what would you do?

[Grampa]

Last Saturday, lm and myself went to Home Depot and took a tiling class. We are redoing our downstairs floors, and decided to tile the laundry room and bathroom. So... we take the lil in-store demo class then leave to go have lunch. We then went across town and purchased flooring for the remaining rooms downstairs. Later in the day, we head back to the same Home Depot to get the tiles and necessary supplies to do the job. We picked out  a 16" tile and determined that we would need 4 boxes of said tile to complete the job. The tile boxes are stacked on pallets that are then stacked on shelves. The style we chose was stacked on a shelf about 4' off the ground. All of the tile boxes for the 16" tiles are stacked on the pallets on end, not laying flat. some of the boxes face the aisle ( front of box facing out) and some are sideways ( where only the side is visible). The style and color lot codes are printed on the sides of the box, so when we picked our four boxes from the shelf, I grabbed the ones facing sideways because I could read the codes. As I pulled the last box of our four out, I turned to place it in our cart. At that very moment one of the boxes facing forward fell off the shelf and landed on my left foot. There are 8 tiles to each box, and my best guess is, the boxes weigh about 40 to 50 lbs each. Needless to say... it hurt like a somebich. I hobbled around for a lil bit, and we (lm and myself) decided we should tell somebody what happened, so lm went and told the people up at the help desk.

Some title-less guy came by and and asked if I was ok, to which I pretty much told him I was in pain, but was pretty sure I had not broken and bones because I could wiggle my toes. He then took my name and info, then jotted it down on a lil note pad, then told us, somebody will call you. We both thought that their/ his response was a bit lacking, but figured "oh well". We then proceed to finish up our shopping (I limped all around the store) As we left, we both thought it odd that nobody had even gone back to pick up the box that had fallen on the floor, or secured the remaining boxes onto the pallet. (as it turns out, the box fell off because the pallet was damaged and there was not enough wood on it to hold the boxes up, that and somebody had removed the bands that hold the boxes as a pack).

The next day (Sunday) lm returned to the store to pick up another item, and guess what..... the box is still on the floor and nothings changed.

Neither lm or myself have ever sued anybody, and the thought never entered my mind, but I was a bit pissed to see that they didn't seem to think there was any big cause for somebody elses safety after a problem had been identified ( especially one that actually caused somebody pain)

Cut to today....  we had yet to hear from anybody at the store, so while on my lunch break I called the store to see if I heard the guy right, or if there was anything else they needed from me. I explained the reason for my call to the first person I talked to, and was put on hold. the next person I spoke to was with out a doubt the most impolite rude unbusiness like person I have ever spoke to in my life. I got off the phone wanting to go back to the store and kick the shit out that douche.

My foot hurts... nothings broken but it's black and blue. I had no intention of suing them, but after being treated like shit from their assistant manager, I almost want to sue just to make the beast with two backs with her.

When I got home from work today, there was a message from the Atlanta headquarters. I called them back and left them my cell number. I'm not sure what direction I want to take when I talk to the guy tomorrow.


what would the DMF do?

[Grampa]

and..... I think we did a pretty good first time tiling job

[IZ]

Eight 16" tiles ..Ouch!! 

Lucky you didn't break it but you should've still visited the ER and the Radiology dept just in case.

Tile does look good.  I like the color!    

[hbliam]

When I got home from work today, there was a message from the Atlanta headquarters. I called them back and left them my cell number. I'm not sure what direction I want to take when I talk to the guy tomorrow.
what would the DMF do?

If you are thinking about suing them you need to stop talking to people that work at Home Depot. You also need to take photos of your foot and go to the hospital/doctor. If you know 100% that you are not going to sue them you can keep on the tack you are on but how much is your time worth?

[NAKID]

At this point, wait til the Headquarters office calls you back. Be polite, tell them what happened and what the store's response has been. Ask something along the lines of, "How do you guys handle situations like this?". And if you haven't een, take pictures of your foot, they may want to see what it looks like.

[il d00d]

I would use a smaller tile, and lay them diagonally to break up the right angles in the room.  Just kidding, it looks great.


I suppose it depends on what you want out of this?  You should get your foot checked out for sure - I think you should probably do this before you talk to corp HQ.  As for spite-suing, I don't think you will get much or any satisfaction out of doing that.  My personal opinion is that trying to convince assholes that they are being assholes and that they should be sorry for being an asshole is a bit of a fools errand.

Hope your foot is OK and heals up soon.

[Triple J]

I'd just tell corporate that their employees in that store are asshats...and you'll be shopping at Lowe's from now on.

You'll probably get a gift certificate out of it. 

[Howie]

Several years ago, on an unusually warm early spring night my wife and I went for dinner at an outdoor cafe.  There was a heavy pipe fence separating us from the pedestrians.  Part of the fence fell on my wife's knee.  They came right over with ice and their contact info.  They admitted fault.  They wouldn't accept our money for dinner.  Did we sue?  No.  Would we have asked them for reimbursement for medical bills?  Sure, for whatever insurance didn't cover.  Would we have sued if there was any permanent injury or lost work time?  Yes, with their blessings.  If they behaved differently? Dunno.

The way Home Depot treated you?  Sue!  They need to be taught a lesson in how to treat people.  Do go to an ER so there is a record. 

[Speedbag]

Hmm.....maybe you should come over and tile my bathroom.....

[dolci]

The tile looks awesome!  Nice job. 

[Vindingo]

what would the DMF do?

I would get over it and not waste people's time and money because my feelings were hurt.

[red baron]

Get seen by a doctor.

[superjohn]

I would get over it and not waste people's time and money because my feelings were hurt.

I agree here. If the employee dropped the box on my foot, then I might have a different answer. I've had similar things happen and I blamed myself and dealt with it.

[Grampa]

After having read online about  how Home Depot handles instore accidents.... I think I'll just vent to the corp guy and leave it at that. It would appear that it's a common practice to treat people who have been injured like shit at the store level. They dont have any type of written policy regarding what to do in the event of an accident, and I doubt me suing them over something this small  will change that. We'll just give our business to Lowes and Osh for now on.

[DCXCV]

After having read online about  how Home Depot handles instore accidents.... I think I'll just vent to the corp guy and leave it at that. It would appear that it's a common practice to treat people who have been injured like shit at the store level. They dont have any type of written policy regarding what to do in the event of an accident, and I doubt me suing them over something this small  will change that. We'll just give our business to Lowes and Osh for now on.

I think this is good, but minus the venting part of it.  Corporate guy didn't do anything to you and really probably has to listen to people pregnant dog at him/her all day, every day, about their idiot staff in their stores.  Being reasonable, understanding of their position, but still honest about your disappointment in the way the situation was handled and explaining your concern for the seeming lack of attention to safety in that store should get you the best result.