I Gotta Learn To Read Mexican

[Horsefly]

I went into Home Depot a few days ago to get some coil roofing nails for an air nailer.There was a big display in the isle of cases of nails,but they were in spanish,and I just couldn't decide if they were the ones I needed,so I ask a dude in the orange apron if they had the nails I need.He pointed at the display.I ask him why in the crap are they all in Spanish,so he spun a box around,and on the other side was in English.He said since almost all roofers are Meskins,he was told to display them that way.We have a Lowes about a mile further down the road,so now I go there.Jerry

[AzRednek]

By my house a Home Depot was catering to Mexicans, bi-lingual signs and allowing them to gather in the parking lot. A Lowes about a 1/4 west all of a sudden took off and it's parking lot just like Home Depot would fill up with customers. The Home Depot taking note cleaned up their store, removed all the Spanish signs, and hired off duty cops to remove the wets from the parking lot. Didn't do much good best I can tell. Myself as well as many others prefer Lowes and I wont go to Home Depot unless there is no alternative. A couple years ago I got into a fight with a wet trying to steal a ladder out the back of my truck in Home Depot's parking lot. I haven't willingly gone back since, only for something Lowes doesn't have.

[fritz]

Above posts taken.

 

Les' see----Jerry lives in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex. AzRednek lives near Phoenix.

 

Now, let us assume (that is sometimes a bad thing to do) but let us assume that it is true that the meskin illegals head for the bigger cities, with their open-arms policy to cheap labor.

 

Now, assuming that the illegal meskins are concentrated in these markets, it is only logical that a big chain store like Home Depot would alter their marketing (is that what they call it?) in these areas where the illegal meskins congregate.

 

Are you with me so far?

 

Now let us assume that, even though the illegal meskin customers are not all they cater to, they decide to alter their marketing approach to only them.

 

If nobody objects to having to get a sales clerk (have you ever found one in Home Depot?) to explain what a sign means in English---you will learn to read Mexican. Corporate America has already figured this out. Someone in their marketing (is that what they call it) department went to college (an American college) for four, or more, years to come up with a way to market their products to the public.

 

I am not against education. I had a formal education totalling 14 years (and I did not flunk two years). But I am at a disadvantage to the marketing (is that what they call it?) empressarios that run the country today.

 

So are you.

 

 

fritz

[AzRednek]

I really think the Home Depot by my house made a decision to alter their marketing strategy to be Mexican friendly and it back fired on them. Not from my neighborhood but an equal distance north as I am south of this store is an area many refer to as on the hill. Before Lowes opend it wasn't unusual to see celebritys there. I'm reminded one day of seeing Glen Campbell and Meg Ryan, not together but in the store at the same time. The store used to be spit polsh clean and there was never a lack of competent help, except for maybe weekends when the store was packed. Never waited real long for the cashier and if one had a heavy load you didn't have to ask for help it was always there.

 

Within one year it was a complete turn around. The over all appearence of the store deteriated, couldn't get any help and the lines at the cashier were way to long. For some completely illogical reason when they decided to let wets congregate they no longer had security in the parking lot. The wets started getting bold approaching people right by the exits and I can recall watching a women demanding somebody accompany her to her car.

 

The final straw for me was standing in the return line, watching a Spanish speaking customer return a bunch of copper pipe. The clerk chatted, giggled in Spanish then opened the drawer and gave him a pretty hefty refund. I was returning a kitchen faucet washer kit that cost about a buck. When I handed it to her along with the receipt she showed it to the other return clerk and they had a conversation in Spanish. That paticular day my back was hurting like hell, I was in a hurry and didn't have any patience. I didn't waste any time speaking up asking whats the problem. Instead of an answer she turned to the other return clerk again speaking in Spanish. My temper was building and I said rather loudly to the other clerk "if you wont answer me in English call the manager". Still being ignored she picked up the phone and had another conversation in Spanish. Finally she spoke to me saying somebody from plumbing is coming up. I walked away approached a white cashier and asked to call the manager for me. The manager arrived long before the plumbing clerk. She explained to the manager she needed an ok because there were three screws in the skin package kit and she had to make certain I didn't take a screw out of it. I pointed to the cart full of copper pipe and told the manager she took all that back with no questions asked do I need to speak Spanish like he did to get a refund. The manager hardly spoke a word and gave me a refund. He ignored my asking why the two clerks spoke to each other in Spanish but ignored my questions in English. About that time the plumbing clerk arrived and as I left the three seemed to be having a pretty intense conversation in regards to the copper.

