Home Depot is better than Lowe's

[countryboy]

Well I'm sorry, it just is.

Discuss

Both big box stores have their positives and negatives.

I like that I get 5% off for using my Lowe's business card, but there are things that Lowe's doesn't carry that Home Depot does. :shrug:

 

[MaggieD]

Heya EW. :2wave: I agree.....but what happened to Handy Andy and Builder's Square. :lol:

Don't forget Connie said.....Ace is the place with your helpful Hardware man. :2razz:

Funny you should say that. I avoid Home Depot and frequent Ace. They are awesome! No kids to walk you fifty yards to the light bulbs, but a retired electrician to show you how to change a dimmer switch. Love those guys.

 

[countryboy]

Locally, I would tend to agree- now.
Five years ago, I would have said differently.
Our local Lowe's has gotten to the point that customer service is lousy- you can't find someone to help if you need it. I don't very often need help in a building supply, but last weekend, I did, and it took me about 30 minutes to find someone working in the dept I was looking in, and after all the trouble, I found that I knew more than he did, about what I was asking. Pretty sad.

That's for sure, I try not to make eye contact. I know if I respond to their "may I help you" it is only going to slow me down.

 

[JC Callender]

The Home Depot stores are more conveniently located for me, so I go there 98% of the time, which is 3 or 4 times per week. They're always clean, convenient, and the employees are friendly. Lowes seems fine, but out of the way so don't know much about them. ACO and ACE around here are almost useless in comparison.

 

[KevinKohler]

Eh, they're equally ****ty.


They're both owned by people who think that the best way to "win" is to constantly cut costs, primarily payroll, and employ younger and dumber kids for less money, rather than focus on actual customer satisfaction.

 

[countryboy]

If you don't already know what you're doing - neither one are any good. John Deere, Hustler, Anderson and other quality manufacturers sell a "cheaper" line of products at both big-box do-it-type stores.

Neither offer engineering of laminated beams and if you're impressed by all the little lights and tiles, well, what can I say? You'll get better quality and customer service if you buy from a real lumberyard.

Not true of Anderson, but the John Deere stuff is definitely a cheaper line.

The lumber thing is definitely true.

 

[Excon]

However, we went to one in Washington State, and found them nearly as knowledgeable and helpful as the folks at Ace. I suppose it depends on the individual store.

This.

It depends on the store.

For those knowledgeable it really depends on the product you want, quality and pricing.

 

[HowardBThiname]

Not true of Anderson, but the John Deere stuff is definitely a cheaper line.

The lumber thing is definitely true.

Andersen really does sell a less expensive/lower quality line through Lowes. And Dewalt has gone downhill since they went in the big-box stores. That, however, seems to be across the board.

 

[EdwinWillers]

If you don't already know what you're doing - neither one are any good. John Deere, Hustler, Anderson and other quality manufacturers sell a "cheaper" line of products at both big-box do-it-type stores.

No argument there - the target customer is your average home-owner.

Neither offer engineering of laminated beams and if you're impressed by all the little lights and tiles, well, what can I say? You'll get better quality and customer service if you buy from a real lumberyard.

One of my complaints about both is neither has any real selection of lumber - it's all just your basic contractor-grade, standard, residential, dimensioned lumber - which I understand, given the target customer, but when the only such place as does carry larger selections of lumber is 30 miles away, I tend to wish they'd carry them too.

 

[EdwinWillers]

Heya EW. :2wave: I agree.....but what happened to Handy Andy and Builder's Square. :lol:

Don't forget Connie said.....Ace is the place with your helpful Hardware man. :2razz:

LOL - or Hugh M. Woods, Sutherland's Lumber, and a host of other, smaller home-improvement stores? I suspect they were gobbled up by our two and either consolidated or simply run out of business because they couldn't compete on that level.

 

[Porchev]

Andersen really does sell a less expensive/lower quality line through Lowes. And Dewalt has gone downhill since they went in the big-box stores. That, however, seems to be across the board.

Dewalt (/Black and Decker) started declining when they moved most of there production to China and Mexico.

 

[EdwinWillers]

Locally, I would tend to agree- now.
Five years ago, I would have said differently.
Our local Lowe's has gotten to the point that customer service is lousy- you can't find someone to help if you need it. I don't very often need help in a building supply, but last weekend, I did, and it took me about 30 minutes to find someone working in the dept I was looking in, and after all the trouble, I found that I knew more than he did, about what I was asking. Pretty sad.

That's my primary issue with Lowe's - customer "service." It doesn't exist. And your experience was very similar to many I've had - was trying to find a specific part I knew they carried; I got to the general area where there were several people more focused on doing their inventory than a customer standing right next to them scratching his head. I couldn't get a word in edge-wise to ask my question, so I went to "customer service" and they told me to go back to the place I was looking, having confirmed they did have the part in their system. I went back and found a 3rd person, who wasn't doing inventory, and asked them. They said they didn't carry that part, to maybe try one of the other stores and walked off. So I walked off too - to Home Depot, who did have it, in a spot where I could find it without having to ask a bunch of "customer service" people.

