Man in Home Depot parking lot asking to help customers load their lumber.
@lookatdesktop (27156)
Dallas, Texas
September 17, 2016 5:38pm CST
This man was not working for The Home Depot. He was a free agent.
He asked me if I wanted to let him load the boards into our Caddy. I replied, "I don't need your help, thank you very much."
But my wife told me later that during the time she had been sitting in the car, waiting for me to finish with my buying things at The Home Depot, that strange man in the parking lot had asked half a dozen people if he could help them load their lumber and other things into their trucks and cars and that she personally saw him receive around 5 dollars or more from each person and by the time I came out he had already accumulated about 50 dollars.
If they continue to encourage this type of activity it will always be a new normal for the area. I personally don't think it is a crime to get money for helping others but there are problems on the legal end. The thing is, doing what he did was basically against city code.
But I didn't tell. I thought about this on the drive back home and figured if people want to pay him to help them out and they don't mind doing it, that's one way a person can get some money they might need to just survive, and be the difference between being a criminal or a con man or going the straight and narrow.
But in the back of my mind I wonder, what exactly is he going to do with that money? Will it be drugs? Will it be for food for his family? Will it be for him to gamble with? In any case, we all have to make the right decisions with our own money so in that light, that strange man in the parking lot on the surface at the best displayed determination and at the very least, helped relieve the guilty feelings of abundant lifestyles the ones who gave felt after an act of charity to one less fortunate than themselves.
More than 200 people have been arrested since Dallas police started cracking down on panhandlers in and around downtown. As of Wednesday, 223 Class C misdemeanor arrests have been logged…
7 people like this
6 responses
@lookatdesktop (27156)
• Dallas, Texas
18 Sep 16
I understand there are ways solicitors of certain types can get a one year license.
He or she will have to undergo a background criminal history check.
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2 people like this
@lookatdesktop (27156)
• Dallas, Texas
20 Sep 16
@RubyHawk It's just the way things work. If people lived back in the old days there would be no problem with it. Things are so sensitive these days that recently a man was shot by police for just reaching into his vehicle, that was broke down on the road, for his license and was killed. What ever happened to trust? I would like to go back and live in the 60's.
2 people like this
@RubyHawk (99367)
• Atlanta, Georgia
19 Sep 16
@lookatdesktop In any case, he's doing a service for people who ask his help. I can't understand why he would need a license to help someone load a truck.
2 people like this


@MattMeng (3448)
• Hangzhou, China
19 Sep 16
@lookatdesktop Yes, how to use these money is a problem,
1 person likes this
@lookatdesktop (27156)
• Dallas, Texas
20 Sep 16
@MattMeng There are not enough systems that help people. We need more of them.
1 person likes this
@lookatdesktop (27156)
• Dallas, Texas
18 Sep 16
It might pay for his 500 dollar fine for a class C misdemeanor. In a perfect world the man will go home and save it for when he really needs it. I personally do not want harm to come to him. I only know that certain codes must be enforced within city limits and Dallas Police are tough on road side solicitations.
1 person likes this

@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
17 Sep 16
At least he is making an effort to make money whereas some will beg. :) Not bad to get tip for getting help but the workers at Home Depot will help you load for free.
2 people like this
@lookatdesktop (27156)
• Dallas, Texas
17 Sep 16
Then I wonder why they did not offer to do it, for free or for any other matter because if it was their job to help them why did they not offer it? Maybe they give off the impression that they have too many other things to do that would indicate to a customer it is an inconvenience for them?
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
18 Sep 16
@lookatdesktop Typically like Vons or Ralph's the market they'll ask do you need carry out service? Which is free too! But I don't need it but when it comes to buying bigger items like at Sears or Home Depot if you need help or they see you're a lady or something they will offer the services. But even so, going with my boyfriend we'd get assistance too because we don't want to pull our backs! My boyfriend would help the person.
I think if you're a man, they don't bother asking if you need help in your car?
2 people like this
@lookatdesktop (27156)
• Dallas, Texas
18 Sep 16
@infatuatedbby I would imagine not.
1 person likes this


@jstory07 (148771)
• Roseburg, Oregon
18 Sep 16
@lookatdesktop That is so sad but he was breaking the law even though he needed the money.
1 person likes this
@lookatdesktop (27156)
• Dallas, Texas
20 Sep 16
@jstory07 The main point here is that Americans are losing their trust in each other. We are going into a period of complete distrust and that is what I fear the most.
@lookatdesktop (27156)
• Dallas, Texas
18 Sep 16
He might be motivated to do this out of desperation and since he is not licensed and employed by the Home Depot he is committing a class C misdemeanor.
1 person likes this

@LeaPea2417 (40058)
• Toccoa, Georgia
18 Sep 16
The good thing is the guy was trying to earn money instead of stealing it. I wonder if he asked permission to do this from the Home Depot Manager?
1 person likes this
@lookatdesktop (27156)
• Dallas, Texas
18 Sep 16
That is most unlikely in this case. It is referred to as aggressive solicitation according to City of Dallas ordinances and I have read about it. The man did not ask me once to help with my lumber but asked 3 separate times. That in my opinion was aggressive.
1 person likes this
@Fleura (35109)
• United Kingdom
19 Nov 17
I guess he is doing something to earn the money, not just begging, it's just like any other work as long as people feel that they are free to refuse his offer of help. When people work for a living in a regular job, we don't wonder what exactly they are going to do with the money, that's up to them. The main issue as I see it is whether it is clear that he is not connected to Home Depot and whether the people he approaches realise that he is expecting payment before they have accepted his offer.
1 person likes this







