AbNo
Regular Member
imported post
Sorry, I was up all night. Apparently, I fail at internet this morning.
Sorry, I was up all night. Apparently, I fail at internet this morning.
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Asked to leave Home Depot in Roanoke
- Thread starter Tosta Dojen
- Start date
imported post
smn wrote:
Could have been resolved with simple, direct response:
"Yes sir, it is legal. Thank you for your interest."
Yata hey
smn wrote:
This is truly a pathetic waste of manpower and resources. Does anybody have a follow up on this?
Could have been resolved with simple, direct response:
"Yes sir, it is legal. Thank you for your interest."
Yata hey
AbNo
Regular Member
imported post
http://www.georgiapacking.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=152725#152725
Here's your followup.
Also Grape, I DID finish a PC hardware course last Wednesday. :uhoh:
http://www.georgiapacking.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=152725#152725
Here's your followup.
Also Grape, I DID finish a PC hardware course last Wednesday. :uhoh:
VA Caver
Regular Member
imported post
I've OC'd in the South Roanoke Home Depot numerous times and have never had an issue with it.
I've OC'd in the South Roanoke Home Depot numerous times and have never had an issue with it.
jmelvin
Founder's Club Member
imported post
Is this the Home Depot on Hershberger across the parking lot from Sportsman's Warehouse?
Is this the Home Depot on Hershberger across the parking lot from Sportsman's Warehouse?
Liko81
Founder's Club Member
imported post
Analogman wrote:
Well, as was demonstrated toward the bottom of the first page, Home Depot's policy is that all customers are allowed to carry firearms in accordance with state law while in their stores. The employees' misunderstanding stems from the policy they themselves must follow, which is that firearm carry is strictly prohibited.
Now, the Home Depot is private property. If the manager of the premises asks you to leave, do so and do not ask if you can check out. Then complain to the regional manager, referencing the letter posted here, and you should get a timely response including an assurance that the problem has been corrected.
Analogman wrote:
Well, as was demonstrated toward the bottom of the first page, Home Depot's policy is that all customers are allowed to carry firearms in accordance with state law while in their stores. The employees' misunderstanding stems from the policy they themselves must follow, which is that firearm carry is strictly prohibited.
Now, the Home Depot is private property. If the manager of the premises asks you to leave, do so and do not ask if you can check out. Then complain to the regional manager, referencing the letter posted here, and you should get a timely response including an assurance that the problem has been corrected.
rlh2005
Founder's Club Member
imported post
Grapeshot wrote:
Grapeshot wrote:
I'm nominating that for "Understatement of the Year" award.
W.E.G.
Newbie
imported post
It would be worth making an appointment with the misguided manager to make sure he understands the rules now.
It would be worth making an appointment with the misguided manager to make sure he understands the rules now.
Tosta Dojen
Regular Member
imported post
In-person follow-up: 7/30 6:30 PM - Home Depot #4609, Hershberger Rd, Roanoke
I stopped by the store tonight to follow up with the management there and confirm that everybody was on the same page. I was armed as before.
After I had waited at the customer service counter for a few minutes, David came by. I told him why I was there, and asked if he had gotten word from the corporate office regarding firearms policy. He replied that he had not.
David then pointed out Chuck Grosskopf, the store manager, as "the guy who sets policy for the store." Chuck was escorting another customer off the premises, so David went after him. While I waited for Chuck, I had an interesting exchange with a young lady whose name I didn't catch:
"The corporate rules might not apply here, since laws are different depending on the state."
"Oh?"
"Yeah, Virginia's a commonwealth, so our laws are a lot different from other states."
"Right. Well, I'm pretty familiar with Virginia firearms law."
At that point, Chuck returned and immediately explained that I had been asked to leave based on the manager's [David's] discretion, and he supported David's decision. He went on at length about how "people around here" are nervous about handguns, citing the Virginia Tech massacre, the proximity of Roanoke Firearms, and "the way things are" as reasons for this. David acknowledged that he was mistaken about corporate policy, so I asked whether there was an applicable store policy. Chuck said that there was no written policy, but explained that he didn't want his customers to be uncomfortable, and if my handgun was making others uncomfortable, I would be asked to leave. I asked Chuck whether this standard applied to me as well, since I would be uncomfortable without my handgun, because of "the way things are" these days. He didn't answer the question, but went on again about how handguns make local residents nervous. He indicated that it would be OK for me to carry concealed, but he also mentioned that the store had ordered some 'No Firearms' signs that would soon be posted at the entrances.