The "customer service" people that irritated me most there were the ones who just automatically assumed you didn't know what you were doing and would "help" you from that frame of reference - and yeah, they are typically people who haven't the first clue themselves what it is you're talking about so their "help" is annoyingly condescending - and... ultimately unhelpful.

 

[EdwinWillers]

It depends. Each store focuses on different things.

HD focuses more on products for home DIYers, so I suspect that's what you are? So am I. But Lowe's has better choices for carpeting, flooring, appliances, air conditioners, window coverings, doors, and other things. Lowe's focuses more on home decor, but also has products for DIYers.

I do like HD better for a lot of things, but over the years, I noticed that when I shopped for certain things, and started out at Home Depot, a number of times I ended up buying from Lowe's, even though I was biased toward HD. That was because Lowe's had what I needed and at a better price.

Things I got from Lowe's: carpet (Lowe's has a certain kind of carpet that HD doesn't carry, and which I wanted), pricey gas stove, bookshelf products for DIY bookshelves, energy efficient front door (HD didn't carry what I wanted, and had no contract with a vendor to order what I wanted, but Lowe's did), installation services for the things I bought. Lowe's has excellent customer service and first rate installers. What I will be buying from Lowe's: some window coverings like blinds, possibly new fridge (special ordered; or maybe through Best Buy).

Things I bought from HD over the years: Sawzall and other tools for home projects, drywall, all sorts of hardware, sprinkler heads, caulking, paint (Behr is awesome), heavy duty high quality storm door, standard carpet years ago, drawer pulls and knobs. HD also has excellent customer service and super installers.

They're both good. It depends on what you are looking for. Appliances at HD are not priced as good as at Lowe's and other places, and their selection is limited. It was impossible to find a high quality energy efficient front door at HD, without glass in it, for a reasonable price (whether in stock or special order). I had one choice only, and it was a rustic style that I wasn't looking for, as well as being pricey. I bought a new front door by special order through Lowe's for a reasonable price, with an outstanding installer. It's a cottage style, no glass in it, with planking.

I am going to buy some products this week: filler for rotten wood, molding, more paint. I'll get all those things at HD, since HD is a tad closer and specializes in home project products AND has Behr paint.

I love both!

Actually, I don't buy appliances or carpeting and such stuff from either, preferring instead to go to more specialized stores for those things. For me, it's the hardware, small tools, and other basic home-improvement/maintenance needs for which I go - small plumbing and electrical jobs, irrigation system stuff, gardening and what-not.

And I, like you will go to both, depending - usually because one is closer than the other at the time I remember something I'm needing. As a "destination" store though - I'll typically hit HD first, for a variety of reasons, including perhaps the fact that an orange color scheme is brighter and less dreary than blue.

I grabbed some polyurethane for a small project I'm doing the other day; went to Lowe's because it was on the way home. They didn't have the size I wanted in gloss, so I settled for the one can they had left in a smaller size. Wife and I had to go to HD yesterday and I happened to notice they had a whole bunch of gloss options there. Meh...

 

[EdwinWillers]

We have two women that work the aisles at our Ace Store. So I take a little more time. Have them Demo some tool I wont buy. Just sayin. :mrgreen:

Ran into a very helpful woman at one of the stores a few months ago - incredibly friendly and totally eager to help. Unfortunately, she didn't have the first clue what I was looking for (I can't remember what it was now - not unusual, but one of those items that could be logically found in several places). She walked me all over the store, to this department and that - which would have otherwise irritated me - as in our travels we went past a number of items I also needed to buy that day; but I was so enjoying her friendliness and eagerness to help that it didn't much matter. Talked about her kids, each of our dogs, the weather... We did end up finding what I was needing and she was overjoyed (I actually noticed the item as we were walking past it to some other destination).

I'd go back, just for that experience alone.

 

[EdwinWillers]

I worked for Lowe's for 4 years.

Some points:

1) They do not consider themselves a full service store. They consider it self service. In other words, store customers are expected to come in and find what they need on their own. The bulk of the in store employees are supposed to do things the customers can't do. Mix paint, cut glass, cut boards, rekey locks, et cetera.

2) The most profitable areas for Lowes are installed sales. That is a customer comes in and decides they want to buy a bathroom set and have it installed. Lowe's charges them for the bathroom set and schedules the installer. So this is their focus.

3) Lowe's treats their management team very harshly.

That last item is very obvious to me whenever I go into a Lowe's. Translates in a number of ways - usually how you're treated in the stores.

 

[MMC]

Funny you should say that. I avoid Home Depot and frequent Ace. They are awesome! No kids to walk you fifty yards to the light bulbs, but a retired electrician to show you how to change a dimmer switch. Love those guys.

