.
How hard is it to cut a 5x8 sheet of plywood 53 1/4" x 72 1/4" ?

[SirJoey]

How hard is it to cut a 5x8 sheet of plywood 53 1/4" x 72 1/4" ?

Apparently, pretty hard for some of the cro-magnons these places have working in the lumber cutting areas. I've had the same problem, when having Lowes "attempt" to cut plywood or lumber either one, accurately. Either they can't read a tape, or they just don't care. (or in Lowes' case, both)

I finally realized that if I need something to be within even 1/8", I'm gonna have to cut it myself. I guess they consider anything within 1/8", to be "on the money", although you're lucky if they can even get THAT close!

To make matters worse, Lowes is our only choice, here!

[TheKid]

I spoke to the guy I know who works there this morning. The guy who cut the plywood does everything the hard way, and is on his way out. He was hired because he claims he's a carpenter who is quite adept at cutting lumber. The idea of a panel saw is to be able to cut panels square, and also make repetitive cuts. I needed 2 of the pieces 18 7/8" wide, so all he had to do was set the saw to cut at 18 7/8" from the bottom, make the cut, take the bottom pirce out and drop the top piece down, and make another cut. Instead, he set the saw at 18 7/8" from the top, took the top piece out, then reset the saw at 18 7/8" from the bottom. The problem is that the saw is set to be measured from the bottom, so when it was measured from the top, the blade was on the wrong side of the mark, which made the piece 18 3/4". I would have had to add a 1/8" piece, or shim the backsplash, but at the price I paid, I wasn't about to do that. It also turned out that the better quality plywood was out of stock, and the guy used cheaper plywood. As it turns out, my order wasn't supposed to be filled until today, when the good stuff will be arriving. I have to go back to get a refund for the difference. That's 20 bucks.

[Pagan Wizard]

During a recent (minor) bathroom remodel, I went to Home Depot and asked the worker in the paint department (cuz that is where they keep the caulk) where I could find sillicone adhesive caulk. The employee told me that he had never even heard of it. I then asked someone in plumbing who is very knowledgable in plumbing issues where I could find it. I told him about my experience with the paint department employee, and he showed me where the stuff I needed was. He then told the paint department guy that he needed to do a better job of learning his own department. They then started to argue with each other...........I quickly thanked the guy from plumbing and left......they were still argueing 10 minutes later when I passed by again.

[TheKid]

Typical. I had to cut a roof to install a skylight a while back. Normally, I would not have gone to HD, but it was Sunday, and the yards were closed. I needed a blade made for cutting roof shingles. The one I had was dull. It's an 8 tooth blade, and does a great job without stressing the saw. While looking for the blade, the guy in the tool department asked if I needed help. I said I need an 8 tooth shingle blade. He laughed and said they didn't make them. I said they do make them, and any lumber yard that's any good carries them. He said he was a carpenter for ten years before coming to HD, and he never heard of a blade like that, and he did hundreds of skylights. I said I was a carpenter for 20 years, and if he was any good, he'd be working in the field for 25 bucks an hour instead of 10. He got really insulted and said I didn't know what I was talking about, there's no such thing as an 8 tooth circular saw blade. I said 20 bucks says there is. He made the bet. I went out to my truck and brought back the dull blade. He just walked away. I never got my 20 bucks.

[SirJoey]

...He just walked away. I never got my 20 bucks.

Isn't that the way a bet is SUPPOSED to work? The person that loses simply walks away without consequence? ;)