It seemed unlikely that further conversation would be productive, so I took his name, mentioned that I'd be contacting corporate once again, and left.
Follow-up (again): 7/30 7:15 PM - Home Depot Customer Care
After a little while on hold, I got through to Ellen. I gave her the incident number from my previous calls, and told her that, contrary to what I'd been told on my previous call, I was apparently not welcome in the Home Depot while carrying my firearm. She looked up the incident, asked a couple of questions ("Are you law enforcement?" | "No, just a citizen.") and read the corporate firearms policy for me. I reiterated that I was carrying my firearm in compliance with all applicable laws, as required by that policy. "Well, how do you want me to resolve this?" she asked.
You can start, I answered, by telling me whether the store has the authority to operate in contradiction to corporate policy. The district manager could override corporate policy, she told me. His name is Paul Kaplan, but she doesn't any contact information for him. She offered to have him call me, and I accepted. I made it a point to mention how much I've spent at the Home Depot in the last couple of years, and that the resolution of this issue would be critical in determining whether I continue to patronize their stores in the future. Ellen asked me to hold while she put my contact request through.
After holding for a little longer, Ellen returned, and asked whether I was carrying my firearm openly. I confirmed that I was, and she read to me the only section of corporate policy that mentions open carry: the part that states, in effect, that where the law requires concealed carry, customers carrying openly may be asked to leave. I explained that the law in Virginia does not require concealed carry, so that section of the policy doesn't apply. I told her that Ebony had confirmed this interpretation for me on my previous call. Ellen seemed skeptical, but did not press the point. She told me that I should receive a call from Paul Kaplan within the next couple of days.
At this point, it's obvious that this isn't a simple misunderstanding of corporate policy, as I first thought. From here, I intend to begin applying some 'leverage.' Although I should be getting a call from the district manager, I'm not going to wait on it. Tomorrow I'll compose a letter that will be sent to some carefully selected Home Depot executives, and also a note to Chip Fetrow at VCDL. This store is well on its way to inclusion on the VCDL Unfriendly Business list.
In-person follow-up: 7/30 6:30 PM - Home Depot #4609, Hershberger Rd, Roanoke
I stopped by the store tonight to follow up with the management there and confirm that everybody was on the same page. I was armed as before.
After I had waited at the customer service counter for a few minutes, David came by. I told him why I was there, and asked if he had gotten word from the corporate office regarding firearms policy. He replied that he had not.
David then pointed out Chuck Grosskopf, the store manager, as "the guy who sets policy for the store." Chuck was escorting another customer off the premises, so David went after him. While I waited for Chuck, I had an interesting exchange with a young lady whose name I didn't catch:
"The corporate rules might not apply here, since laws are different depending on the state."
"Oh?"
"Yeah, Virginia's a commonwealth, so our laws are a lot different from other states."
"Right. Well, I'm pretty familiar with Virginia firearms law."
At that point, Chuck returned and immediately explained that I had been asked to leave based on the manager's [David's] discretion, and he supported David's decision. He went on at length about how "people around here" are nervous about handguns, citing the Virginia Tech massacre, the proximity of Roanoke Firearms, and "the way things are" as reasons for this. David acknowledged that he was mistaken about corporate policy, so I asked whether there was an applicable store policy. Chuck said that there was no written policy, but explained that he didn't want his customers to be uncomfortable, and if my handgun was making others uncomfortable, I would be asked to leave. I asked Chuck whether this standard applied to me as well, since I would be uncomfortable without my handgun, because of "the way things are" these days. He didn't answer the question, but went on again about how handguns make local residents nervous. He indicated that it would be OK for me to carry concealed, but he also mentioned that the store had ordered some 'No Firearms' signs that would soon be posted at the entrances.
It seemed unlikely that further conversation would be productive, so I took his name, mentioned that I'd be contacting corporate once again, and left.
Follow-up (again): 7/30 7:15 PM - Home Depot Customer Care
After a little while on hold, I got through to Ellen. I gave her the incident number from my previous calls, and told her that, contrary to what I'd been told on my previous call, I was apparently not welcome in the Home Depot while carrying my firearm. She looked up the incident, asked a couple of questions ("Are you law enforcement?" | "No, just a citizen.") and read the corporate firearms policy for me. I reiterated that I was carrying my firearm in compliance with all applicable laws, as required by that policy. "Well, how do you want me to resolve this?" she asked.
