Please read this article. You do not need to read all 571 pages of responses to this article, but read a few.

Perhaps a better way is to ask your friends if they can make a referral for work they might have had done.

Here is a link that might be useful: Home Depot Customer Service

I've nothing but bad experiences from HD contractors. It really depends on who they work with in your area, (they seem to be either HD employees that are moonlighting or other low bidders), but I would suspect that, in many locals, it's contractors who are hard up for work that would pay HD a hefty percentage of their profit for this 'referral service'.

HD: A great place to get a few sheets of drywall
HD: A lousy place to get specialized products/services

My HD story: I bought two standard size windows but was not allowed to return one that was no longer needed, not even if I paid a restocking fee.

Ditto with the bad experiences,,,,

Had a VERY EXPENSIVE storm door installed (Anderson), three years ago, contractor installed the WRONG screws, and they started popping out. Thankfully, someone on this thread helped me fix it. This was after I ran into a brick wall at the customer service from both companies, got REALLY &^%%$# off and called corporates, only to get absolutely no where with that.

HD & Anderson customer service lines and offices area a big fat joke.

ALSO nothing but BAD BAD experiences with appliance issues. YES I have learned my lesson. If I didn't have three HD so close to where I live and need so much for my gardens, I would never use them. Unfortunately, Lowes is at least 45 minutes away from me.

I have talked with people who have purchased windows etc. through HD but had others do the installing. If you go this way, you should be able to get a good referral from neighbors or friends.

SG

Another question to ask HD:
How do they ensure the quality of the install and what will they do if you are not happy with the workmanship?

We had HD install kitchen cabinets and countertops in 1999. The contractors for the cabinets were top-notch...a husband/wife team who did impeccable work. Our countertops were a different story. We had our countertops replaced three times due to bad installation. Finally, after writing to HD corporate, they personally called to apologize, selected another contractor who installed the tops correctly, and then refunded our money! So while we had several months of aggravation and runaround, HD finally made things right.

In 2003, we had our back door replaced. Very happy with work - carpenter did an excellent job.

Despite the fiasco with the countertops, I would recommend HD. They are a huge company with a reputation to maintain. Maybe I have lucked out with my local store. In a few days I am getting an estimate on installing gutters, so I hope things haven't changed.

Of course, there are individual variations. I'm sure some contractors do an excellent job. The problem is, you want consistency (i.e., you can rely on a good job). If that's not the case, OP should just throw a dart at the yellow pages, which is what she/he was trying to avoid.

Rosesr4me,

It's a good thing that you are happy with the work HD did, however, I see nothing but frustration with your experience. I think you should not have had to do this to begin with.

When I spend tons of money on a roof, kitchen counters etc. I don't want to have to go to corporate to get results. HD has a HUGE problem with their customer service, your experience confirms that.

Chris_ont can get references from friends or neighbors who have had work done. The key is to check them and do proper investigating to make sure the company is who they say they are.

I agree that the bigger the company, the more managers are responsible, all the way to the top but simply dealing with all of this is not something that should take place to begin with.

Having a new roof installed is nothing to skimp on. If done improperly (like mine was before I bought the house) the basement can leak (due to improper installation of the shingles and wrong size gutters and downspouts which I discovered are just as important as the roof, probably more).

SG

Thanks, all
I did a search on Google for Home Depot roofing and the first few hits are COMPLAINTS!
After reading many gripes about their service and pricing think I'll give them a pass.

We have bought a lot of products from Home Depot over the years, and have been happy. However, we have never used one of their contractors. We've gotten quotes from their contractors but never hired one - they were either so out of line or there was something about the contractor that bothered us.

We had our roof redone about 9 years ago. We talked to people in our area and got some recommendations - hired one. He bought his materials at Home Depot and they're still going strong.

We just bought kitchen cabinets, sink, faucet, disposal, lighting and floor tiles from HD - but we have our own general contractor doing the install. Home Depot's quote was way out of line, and wanted to get permits for things we already knew didn't need to be permitted. After reading of a lot of problems with appliances purchased at HD, we've purchased the range and vented microhood elsewhere.

Check with colleagues, neighbors - you may get some good recommendations that way. If you know anyone who is a property manager, ask that person. They have to deal with repairs all the time!

DonnaR/CA

I bought all my Kohler fixtures for my bathroom redo from HD. Nothing but problems, problems, problems. A friend had the same experience with a hot water heater she bought from them; and had them install.
If you can't take it with you from HD, don't bother. They simply cannot guaranted top quality service all the time. And for the person with the kitchen experience; why would you be satisfied after all that aggravation? Nobody should have to fight to insure a quality installation.
I had a new roof put on 2 years ago. I drove around and kept seeing the same several installers in the area. I got 4 good quotes, one stupid quote. I choose the middle quote. Be sure they are bonded and insured, and check to see if the quote includes new gutters.

I had my roof installed by Home Depot in 2007. The sales person at Home Depot offered me several packages to choose from and I selected the higher priced package because it came with a 'Lifetime Peace of Mind' guarantee. The sales Rep also guaranteed if there were any damages inside my home due to any leaks from their roof, that they were fully insured and would be responsible. The roof began leaking in 2008, again Sept 2009. They came to 'fix' these leaks. In April 2010 the leaks worsened causing a great deal of damage to my home. Home Depot sent their 'field team' to investigate the issue, and this is when they discovered the installation was done incorrectly. Their installers used aluminum and copper around the skylights causing a chemical reaction, deteriorating the frames of the skylights, causing $86,000 of damages. It has been 3 months of dealing with Home Depots insurance company, Sedgwick, of which Mr. Dwayne Smith has avoided my calls, and my attorney�s calls. When finally getting Mr.Smith on the phone, he claims he lost the estimate provided by both a private adjuster, and my General Contractor. Meanwhile, Mr. Smith never provided his adjusters estimate. A total run around and stall tactic.
Now Mr. Smith Claims the issue is being investigated, this was the last we heard from him and that was November 18th. No Investigator has contacted us and it has been 4 weeks.
Though Home Depot admitted their error caused these damages, their insurance company refuses to be cooperative, and clearly dragging out my claim, making a bad situation severe. Home Depots �lifetime Peace of Mind guarantee" is an absolute joke. After three years they are ignoring my phone calls. I am left with a 27,000 roof that leaks, and a house that is inhabitable. It has been a homeowners NIGHTMARE.

Okay, we have signed a contrace with Home Depot for a new roof and I have started writing/blogging about it and trying to give a day-by-day description of all of our dealings with them. [See link below.] As of this date we have had our first pre-installation inspection. The blog, as of today, is still a few days behind, but hope to have it up-to-date by this weekend. If anyone has any comments or suggestions, please let me know. At the moment we are not feeling the peace of mind, and they have not yet begun to do any work. Once I put up the info about the pre-inspection, you will find out why. Who knows, maybe I am just being oversensitive -- or on the other hand, my inner-self is telling me that I should get out while I am ahead.

I also know that those that have complaints will complain and those that have something good to say will be quiet -- so I would like to hear opinions from both sides.

Thanks for your help!

Here is a link that might be useful: Home Depot Roof Installation Review