You can do it, we can "help"

About a month or so ago Ryan and I were at Home Depot looking at flooring for the office that is being built in the basement. Ryan had previously been there and had found a product called DriCore that is a subfloor you use in the basement which allows you to install hardwood on top of it. It also has a rubber backing so that if there is a flood the water runs underneath thereby not damaging your floors; and it makes the temperature of the basement floor about 3 degrees warmer. We needed some help so we asked a "flooring" associate. We had some questions about DriCore and he had no clue what we were talking about. We were looking at some hardwood that was a special order item so we asked him for pricing. He was looking into it but was having some difficulty finding the price; while he was doing that we found a large DriCore display in the flooring area and pointed it out to him, he just sort of shrugged his shoulders. He then took off to look at the floor sample again that we wanted pricing on. While he was looking for whatever he was looking for another couple started asking him questions. Rather than telling them he was with customers and could they talk to one of the other FIVE associates in the aisle who were doing NOTHING, he started to help them. We were not impressed so we left our cart of things and left the store.

Last Wednesday we needed to order the wood and drywall for the basement. We decided to check out our local Mt Albert Home Hardware. We got pricing on the items, which were all cheaper than Home Depot (Ryan had done his homework) and delivery was also much cheaper since we are in town. They were soooo helpful. On Sunday we had to go back to get some electrical things and some things we forgot the first time. Sunday was a snowy, stormy day, so the local Home Hardware was busy with families buying shovels and sleds for the kids. Ryan was talking to one of the associates, while I was standing around waiting for him, the owner came up to me. He got me a stool to sit on and offered me some hot apple cider "to put a smile on my face". He introduced himself as Tom, and asked me if we were getting the help we needed (he was half listening to the associate helping Ryan to make sure everything was ok). I explained to him we had a few questions since we were finishing our basement and that we had just had a delivery from them on Friday. He responds "oh yeah, the 20 sheets of drywall, 2x4s..." and asked me if the delivery went ok and were his associates nice. I was floored that he remembered specifics of our order and thoroughly impressed when he asked if everything went ok. Ryan had to go back again on Monday (another bad weather day) and the associates were asking about me and remarked they were happy I was not with him because the roads were bad and I should be home since I am pregnant. They also said we needed to bring baby in to meet them once baby arrives. I am so, so impressed, by Home Hardware and their excellent service. I was telling Ryan last night even if some items there are a bit more expensive than other stores I would be more than willing to give them the extra money due to their high level of service (even though we have found so far they are cheaper). They have definitely made our renovation experience a pleasant one thus far!