I think that, as I’ve grown older, I’ve come to expect a certain lever of respect and customer service, especially when I’m spending my money at their establishment.  Which brings us to my 8-month nightmare that was, is and continues to be Home Depot.

In late December 2023 our washing machine stopped working.  Knowing we needed a new one, my wife and I went to the local Home Depot, a store we have frequented for almost 20 years.  Since we were replacing the washer we decided to buy a new dryer as well and picked out what we wanted.

We paid to have them delivered and installed and a delivery date of January 15^th was set.  I was a little taken aback when the gentleman who set up our order told us that “98% of the delivery drivers don’t speak English so you might want to have a translator on your phone.”

The morning of the 15^th we received a text that our items would be delivered between 12:00 and 4:00 pm.  However, around 2:30 my wife received a call saying that they wouldn’t be delivering that day.  I was naturally disappointed as I had taken the day off to be home.  The delivery was then set for Wednesday, January 17^th.  Again, I took a day off work.  We received a text that our delivery window was between 7:00 and 11:00 am.  At approximately 10:45 m wife received a call telling her that the truck was running about a half hour late.  At 11:50 she received another call informing her that we would not be receiving our items that day.

Slightly upset, I called the store and, after talking to the manager – not a lot of help – was transferred to the appliance department where I was given the name and phone number of the person who owned the company that Home Depot contracts to do their deliveries and installations.  I called and left a message, and he called back.  I explained that I had now taken TWO days off and still had no washer and dryer.  He told me that it had been cold the night before and that none of his trucks had started.  I told him that we had gotten a call telling us the truck was on its way but running late.  He told me that was impossible because none of his trucks started.  Hmmmmmmm…

He told me that the trucks were being looked at and that they would resume deliveries the next day, Thursday.  I mentioned that I guess I would have to take another day off work but he told me, “no, I didn’t mean you.  We’ll be delivering to the people who wanted delivery on Thursday.”  I told him that I would like to have my items also delivered on Thursday, but he said he couldn’t because he didn’t have the appliances.  I asked how that was possible?  He was set to deliver them that day!  Hell, he was supposed to deliver them TWO DAYS AGO!!

Anyway, we set another delivery date of Saturday, January 2oth.  I texted him on Thursday and told him we had a family event to attend Saturday night – our granddaughter’s soccer game – and asked if we could get a morning delivery time.  I also called and left a message.  Saturday morning came and we didn’t hear anything from him.  Eventually, my wife called the store and was told that our appliances were scheduled for between 11:30 am and 430 pm.

As I had a critic meeting that afternoon, I wasn’t home when the delivery truck arrived.  Around 3:30 I called my wife and asked if we had a new washer and dryer.  She replied “no.”  She told me that the two delivery men had brought the appliances into the garage but didn’t have any tools.  They asked her if they could use ours.  THEY DIDN’T HAVE ANY TOOLS!!!???  One of them motioned towards our old washer hookups and told my wife that we had the “wrong” kind of faucet – not sure if those were the words he used but that was how she understood it. The guy who sold us these appliances was definitely right about the language barrier.  He said we would need a plumber to come install new ones.  He then told her that he had a friend nearby who was a plumber that could fix it and install it for her.  As I wasn’t home, and we were tired of the delays, she agreed to have the “friend/plumber” come do it. I was mildly upset when I heard this and hurried home.

I arrived home around 4:00.  The “friend/plumber” arrived right after me.  He went into the garage, looked at the washer and told me he needed to replace both faucets.  I thought he would have them with him, but he had to go buy them, coincidentally at Home Depot.  At 5:45 pm he left, after changing the faucets and installing both the washer and dryer.  We did not get to go to the soccer game.  He charged us $165.00, which included the cost of parts he purchased.  The original delivery men – the ones that apparently worked all day “installing” appliances without tools – took the old dryer with them (I paid for that service) but left the old washer (which I also paid in advance to have removed), which meant one of us would have to park outside as it now occupied one side of the garage. (After multiple phone calls to the store, the washer was finally picked up the following Friday).

