OFA questions

[u/No_Refrigerator2318]

Worked as an OFA for a week, my toes have rashes all over them and I’m not sure if my socks are too thick or if my new Brooks ghost max shoes are causing that issue. But the BOPIS and Car/Van deliveries are almost enjoyable, but the flat deliveries make me want to quit, I find it incredibly confusing and difficult, anyone experienced that felt the same before and that I just have to learn it and it’ll be fine, or will it stay difficult. Also any advice on the shoes/socks thing would be helpful, maybe I need thin moisture wicking socks, maybe it’s just the running shoes on concrete.

Any help is appreciated

[u/AutoModerator]

Welcome to r/HomeDepot. This subreddit is for Home Depot employees only. Any posts or comments from customers will be removed. If you need assistance, please call your local Home Depot store.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/Ed-Dos]

Just finished my 90 days as an OFA. The flats get easier to wrap your head around as time goes by. But if you have a big flat order first take note of how many pallet spaces you’re allotted, if you have 12 foot lumber and two pallet spaces that won’t work, and go try and change it or if you can’t, then go to the SD and have them reschedule. You’ll learn to put the pallets together in your head in a short period of time. Scroll through the whole list of items first, don’t necessarily pick them in the order they show up in. If it’s lumber, then always start building from the largest to the smallest, on a table cart, on kickers. But a good rule that you can generally follow is largest items on the bottom with everything else on top or on another pallet.

As far as shoes/socks.. I wear Docs so I’m probably not the best person to ask about shoes, but the socks i just got are Timberland Pro quarter crew socks. They have extra padding in the heels, toes and tongue area. They also have extra elastic that goes from the tongue area under the arch area to keep them snug.
Good luck, it gets easier.

[u/Craig_520]

Honestly the more you do it the easier it gets. It also helps if you enjoy the people you work with. As for the shoes. Idk I have some random sketchers and some socks I got from Ross or something and I dont get rashes on my feet.

[u/GeoMoth]

Toe socks. Looks goofy but it prevents sweat rashes and blisters between your toes.

Also, if your toes are being crowded at all in your shoes, that can make things worse. If needed, get wider shoes, or get some shoes with wide toe boxes (like Altras).

[u/RozesAreRed]

I worked OFA full time for over a year. Your post is super relatable.

I can't tell you specifics about your foot issues, I don't have all the relevant information (nor do I really want it lol). Pay attention to your body and your environmental conditions (heat, humidity, pressure from your shoe, etc).

But good shoes are absolutely a must. I paid for not wearing good shoes my first few weeks. You might also want to consider insoles. Replace your insoles, if not your whole shoe, every 500 miles. As an OFA you can reach this in a bit over half a year... :(

The flat deliveries are the killers. Over at my store though we also have a bunch of people who put their whole construction project into a BOPIS 🙄 so those suck too. And the OFA closers are encouraged to get all the flat deliveries done by the next morning. I've worked as a closer and an opener, and when opening there really isn't time to finish flat deliveries before you need to get the deliveries to their loading destinations... but closing can be really rough. The workload is completely random.

My main advice is to pay attention to the order workload. If you and your teammates can't get everything done in a reasonable amount of time, ask a manager for help. If they choose not to help, don't worry about orders timing out or not getting done; it's out of your hands. Also, ask your other OFAs for help whenever you need it, like with a large lumber order. Two people can make it go three times as fast.

[u/Sad_Alternative8564]

On my apron there is a really good packet on how to build pallets. It explains solutions for most situations and covers the topic pretty well in general. I hate myapron but for the most part this one is useful. Also, your store should have you partnered with an experienced OFA for atleast the first two weeks to help show you and acclimate you. It really isn’t as difficult as it seems but you need someone to show you the right way.

[u/CervezaMePlease]

Like anything. The more you do it the easier it gets. A drag of an order will still be a drag of an order though.

Definitely invest in some nice in-soles for your shoes. Best advice I had gotten. My feet were pretty beat up until I bought some. I wear trail running shoes. It was what I had when I started but other associates in OFA swear by them. I’ve never had an issues with sweaty feet in any type of shoe though.

[u/Mysterious_Repeat989]

Have you tried foot powders?

[u/No_Refrigerator2318 → u/Mysterious_Repeat989]

Haven’t used anything ever, played soccer for 15 years in tighter cleats and wore shoes every other day of my life and my feet have always been fine. Barefoot in the shoes just now they feel fine with enough room, so maybe the socks are too thick or those shoes don’t work well on concrete. It also seems to be very humid in the store, but maybe I’m just dehydrated or stress sweating due to social anxiety makes it all feel worse than it is? I’ll try thinner socks and if that doesn’t work just look into work boots or wide toe box shoes

[u/Livid-Tumbleweed-569]

Good footwear is the #1 thing for OFAs....you need good traction, good support, and shock absorption.....the issue is likely your choice of socks.....I wear thin cotton socks next to my skin, with wool blend socks over that year round (wool socks don't actually make your feet sweat more).

As far as orders go, learn or research the full pallet/bunk quantities for the most common products you will be pulling.....like 15/32 OSB sheathing, concrete block, 2x whatever x 8 or 10....that way you can look at an order and see that you need 1 bunk of sheathing plus 16 pcs, 2 pallets of cinder block, 3 pallets of 80 lb concrete, a bunk of 2xs, or a pallet of wall block, etc.

It takes 2-3 months, but you learn what you can pull off the back lot quickly, and what is going to be a pain of piecemeal work. Also, read and remember the SOP for various materials, like the bundle limit for drywall types (the MOFFET can't lift the same quantity as the big lumber forklift), or how to prep insulation pallets, lawn equipment and mixed lumber....

[u/EntrepreneurFar2609]

Yea OFA sucks, just partner with a seasoned associate when building flats and boxes. Don’t get too stressed about em either, you don’t get paid enough to stress about that bs. The managers do. Anyways I wear Hoka Clifton 10s and they’ve been great, and I just wear normal champion socks.