You can start, I answered, by telling me whether the store has the authority to operate in contradiction to corporate policy. The district manager could override corporate policy, she told me. His name is Paul Kaplan, but she doesn't any contact information for him. She offered to have him call me, and I accepted. I made it a point to mention how much I've spent at the Home Depot in the last couple of years, and that the resolution of this issue would be critical in determining whether I continue to patronize their stores in the future. Ellen asked me to hold while she put my contact request through.
After holding for a little longer, Ellen returned, and asked whether I was carrying my firearm openly. I confirmed that I was, and she read to me the only section of corporate policy that mentions open carry: the part that states, in effect, that where the law requires concealed carry, customers carrying openly may be asked to leave. I explained that the law in Virginia does not require concealed carry, so that section of the policy doesn't apply. I told her that Ebony had confirmed this interpretation for me on my previous call. Ellen seemed skeptical, but did not press the point. She told me that I should receive a call from Paul Kaplan within the next couple of days.
At this point, it's obvious that this isn't a simple misunderstanding of corporate policy, as I first thought. From here, I intend to begin applying some 'leverage.' Although I should be getting a call from the district manager, I'm not going to wait on it. Tomorrow I'll compose a letter that will be sent to some carefully selected Home Depot executives, and also a note to Chip Fetrow at VCDL. This store is well on its way to inclusion on the VCDL Unfriendly Business list.
Tosta Dojen
Regular Member
imported post
jmelvin wrote:
jmelvin wrote:
It's not clear whether you're asking me or VA Caver, but my incident was indeed in that Home Depot.
jmelvin
Founder's Club Member
imported post
I was indeed asking you and now thank you for the reply.
Perhaps you could have asked the manager how his customers ever felt comfortable enough to come into his parking lot considering the store next door had enough firearms and ammunition to supply a small army. You're just one guy with likely only one gun and maybe a couple of reloads for it.
I was indeed asking you and now thank you for the reply.
Perhaps you could have asked the manager how his customers ever felt comfortable enough to come into his parking lot considering the store next door had enough firearms and ammunition to supply a small army. You're just one guy with likely only one gun and maybe a couple of reloads for it.
AbNo
Regular Member
imported post
Maybe we need to call this store and tell them that making customers disarm makes US uncomfortable.
Maybe we need to call this store and tell them that making customers disarm makes US uncomfortable.
VA Caver
Regular Member
imported post
The "handguns make local residents nervous" comment sounds like total BS to me. I work not too far from that Home Depot, open carry at many businesses in the same area, and have yet to have ANY type of issue with it.
When talking to the Regional Manager, you might also include that that particular Home Depot is located in one of the higher crime rate areas of Roanoke...all the more reason for the need to protect yourself.
The "handguns make local residents nervous" comment sounds like total BS to me. I work not too far from that Home Depot, open carry at many businesses in the same area, and have yet to have ANY type of issue with it.
When talking to the Regional Manager, you might also include that that particular Home Depot is located in one of the higher crime rate areas of Roanoke...all the more reason for the need to protect yourself.
ThunderRanch
Regular Member
imported post
I still like the "Mr Manager? That person over there keeps passing gas and it makes me uncomfortable. Would you please ask him (or her) to leave?" :celebrateOr perhaps "Mr Manager? The fact that I can see that person's underwear due to their wearing of their pants below the belt line is making me uncomfortable. Would please ask him to leave?"
If they're not willing to do that, they're discriminating aginst you!!
I still like the "Mr Manager? That person over there keeps passing gas and it makes me uncomfortable. Would you please ask him (or her) to leave?" :celebrateOr perhaps "Mr Manager? The fact that I can see that person's underwear due to their wearing of their pants below the belt line is making me uncomfortable. Would please ask him to leave?"
If they're not willing to do that, they're discriminating aginst you!!
jmelvin
Founder's Club Member
imported post
Tosta Dojen have you had any furtherresolution or reply to your incident at Home Depot in Roanoke? Inquiring minds want to know....
Tosta Dojen have you had any furtherresolution or reply to your incident at Home Depot in Roanoke? Inquiring minds want to know....
Ghettokracker71
Regular Member
imported post
ThunderRanch wrote:
I'm one of 4 managers that run an entire facitlity , last time I saw a guy OC in my business, I complimented the beautiful pearl handles on his 1911,and told him about OC (DOT) org.
ThunderRanch wrote:
haha, amen. But underpants isn't an evil black gun! I'd be so tempted to go print up the local laws regaurding the legal opencarry of a firearm,and print the email, and go back up there asking for this "david" guy.
I'm one of 4 managers that run an entire facitlity , last time I saw a guy OC in my business, I complimented the beautiful pearl handles on his 1911,and told him about OC (DOT) org.