Home Depot Closes Call Center

I came across this article on MSNBC and thought it might interest some readers. You can find the full article at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22090094/from/ET/:

Home Depot Cuts 750 Jobs

By DAVE SIMANOFF and JEROME R. STOCKFISCH , The Tampa Tribune

updated 12:41 a.m. ET, Tues., Dec. 4, 2007

BRANDON - The Home Depot is laying off 750 people locally and closing its call center in Brandon.

The Atlanta-based retail giant, known for its home improvement warehouse stores and bright orange work aprons, said the shutdown is a prudent business decision and part of a wider initiative to bring some customer service functions back into the stores.

Employees at the call center primarily helped Home Depot customers get prices and schedule appointments for installation services. Once the center closes on Jan. 28, the stores will handle those tasks.

"It's an effort to improve the customer experience, and also part of an effort to find savings from outside the store to help us invest in the store," said spokesman Stephen Holmes.--> READ FULL STORY

- MK