 

About a week or so later Lowes opened and I haven't been back except for a few occasions when I didn't have a chioce. Since then Home Depot gave the store a face lift, removed most the Spanish signs, have security in the parking lot and no wets hanging around. Home Depot by catering to the Mexicans opened the niche for the new Lowes store that seems to be doing quite a bit more business than Home Depot does. I'm wondering what kind of Home Depot marketing genius allowed it to happen.

 

One of the first purchases I made at the new Lowes store was a lawn mower I was buying for an elderly relative. A part underneath was bent and I had to return it the next day. The only question I was asked was whether I wanted another one or a refund. When I said another I didn't have to do another thing. The return clerk picked up the phone and within a few minutes another unit was brought to me. The guy that brought it up apologized for the trouble and offered to assemble it for me. I didn't have to ask, he carried it out for me and loaded it in the back of my truck. At Lowes I get the same excellent service Home Depot gives their Mexican customers.

[fritz]

AzRednek,

 

 

Your post about Home Depot and Lowe's is right on. I have noticed the same thing here, only Lowe's came in before Home Depot.

 

The thing about Home Depot is that about a year ago, their stock plumeted pretty badly, and they layed off a lot of people. That made the shortage of employees even worse. And they hired the cheapest labor they could get. The store in Victoria has only one checker most of the time (for a huge store), and she is black and is just putting in time. I believe a Mex could do a better job, but they went to work at Lowe's.

 

As to your experience at Lowe's, a friend bought a lawnmower from them last week. They only had a few riders left (it has been a big mowing year), but they came up with an identical mower that was slightly used. Seems that they had taken it back in trade from a customer who bought a bigger model. How many chain stores would do that?

 

Bottom line---he got the mower for $400 less than the new one just like it. It was just like new, because they had honored the customer's request to trade it back. And my friend got a good deal.

 

At Lowe's. I doubt seriously if Home Depot would do that. When Home Depot opened here, it was just like your experience---many customers at first. Then the other shoe fell. Now they have a huge store with one checker and no customers.

 

 

fritz

[Horsefly]

I went in the Keller Home Depot yesterday,(because I was in a jamb),and noticed they had more people than ever wearing aprons and ask me at ever isle if they could help me.Most are dudes about my age,maybe retired guys.The registers had somebody at all of them.They can try hard and get some of my business back,but Lowes is still my preferred store.My company is is the ISSO,Kiazon Blitz,Black Belt,something or another Bull Shite program,and,as a result,we have to wear uniforms.Everyone has to look the same,even have matching roll around tool boxes.The pants they gave ussuck and came apart right out of the box,so I went to Wally World to get me some Dickies at my own expence.All the had were 36,38,40.and 42 waist and 28,30,and 32 length,but had lots of them.I ask what the crap they had those weird sizes for,and the lady told me they do regional studies,and that's the most common sizes sold in this area.She winked and said,that means meskin sizes.I need 34x34's and had to go to Academy.My job,an American owned company, is getting into socialism,and the no. 1 retailer in the world are targeting wetbacks.We're screwed,blued,and tatto'd.Jerry

[fritz]

Jerry,

 

My son, just like his daddy and his grandad, is a long tall Texan. We had a heckuva time finding pants to fit him---same reason they gave you, meskins wear big waist/short length pantaloons. And they catered to the meskins, even back in the 70's.

