What’s the Opposite of “Upselling?” Jeff Bezos didn’t grow up in Minneapolis. Or if he did, he certainly didn’t work at a local hardware store (yes, they still exist in the Twin Cities; amongst other things, it’s where lots of local youth get their first job). I know that because twice in two weeks now,...Read More
Home Buyer Dis: “Looks Like Too Many Trips to Home Depot” What makes a home “stuck in Pergatory?” Too much Pergo, for one thing (sorry, bad pun). For those who don’t know, Pergo is a laminate made to look like hardwood floors, and is about half the price per square foot as the real thing....Read More
Outsource vs. Do-It-Yourself; Racing the Inspection Clock (or Not) True or false: the $10 home radon tests sold at home improvement stores (Home Depot, Lowe’s, etc.) are less reliable than the $200+ tests performed by professional home inspectors (note: the do-it-yourself kits also charge a $35 lab fee for normal processing turnaround, for a total...Read More
Why I Hate Going to Home Depot How can replacing a simple toilet seat require three separate trips to Home Depot? Easy. There are literally 48 different choices, varying by size (“round” or “elongated”); manufacturer (Kohler, American Standard); and even features (“quiet close,” “quick release,” etc..) Sheesh!! For all those options, ironically, the one choice you don’t...Read More
One of my favorite Cheech & Chong scenes has Cheech & Chong trying to contact the police after they discover that their van has been stolen. The problem: they don’t know the right name. “Cop?” Nope. “Fuzz?” Can’t find it. “Heat,” “pig,” “The Man?” Still nothing. So, it turns out that the reason my emails to...Read More
Credit Card Deals As I was checking out at Home Depot today, the cashier asked me if I wanted to open up a Home Depot credit card and save $25 off my purchase. I told her I already had a Home Depot card, so I wasn’t eligible. “Not so,” she informed me — you can...Read More