On Monday I went to the store and spoke with the manager.  When he heard my issues were with the delivery and installation, he told me that there was nothing he could do because “they don’t work for us.”  I told him that HOME DEPOT had sent them to MY HOUSE with items I had purchased from HOME DEPOT, so they most certainly did work for him.  I tried to use the analogy that if Ensign Red Shirt does his job poorly, Captain Kirk has to answer for it.  He stared blankly at me.  He again told me there was nothing he could do but would talk to Sylvia, who handles appliances, and have her call me.  When I told him about the delivery men suggesting their plumber “friend” he told me that employees are not allowed to recommend third party contractors unless approved by Home Depot.  Hmmm, I thought you just told me they WEREN’T employees!  He also told me that it was my wife’s fault that she’d “hired” the friend/plumber, so he wasn’t able to refund the $165.00 I paid for the parts and labor.

The next day I called the store and spoke with the manager again.  He said he had spoken to Sylvia, who also said that “they don’t work for Home Depot,” and that there was nothing she could do.  I told him that I would like to speak with Sylvia myself and was informed that she “doesn’t talk to customers.”

I then called the 1-800 Customer Service number and spoke with a rep who stressed that they had no control over their contractors.  I then asked to talk to a supervisor, who was helpful and said she would call me back after investigating.  The next day, after not hearing back, I called again and got another supervisor and he seemed genuine concerned.  He assured me that he would pass my issue up the line and that the escalation department would call me back.  He also gave me the escalation department’s email address so I could share my issues with them.

Since February, I’ve called and been assured that the escalation department would call me back three separate times.  Four times if you count the generic reply I received from my email to the Home Depot escalation department.

The more I thought about it the more I became curious of the situation.  Was this a running scam, either devised by Home Depot or the owner of the delivery company.  How many other times had they shown up to deliver an appliance, found a woman alone and told her that, while they couldn’t do the job, they had a friend that could. Was this just a local problem or national?  And how in the hell were they doing installations with no tools?!?!

As my concern grew, I attempted to call Matt Carey, Executive Vice President for Customer Service at the Home Depot Corporate Headquarters.   I went into the phone tree, noted that I wanted to speak with him and heard “do you want to speak to Matt Carey?”  I said “yes” and heard “transferring to Matt Carey.”  However, instead of being connected to his office, the line kicked back to the original phone tree (“press 2 for employment, etc).  I repeated this process several times with no luck.  I sent him an email detailing everything above and expressing my concerns but never received a reply.

Realizing I had a story to tell I even reached out to Home Depot Media Department in the hope they could explain what was going on but, despite leaving messages, I never got a return call.  Their new slogan should be
How to Get Nothing Done!”

When your house starts feeling dated and sort of drab, you don’t need to look for another place to live. You want a good contractor to renovate your home – top to bottom. A good professional can create miracles and the only problem is how to find the right one. Here’s all you need to know about choosing the right contractor.

1. Make a plan

Maybe top to bottom is not really necessary, maybe it’s just the kitchen and dining area. You need to decide what is the extent of the renovations your house needs. Write down all the work you’d like done so you’ll know exactly what to tell the contractor.

• Make a list of contractors in your area

The first thing you’ll want to do is google the home contractors in your area. Check out their websites, look at ratings and customer google reviews and write down the ones that seem OK to you. Check out their Before/After galleries.

Also, it’s always good to ask around, talk with friends, family or neighbors and see if they can recommend somebody they’ve worked with and add them to your list.

• Ask for quotes

Contact all the contractors on your list. Explain the kind of work you have in mind and ask for an estimate. Don’t be surprised if their estimates fall in the same range, but be wary of those who go over the top or make a really low offer. You can also ask for a time estimate since such projects typically turn your life upside down. You don’t want to live on a construction site for the next six months!

