Menard's Deals Permathread!

[pauls_workshop]

Wow, the discussion has gotten far more interesting than even before in last few days!

My 2 cents: It does look like Menards should clear up their advertising to avoid the "impression" of bait and switch. Really, best to change SKU or item number when it changes COO I think to be honest about it. I don't think though there is any intended deception here, more like lacksadaisical management of inventory. But Sears has done this same thing many times, same part number and change in COOs all the time without any notice for anyone till you get the item and are surprised by where it was made. I really don't like that when Sears does that, so I can relate to the surprise here for some Menards customers too.

I'm sure some Menards people are watching this thread by now, as it is popular enough to show up in google searches on Menards, so they can consider this discussion and what to do about it. - Paul

 

[Tellingthem]

Here. If you think menards is doing something illegal report them. Here is a link to the FTC. https://www.ftc.gov/faq/consumer-protection/submit-consumer-complaint-ftc

If your brothers friends cousins lawyer buddy from college says you can sue them then sue them. I hope you all get free extension cords.

 

[PeterT]

Here. If you think menards is doing something illegal report them. Here is a link to the FTC. https://www.ftc.gov/faq/consumer-protection/submit-consumer-complaint-ftc

If your brothers friends cousins lawyer buddy from college says you can sue them then sue them. I hope you all get free extension cords.

I am not going after the extension cords, I WANT A STORE,, and i get what I want...

 

[ishiboo]

They advertised a specific model, with no intention of it ever being available in many areas. Those stores substituted a different product and assigned it to that SKU.

Where is this advertisement, BTW? It's on sale in our stores but not in the circulars I've seen.

 

[lordy123]

Where is this advertisement, BTW? It's on sale in our stores but not in the circulars I've seen.

It's online.

 

[Parrothead]

They advertised a specific model, with no intention of it ever being available in many areas. Those stores substituted a different product and assigned it to that SKU.

The model they advertise is made in the USA, but they want over $80 for that model.

It'd be like a chevy dealership advertising a camaro GT for 18K, then when you get their they only tell you the Chevy Sonic is available for 18K and the camaros they have on the lot are 50k.

Just to be clear, the web pages states both the SKU AND the model number.This is important as the model number is what differentiates the cords.

A closer analogy would be trying to buy a Camaro Z28 at the SS price, because they're both V8 Camaros.

 

[boomerangg22]

Here. If you think menards is doing something illegal report them. Here is a link to the FTC. https://www.ftc.gov/faq/consumer-protection/submit-consumer-complaint-ftc

If your brothers friends cousins lawyer buddy from college says you can sue them then sue them. I hope you all get free extension cords.

You are so right Tellingthem.

Dang hope the wood I just bought isn't Chinese wood swapped with USA wood. Their wood suxs.

 

[PeterT]

I had a formal sit down with my brother in-law and his partner today. He has capacity and is taking on my case. Next step is to file a complaint with the state of Ohio. He is also filing a complaint with WI as that is where Menards corporate location is.

We are on our way to straightening out this situeeation

 

[AmishFury]

maybe i should call up your brother in law about that time i ordered some driver bits from sears

 

[sparc]

the local store employees are heroes in my book in terms of dealing with that kind of customer since this was all a menards.com mistake with their picture and not a local store issue. The store itself never advertised anything about COO. It wasn't in their flyer or posted on a sign in the store. It's a web error that should have been argued with menards.com. Even if it were a mistake in the flyer, most retail stores post statements that it was an error in the ad.

Legally, i bet you there are a lot of disclaimers all over the menards.com website including their terms of service.

I'm glad the employees stood their ground and didn't cave to all the bogus insinuations about legalities.

 

[lordy123]

Just to be clear, the web pages states both the SKU AND the model number.This is important as the model number is what differentiates the cords.

A closer analogy would be trying to buy a Camaro Z28 at the SS price, because they're both V8 Camaros.

Just to be clear, my store had a very generic looking cord, wasn't even made by the same company let alone the same model. I don't care about COO, it just didn't look like a quality cord so I didn't buy it. That was the end of it for me, I really need some more shorter cords anyways.

