10 Rude Things Georgians Do at The Home Depot
Most trips to The Home Depot start with good intentions. Maybe you’re there for a can of wood stain, a few daffodil bulbs, or a drill that could finally hang that picture frame you’ve been putting off for six months.
But like any busy Georgia store, it’s also a place where good manners can disappear faster than an 8-foot 2×4 on a Saturday morning.
If you shop at The Home Depot even semi-regularly, you’ve probably seen a few of these rude behaviors in action.
Abusing the Return Policy
The Home Depot has a pretty generous return policy, but some customers take advantage of it to the extreme.
People will return items they’ve clearly used, broken, or bought years ago, pretending they’re “defective.” Some even return half-used cans of paint or opened boxes of nails with half the nails missing.
It’s not just dishonest—it drives up prices for everyone else. The Home Depot has to account for all those losses somehow, and part of that cost gets baked into what you pay at checkout.
Plus, employees have to waste time processing shady returns when they could be helping honest customers.
It’s okay to return something if it truly doesn’t work for you. But trying to bring back a grill that’s been sitting in your backyard for two summers?
That’s taking advantage of a system built on trust.
Leaving Unwanted Items in the Wrong Sections
The Home Depot is so huge that it can feel like a treasure hunt just to find the right aisle. But some customers make it even harder by picking up items, changing their minds, and then dropping them in totally random places.
Finding a cactus sitting next to the toilet seats?
Sadly, not unusual.
Misplaced lumber is even worse. Boards get shoved onto the wrong racks, mixing treated and untreated wood or putting warped boards where the good ones should be.
It makes shopping harder for everyone, especially people trying to find straight, clean pieces for a big project.
Employees do their best to straighten things up, but it’s a never-ending battle. If you pick something up and don’t want it, just bring it to an employee or put it back where you found it.
Treating Employees Like Personal Assistants
The Home Depot employees are usually pretty helpful. But some customers act like the workers are their personal shoppers, expecting them to drop everything and spend an hour helping pick out the “perfect shade of beige” paint.
It’s good to ask for help. But there’s a difference between getting advice and turning an associate into your unpaid home design consultant.
Sometimes customers bark orders like, “Go get me that ladder,” or “You need to load all this into my truck.”
The Home Depot workers juggle a lot—answering questions, helping with inventory, and making sure the store doesn’t look like a tornado hit it.
They’re not there to be bossed around by customers.
Leaving Carts Everywhere
One of the most frustrating things customers do at The Home Depot is leave carts sitting in the middle of parking spaces. Instead of walking a few extra steps to a cart return, some people just abandon them wherever they feel like it.
Few things are worse in the shopping world than pulling into a spot only to find a bright orange cart blocking the way.
Inside the store, it’s no better. People leave carts blocking aisles, especially in the busy lumber section, where space is already tight. Imagine trying to haul a 10-foot piece of PVC pipe and having to dodge a forgotten cart in the middle of the aisle.
It’s a mini obstacle course no one asked for.
Employees often have to waste valuable time running around to gather up all the stray carts.
That’s time they could be spending helping someone find the right size screws instead of rescuing carts that customers couldn’t bother to put away properly.
Making a Huge Mess and Not Cleaning It Up
A lot of customers think The Home Depot is some kind of grown-up playground where it’s fine to rip open boxes, leave screws all over the floor, or toss items back wherever they want.
You’ll often see open bags of mulch spilling everywhere or loose nails rolling across the flooring department.
In the paint section, it’s common for customers to test sample paints on the counters—or worse, drip them all over the floor.
And good luck finding an untouched caulk display; people love opening them to “test” the squeeze like it’s a tube of toothpaste at home. Spoiler alert: it’s not.
Cleaning up takes employees away from helping other customers and slows down the whole shopping experience.
Blocking Aisles While Chatting
The Home Depot has wide aisles, especially compared to other stores. But somehow, customers still manage to clog them up.
People will stand around chatting for ages with friends, family, or even total strangers they just met.
You’ll often find two shopping carts parked nose-to-nose while the shoppers discuss their kitchen remodels like they’re catching over coffee. Meanwhile, other customers are stuck behind, just trying to grab a tube of adhesive and go home.
It’s fine to have a quick conversation. But if you’re taking more than a minute or two, it’s time to move aside.
The Home Depot isn’t a social club. It’s a get-in, get-what-you-need, and get-to-work kind of place.
Letting Kids Run Wild
The Home Depot can be like Disneyland for kids—there are carts to ride in, aisles to race down, and giant displays to climb on.
But when parents let their kids treat the store like an amusement park, it quickly turns dangerous and frustrating for everyone else.
Kids running down aisles full speed with carts isn’t just annoying—it’s a real safety hazard. Displays can tip over, and sharp tools aren’t designed to be part of a game of hide-and-seek.
Employees sometimes have to play babysitter, putting them in an uncomfortable position.
No one expects kids to be statues, but a little parental supervision goes a long way.
Demanding Discounts for No Reason
There’s nothing wrong with politely asking if something is on sale. But some customers cross the line by demanding a discount on almost everything, even when there’s absolutely nothing wrong with it.
They’ll point at a perfectly good rake and say, “Give me 20% off, or I’m not buying it.”
It puts employees in a tough spot, especially when they’re just trying to follow store policy and treat everyone fairly.
The Home Depot often has sales, clearance sections, and even open-box deals if you’re looking for a bargain.
But bullying employees for a discount just because you feel like it isn’t cool. It slows down the line and makes shopping unpleasant for everyone around them.
Trying to Check Out With Giant Loads in Regular Lanes
The Home Depot has special contractor lanes and bigger checkout areas for people buying mountains of lumber, piping, or giant tool chests.
But some customers with massive carts full of drywall will stroll into the regular checkout lanes meant for smaller purchases.
It slows everything down big time. While the cashier struggles to scan 56 pieces of wood, everyone else in line is stuck holding a tiny lightbulb or extension cord, just trying to pay and leave.
There’s a reason they made those special contractor lanes—they’re built to handle heavy loads quickly and efficiently.
If you’re buying enough materials to build a small house, do everyone a favor and head over to the right lane. It keeps things moving for you and for everybody else.
Taking Up Contractor Services Without Intention to Buy
The Home Depot offers a lot of contractor services, from free in-store consultations to full-scale installations for things like kitchens, windows, and floors. It’s an awesome resource—when used properly.
But some customers book these services just to pick a professional’s brain, with no real intention of actually buying anything.
These free consults cost the store money and waste the time of skilled workers who could be helping customers who are serious about making a purchase. It’s not fair to the employees, and it takes up the scheduling for people who really need the help.
Asking a few questions is totally fine. That’s what the service is there for.
But using it like a free home improvement class without planning to follow through?
That’s just plain rude.
17 Life Hacks That Are Harder Than the Non-Hack

Life hacks are supposed to make your life easier, and sometimes they really do. However, the internet is rife with hacks that aren’t actually effective.
17 Life Hacks That Are Harder Than the Non-Hack
24 “Compliments” That Are Actually Condescending

Some Americans have mastered the art of a double-edged nice comment. Others, more well-intentioned, don’t mean to say something judgmental but end up there just the same.
“Bless Her Heart.” 24 Compliments That Are Actually Condescending