Bleeping Home Depot Web Site - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

cmac2012 · #1 02-26-2010, 06:44 PM

These guys made me think a month or so ago that they were pretty cool. I frequently shop at Home Depot for jobs for clients and save the receipts in my wallet. When I'm like, fully present in my body I'll jot down the customers name on top of the receipt and check to see if the description is recognizable as something that fits with the product. As often as not, it isn't - some bizarre bundle of letters that will sometimes make sense when you're holding the item in your hand and looking to see what the abbreviation might match.

Too often I'm either too rushed or too lazy to put notes on the receipt and then several days later, I can't for the life of me recall what the item(s) were or who they were for.

On a whim at the HD website, I typed in the 12 digit UPC number, which is also on the receipt, into the box they have for searching which is labeled: Enter Keyword or SKU.

Now I know the SKU is not the same thing as the UPC but miraculously, it would show a picture of the item along with a detailed description of it. Saints be praised. I have previously taken the receipt back to the store and got someone to look the item up for me, this usually with an item in the $20 or $30 and up range. A hassle but at least it solves the mystery.

This worked fine about the first 7 or 8 times I tried it but lately I get no satisfaction. Just: "182283372601" cannot be found.
And this for items bought maybe a week before, items still on their shelves, nowhere near a discontinued item.

I mean who is going to have an SKU number with you to do a search online? If you have that, you're in the store or have the item in your hand. And typing their cryptic abbreviation doesn't work either.

This shyte boggles my mind. I want to shake these guys by the lapel shouting, "You're an IT prof. working for a large company and this is the best you can do??!? HOW MUCH ARE THEY PAYING YOU?!?"

Rant over.

toomany MBZ · #2 02-26-2010, 06:50 PM

Is there a liquor store nearby?

cmac2012 · #3 02-26-2010, 07:32 PM

I have enough in the house and it wouldn't help anyway.

jubjub · #4 02-28-2010, 10:23 AM

http://www.upcdatabase.com/itemform.asp
try this?

Hatterasguy · #5 02-28-2010, 10:34 AM

Sounds like you need a better system.

This is what I do:

Get a checkbook, not the new kind the big old fashion kind. When you go to HD or Lowes and write a check, in the memo line write what job is for. Say XXX Mercedes Benz drive.

This way you don't have to save the receipt, and each job gets charged what you spent.

cmac2012 · #6 02-28-2010, 02:33 PM

That setup has merit but I usually need the receipt for the client. Most of them want to use them for their book-keeping and it helps me to have proof positive of what I had to buy for their project.

Also, I have a phobia about having checks in the car ever since my van got stolen about 10 years ago, with checkbook inside. I spent a lot of time writing to the various merchants who got burned by the ass. Didn't end up costing me any actual $$ (from the checks anyway) but it was an enormous hassle. These days it's plastic and cash for me in stores, checks at home for mailing.

cmac2012 · #7 02-28-2010, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jubjub

http://www.upcdatabase.com/itemform.asp
try this?

That's not bad. I tried one, the abbreviation on the receipt read:

SRSTSTNBLKSP

Oh yeah, I know what that is. Looked it up on the site above and got:

Item Record
UPC-A
EAN/UCC-13
Description 7777 SP SATIN BLACK
Owner GLN 0200660000048
Issuing Country United States
Last Modified Thu, 10 Jun 2004 11:46:07
Pending Updates 0

Submit Modification Request
Submit Deletion Request

Turns out it's a can of black spray paint. The verbal description they gave did clue me to what it was, but it wasn't highly descriptive. On the HD site, when the search works, they even have a picture of the product on screen.

But oh well, thanks for the lead, it's way better than nothing.

johnathan1 · #8 02-28-2010, 02:41 PM

Carry it around with you? (your checkbook)

mpolli · #9 02-28-2010, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jubjub

http://www.upcdatabase.com/itemform.asp
try this?

Cool!

cmac2012 · #10 02-28-2010, 03:00 PM

It dawns on me that I ought to send the OP to Home Depot. Let 'em know that the world knows of their minor failings and that they'd better get their act together or, as WC Fields might have said, "Sir, you're about to lose my trade."

Pooka · #11 02-28-2010, 04:02 PM

I tried out the UPC code site. It really, really works!

I entered the big numbers of the UPC and then noticed some small number at the beginning and the end (one small 0 far to the left and one small 5 far to the right).

After entering all 12 numbers it came back with the product and the country of orgin.

Very, very handy for finding US made products.

Hatterasguy · #12 02-28-2010, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmac2012

That setup has merit but I usually need the receipt for the client. Most of them want to use them for their book-keeping and it helps me to have proof positive of what I had to buy for their project.

Also, I have a phobia about having checks in the car ever since my van got stolen about 10 years ago, with checkbook inside. I spent a lot of time writing to the various merchants who got burned by the ass. Didn't end up costing me any actual $$ (from the checks anyway) but it was an enormous hassle. These days it's plastic and cash for me in stores, checks at home for mailing.

Ahh I see, it would get a folder attached to the checkbook to keep the receipts.

My business is set up differently. I just take the money needed to do whatever project I'm doing and deposit it in the checkbook, than pay for everything with it. This way I can keep accurite track of what I spent on a house, and for what.