POLL: Lowes vs Home Depot?

[GeekDrew]

I can't say that I have too much experience with Home Depot or Menards... but I hate Lowe's. The employees are (generally) unfriendly and rude, when you need help with something. If you happen to just go in and feel like browsing while you're there, 15 different clerks assault you, asking what it is you're looking for and why they can't get you on your way. Then there was the manager that was screaming (homosexually derogatory) obscenities at one of his employees, for no apparent reason. Couple that with the internal hiring and firing practices that I've heard of from several people I know that used to work there, I'd rather pay substantially more to support a better store. I (now) only go to Lowe's when I'm desperate for something that I can't easily find elsewhere.

I've only been to one Menard's (near Glenview, IL) -- the employees were helpful, and if you didn't want help, they left you alone. I can't speak to their selection, but I'd rather look there for something, even if their prices were higher (and I don't know about that either), just because the quality of the store is so much better than Lowe's.

 

[slsmnaz]

Lowes. I haven't been to a HD in a couple years

 

[Pacfanweb]

Lowes=Target

Home Depot=Walmart

Therefore, Lowes > Home Despot

Home Depots are nasty, stock all in the isles, nobody to help you, etc. Lowes is pretty much the opposite in all aspects. And I used to LOVE Home Depot, but they are pretty much the Anti-Original Home Depot these days.

Remember when HD advertised that their employees in the different departments all used to work in that business before being hired at HD? Not now.

 

[ultimatebob]

I'd rather go to my local ACE or TrueValue hardware store if I had a choice. The customer service at my local Home Depot sucks, and Lowe's is a 30 minute drive away.

 

[Squisher]

HD for building supplies, Lowes for decorative items.

Originally posted by: bctbct
HD started the 20% off coupon, that makes them best!

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.

 

[amdskip]

Menards, they have the lowest prices out of the 3. The new Menards stores are significantly easier to shop at. I went to a Menards grand opening yesterday and it was a wonderful shopping experience minus the nerd kid employee who wouldn't leave me alone and the cash registers that take all my money.

 

[IGBT]

..Lowes in my area is easier to get in/out of which means I save time. My time is money. Overall they both have similar inventories. The Home Depot for some reason has the nauseating smell of bug spray and fertilizer through out the store. And their parking lot is always a cluster fusk because of poor entrance/exit planning. So I avoid the place.

 

[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.

 

[AlienCraft]

Originally posted by: Pacfanweb
Lowes=Target

Home Depot=Walmart

Therefore, Lowes > Home Despot

Home Depots are nasty, stock all in the isles, nobody to help you, etc. Lowes is pretty much the opposite in all aspects. And I used to LOVE Home Depot, but they are pretty much the Anti-Original Home Depot these days.

Remember when HD advertised that their employees in the different departments all used to work in that business before being hired at HD? Not now.

:thumbsup:

no wait....

:thumbsdown:

 

[Capt Caveman]

Lowes

 

[Squisher]

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.

That sucks, at least for me.

 

[fatpat268]

Meh... it's all about the same to me in my area.

Both HD and lowes has about the same selection in the stuff that I regularly look for. Sometimes I'll have to go to the other one, but not often.
But, HD is closer to my house, so I'll go there more often, but I don't hesitate to go to Lowes instead if it's on my way.

 

[GoingUp]

I like HD better. They are cheaper than Lowes, but Lowes is closer, so I usually go there out of convienence.

 

[CorCentral]

HD is like a huge Warehouse looking place and it's hard to find anything in their stores.
Lowe's 100% for me.

 

[Bryophyte]

My nearest Lowes and Home Depot are literally right next door to one another. They actually share a parking lot. I prefer Lowes, but have the luxury of parking in between the two stores and walking back and forth looking at selection/price/quality when I need something.

If I find something I want at either but it's OOS, I have one or two other Lowes stores and at least three or four HDs within a ~20 minute drive. I have someone phone around and locate what I want and put whatever it is on hold for me so I can get in and out of the store in minutes.

 

[AndrewR]

Lowes is for consumers; Home Depot is for contractors.

At least, that's what my wife and I think after comparing the two. HD has more basic stuff, builder-grade materials, while Lowes tends to have higher grade or a greater selection.

 

[BoomerD]

I live less than a mile from Home Depot, and about 5 miles from Lowes, so I usually hit HD first, then, because they're almost always out of shit, I end up going to Lowes anyway. My local HD used to be pretty good, with people working the departments who actually knew stuff...That's gone away in the past 3-4 years, as they've fired all their top earners and now only have low-wage people working the departments. Their store stock has gone down hill badly as well. Things they used to always have can't even be found anymore, and many things they're supposed to have are out of stock...all the time.
The Lowes was horrible when it first opened...it seemed like they hired the idiots who couldn't get hired at HD...but lately, it seems like some of their people actually know stuff...or sort of anyway...still not as good as HD used to be, but not any worse than HD is nowadays.

HD has better quality stock in MOST departments. It seems like 90% of Lowes' stuff is Chinese made with no alternatives. HD usually has Chinese made and American made...let you make the choice if you want to spend the extra $$ for better quality.

IMO, you still can't beat Home Depot's Behr Paint. Hands down, the best I've used in many, many years.

 

[lokiju]

I always default to Home Depot but more because it's closer and I know where everything is.

 

[Turin39789]

I like Lowes, but Homedepot(hom-eh-deh-paw) is 1/2 mile from my house, so I go there.

 

[Nitemare]

Home Depot for cheaper prices and more knowledgeable associates, Lowes for better selection and better products...

 

[bctbct]

While we are comparing the 2, lowes never has any of the big material carts but HD always does. Is that the same experience elsewhere?

 

[ktehmok]

Lowes> Home Depot.

Any store that has 6 cash registers, & only 1 cashier on a Saturday sucks ass.

Oh wait, the "contractor only" register is open...on a Saturday ;"dur" icon;

HD sucks, and their plants have the same lifespan as fish from Walmart.

 

[zinfamous]

i grew up with Lowes (NC), so they'll always be first in my heart. they also have a grocery store....I don't think I'd buy any food from a Home Depot business if they started selling.

 

[olds]

Which ever Evadman says.

 

[Mermaidman]

HD just cut 500 jobs in Atlanta. Stock price jumps higher.