 

You see, we have always had Mex down here. You North Texas boys should be glad that they did not invade you before now.

 

We have a Halloween party planned again this year at the club. Two years ago I went as Pancho Villa, and won first place. But I do not look as much like Pancho Villa as many of the Mexican members do. Years ago, in a place way to the north, they could have won a masquerade party just by showing up.

 

Now they are everywhere!

 

 

fritz

[odies dad]

I noticed that during stage 1 of the house remodeling when I got married , that Home Depot had great service and knowlegable staff, many were contractors. Menards had the high school kids that wouldn't look at you when you were obviously looking like you needed help. Now during stage 2 of remodeling 8 years later I prefer Menards. Better service and more knowlegable staff. Haven't seen the inside of a Lowes yet.

[AzRednek]

Haven't seen the inside of a Lowes yet.

 

The Lowes I've been into look like what Home Depot looked like when they opened up. The big difference is Lowes keeps it that way. I just got hammered in a section 8 inspection. The only thing in it's area is a Home Depot that is like walking into Mexico itself. There is a mom & pop hardware store for the nickel and dime stuff buy since Home Depot arrived their invetory grows smaller with time and I usually wind up at what I call the Nogales Home Depot. A few years back I was arrested but a few minutes later let go after catching a wet stealing a ladder out of my truck there. Stupid Mexican decided to fight for it and things just heated up when cops arrived.

 

As life would have it at the moment I'm making this post from a hospital public computer. Hopefully I'm out of here soon enough to repair the place myself. I already got one bid from a painting contractor and am awaiting word from an electrician. Bad enough worrying about paying 15% of this hospital stay without paying somebody to do work I should be doing. I've sneaked out to have a smoke the past two nights and watch the wets fill the ER knowing they are walking out with their bills paid in full.

[FC]

Only one Home Depot I've been in is worth a hoot. Bob Nardelli screwed the place up and left with what, 450 million severance package? He was CEO. Lowes in Honolulu is excellent. I liked the Bellevue, Nebraska Menards' prices and selection.

[Horsefly]

I've never ever heard of Menards.We have a town here in Tejas named Menard,and it's a wonderful place,so I reckon the building supply is too! Jerry

[FC]

Guess you could call it Wetback Depot.

 

Here in Hawaii there's no wetbacks. The population is 29% white. Filipino, Chinese, Japanese, Pacific Islander. They all mix together, but say they are "Hawaiian" if they have any inkling of Hawaiian in them. Some of them want Hawaiian independence, say the U.S. stole their islands, blame the white guy and get the military out. I don't know that boasting that you want to run around in a robe or skirt and be a beach bum amounts to much to be proud of. A lot of the young people are classic underachievers who barely get by. Most of the people are pretty polite. Lots of people live on the beach in permanent tents. I guess a lot of them have cars and maybe a job. Jobs don't pay much here, but unemployment is low.

 

Funny thing about Hawaiian history that isn't much different from the rest of the world- the Tahitians invaded the Islands and killed the natives (pushed a bunch over a cliff at one point). Yet the "Hawaiians" ridicule the U.S. government for the overthrow of Queen Lilly.... in 1893. She was corrupt. There's probably no place in the world that hasn't been taken over or had a border change. Every little group wants their own homeland and their "rights". Sounds like Iraq and the Kurds, Shiites, and Sunni.

 

Bunny trail, sorry.

[AzRednek]

Here in Hawaii there's no wetbacks.

 

Friend of mine was hired in Hawaii years ago to manage an automotive operation in Honolulu. He claimed his biggest problem as far as customers and employees were those of Portaguese decent. Claimed they all had a chip on their shoulder like they would be automatically be ripped off dealing with white Americans. He said it wasn't unusuall that they would want to stand over a mechanic's shoulder and watch the entire job being done.