I applied at Lowes before, and i was too qualified for the job because i could read a tape measure and i know what wood is made out of.

since then ive been at a locally owned Lumber Yard and Building Supply store. Customers would rather pay a few dollars more for that piece of plywood, and support local business than stand all day looking for 1 decent board at Lowes.

A lot of our contracters come in and say "Lowes knows bowes" that makes our day, until we see the 200 piece lumber order they hand us. Oh well. I thank people for supporting local business.

FYI, i dont shop at lowes

Don't be bashing the lower level employees. I spent 7 years working for Lowes. Most of it in the building materials department. They have some and have had some very qualified people. But they don't want to pay enough to keep them. Most of the lower level employees are good people. Just once you start getting higher up that the issues and problems arise.
Also, dealing with the people you have to in that job tends to make you not care. I have been called everything in the book and then some. Been yelled at screamed at lied to threatened you name it.
You are a complete idiot if you don't know what some item is that they have pictured in their mind and don't have a freaken clue what it is named or used for. Or even better have the wrong name for. Nothing like having a wife come in with a list the husband gave her. He didn't bother to tell her there are a dozen different types of each item.

Ballad of the employee. The under paid working lead by the incompetent helping the ungrateful.

My 6 year old knows what a clinkamajigger is....but does anyone else?

Dave, would that be the same as a thingamajigger? Or is a clinkamajigger more specialized?

Oh, wait, I got it wrong. It was a clinkamabobber....which I think originated from a thingamajigger. My boy is an inventor. He was making an automobile on the deck out of cardboard boxes, soda pop bottles and nails. The 6 pack of cans on the back was the clinkamabobber....its purpose was to make the noise. Unfortunately, it rained on his automobile, and he forgot to put on the rain protection coating.

Went to the register with just a few items at a Wal-Mart. An associate told me the self check out lane was open if I needed it. Looked at him and asked, "If I do that,is there a discount button I punch for doing your job?"
He looked at me for a second and turned and walked away. As he walked away, my wife called me a bad name.

Russ

Nope, still working 12 hrs/day, 6.5 days/wk. Every college grad I've interviewed and taken for a one day ride along wants $20/hr to start, and they can't even climb a ladder. One bachelor's degree holder even stepped thru a ceiling immediately after I told him were to and where not to step. I'd hire my carpenter because he's SO good, but I can't afford to keep him on staff - he does roof repairs for me when needed. The extent of my hired help includes the part time summer interns who act as day workers when I'm doing attic cleanouts. Interestingly, the girls work twice as hard and have more initiative than any of the guys. But as far as full time employees, I'm it.

I'm proud of you Kevin. The only problem is, when something doesn't turn out quite right, kicking your own butt all the time must hurt a lot!

It's OK Paul. I bought the Buns of Steel video.

Speaking of True Value, I tried to buy a governor spring for a Toro lawnmower I had bought from them. Employee asked the serial number of the motor. I didn't know, but pointed out they still had that model mower in stock. Even so, he would not sell me a spring without the serial number, nor let me see the springs they had in stock. He was their lawnmower repair man and I guess he didn't know how to read their reference manuals.

I just go down to the local farm sore, if Lou doesn't have it she will sell you some thing any way. She is over 80 and knows right where every thing is at in a store that's an organized mess. Lumber is a 30 mile drive because it isn't worth the 10 mile drive the other way to see if the owners wanted to work today or not.