We had our kitchen counter tops installed almost 4 months ago, and since then there really hasn’t been a whole lot going on. A new light here, a new bookshelf there, but nothing big. I have been dreading the installation of the upper cabinets for a couple months now, because we decided we want to have under cabinet lighting and an over the oven microwave, which requires both ripping out the wall and running new electrical conduit — two things I absolutely can not stand doing.
While Lauren is lazing her days away down in Costa Rica, I mustered up the strength and finally got around to doing something about it. A quick trip down to the local “Do-it” Hardware store to pick up a drywall saw, conduit, electrical boxes and some wiring, and I was going to start demo. I walked in immediately found the first item on my list, the drywall saw and quickly moved on to the next. I was standing in front of a whole line of electrical wiring when an older gentlemen walked past and asked if I needed any help.
“Not really.. I think I am all set.” I replied, thinking I didn’t really need any help. I knew what I needed, and I wanted to get in and get out. But then something odd happened, He asked what I was working on. He actually wanted to help. Not like the majority of people you run into at those big box stores… he genuinely wanted to offer his assistance and expertise.
I hate it when a pushy salesman tries to show off how much he knows, or up-sell me on a bunch of crap I know I don’t need, or more often the case as it is at Home Depot and Lowes, to have someone stand there and feed me a line of BS when we both know 100% he really has no idea what he is talking about. So I proceeded to give him enough details to make his recommendation and carry on about his way. But then again he did that strange thing, I have so rarely witnessed in a retail environment he seemed to care, he continued to follow me around the store, asking questions, giving me advice, genuinely passing on his expertise. Not in a pushy way at all… he was just passionate about his job, and helping his customers.
In the end I walked out of there buying more than I would have if I didn’t have this strange encounter, but with information that will save me so much more time money and frustration in the long run it was worth it.
As it turns out after talking with this man, I am not going to have to rip out an entire wall to run conduit to each and every box as I thought Chicago code enforced. Instead I can run flexible conduit, or BX cable between boxes as long as it is less than a 6 foot run.
EUREKA!!!
This makes the dreadful project so much more managable… now all I need to do is create a few small holes instead of opening up the whole wall! It also means installing recessed lighting in the living room and kitchen, is no longer an inconceivable project!
So moral of the story is that even though you can save a few dollars here and there by shopping at the big stores… sometimes it really pays off to shop at your local hardware store where customer service and a knowledgeable staff are more of a priority.
and it has been incredibly inspiring. I am not quite finished yet, but as far as I can tell it is going to be a great book. There are some 
