Home Depot’s founder Bernie Marcus appears done building a customer base. In a conference call, Marcus said that retailers who did not support “Norm Coleman and these other guys . . . should be shot.” This gives the store’s “you can do it, we can help motto” a bit more menacing meaning.
Here is what Marcus said:
If a retailer has not gotten involved with this, if he has not spent money on this election, if he has not sent money to Norm Coleman and these other guys,” Mr. Marcus said, apparently referring to Republican senators facing tough re-election fights, then those retailers “should be shot; should be thrown out of their goddamn jobs.
Nice. If they don’t resign, Marcus has a gouger and a rip saw to show them.
For the story, click here.
Wow.
Bernie, I hope you enjoyed that last dime you’ll ever make off of me, you fascist.
Remind me to never go to a Home Depot store again. This is an outrageous statement and it doesn’t surprise me that he is a Norm Coleman supporter. Are we sure that this guy doesn’t work for Fox News? It sounds like something Fox would spew. I think Mr. Marcus needs to be shown the door by the Home Depot door. His exit should be quick and should not include any golden parachutes. The only way to stop this kind of behavior is to treat it seriously and remove the cancer.
Proof positive again that one needs neither brains nor manners to make money.
How very Murdochian of him. Congratulations Mr. Marcus, you just made me a Menards shopper.
I’m glad I went to Lowes yesterday. I never thought that there was much difference between the two. Now I know.
Lowes, here I come! (We don’t have any independents in my town).
I started going to Lowes, after years ago reading the sign outside of Home Depot Stores, soliciting job applications, but warning that applicants would be tested for drugs. I try not to patronize businesses that force drug tests on their employees. Actually, given the stupidity of this particular statement perhaps Mr. Marcus should be tested for drugs, or breathalyzed? I’d be curious as to the results. If he passes then I suggest that he be screened psychologically, since there seems to be a financially suicidal vein in his public pronouncements.
Mike:
One would think that with a boss like Marcus, they would at least allow employees to use drugs as self-medicating acts.
Professor,
Your post made me laugh out loud and my wife, who was on her laptop, was startled by my outburst. As I remember Home Depot it was always difficult to get someone to help you, so perhaps methamphetamine would improve service. In fairness though, I must say that 12 years ago when a toilet broke, I took their toilet installation course and replaced it myself. Given Mr Marcus’s attitude, maybe that’s illustrative of what they’re good for.
Well, there goes Home Depot as far as I am concerned. They are going bust already so I guess they do not need my business. What a total idiot.