• Interview the selected contractors

Next step is to ask to meet the contractors on your shortlist. Have them come by the house and talk to them about your requirements. Listen carefully to their solutions. You want somebody who sounds competent and comes up with easy solutions. Something that sounds overly complicated will probably end up costing a lot and might turn out quite unnecessary.

• Ask for references

Besides checking their online reviews, ask to talk to former clients. See if they were satisfied and ask if the work was delivered within the agreed time frame. Most important ask if the contractor stayed within the initial budget or did they keep making demands for more money.

• Ask for a criminal background check

If these people are going to be in your house for a long time, they’ll also have access to your valuables. It’s always smart to ask for a background check. Ask the business owners if they run background checks on their employees. You don’t have to be ashamed to ask such a thing. These guys will be in your house and around your kids for weeks if not months. You don’t want dangerous people in your house.

If they cannot provide police checks for their employees, suggest using an online character check agency that sends you back the results in a couple of days. It won’t inconvenience them in any way since everything is done online, applying for a background check only takes a few minutes and you can do it over the phone even. It’s easy and it gives you peace of mind. These days, criminal record checks are relatively easy to obtain. In states like New South Wales, you can apply online. It is also important to note that police checks do come with a small cost involved and even in places like NSW (e.g. Sydney) whilst you can get a police check in NSW online, you cannot get a police check online in NSW for free which is a common misconception when people request police character checks. There is no such thing as a free check as you will see from the official website link given here. They normally cost around $48 AUD or so so keep the cost in mind.

Now that you’ve made up your mind, make sure to read the contract carefully, including the fine print. The devil is in the details, you know that. Good luck with your project!

V2 Cigs have been around for years they were one of the original electronic cigarette manufacturers and are known around the world as makers of high quality electronic cigarettes. The V2 Pro Series 3 is perfect vape for all your stealth vaping needs, as it looks like a regular electronic cigarette and doesn’t produce much visible vapor. You can also easily switch the cartridges around depending on what you choose to vape. However, because of this small size, it also has a small capacity, so this is really for more of a solo vaper.

In e-cigarette mode, the V2 Pro shines, besting other e cigs that are in its class and price range with good vapor production. Those who prefer a hit akin to traditional cigarettes will enjoy the V2 Pro immensely. There is also a ten-second cut-off time to prevent e-liquid from tasting burnt. The tank attachment for this device are quite impressive. Unlike other tanks where I have experience several leaks while testing, the V2 Pro proves it’s a solid Vape pen. Clouds are not as massive as other e-cigarettes and tank combos, but the vapor it delivers is warm and satisfying to the user.

The V2 Pro features a two minute automatic shut off which to help minimize incidents of overheating over using the battery.  The magnetic connection of a V2 Cigs 3-in-1 removes threading issues and also unifies the exterior appearance of this electronic cigarette/vaporizer. The connection is made sturdier by the fact that your cartridge slots into a portal shaped to accept its size and shape. All cartridges feature the same dimensions, but smart technology differentiates each one for the benefit of V2 Cig’s Pro Series 3 rechargeable battery.

If you’re looking for an affordable pen vaporizer with stealth in mind, or a pen that can do dry herbs, this is the vape for you. For $59.99, you can own the base. But it’s useless without at least one cartridge since no other company has introduced magnetic connections yet. That’s the price you pay to replace your battery when it runs out of juice. A starter kit costs $62.26 and features the e liquid cartridge with a USB charger cable. Add a Loose Leaf cartridge for $26.92 and an essential oil version for the same price.

I was pleasantly surprised by the life of their Pro Series 3 battery as it lasted my entire day (roughly 8 hours of sporadic use) it lasts a long time. E liquid lasts long enough to get up to 800 puffs out of a full cartridge. While the Series 3 may not be the best at everything, it does a lot. If you need a vape that can do it all, and you don’t want multiple units, this is probably one of the best vaporizers to buy. Click here to buy.

