Why I HATE Home Depot

Me, upon entering the Home Depot, to the first orange-apron-clad college student I see: "Do you have any tub mats?"

Home Depot employee #1, scrunching his face in what can only be interpreted as, Are you speaking English?: "We have welcome mats on aisle 7."

Me: "Don't you sell bath products, accessories, like shower, curtains, here?"

HDE #1:  "Hey, Brian, do we have any bath mats here?"

HDE #2, with another look that says, I need a translator: "We have front door mats on aisle 7."

I paused, pondering the Alice-in-Wonderland-ness of the moment.  Really?

At least I was only 10 feet inside the store.  Normally this type of interaction wouldn't manifest itself until I had wandered aimlessly around the store for a good fifteen minutes, usually in search of the ever-elusive Home Depot Employee.  At least I could figure out that they didn't have what I was looking for quickly, without any unnecessary walking or obligitory purchases.  Whew.

Upon exiting the store, Boyfriend offered, "Maybe they have a guy named Matt somewhere in there."

This reminds me of a similar experience with Verizon Wireless:

Verizon Wireless customer service representative: "Have I answered all of your questions today?"

Me: "No, not at all."

Verizon Wireless customer service representative: "Okay, thanks, and have a wonderful day."

Don't they record all those calls for quality assurance these days?