I'm just saying what menards was doing was shady. I would never have the time or patience to call them out on it, I didn't even waste my time asking an employee about it. If someone else wants to spend their time addressing the issue, I for one do not care.

 

[pauls_workshop]

Guys, have to break in the discussion here a bit for an important news flash !!!

Sale going on now lets you get Quaker State full synthetic (now owned by Shell) for about $1 a quart after rebates! See here from SlickieDeals:

http://slickdeals.net/f/7928175-qua...-qt-bottles-1-09-each-a-r-at-menards-limit-18

I think this applies for 5 quarts from what I understand. I'll be getting some. - Paul

 

[ishiboo]

I had a formal sit down with my brother in-law and his partner today. He has capacity and is taking on my case. Next step is to file a complaint with the state of Ohio. He is also filing a complaint with WI as that is where Menards corporate location is.

We are on our way to straightening out this situeeation

A case is a legal process through the courts. Seeing as though you are "filing a complaint" in two states, it's apparent you are simply complaining to the state trade boards and not suing, so what's the point of an attorney? What are you trying to accomplish?

I can't wait to watch how this goes for you. You have an apparently complete idiot attorney, going against one of the richest men in the US, for absolutely nothing... it should be interesting.

the local store employees are heroes in my book in terms of dealing with that kind of customer since this was all a menards.com mistake with their picture and not a local store issue. The store itself never advertised anything about COO. It wasn't in their flyer or posted on a sign in the store. It's a web error that should have been argued with menards.com. Even if it were a mistake in the flyer, most retail stores post statements that it was an error in the ad.

Legally, i bet you there are a lot of disclaimers all over the menards.com website including their terms of service.

I'm glad the employees stood their ground and didn't cave to all the bogus insinuations about legalities.

Amen.

Just to be clear, my store had a very generic looking cord, wasn't even made by the same company let alone the same model. I don't care about COO, it just didn't look like a quality cord so I didn't buy it. That was the end of it for me, I really need some more shorter cords anyways.

I'm just saying what menards was doing was shady. I would never have the time or patience to call them out on it, I didn't even waste my time asking an employee about it. If someone else wants to spend their time addressing the issue, I for one do not care.

What's more generic than Smart Electrician, a house brand for one chain, whose supplier is the cheapest bidder? Lol.

 

[reader2580]

I just read a rather lengthy article about Menards yesterday. Apparently John Menard is very involved in how stores are managed. It appears that store managers don't have much leeway to fix problems.

Store managers are terminated if they have a new house built. It doesn't matter if the materials were ordered from another supplier. John Menard is worried that manager might steal materials or get materials from Menards at below retail price if they are building a house. John Menard has been known to hire private investigators to make sure that store managers who built a garage or did major work on their homes didn't steal any materials from Menards. John Menard sounds like a real jerk.

I'm still going to shop there because they tend to have a lot of stuff their competition doesn't have.

 

[lordy123]

I'm not sure whose story you're referring to, but since I'm the only person who posted many details about his interactions with store employees, I'm going to assume it was mine. To be clear on this, I didn't make any "bogus insinuations" to any employees. Go back and read my posts, and you'll see that I only asked to be sold the actual product that was being advertised at it's advertised price. No legal discussions ever took place in the store. There's no point in discussing legal arguments with store employees. That's outside of their job description.

As far as "standing their ground" goes, they really didn't. The rather sheepish acting-manager who I spoke to made it clear that he didn't understand the problem and that he was too paralyzed by fear to make a decision that could get him in trouble with his superior. He didn't want to give something away and get yelled at, so he literally bumped the decision up the ladder and someone else got back to me with the results.

Apparently no one actually read your posts.

 

[PeterT]

I'll keep everyone abreast of my legal progress, but like my attorney said ,, PIECE OF CAKE
I'm takin that fat cat on the hill DOWN

 

[buening]

Guys, have to break in the discussion here a bit for an important news flash !!!