Mornin Maggie.

I have an Ace Store about 3 blocks from the house. So we use that if needing something Right away.

To go to the other I have to hit a major street and a lot of traffic. A lot.....even worse with rush hours.

 

[EdwinWillers]

I like HD better only because I find it easier to find the stuff I'm looking for there for some reason.

Actually, me too. Stores are arranged more logically from my perspective.

 

[humbolt]

Lowe's employees are largely disinterested in nearly everything, it seems. They do carry some things Home Depot doesn't, but I've found Home Depot's lumber (and employees) to be somewhat better. What really ticks me off is when either store allows marketing or logistics to move stuff around. This is particularly true of framing lumber at Lowes, whether it's PT or not. 2 x 4's 12 feet long are over here, with 2 x 10's and PT 4 x 6's. 2 x 4's 10 feet longs are stacked with 5/4 x 6 PT decking boards. It's a mess just trying to find what you're looking for, and once you finally find it you're generally sorry you did. I truly wonder if it has ever occurred to them that stacking lumber of similar kinds in the same area might be beneficial to both the customer and their bottom line.

 

[MMC]

LOL - or Hugh M. Woods, Sutherland's Lumber, and a host of other, smaller home-improvement stores? I suspect they were gobbled up by our two and either consolidated or simply run out of business because they couldn't compete on that level.

Builders square didn't last long by us. Handy Andy was around a few years. The other around us.....is True Value Hardware. For some reason I didn't care for their stores, which were all over the place. Went into a couple and walked out with nothing. Since I would be going home. Stop at Ace. In and out in less than 8 minutes. :mrgreen:

When I was younger and worked construction. I would use the shops my boss did. Like Clark and Barlow.

 

[Dayton3]

That last item is very obvious to me whenever I go into a Lowe's. Translates in a number of ways - usually how you're treated in the stores.

I worked under five store managers in four years and with more than a dozen assistant managers. Virtually all either were fired outright or quit the company entirely.

 

[MMC]

Ran into a very helpful woman at one of the stores a few months ago - incredibly friendly and totally eager to help. Unfortunately, she didn't have the first clue what I was looking for (I can't remember what it was now - not unusual, but one of those items that could be logically found in several places). She walked me all over the store, to this department and that - which would have otherwise irritated me - as in our travels we went past a number of items I also needed to buy that day; but I was so enjoying her friendliness and eagerness to help that it didn't much matter. Talked about her kids, each of our dogs, the weather... We did end up finding what I was needing and she was overjoyed (I actually noticed the item as we were walking past it to some other destination).

I'd go back, just for that experience alone.

For me, I have Lowes on the left side of the street. Home Depot on the Right about 6 blocks down from the Lowes. As I was telling Maggie about that traffic. Making a left hand turn across traffic is a pain in the ass. Most go down as far as the Home Depot and turn around.

So, I went with what was Right? :lamo

 

[countryboy]

Andersen really does sell a less expensive/lower quality line through Lowes. And Dewalt has gone downhill since they went in the big-box stores. That, however, seems to be across the board.

Lowe's doesn't sell Anderson, Home Depot does. A series 400 window or door purchased through Home Depot, is exactly the same as a series 400 window or door purchased at any distributor. I realize it's popular lore to believe Anderson makes cheaper stuff for Home Depot, but it is simply not true. Ask Anderson yourself.

 

[Gardener]

FINALLY, somebody is willing to address the burning questions of the day!

As a small business owner, however, I would encourage people to support smaller, locally-owned business where possible, instead. Around here we have a place called "Jerrys" that puts either of these two to shame.

and in the liklihood that one is tempted to purchase plants at one of these establishments, I might suggest a certain local nursery that is the absolute tops.

 

[Porchev]

I never shop at Home Depot. I only shop at Lowe's.

Home Depot and Lowe's both used to give 10% military discounts. Then Home Depot limited the amount you could use a discount for to a $400 cap. Then when we went in last month to look at flooring, they've lowered it again. Now the 10% is only good for the first $50. Everything else above $50 is full price.

Lowe's gives the discount no matter how much you spend. That's why all our home improvement purchases are made there.

I like that they give that 10% discount too. I show my retired military ID card at Lowe's more than anywhere else. I didn't know Home Depot limited the amount though, but I mostly shop at Lowe's because it is a lot closer to my house...I have rode a bicycle there and walked there before.

 

[Dittohead not!]

FINALLY, somebody is willing to address the burning questions of the day!

As a small business owner, however, I would encourage people to support smaller, locally-owned business where possible, instead. Around here we have a place called "Jerrys" that puts either of these two to shame.

and in the liklihood that one is tempted to purchase plants at one of these establishments, I might suggest a certain local nursery that is the absolute tops.

People tend to think that prices are better at the big box chains, which isn't necessarily the case.