POLL: Lowes vs Home Depot?

[OutHouse]

lowes.

the HD store by me is a shit hole. the employees are rude, dont give a shit and go the other way when you are looking for one to answer a question. it took them 3 fricken times to rekey a brand new deadbolt for me. the first time they didnt even touch it and i didnt check it until after i got home and installed it. the second time i was smart enough to check it before i left the store and what do ya know it didnt work. called a manager and he was a rude bastard, i was nice at first but when he threw an attitude my way i barked at him. fucking asshole that shit still pissed me off its a 22 mile round trip for me and at the time gas was $3.40 a gallon... i was not happy at all and became pissed when ***** manager got all cocky with me.

yes i hate HD and since then never went back and was counting the days for our new lowes....

the lowes by me just opened last spring and its awesome. we bought our BOSH dishwasher there and the guy actually knows about dishwashers... very refreshing to talk to a older sales guy who fricken knows all of his products.

 

[Evadman]

What are you buying, and how much do you know about the product?

If I had to pick a general one, I would say Lowes. But it makes a difference as to what you are purchasing and how much you know about the product. If you want tools, then as a homeowner you should be at Sears buying craftsman not home depot buying husky or lowes buying cobalt. The exception to that I make is if you are buying an electric tool like a drill. Then I say go to Home Depot and get a dewalt set; unless you are only going to use it once, then I would go to harbor freight.

Originally posted by: bctbct
lowes never has any of the big material carts but HD always does. Is that the same experience elsewhere?

At HD, those carts carry average of 2.1 million dollars worth of merchandise over their lifetime, making each cart worth their weight in gold. Lowes is stupid if they don't have them everywhere.

 

[PrinceofWands]

New construction or contractor supply = Home Depot
Remodel, interior decorating, layperson use = Lowes

 

[HeroOfPellinor]

Let me add this. Lowes is better than Home Depot. But OSH beats both of them soundly. If you're not looking for something large like lumber or windows, then you're better off going to OSH. Has happened at least a dozen times this past year, where I need a specific size of galvanized screw or stainless steel bolts and neither Lowes not Home Depot carry it, but I find it at OSH.

 

[alkemyst]

wood, Home Depot, but lumber places are better. However lately it always looks as if someone beat all the finish grade wood to hell and back, even some of the select pieces are getting abused.

hardware, Lowes, but Ace is usually better.

I have been using Ace a lot now since one is a couple blocks away. However they don't have a HUGE selection and their hours suck. For things like valance rods, window crank/hardware, and stainless/chrome fasteners they are unbeatable. Their $1-$10 sales are great too for bits and misc stuff.

 

[bctbct]

Originally posted by: Evadman
What are you buying, and how much do you know about the product?

If I had to pick a general one, I would say Lowes. But it makes a difference as to what you are purchasing and how much you know about the product. If you want tools, then as a homeowner you should be at Sears buying craftsman not home depot buying husky or lowes buying cobalt. The exception to that I make is if you are buying an electric tool like a drill. Then I say go to Home Depot and get a dewalt set; unless you are only going to use it once, then I would go to harbor freight.

Originally posted by: bctbct
lowes never has any of the big material carts but HD always does. Is that the same experience elsewhere?

At HD, those carts carry average of 2.1 million dollars worth of merchandise over their lifetime, making each cart worth their weight in gold. Lowes is stupid if they don't have them everywhere.

I agree, I got tired of walking Lowes looking for a freaking cart or trying to unload a cart with store stock on it.

 

[zerocool84]

Originally posted by: BigJ

Originally posted by: Squisher
HD handed out 20% off coupons to employees for Christmas 2006. I have't checked ebay to see if they did it again this time. I got $400 off my ZTR mower with one I bought for $40.

No, they didn't have the coupons this year. Instead, we got $30 per person donated by Corporate to the Christmas party fund.

At least you get a X-mas party.

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: zerocool84

Originally posted by: BigJ

Originally posted by: Squisher
HD handed out 20% off coupons to employees for Christmas 2006. I have't checked ebay to see if they did it again this time. I got $400 off my ZTR mower with one I bought for $40.

No, they didn't have the coupons this year. Instead, we got $30 per person donated by Corporate to the Christmas party fund.

At least you get a X-mas party.

The majority of the Christmas party is paid for by the associates. In my store, we have fund-raising things every few weeks. We'll have baking contests, hot dog cart rental, ethnic food contests, etc.

All of this is funded by the employee fund, which like I said above, is used to try to make us more money.

 

[0roo0roo]

lowes probably has a nicer selection of some nicer products.
but for basic home improvement, distance is probably the factor. a fence post from either is just a fence post.

 

[Cabages]

With the very limited experience I have of shopping in either, Home Depot was better.

Cheaper prices, and included everything I was looking for.

 

[eplebnista]

Lowes

 

[imported_Baloo]

Lowes has a a larger selection, and much better customer support. Home Depot is cheaper, but nobody there to answer your questions. I Prefer Lowes for the selection.