Sale going on now lets you get Quaker State full synthetic (now owned by Shell) for about $1 a quart after rebates! See here from SlickieDeals:

http://slickdeals.net/f/7928175-qua...-qt-bottles-1-09-each-a-r-at-menards-limit-18

I think this applies for 5 quarts from what I understand. I'll be getting some. - Paul

Be aware that it is a maximum of two $7 rebates per household (10 qts total).

 

[pauls_workshop]

Be aware that it is a maximum of two $7 rebates per household (10 qts total).

Thanks! I wasn't sure so just got 5 quarts tonight. Also, I did notice on sale now they have the MasterForce US made shovels and yard tools. A long 6' fiberglass handle shovel was around $15. I'm fairly certain these are the same source as the former Craftsman US made yardtools before they resourced all those to China COO. So very high quality yard tools for a fair price on sale now. I don't need any but posting for others who may need something. - Paul

 

[Brownsfan]

Wow. Menards sounds like a great place to buy a tool from a tool.

It surprises me to hear that store managers are terminated if they build a new house or garage. That sounds like grounds for a wrongful termination action.

The "American Dream" is all about getting a job, working hard, and owning your own home. It amazes me that John Menard would want to fire managers who pursue the American Dream.

What a knob.

Read this, http://www.milwaukeemag.com/2007/04/30/bigmoney-john-menard/
He is an *******. I will NEVER shop there again. I don't care if some of these stories are old. He doesn't give a **** about his employees. If I could return things I already bought I would. I hope others do the same. While going through the trouble to sue over an extension cord is a waste IMHO. Go for it and I hope there is more negative press.
He fined and fired an employee for missing too much time when 2 of his triplets died. Fired a manager for building a house to because they had a wheel chair bound child and couldn't find a house that accommodate her needs. This article is eye opening and I WAS a Menards fan. Maybe I will shop there again when this ******** dies which cant come soon enough

 

[reader2580]

Read this, http://www.milwaukeemag.com/2007/04/30/bigmoney-john-menard/
He is an *******. I will NEVER shop there again. I don't care if some of these stories are old. He doesn't give a **** about his employees. If I could return

This is the exact article I had read the other night.

Store manager have to sign a contract that seems to include a clause that they can't build a new house. They can buy an existing house. They just can't have a new one built from the ground up.

I know a small businessman who refused to do work at Menards stores because Menards stretches out payment as long as they can. Others in the industry told him not to deal with Menards due to the payment issues.

 

[Spn1025]

Wow.. that article makes me want to go steal something at Menards. Unfortunately they're not in my area.

I'm sure if you do enough research, you'll find that a lot of these big CEOs are shady as hell. Look at Uhaul's owner Joe Shoen. Uhaul was owned by him and his brother (after their father passed it down). Joe and his brother regularly got in physical fights about how the company should be run. One day, his brother wound up dead. They claimed it was a car accident, but it was never proven. Joe Shoen is another penny pinching crook.

 

[BleedingBlue]

I worked at Menards for 8 years through college and shortly after. It is an awful company with no respect or loyalty to their employees. My boss was a yard manager and was fired for building a new home bc of the bogus contract.


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[Spn1025]

I worked at Menards for 8 years through college and shortly after. It is an awful company with no respect or loyalty to their employees. My boss was a yard manager and was fired for building a new home bc of the bogus contract.


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So how exactly does this work? Do they send people out to scope out your listed address? How would they even know you're building a house unless you tell them? Do they question all of the local contractors? This seems illegal .. somewhere along the lines of invasion of privacy.

List your address as a PO Box. Problem solved lol.

 

[krux]

So how exactly does this work? Do they send people out to scope out your listed address? How would they even know you're building a house unless you tell them? Do they question all of the local contractors? This seems illegal .. somewhere along the lines of invasion of privacy.

List your address as a PO Box. Problem solved lol.

I worked for menards 8 years. Yes the store manager will do that and find out from people what you are up too. I know alot about that company and the owners. They get a kick out of firing people since they are on a power trip. They use and hate people literally.

 

[coralnut]

Read this, http://www.milwaukeemag.com/2007/04/30/bigmoney-john-menard/

Wow. Menards thinks up all sorts of creative ways to get rid of their toxic waste -- like selling it to customers for use in playgrounds and animal bedding.

