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Home and Garden Rant: I hate you Home Depot

DrPizza

DrPizza

Administrator Elite Member Goat Whisperer
I'm curious if you guys experience the same type of service among the box stores? I go to Lowes, and people are extremely helpful. Needed to reroof 1000 square feet of roof last year, and I was in and out of Lowes in 15-20 minutes with all the shingles, etc. Very helpful employees who knew their stuff, I didn't even have a chance to say, "hey, and I need drip edge." It was, "Will you be needing some drip edge?" "Yep, 45 feet, so 5 pieces." Followed by a question as to which type I wanted, and the employee grabbed the pieces for me. While they were loading my roofing with a forklift, I went and bought a nice roofing nailer.


Contrast to Home Depot, at least the local one in Olean. Rarely do I get any help, even when I ask for help. I was trying to load 10 foot sheets of 1/2 inch drywall last week - another *customer* helped me load them onto the cart - 2 employees were in the aisle when I was struggling to move them myself; both walked away. The next day, I needed an exhaust vent so I could get that installed before I did the ceiling in a new bathroom. I *asked* an employee about the venting, since there was a HD label covering the specifications. He pretty much grunted and walked away. I asked another employee, because I would need 2 elbows (one to go up to get over the joists, another to turn it back to horizontal) and they only had one in stock. Can I use the steel ones? "Yes, they'll work just fine." "Is this the right size?" Too late - he had turned tail and fled. I should have just opened the box in the store to make sure I had the right parts. 🙁 So, off to Home Depot to return all the vent stuff. Then, a trip in the opposite direction to Lowes for the: electric radiant heat mats for the floor, floor tiles for the bathroom, tile for the shower enclosure, drywall compound, light bar for above the sink, hardibacker for the shower, red guard, and venting for the exhaust fan. Project will be done soon! (Oh, and HD, if you read this, I've mentioned the horrible service to people in Lowes, and they laugh and say they hear that all the time.)

Pics of the project coming soon.
 
I do find that Lowes people are a bit more helpful than Home Depot, but it's not too bad. Although, I've never really asked for any detailed assistance. Home Depot does have a few nice features that I like. The first is if I search for a product on the website, I can click the aisle location and it will bring up a store map for that specific store to show me where it is. Also, Home Depot will e-mail you receipts, which is great if you tend to misplace receipts like I do. 😛
 
It really depends on the location for both places as well as who is working at the time. The closest HD is a mixed bag. Some knowledgeable employees, some terrible ones. My old HD was a lot better. Lowes closest to home is awful, I'd be shocked if any of them could spell their own names without making a mistake.

It also depends on what metrics the store is being rated on at the time. Sometimes I'll walk through my Home Depot and can't get more than about 20 ft without being asked if I need help with anything. Other times, like this weekend, I can walk through the entire store, use the self check out and not one employee of the 20 I passed acknowledged my existence. Lowes is the same way.
 
Aikouka said:
I do find that Lowes people are a bit more helpful than Home Depot, but it's not too bad. Although, I've never really asked for any detailed assistance. Home Depot does have a few nice features that I like. The first is if I search for a product on the website, I can click the aisle location and it will bring up a store map for that specific store to show me where it is. Also, Home Depot will e-mail you receipts, which is great if you tend to misplace receipts like I do. 😛
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Lowes has their MyLowes Card - you can put the purchases on the card & they'll track them for you - apparently, receipt not needed. Another thing that made me cringe about returning the HD purchase. I hadn't realized HD had an email option; I've never been asked, and I'm at either Lowes or Home Depot at least 2-3x per week.
 
Like you I'm in and out3-4 times aw eek for business and personal.
Within 20 miles of me, I have 5 Lowes and 4 Home Depots.
It absolutely varies from store to store and from day to day !!
On a good day, they are on you like a june bug, sometimes 2 at a time trying to help. On a bad day, it's like crawling through the Sahara desert, help is just a mirage in the distance.

Must just be something in the air.
But I really can't say that service is better in one than another, but their good days DO outweigh the bad by 10:1 for both brands in my area. 😉
 
I go to HD almost exclusively. Lowe's is about 30 miles while HD is about 15. It's hit or miss. Sometimes I'll get a good associate, sometimes I'll get the guy who's just waiting for school to start up again. I almost always have to engage them first though. All the workers tend to assume you know exactly what you're doing and what you're looking for, even if you're standing in the aisle with the deer in headlight look.
 
DrPizza said:
Lowes has their MyLowes Card - you can put the purchases on the card & they'll track them for you - apparently, receipt not needed. Another thing that made me cringe about returning the HD purchase. I hadn't realized HD had an email option; I've never been asked, and I'm at either Lowes or Home Depot at least 2-3x per week.
Click to expand...

Hm, I don't have one of Lowes cards, but I have been tempted to look into one of their Work Loan programs. I figured I'd just use the lackluster kitchen in my new-to-me home for a few years while saving up for a remodel, but when I found that the in-wall oven wasn't even big enough to fit my baking sheets, I had enough. 😛 The APR is 5.99%, which isn't too bad, but you could probably get a home improvement loan for cheaper.

Anyway! I've always seen the e-mail option on the card terminal. It's kind of painful the first time you do it as you have to type it in on said terminal, but after that, it remembers your e-mail (associated with your card?) and prompts you. To note, we have the newer chip-n-pin terminals, and I'm not sure if the feature requires those or not.
 
DrPizza said:
Lowes has their MyLowes Card - you can put the purchases on the card & they'll track them for you - apparently, receipt not needed. Another thing that made me cringe about returning the HD purchase. I hadn't realized HD had an email option; I've never been asked, and I'm at either Lowes or Home Depot at least 2-3x per week.
Click to expand...