Pros

• Ultra small and compact
• Very discreet and stealthy, looks like an electronic cigarette
• Vapes dried herb evenly and thoroughly
• Can be used with e-liquid
• Components clip together magnetically
• Can be used while charging
• Charger connects to regular USB (adaptor available for car lighter)
• One of the best vapes in it’s price range
• Doesn’t burn herb like most vape pens

Cons

• Features only one temperature setting
• The heating chamber holds a very small amount of herb (about .1 of a gram)
• Ring around the mouthpiece gets quite hot after extended use
• Battery only lasts about 30-45 minutes per charge

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The VERTX PLUS brings some of the technologies that were pioneered with the V2 Pro series like the magnetic connections, drop-in cartridges and higher vapor production, to name a few examples. The VERTX PLUS is an upgraded version with variable power levels whose costs comes in at around $90. One of the VERTX PLUS cartridge should be more than sufficient for a full day of vaping (while using the lowest setting). A battery charge lasts for hours, but you aren’t in doubt of the charge life because of lights along the side of the device. The body of the VERTX PLUS has a window on the side that allows you to see the remaining e-liquid easily without removing the cartridge from the e-cig.

The vapor production of the VERTX PLUS is excellent. V2 also produces blank cartridges so that you can even use your own favorite e-cig juice in it. But if you want the prepackaged flavors they are Congress, V2 Red, Sahara, Menthol, Green Tea Menthol and Peppermint. The flavors are exactly the same as the ones that V2 sells by the bottle and in cartridge form for the original V2 Cigs e-cigarette. The VERTX PLUS cartridges of all that I have used have to be the most reliable ones to date. Even more during my testing, I didn’t experience a single “dry hit” at any voltage level. The cartridges are about as leak-free as one could ask given the amount of liquid that they hold. The air tube leading out of the cartridge does tend to collect a bit of condensation, though, so you can expect a drip here or there if the VERTX spends too much time upside down.

The VERTX PLUS is a superb e-cigarette for beginners and is a device that’s positioned to give you the best performance possible while staying within the new regulations that the FDA has set forth. So, if you’re a smoker who wants to switch to e-cigarettes right now, there is probably no better choice than the V2 VERTX PLUS. Click here to buy.

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When it comes to vaporizers, I have been on the search for the perfect tool. V2 is a company that I found and and offers one hell of a product. That product is the V2 Pro Series 7 Kit includes everything . This is the one-stop tool for all your vaping needs. Some of the new features include like variable voltage and temperature settings. These are items that I specifically look for in a vaporizer. Another outstanding feature on the Series 7 is that it has a bigger storage capacity and solid battery life.

If you are familiar with the Series 3 vape pen then this is not new for I zoned in on the Series 7 since it offers cartridges for for add-on like loose leaf, e-liquid and wax. If you purchase this kit above that we are feature luckily it comes with both the e-liquid and loose leaf cartridges. Otherwise, they the cartridges are available to purchase individually. But let me tell you have these three cartridges today makes this the one of the best choices for all-in-one vaporizers.

One of my main urks about this product originally was the button pressing to get to where you need to get. I am used to it now and definitely have no issue but it did take a little bit to become a habit. To turn it on you have to click fast five times. Then you have to press two more times within a half a second…(Confused a little?)…then still flashing each of the three lines and you will be able to press it again when the level you want is lit. Lastly, once your temperature is chosen you hold the button for about 5-7 seconds which will turn on the heater. It turns off about a short period on its own and you press the button three times to turn it fully off and you will see a red light flash.

Overall, I have been very satisfied so far with this product. Once you get used to the routine above it just feels natural and I was worried at first it would be annoying but honestly not at all. I also love that the Series 7 has this smart technology so that it recognizes which cartridge type you have inserted and automatically heat to optimum vaporizing temperature. This allows you to just relax and enjoy!

I have tested out many different Vaporizers over the last year and I haven’t really been 100% satisfied….that is until I found the Cloud V Phantom Premium Herbal Vaporizer. The Cloud V Phantom is easily the best and easiest product that I have used to date. It features an optimized heating chamber and really sleek thin durable design. I simply love the look of it. Ease of use is also what you are looking for with a vaporizer and this one is as easy as they can.