• In 1994, Wisconsin obtained a civil judgment against Menards for the unlicensed transportation and disposal of ash produced by incinerating CCA-treated lumber. Wood treated with CCA contains chromium, copper and arsenic – a known carcinogen. It is considered hazardous waste and requires proper disposal in a licensed landfill. The company was fined $160,000.

• In 1997, John Menard was caught using his own pickup truck to haul plastic bags filled with chromium and arsenic-laden wood ash to his own home for disposal along with his household trash. Menard pleaded no contest to felony and misdemeanor charges involving records violations, unlawful transportation and improper disposal of hazardous waste. Menard and his company were fined $1.7 million for 21 violations.

• In 2003, the Minnesota attorney general charged that Menards manufactured and sold arsenic-tainted mulch in packaging labeled “ideal for playgrounds and for animal bedding.” Warning labels from the CCA-treated wood were found in the mulch. The EPA recommends that CCA-treated wood not be converted into mulch. The case is still pending.

 

[ishiboo]

I don't understand people that work for a company and it's in their contract they can't do something, so they do it and then get fired and complain.

Not that I agree with it - John has a ton of ****** policies I disagree with and he's definitely not the least strange person on the planet. (I believe any time you use the 111% price match, it comes out of the Manager's bonus) But as a business owner/manager/etc. I think it's his right to run his business (within the law) as he chooses. Don't like it - don't work there! Don't like it - don't spend your money there!

 

[coralnut]

<hr style="color:#e5e5e5; background-color:#e5e5e5" size="1">> I don't understand people that work for a company and it's in their contract they
> can't do something, so they do it and then get fired and complain.

It not really news that villainous people exploit poor people who are desperate. Getting people to sign contracts under duress is a textbook method of exploitation. Some people are masters at exploiting other people. Their actions say a lot about their character.

Prior to reading that magazine article I was not aware that Menard himself was an environmental felon, having personally violated environmental toxic waste disposal laws. It's some pretty f'd up **** when a CEO of a billion dollar corporation personally disposes of his corporation's toxic waste by hauling it off in his own pickup truck so that he can put it out in his house's garbage. WTF?

Sure, business is business. That doesn't bother me. But when the CEO gets personally involved in illegal disposal of toxic waste by driving the truck ... that's going to stop me from shopping at his store. That's just way too f'd up.

 

[Spn1025]

I agree, but I don't think it should be legal that any company can dictate what you do when you are off the clock. I don't see how they can legally put that in the contract. What's the difference between that and saying "you can't eat captain crunch cereal for the duration of your employment at Menards".

But yea, they signed the contract, so they knew what they were getting into.

 

[krux]

I agree, but I don't think it should be legal that any company can dictate what you do when you are off the clock. I don't see how they can legally put that in the contract. What's the difference between that and saying "you can't eat captain crunch cereal for the duration of your employment at Menards".

But yea, they signed the contract, so they knew what they were getting into.

They do this because they have the auritoity to change prices at any time and over write it. Back in the day store managers use to do this all the time for there house with marking down prices. Remember store managers make 100k plus of you are the main person. In WI or mn you will make up to 120k

 

[Caman]

What are the chances everybody reads every line of the contract before they signed? It's probably pages long with 8 point font written in legalese.

Not saying it's right, or that Menard is a decent human being, but every high level job has a contract with (sometimes crazy) restrictions. Don't like it, find another job.

 

[Brownsfan]

What are the chances everybody reads every line of the contract before they signed? It's probably pages long with 8 point font written in legalese.

Not saying it's right, or that Menard is a decent human being, but every high level job has a contract with (sometimes crazy) restrictions. Don't like it, find another job.

I get that. But. To fine e then fire a guy for missing too much time because his 2 kids died at birth? Then to try and sue the employee only to back off after the new company (competition ) gives him access to their lawyers. It seems like he takes pleasure in doing this stuff. To fire an employee for building a house to accommodate a handicapped child that became handicapped. Only because they couldn't find a house that could accommodate. If they demote you . They transfer you far away just so you have to uproot your family. To test your dedication. This guy LOVES getting personal with these things. No way I step foot in ano there Menards. If I had the fire in me to do it. I would be spreading the word all over to not shop at a place that treats employees this way.

