At Homedepot Saturday

Starting Friday I started calling the Rogers Arkansas HD to check stock on a Door. I spent my lunch hour on hold and then made a few more attempts after lunch but never could get a person on the phone.
Saturday , knowing better I checked stock on the website and they said they had 3 in stock so off to the city I went.
I had one to return/exchange. First stop was in the doors section. There were two associates in that dept. both had a line of at least 10 people each.
I looked the entire door row over a couple times but never saw the door I needed.
I then went to the return desk to meet urn the one I had. I stood in line for half an hour and finally got my turn.
The lady was very nice, thorough and helpful. She apologized saying they are very very short handed and barely have enough help to keep the doors open.
She called and called trying to find someone to find my door but never could .
She called other stores in the area and found one 85 miles east of here.
She was a very hard working lady and I truly appreciated her.
When I was leaving it was hard to get out of the parking lot for all the beggars with signs asking for help.
Half that town is shutting down due to not enough help.
They say the big Walmart (the one closest to Walmart headquarters) has beggars walking up and down the turn lane knocking on windows begging.

Sure doesn’t reflect what the local news says

I've seen beggers around here, they drive nicer cars than I do and most other people. one had a sign, asking for money for gas, also had a gas can beside him, I told him to give me his gas can and i'd go put some gas in it for him....nope...he only wanted the money! I didn't give him any. saw one begger, was a female and had a small child with her. sign said "hungry and homeless". the side door to the mini van was open and the floor boards were covered in Mcdonalds sacks. when I was still working, most of the beggers were making about $50=$75 thousand a year doing so. and it being tax free! As Tyler says above, if the beggers are in front or near by someplace that is hiring, they are fraudulant, don't donate!   

Tyler in all fairness I start begging every time I’m in The big A too. Begging to get out alive.

People don't have ambition to work or work skills.

If they are begging, and riding around in a car... they are getting money somewhere.... Time to change the rules so those that CAN work , DO work..... Some are not able, but that number is MINIMAL.......... most people can do SOMETHING constructive.

You have to change the INCENTIVE Dave.... No WORKIE... No EATIE !!

Luckily my Home Depot experience with doors last week didn't involve beggars. Needed to replace 2 hollow core slab doors (we would cut the hinges/lockset) in one of our rental houses. One was 24" and the other 32". Our contractor was going on vacation in a few days so needed them almost right now. Menard's in my town had the 32" but 24" was special order, 2 weeks out which was past the date we had tenants moving in. The nearest Home Depot, 40 minutes away, showed one 24" and three 32" doors in stock on their website. Before I drive that far I called to make sure that their inventory was accurate. 

JoeM(GA) wrote: Now Thad!, we only had 2-3 killings a day while y’all were here!, that’s a quiet week!

That was a quiet week. In the 10 minutes or so I could stomach this morning there was 4 or 5 shootings and the weather.

Back on Home Depot............ we needed a couple sheets of roofing tin ( 8 ft white) to complete a job started last year.... Looked on line to see what the going price was ( nearest BIG BOX STORES are 50 miles away ).  Menards / Lowes / Home Depot ... NONE IN STOCK... ALL BACK ORDER............ Local lumberyard 5 miles away ( town of 6000)  had 5 in stock !

Had a “anything helps” individual in the traffic median. Red light so I rolled down the window and he was immediately all smiles.
I pointed to the car wash and said they’re hiring and always looking for help. His response “that’s for high school kids”! I pointed to his sign and said “guess that’s a bit higher level for your age”. He provided some choice words and wasn’t smiling when the light turned green.

I travel the country a lot and California, Seattle and Portland have horrible issues w these tent cities

Of, course she stands there with her crutch, holding a cardboard sign saying ‘On My Last Leg’. 

with todays market, i would think ANYONE could get a job if they TRIED and WANTED ONE..... If you insist on shooting up and staying HIGH all day long... thats YOUR FAULT.. you really dont WANT a job.

Customers give me subway, steak and shake etc, gift cards as tips . Here get some lunch on meis what they say . Always have a few on the dash . I never give cash , but if someone looks hungry enough I will offer one . Gave one to a scarecrow standing by an intersection. Gave him a Steak and Shake gift card , "where is a steak and Shake? ". I pointed down the street and he started running that direction. That man was hungry. I have offered them to others . Most will say just keep it when they see it's not cash .

I had one on the phone once that didn't know what a house chimney was.