The Cloud V Phantom has three heating temperature settings. All you have to do is load your product, press it three times to turn it on and get it started and then up the temperature that you enjoy. It delivered a smooth even hit every time. The battery also lasted a decent time and did not require constant charging. The cleaning of the product was also very easy and make no mess.

When you are looking for a vaporizer, you also need to be concerned with the output smell. Even though with using a vaporizer, you don’t get the same intensity of smell, so of them do not handle the smell well. This device did a great job of heating up without combustion. It also has a very handy auto shutoff time. If you are looking for a perfect introduction to vaping, I would highly recommend this product.

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We recently reviewing the Dyson DC59 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner and it was quite the vacuum cleaner but after a few months of using it, I have noticed that it isn’t the best with carpets. I wanted to test out another Dyson product that would would have a little more power to it on carpeted floor. The DC65 Animal Complete is named to be include the strongest suction of any vacuum. So I wanted to try the best. Wow, it was not lying either, this is literally the best vacuum that I have ever used.

This vacuum cleaner has a self-adjusting cleaner head and re-engineered brushbar that dig deeper into carpets to remove more dust and dirt than the average vacuum, while still kicking ass on hard floors. The DC65 uses remodeled Radial Root Cyclone technology and uses the latest Ball technology and comes with a Tangle-free turbine tool to remove hair from carpets and has extra tools engineered for pet hair and ground-in dirt.

Why is this Radial Root Cyclone technology important in a vacuum? Well, it is pretty cool if you look into it since it uses the airflows to help remove more dirt, dust and allergens from the home. Both myself and I have pretty nasty allergies and most of our house is carpeted, so it is important for us to have a good way to clean. This vacuum also comes with a reconfigured brush bar that includes 25% more power and drives bristles deeper into carpets removing more dirt.

I have never used a upright vacuum before with Ball technology and it definitely makes things a lot easier. When it says ball, it actually means a ball. This sits on a ball that pivots on a dime allowing you to steer with a turn of the wrist. Like all Dyson’s they are hygienic and quick and easy to empty as well. The two brushes included here are a multi-angle and a stiff bristle brush.

The Dyson DC65 Animal Complete also comes with Zorb carpet maintenance powder and a Dyson tool bag to hold all accessories. Never before has cleaning been so easy. I swear if you aren’t using a Dyson product you are not cleaning as efficiently as you could be. I can’t wait to see what they have planned with the upcoming Dyson 360 Eye! Stay tuned to Media Mikes as we will be covering it first hand!

Who doesn’t love coffee? I am not the kind of person that in order to start the day needs to have a cup of coffee but I do though my coffee very much. I also would much rather make a cup at home and bring it with me than stopping at a Starbucks, 7-11 or any other store on my way into the office. In the past, I have always made a whole pot of coffee, take a cup and leave the rest or end up drinking much more than I wanted due to a whole brewed pot. Personally, when I thought of getting a Keurig systems in the past, I never liked the idea that it just made one cup. Well, my eyes have been opened since the new Keurig K45 Elite Brewing System is a dream come true and has completely sold on the product.

When Keurig promotes the fact that they get “The Perfect Cup Every Time”, I had to be skeptical. Literally when I brewed my cup, the temperature was spot on and there was a great balance of water blended in. I initially tasted five different cups and each one was simply outstanding. So flavorful and fresh! This system is said to be ready and brews in under one minute, whether it is coffee, tea, hot cocoa or iced beverage and there is nothing but truth that There are three cup sizes to choose from and for us travelers there is a removable drip tray to accommodate travel mugs. A cool feature for this system is that it also comes in new colors in partnership with Pantone, including: Rhubarb, Patriot Blue and Coconut White

This package includes a Water Filter Kit, which should be changed out ever 2 months or every 200 cups for optimal flavor. Also included is a bonus 12 count K-Cup variety box to show off the variety that Keurig posseses. The flavors are Green Mountain Coffee® Breakfast, Green Mountain Coffee Hazelnut, Green Mountain Coffee Nantucket Blend, Caribou Coffee Caribou Blend, The Original Donut Shop Regular, The Original Donut Shop Decaf, Eight O’Clock The Original, Starbucks Pike Place Roast, Barista Prima Coffeehouse Italian Roast, Celestial Seasonings English Breakfast Black Tea, Cafe Escapes Chai Latte, Swiss Miss® Milk Chocolate Hot Cocoa. I am torn between The Original Donut Shop Regular and Eight O’Clock The Original being my favorite.

