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I always find an associate. Whether they work in lumber or gardening they somehow know where each and every little pieces part is in the store.

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My experience is the opposite. I get the “I don’t work in this dept. I’ll call someone”. Then I wait in plumbing for 10 minutes until someone shows up. When the person shows they start looking in the same place I have been searching for the last 1/2 hour.

The last time I was looking for something the guy in hardware told me to go ask the guy in plumbing, who told me to ask the guy in hardware.

It depends. Some people like the experience of learning about different things and so they if they don't know finding the answer for your makes you their favorite customer. Others just want to do their job and get back home.

Home Depot won't penalize the first type of person unlike some stores that get mad when someone isn't in their area.

I guess I'd do the same if I found the associates ever had anything where anything was... I've found even the store managers would tell me they didn't sell stuff that they did, in fact, sell.

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