Day 117 ~ 5 Bucks is 5 Bucks

Apr 27, 2014     

My first: I returned to Home Depot to get the corrected purchase price and also my 5% discount.

It was a Sunday and as Sundays go, it was NOT my day of rest. I had lots of winter clean-up work to do in my yard. My lawnmowers needed oil and my weed eater needed string. A little Round-Up weed killer was on the list too if the price was right. Another trip to Home Depot was the first thing on the agenda.

When I got to the hardware store, I found everything I was looking for with the help of a nice little gal that works there. The Round-Up was on sale for $7.47 (was $11.47) so I grabbed a gallon jug of that. Ready to check out, I made my way to the cashier. She asked if I wanted to use my Home Depot card and I said I would pay cash.  When I realized that I was spending a little more than anticipated, I changed my mind and said I would use my card (to get the 5% discount). No problem. After she rang me up, I asked to see what price the Round-Up had rung up as to be sure I was getting the sale price. I knew computer pricing is not always updated. And that was the case! The price rung up as $10.87, not the sale price of $7.47 nor the original price of $11.47. I thought a while and said don’t worry about it. I was in a hurry to get home and get as much done as I could before the predicted storms hit.

For the heck of it, I asked the cashier what my discount was since I used my card instead of cash. Because I did not ask for the discount, she did not give it to me. She said if I wanted it, I would have to go to customer service inside. Again, I said don’t worry about it. I had to get home and get my stuff done!

As I loaded my car and drove to the parking lot’s exit, I thought about the estimated $5 I paid unnecessarily because of these two “don’t worry about its” uttered from my very own mouth! I was more mad at me than anyone at Home Depot for not opening my mouth from the beginning…insuring the 5% discount would be applied and verifying the sale price for the weed killer before it was too late.

5 buck is 5 bucks. It’s as important for ME to reap the benefits of honesty, just as much as it is for any store. I called Home Depot’s customer service from the parking lot and then went inside to get the whole ticket credited and re-entered correctly. My bill went from $38.70 to $33.27. Mission and my “first” for the day accomplished!

There was a rain shower at my house while I was away on my little errand, but it did not thwart plans of getting my yard mowed, weed wacked and cleaned up from the winter’s relentless ravage. As a bonus, my grandson Tyler came over at 5:00 and helped with the last bit of clean-up. The essence of a good day (for me) is its simplicity…why be greedy!