There is absolutely no shortage in variety when it comes to the Keurig. There are over 250 different gourmet brands to choose from. We all know how important coffee is to some people and Keurig aims to make sure that you can have your options. Whether it is coffee, tea or even hot cocoa, Keurig give you many choices. hot or even cold…this unit can even brew over ice for your favorite chilled beverage. For those who are concerned about space, the dimensions of the unit is 13.0H x 9.8W x 13.3D. The system also includes a quiet brew technology and a removable 48 oz water reservoir…honestly what more can you ask for? This is my first experience with a Keurig system and I have to admit, I think I am hooked…now I am curious to see what other types of systems they have.

About 5-6 years ago, I was really getting stressed out about cleaning out house. We have three cats at the time and between the fur and litter everywhere, it was just a mess. We literally went through three vacuum in a few months and were not satisfied with anything we got…this is till we discovered the Dyson brand. Wow, I have never been so happy with cleaning using their products. On thing that still caused me occasional issues is the cord. I wanted a vacuum with the power and efficiency of a Dyson but without a cord.  Well, my prayers have been answer with the new Dyson DC59 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner.

This vacuum cleaner is one of the most sleek and downright coolest vacuum that I have ever seen. Like I mentioned it comes with no cord and no hassle. It has a docking station, which is setup to be wall mounted, that charges the machine. So it will be ready to use whenever you need it and most importantly you will not need to keep plugging and unplugged the vacuum at each room. We do not have a big house but during our weekly cleaning, we have to plug and unplug three times in order to clean the entire house. Now, all that extra work has been eliminated.

So I am sure you are wondering, how long this thing is going to last on a charge. Well, it is quite impressive running at 24 minutes of cleaning time when using the run-time enhancing trigger. It also claims to suck up as much dust as a conventional vacuum and when I tested it, I was very impressed. In fact, this actually has 75% more brush bar power and removes more dirt from carpet. It works just like my big Dyson, better in fact. It is much quieter and weighs about barely anything.  I love that is has a balanced build, so it is not top heavy at all. All the key components are located around the grip for easy handling from the floor to the ceiling.

Speaking of handheld cleaning, with this vacuum there is no more awkward hose. This Dyson DC59 comes with a brand new brush bar which includes a direct-drive motor for edge to edge cleaning. Other additional tools are included as well to clean tight gaps, on the stairs and in the car. I have a two year old daughter and let’s just say my car needs a cleaning from cheerios to cookies all on my car floor. I would have never done this in the past because I would have had to drag the big vacuum in the garage, find a place to put it in etc but this new cordless vacuum changed that entire experience and made things much easier. You can now just remove the long bar as seen above and connect a smaller brush and it works like a mega powerful dust buster.

If you are not impresses yet, then let me throw some big technical terms at you describing just how amazing this is. Firstly like all Dyson products, this comes with a two-year warranty on parts and labor, which is a such a great reassurance (and being an owner of a Dyson for over 5 years, we have never needed this). This vacuum is powered by the Dyson digital motor V6, which spins up to 110,000 timesa minute – up to 3 times faster than conventional motors. The DC59 also using 2 Tier Radial cyclones and carbon fiber cleaner head technology. It seems weird to get excited about a vacuum cleaner, so trust me I realize that but this is not a vacuum cleaner it is a work of art. Dyson is changing the world of cleaning and this is easily one of their best products. I highly recommend it.

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