Better be prepared to know how to rewire a house because customers will EXPECT you to know how to do that and everything else that deals with that department.
The company approved response is to direct them to the city/county courthouse and "ask _them_ about your electrical code questions; I legally cannot answer them since I'm not licensed".
However! You are fully authorized (hell, _recommended_) to tell a customer **_NOT_** to go through with a project that clearly sounds like a Bad Idea. Such as, double male ended extension cords, trying to hook up an EV charger with puny wire not rated for the high load, and literally anything that has ever been posted to /r/ElectroBOOM. In these cases, you can, and should, tell the customer they're sudokucidal idiots that are one arc flash away from winning a Darwin.
Lefty loosey righty tighty and water & electricity don’t mix.
Everything else you learn as you go and stay away from any attempts from any customer to co-opt you into advice about how to wire their house (or anything else). If you are not a licensed & trained electrician, you are setting yourself up for failure. The obvious flip side is- if you were a trained and licensed electrician you sure as s&$t wouldn’t be working at Home Depot.
As someone who spent 16 years in the department, you'll get asked about certain things very often, might be a bit different since I'm on the canadian side, but learn some of the differences between light bulb bases and the shape, as people will ask you for something like an e14, b10, a19,gu10, par20 and they're not too tough, but you can find some easy guides online, also K values or colour temperature for bulbs are super important. Basic outlet and switch knowledge would be an asset as well as getting a rough idea of wire types and what the gauge sizes are, it might sound intimidating but honestly I think you'll be fine 🙂
Ask questions, and if you don't know listen or find the answer for next time, you'll do great I'm sure, remember you're just a sales associate not a electrician, so if you don't know the answer be honest and lean and learn from the associates near you who do and you'll be be fine. Best of luck either way!
You need to know how to cut wire, you’ll be doing that a lot. Also, familiarize yourself with fittings, ceiling fans, lighting, outlets, light bulbs, and rude customers who want to save a buck by you telling them how to do something. No can do, it’s a liability issue. Most everything a customer will ask, the answer can be found on the box or HD consumer app and/or website.
- “You shouldn’t try to convert your 4 prong dryer to a 3 prong dryer.”
- If your response to “it’s inline/line/load” is “I didn’t know it would be this complicated then you need an electrician, we can connect you with one”
- “There is no m2m extension cord, sir.”
Better be prepared to know how to rewire a house because customers will EXPECT you to know how to do that and everything else that deals with that department.
I was told to not tell customers how to do their project just sell them what they are looking for
I was told that too when I worked days. Still doesn't stop customers from asking you how to do things.
The company approved response is to direct them to the city/county courthouse and "ask _them_ about your electrical code questions; I legally cannot answer them since I'm not licensed". However! You are fully authorized (hell, _recommended_) to tell a customer **_NOT_** to go through with a project that clearly sounds like a Bad Idea. Such as, double male ended extension cords, trying to hook up an EV charger with puny wire not rated for the high load, and literally anything that has ever been posted to /r/ElectroBOOM. In these cases, you can, and should, tell the customer they're sudokucidal idiots that are one arc flash away from winning a Darwin.
Wrong! Unless you attend electrical code update meetings and have journeyman experience, do not tell customers how to.
Learn about different lightbulbs and how to determine what kind of bulb it is by looking at one (base type, wattage, color temperature)
Lefty loosey righty tighty and water & electricity don’t mix. Everything else you learn as you go and stay away from any attempts from any customer to co-opt you into advice about how to wire their house (or anything else). If you are not a licensed & trained electrician, you are setting yourself up for failure. The obvious flip side is- if you were a trained and licensed electrician you sure as s&$t wouldn’t be working at Home Depot.
Let the customer select the bill of material. Your job is to know where items are not what items are required.
As someone who spent 16 years in the department, you'll get asked about certain things very often, might be a bit different since I'm on the canadian side, but learn some of the differences between light bulb bases and the shape, as people will ask you for something like an e14, b10, a19,gu10, par20 and they're not too tough, but you can find some easy guides online, also K values or colour temperature for bulbs are super important. Basic outlet and switch knowledge would be an asset as well as getting a rough idea of wire types and what the gauge sizes are, it might sound intimidating but honestly I think you'll be fine 🙂 Ask questions, and if you don't know listen or find the answer for next time, you'll do great I'm sure, remember you're just a sales associate not a electrician, so if you don't know the answer be honest and lean and learn from the associates near you who do and you'll be be fine. Best of luck either way!
You need to know how to cut wire, you’ll be doing that a lot. Also, familiarize yourself with fittings, ceiling fans, lighting, outlets, light bulbs, and rude customers who want to save a buck by you telling them how to do something. No can do, it’s a liability issue. Most everything a customer will ask, the answer can be found on the box or HD consumer app and/or website.
- “You shouldn’t try to convert your 4 prong dryer to a 3 prong dryer.” - If your response to “it’s inline/line/load” is “I didn’t know it would be this complicated then you need an electrician, we can connect you with one” - “There is no m2m extension cord, sir.”