As a former Lowe's employee who went from specialist to PSI, all I can say to the OP is "bitter much?" As a PSI, I left my house at 630am (sometimes earlier), went on appointments, came to the store, met with more clients, helped customers (not PSI customers) pick out a fridge, find the right light bulb, locate the bathrooms, etc... I worked most of my own quotes (due to sour attitude specialists - maybe I worked at your store????) did cart round ups, rang register - you name it, I did it. After skipping lunch to try and qualify the customer that you couldn't/wouldn't, I'd get prepared for my afternoon & evening appointments. Yes, I would do a pre-con at 7 am and schedule an in-home for 6pm the same day. I had many 50, 60, and even 70 hour work weeks - do the math and tell me what that hourly wage comes out to now (maybe $10/$11 hr). So, you want to talk budgets? If your PSI does their job, then you will meet your budget without even trying. And lets just stop crying about our commission. Yes, if you hit all the margins and the customer didn't use a discount, then maybe, just maybe one of those jobs would be worth it. But 99% of the time all it did was take that $10/$11 hr back up to maybe $14/$15 on a good day. And you can throw that manual in the trash! Here is how it really goes -- PSI has to get store to buy into the program so they get leads - PSI goes on in-home with GC - PSI has pressure from MM to close the sale in 7 days - PSI works up quotes b/c of sales pressure/attitude for specialist like you/time constrains - PSI works 65 hours a that week to complete all sales and make budget - PSI submits job (all in specialists name so they get credit for budget) - PSI has to track down missing product because specialist just pushed out OM with "PSI job" without checking - Job starts - customer complains the sun is too hot - PSI has to take calls b/c CPO won't - PSI gets phone calls at 2am, 3am, 4am, from angry client - PSI contemplates becoming an entertainer at the local gentleman's club - Job is done - sun is still too hot - customer gets a refund - PSI gets hosed....... And that is why I no longer work there. God bless all those who are losing jobs today. But there is life outside of Lowes!