No pencil pushers, Marshfield based Taylor Lumber welcomes alleged pencil thief to erase Home Depot ties
Released on = November 23, 2005, 6:11 am
Press Release Author = Rick Taylor/Taylor Lumber
Industry = Real Estate
Press Release Summary = Responding to an odd news story that a Methuen man was "banned" from all Home Depot stores for accidentally taking a carpenter's pencil
Press Release Body = Responding to an odd news story that a Methuen man was "banned" from all Home Depot stores for accidentally taking a carpenter's pencil from the company's Methuen store on Thursday, Rick Taylor of Marshfield-based Taylor Lumber-ACE Hardware store asserted, "This pencil pinching story underscores the difference between big box stores like Home Depot and small, hometown lumber and hardware stores like ours."
Taylor added, "No one encourages 'shop lifting', but a simple misunderstanding like this is less likely to happen in a locally owned shop where we tend to know customers by their first name. We welcome Michael Panorelli and other contractors to not only take a complimentary pencil, but have a yardstick and paint can opener as well."
According to Monday's Boston Herald, Home Depot initially decided to ban a Lawrence man for a year after he accidentally walked out of a Metheun store with a 41-cent, used pencil in his pocket Thursday. With the tornado of bad publicity and some reflection, Home Depot rescinded the ban.
It all started on Thursday when Panorelli took George Salas, a homeowner who hired him to do window replacement, to Home Depot. When Panorelli went to jot some measurements on lumber, Salas handed him the controversial pencil. Panorelli later put the pencil in his pocket as he used his hands to check some merchandise.
"I was in the middle of reaching for something in the bins, so I put the pencil in my pocket to free my hands. Within 15 to 20 seconds, I forgot about it," Panorelli said.
After purchasing $117 worth of lumber, Panorelli and Silas were stopped by security as they exited. "At first, I thought he was kidding, making a joke," Panorelli noted of the security guard's attention.
He was asked to return to the store and sign a document that banned him from Home Depot. Noted Panorelli, "Of course I was embarrassed. There I was in the office with three workers looking at me like I was a criminal."
"All I can say is yikes," offered Taylor. "We hope to help customers with their projects. I say to Mr. Panorelli and others, take our pencil, please."
Taylor Lumber/ACE Hardware has maintained the old fashioned, personal service once offered by every good hometown lumber and hardware store. The Taylor family has been serving Marshfield's lumber and hardware needs for more than 50 years. Today they are a full-service hardware store and lumberyard serving professional contractors and the "do-it-yourselfer". Taylor Lumber combines traditional, old-fashioned service with the advances of today\'s building materials. As an ACE affiliate, they are able to bring the customer a wide variety of top quality, competitively priced products.
Taylor Lumber/ACE Hardware is located at 2075 Ocean Street (Route 139) in Marshfield, Mass. They can be reached at 781.834.7921 or toll free at 800.562.9663. Also, visit Taylor Lumber/ACE Hardware on the web at www.taylor-ace.com.