Not sure any of that matters at either place. I frequent both and have made many returns to both with no receipt at all. Even when I accidentally take the item to the wrong store, they scan it and let me know its not theirs. Otherwise, both pull up the info on the purchase and issue credit return with no receipt.

At my local stores, both are hit and miss with employee assistance. Neither store has differentiated itself to the point where I avoid one. I like HD better as far as store organization goes (I hate the way Lowes puts its hardware away from the regular isles). I've found better premium framing lumber at Lowes, but better selection on maple, oak, poplar and pine woods at HD. Either way, they are both ok to the point I check both out whenever I need a sizeable purchase.
 
I found that customer service tracks with quality of product. If you have good stuff then you are likely to help with it. IF not, you get burned out on the complaints and attitude. Lowes is doing better in my local stores than HD. I get the best help at Maclendons, a local chain with higher pricing but better hardware selection and quality.
 
I frequent both stores as well (Hamburg NY area). For the most part, Lowes has better customer service than Home Depot.. One exception is the electrical dep't at Hamburg HD is excellent
 
NoCreativity said:
It really depends on the location for both places as well as who is working at the time.
Click to expand...

Agreed. The HD I normally shop at sucks for customer service something awful, if you don't know what you want and where it is you're screwed. The HD I went to near my parents house (1,000 miles or so away from me) was almost overstaffed with knowledgeable people going out of their way to help me.

I will say the mom & pop stores (i.e. ACE) are always the best.
 
The HD closest to me has employees who are extremely proficient at looking busy and standing around talking. Every so often you'll find someone who knows their stuff but the vast majority are punching the clock and doing their best to avoid working.
 
Home Depot flat out blows. The service varies radically day to day, though it's overall better than a few years back. Their prices are way up. On plumbing and electrical stuff the local supply house murders them, copper fittings are less than half what HD charges.
I flat out refuse to buy lumber there, loading it on a cart and pushing it through the store is the stupidest exorcise in wasted time I've seen this decade.
 
Except for the most common boards (2x4's, and maybe plywood), almost all the lumber at the local lumberyard is far cheaper, especially moldings. Spent just shy of $500 at Lowes tonight. That'll keep me busy for 2 or 3 more days.
 
I think it is very dependent per store. I've gotten some really good help at my local Home Depot on all sorts of projects. Yeah, I've had a few clueless people too, but that happens.

I've had good help at Menards as well.

Lowes has been OK here. Not stellar, not bad.

For electrical stuff I've noticed HD has more made in USA stuff than Lowes, and it is the same price or cheaper, and HD is a little bit closer, so I have little reason to go to Lowes for those sorts of projects.
 
As Greenman mentioned above, the local electric and plumbing supply places blow HD's and Lowe's prices out of the water on electrical stuff. Though, I need a contractor account to buy at the plumbing place. (I can buy under my bro-in-law.)
 
It's retail.
The staff is comprised of 1/3 high school students, 1/3 retirees and 1/3 house wives.
What do you expect?
They don't pay their employees enough for anyone with any knowledge to stay there.

If you are really lucky, you will find an old retired guy who has worked on every home improvement project under the sun and is friendly enough to share his knowledge.
 
i have a home depot a mile away from me and i always have great experiences in there. everyone is very helpful any time i need help finding stuff or knowledge of stuff in general. never had an issue.

checkout is also always very fast. they have the best self checkout systems by far out of any retailer i've used (being very close to safeway's) so that helps too.
 
Lowe's beat out Home Depot for "best home improvement store" here in East Texas - as voted by area residents. There's only one of each in this town. Lowe's has the highest visibility and seems to be busier because of that.

I've seen that Home Depot in Olean, NY but never entered. Somehow you just don't do home improvement shopping when your 1450 miles from home. 😉
 
Lowes > HD

Exact same experience as you. Bought a smoker from them two weekends ago - needed help loading up in the car. CS radio-ed for a guy to come help. Two minutes later some guy comes bitching and moaning about it and states he doesn't want to help. Another guy luckily comes up and says nothing. Like god forbid customers actually come in wanting help.

That being said, does depend on location. HD close to work had a knowledgeable plumbing guy help me out with a long project that still isn't done. While I want to sing this location's praises, I returned a few things yesterday morning and the CS lady was texting on her phone - didn't even look up. When she was finally done, she said "Where's your receipt?" Not even a good morning, a hello. I'm sorry I'm making you do your job.

Lowes typically is very helpful and at least pretends to give a shit.
 
Beats me. The only use I have of any of their employees is to see if they can find what I'm looking for.

If you find someone who knows what they are talking about, it's probably pretty cool because I highly doubt they have any serious investment in trying to sell you something specific.
 
I forgot how amusing I found it last night - the most important thing to get was the vent for the exhaust fan. I forgot it. After loading up the truck, I ran in 4 minutes before they closed. First employee I saw, took me right to exactly what I needed. I was out of the store in record time. Almost done installing it - taking a break from the sauna called "attic." Just have to put a hole through the siding from the outside so I don't crack/tear it (already through the OSB) then put the last two pieces together.
 
Gahhh! 1/2" crimp rings for Pex. Out of them? None on the shelf in the right spot. Hunted down an employee, had him scan the Sku in. They have 69 of them. 69 packs of 10, that is. He quickly convinced himself that they only had 69 crimp rings and that they must have run out. Why they would count 69 when they're packs of 10, he's not sure - maybe a pack was missing one. He didn't think they sold many of them. I pointed to all the fittings and asked him how he supposed they get the Pex to stay on the barbs. "Every time you sell a tee, that's 3 rings."

But, "well, our inventory must be off," was the quickest way to be helpful and wander about aimlessly talking to other employees.
 
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