 

[BleedingBlue]

I agree that a contract is a contract, but for many of the employees there they have no other option. Most don't have a college degree or other experience, so options are limited. When I quit several years ago, I bet 50-60% of the managers when I left were fired within 6 months. Not bc of poor performance, it is just the menard way


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[coralnut]

Getting back on the topic of Menards Deals:

It sounds like the best deal at Menards is not to work there.

 

[pauls_workshop]

Getting back on the topic of Menards Deals:

It sounds like the best deal at Menards is not to work there.

Have to admit I am getting a bit disappointed in some of the stories people are posting. Mr. Menard should treat his employees better, esp managers from what I'm reading.

He is a bit of an odd duck it seems.

As far as the bait and switch thing, I think it would be best if Menards would use a new SKU or part number when they change sources or COO on them. But the same there applies to Sears and other retailers too. I wish they all would do that. But is there any ill will or intent or bait and switch implied there by Menards? I don't think so on that. I think it is more just poor inventory management or policies on not bothering to change sku or part number when they change COO. I doubt you guys would win any case against Menards over this.

I would like the thread to get back to deals as we find them though. If you guys want to sue Menards or whatever, feel free, but may need to start a new thread on Menards issues or suing them or whatever if you would, as that isn't really the purpose of this thread and we've now had *lots* of discussion on the bait and switch thing here. Even the Home Depot Clearance thread spawned the daughter thread on 1 cent deals there when it was taking that thread off track! That was a good thing as I have to try them out when I get a chance! - Paul

 

[ishiboo]

Have to admit I am getting a bit disappointed in some of the stories people are posting. Mr. Menard should treat his employees better, esp managers from what I'm reading.

He is a bit of an odd duck it seems.

As far as the bait and switch thing, I think it would be best if Menards would use a new SKU or part number when they change sources or COO on them. But the same there applies to Sears and other retailers too. I wish they all would do that. But is there any ill will or intent or bait and switch implied there by Menards? I don't think so on that. I think it is more just poor inventory management or policies on not bothering to change sku or part number when they change COO. I doubt you guys would win any case against Menards over this.

I would like the thread to get back to deals as we find them though. If you guys want to sue Menards or whatever, feel free, but may need to start a new thread on Menards issues or suing them or whatever if you would, as that isn't really the purpose of this thread and we've now had *lots* of discussion on the bait and switch thing here. Even the Home Depot Clearance thread spawned the daughter thread on 1 cent deals there when it was taking that thread off track! That was a good thing as I have to try them out when I get a chance! - Paul

100% good points Paul.

 

[77Ford]

Free t shirts and hose sprayers in new ad......after rebate


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[engineer2]

John Menard sounds like a real jerk.

I agree, and so are many of their store managers. One told me they get sued all the time and usually win in court, so don't bother. If THEY screw up a special order, YOU get charged a restocking fee. I hate Menards, but I hate HD worse, so I still shop at Menards.

 

[PeterT]

*** UPDATE *** UPDATE ****
My attorney sent the complaint and summons to the court clerk here in Toledo. He has a process server that will serve the appropriate documents to the defendant.

I feel good about this one.

 

[pauls_workshop]

*** UPDATE *** UPDATE ****
My attorney sent the complaint and summons to the court clerk here in Toledo. He has a process server that will serve the appropriate documents to the defendant.

I feel good about this one.

Peter do come back and let us all know if you win, just for completion of the topic. It is all interesting - I'm just not the type to get into suing others. I do think Menards should change some behaviours though. - Paul

 

[ishiboo]

both receipts show the same SKU and a vague line item entry that says something like "lighted yellow extension cord." obviously Menards doesn't care about the ambiguity. it suits their purpose.

There is no ambiguity - the description is just for quickly getting to the SKU. Everything is SKU-driven. Specifications, "backend" vendors, etc. can and do change under the same SKU.