Thread: Californian Consumers Forced to Use Undocumented Workers

We ordered carpet from Home Depot last month. When two subcontractors of Home Depot arrived to install it last Friday we were a concerned because we could not understand them. One of the "carpet installers" would not speak at all. The other was able to get out 2-word sentences. How were we to communicate with them? After finally understanding that they wanted us to "check color", we went out to their van and saw that they had brought the wrong carpet. Their beat up van had no company markings on it and the registration was expired. We called Home Depot and told them of our concerns. We expressed that it was important to us that the installers had experience and were documented, legal workers and we would need the correct carpet. A manager informed us that we had no right to ask of their legal status and suggested we cancel the order. We cancelled it, even though our furniture had been moved out the day before and we knew it would take at least 2-weeks to get a new order completed.

Next we went to Lowes, who assured us that their subcontractors were documented workers and again we ordered $6,0000 worth of carpet and installation. They sent a man to measure. That night we learned on the news that Lowe's major carpet supplier "Mohawk Industries" was being sued under RICO by it's legal employees for purposefully importing over 30,000 workers from Mexico and spreading them out all over the nation to their facilities. Note that the government isn't trying to stop them, the legal employees are. We checked with Lowes, told them what we learned, and changed our carpet selection to one from another manufacturer.

The next day we received a call from Lowes saying they were unable to complete our purchase because we were "prejudice against Mexicans". We explained we were not prejudice, we did not care what nationality the installers were, as long as they could legally work in America. We informed Lowes that our home owner's policy does not cover undocumented workers on our premises, and if the worker's employer was already breaking employment laws, then they probably were not paying workman's comp or liability on these undocumented workers either. Luckily for us in our furnitureless home, Lowes decided they would let us buy the carpet from them after all. Lowes told us not to worry uninsured workers. They would personally cover any claim made by their subcontractors labor. So if the worker was not insured, Lowes would cover it up.

Wow. We can't get carpet installed in S. Calif. without being forced to use undocumented workers. Some people would say "Ah ha! That proves just how much we need immigrant workers to do the jobs Americans won't do" (I guess they've changed it to "...the jobs Americans are over-qualified for"). This, no matter how they say it, is absolutely untrue.

The reason undocumented workers are getting employment from lawless companies is because they are paid less (if not in wage only, then less in taxes). Greedy, lawless companies want undocumented workers so they can get richer. Consumers don't need them, we are still paying outrageously high prices on everything. The lawless companies want to pay near-slave wages...they don't care about anything but the bottom line. The poor undocumented workers think they are being given a chance, when in reality, they are being duped into a type of slavery. It's all a damn shame.

You went thru a lot of crap in order to give those people your business. I wonder if those are the only two places in your town where you could buy carpet?

Prejudiced against Mexicans? What a statement!! What happened to 'pleasing the customer??'...I suppose that idea has bitten the dust in your area?? Did you know there are independent installers? You don't have to use just anyone they send to your home.

I get the willies thinking about someone being in my home that I can't even talk to...geez...

MJ

Darcele, Welcome.

Geez what a story. I can imagine how you must have felt. We are just out gunned by these corporate thieves taking everything they can from us and giving to themselves.

There is not one American that would not install carpet at a fair wage per hour. If the State would get tough on corporations that do this, things could change.

I still can't believe they told you they wouldn't do your carpet because you were prejudiced against Mexicans.

I would contact somebody higher up the food chain at Lowes and tell them your experience. Make a fuss.

Next time you need something done...go to an independent lumber yard..ask them for the phone numbers of contractors or subcontractors.

I still can't believe you spent $6,000 with Lowe's considering their attitude.

MJ

We did complain to Home Depot headquarters. The number we were given connected us to a customer service center in India. After much pleading, I was given a number for a U.S. office. The U.S. office explained that "they were a multi-national company and they hired multi-nationally". I was treated rudely by an operator with a "could care-less" attitude. I finally blew my top at her and she hung up me.

We did check into other installers in the area and out of the area, all of them are using undocumented workers. Most would not continue the conversation after we asked for documented workers. Others tried to convince us that it was just the "way it is". We decided we would have a better chance of getting the job done legally at a major retailer. Lowes and Home Depot will not sell carpet unless you agree to use their subcontractors for installation.

Murrieta is just North of San Diego. The influx of undocumented workers here is staggering. The border patrol is only 1 mile from our town, but has been closed down for the last 3 years.

We have been negatively affected in many ways by the importation of undocumented workers. The carpet story is just the most recent, it's not the worst.

WELCOME Darcele! Might I suggest you copy this letter to Lowes Corporate offices. Also give them a call ...

Robert A. Niblock
Chairman, President & CEO

Board of Directors
Robert A. Niblock
Director Leonard L. Berry
Director Peter C. Browning
Director Paul Fulton
Director Dawn E. Hudson
Director Robert A. Ingram
Director Robert L. Johnson
Director Marshall O. Larsen
Director Richard K. Lochridge
Director Stephen F. Page
Director O. Temple Sloan, Jr.

Customer Care

Customer Care (CON
Lowe's Companies, Inc.
P.O. Box 1111
North Wilkesboro, NC 28656

1-800-445-6937

Thank you. I will.

Welcome Darcele.
I ALWAYS say to a company doing any work for me "dont send any illegals or I will send them back and take my business elsewhere". If they want to accuse me of being prejudiced, then thats fine with me. Because if they cant supply legal citizens, then I'd consider them as a shoddy business to deal with anyway.

I know this is the case - we have been waiting 7 months for a roofer who doesn't employ illegals to get around to roofing our home. This is small town Texas.

They are entangled in every industry in this country. This doesn't prove we need them - it proves they are here and are a bargain for the employer.

That is why we need to put our money where it works for u s. This proves we can't just say, "I won't spend money with employers that hire illegals". We can't just not do that. We have to sometimes.

What we must do is target one industry at a time. We need to make them see that without our money, they can't hire these people. Without jobs, many will go home. We can do without one industry for a month or two at a time. They will feel the hurt and get the message. After we have targeted 2 or 3, the rest might be softened up a bit.

I will say the construction industry will be the hardest 'nut to crack' - in Texas, they are just about the only workers in the cities.

Texas has passed a law that all electricians and plumbers must be licensed. They said this was to keep the illegals from doing the work --

In our small town, there are no licensed electricians or plumbers. There are a couple of family businesses that are 3rd generation electricians and plumbers. They have wired and plumbed probably 75% of that town - and it seems to have worked quite well.

The electrician had gotten the job of wiring a new house and was on the job when the city inspector came out and told him to 'cease and desist' or he would be fined. The next day a large plumbing concern from the city, 70 miles away, came out, unloaded a bunch of illegals and they did the work. When the city folks were questioned, "WEll, the illegals were just helpers." By the way, the big guys charged the homeowner more.

I urge everyone to read the boycott 'sticky' and get behind it wholeheartedly. Let's focus - concentrate - work together on this and we can do it. Any other boycotts you personally want to do - that is good.
If, however, a few boycott this and a few boycott that, we will be diluted and the message will not get to the employers. Do the monthly boycott and as much else as you can.

If we just target one business in an industry, like Tyson's (who deserve it), whatever illegals are effected, will just go to another poultry company. So we need to make it one entire industry = for a month or two months.

It will work -

Give a Mom & Pop operation a try.