Home Depot Pilot

Hello Who, it was stated that we are not to use self checkouts since the cashier needs to be watched to be sure the ladder is not missed and how and when to mention it if it is missed. I think you might want to call your company to see how you should handle that situation before going to do it. Also the cashier should be ringing up the correct SKU's and not grouping items together even if they have the same price. That cashier is truly taking a short cut and messing up the store's inventory system. So, you're also watching the cashier's efficiency and that is very important when making the return. Even in our little area, there are cashiers as well as other lanes for self checkout. I'm doing another one next week and I hope I have the same experience as the one I just did. Maybe I'll call first to make sure they do have cashiers and not all self check out. Thanks for bringing up that possibility.

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I created a printed shopping list. which was useful since I needed help with one item. My story would have been that I was the gopher for our general contractor. The employee didn't care, so no story needed.

@BirdyC wrote:

I haven't done one yet, but if I take one, I'm going to text the locations of the required items to myself so it "should" be easier to find everything and less time-consuming (hopefully). Glad to hear that the return shouldn't count against me. I buy and return things all the time there, and so far haven't had any issues with returns.

Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008

In the ten I completed there is always one assisted checkout. Usually the Pro checkout away from the regular checkouts. I have had a few employees look at me when I am taking pictures but not a big deal, If asked you are texting hubby/mom/dad to see if this is the right item.

@whosear wrote:

FYI my experience at Home Depot for other shops is that much of the time, the regular checkouts are closed and only the Pro or self-checkouts are open. Does the shop require an interaction with a cashier?

The shop instructions give clear guidance for when the regular check lanes are closed. I forget the exact sequences, but as a last resort you are allowed to use self checkout.

You are sweet myst4au..very kind act.

Just a heads up... I had my first shop put on hold. Totally my own fault. I didnt do a couple of the photos correctly. They are letting me go back and redo those photos. Im not reshopping just going in and snapping a couple of bays.

FYI They expect the whole bay in the photo. Pole to pole in the picture. You can go at an angle if you have to but the need to see pole to pole. For some of the ladders I took top row and bottom row and uploaded both pictures (depends on the store layout)

I had one put on hold yesterday...I picked up several, as I mentioned, and the first one I did had 2 items not carried (lights) with the alternative being to purchase 2 of other SKUs. I completed my shop before the updated guidance which instructs to take a photo of where the item WOULD be, so I had to go back and snap one photo of that area. Be sure to find the area where the item would be if they carried it and take a picture of it!

Is this the one where you purchase 8 items then return them? Seems awkward.

Part-time shopper based in Delaware

Good to know about those extra pics. I am doing another one later today and by the client requirements if I have to get those 2 other specific items then I'l be sure to take a close up of those empty areas as well as the whole bay. Thanks for sharing. When I did my first one, believe it or not, the AAA batteries were empty. I called the company and asked if they want me to get something else and she told me no,,,,,,,just get a pic where it should have been. Of all items on that kiosk, that was the only item I couldn't buy and didn't need to get anything else in its place.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/09/2019 04:35PM by MSpalter.

Thanks all! Due to your honest opinions about the shop, I picked one up. It took me 40 mins, then 15 mins to wait (completed most of the report in another parking lot) and return. It was relatively easy; the hardest part was counting inventory without looking suspicious. I did have an issue with the app. It didn't allow me to upload photos, only take photos. I called the MSC and also explained it in the comments and submitted the report. A week later, I haven't heard anything. I have a 2nd one coming up in a few weeks.

I did my first one tonight. It will be sent back. For some reason my phone pics s*ked. When they send me back I'll use my husband's phone since it takes better pictures. He thinks they know what we are doing. But he played along with my scenario anyway, lol. I said my Dad asked me to pick them up and I had told him I couldn't do it until tonight. Then when I called him to say that I did it, he said he got his girlfriend to take him because he wasn't sure I could make it. The hardest thing was finding the main display for the batteries because they were everywhere. It ended up being in the front by the registers and it's hard to take a picture without any employees around. The other issue is that it is difficult to get the entire bay in the picture in the aisles. You can't stand back and take it straight on because there is another shelf behind you. The other thing I didn't like moseying around the cabinet department and no one came to help. I had to stop and check my phone to see how long to wait around and make sure what to do in that situation. But all in all, it was a fairly easy $50 bucks for a day I was basically "off".

I had one sent back. They were questing my counts of inventory. It was hard to count all the way to the back. In one store there’s were over 400 Xmas light boxes on the floor and not so many on the shelves. I explained that so we shall see I have not heard about that one.

I did my second HD one yesterday and had to take the pictures from the side too in order to get it pole to pole. It was impossible to stand in front of it and get the entire bay. Keeping my fingers crossed the pics are accepted. When I took my pics, including the battery display I just mentioned to the employee standing there that my husband is "very particular" with anything I purchase from his shopping list and he makes it like a scavenger hunt. I did a cut and paste of the online shopping list onto a blank paper as though my husband wrote me the list and in big letters anyone will see "Get me lunch and I love you.!" and items to get at another store. Gives a personal touch to a generic looking list.

Almost all my pictures were from the side at an angle and it was never an issue. The pole to pole is a biggie so make sure both are visible.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/14/2019 10:59AM by Kathy1296.

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