I live in Prescott AZ and there going to build A Lowes in about three months across the street from Home Depot ive never been in Lowes but im wondering if its better than Home depot and if its better why let me know the ins and outs of bolth so ill be ahead of the game Thanks to all Glenn
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Lowe's is blue and Depot is orange.
Lowe's will look a little less "warehousey" inside than Depot.
Other than that, it's same-o same-o. Great big DIY supermarket, pretty much a you-gotta-help-yourself-'cause-one-of-their-dummies-can't syndrome, and be sure to lock your car or truck when parking in the lot. Everything inside sourced in China if at all possible.
But hey, it's the future, and the future is here, now.
I'm sure it's a localized issue but the people at the Lowes near me are better to deal with than the HD across the street. At least 1 face to face contact initiated by them asking if I need help everytime I go in there. Given time I'm sure my local Lowes will correct the problem and drop the standard on their people.
When Lowe's opened their stores here, the first few weeks, there were RVG (red vest guys) in every aisle, cruising for people to help. Now, you could probably die of thirst waiting for someone to come by in most departments.Now, I recognize the few people at the Lowe's I visit who actually can find their butt with both hands in their back pockets.One of the local Lowe's has gone through 5 general managers in the 8 years it's been open.That said, we had _really_ dismal pickings here before the big boys came in.
Edited 6/3/2007 1:41 pm ET by byhammerandhand
I should say that the local lowes has been here for 10(?) years and has had a cycle or two of poor service (might've been me with bad luck?). HD dropped their staffing to 2 people for every 3 departments something like 5 (maybe more) years ago and the service has consistently gone down the drain. They still don't beat my local lumber yard though (2 miles from home & free delivery in their defined area)
ANYTHING is better than HD if that is your basis for comparison.
I hear five good reports about Lowes for every good mention for HD here, and vise-verse, I hear ten complaints about HD for every one complaint about Lowes
Welcome to the
Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
where ...
Excellence is its own reward!
I know you don't really mean "anything is better than HD". I assume that is just hyerbole. My experience is that both are about equal, depending upon where you are. Both have greatly improved our lives by reducing the tyranny of the local lumberyard lords. Long live Lowe's and long live HD!
Didn't use to like Lowes, but I've been going there more and more this year and they've become my first choice for most things compared to HD.At first, years ago, it seemed that the pricing was higher at Lowes, but now it seems to be the same or better than at HD.In the plumbing dept, for instance - Lowes has a much better selection of supplies and also has contractor packs of 5 of the basics at a great savings compared to single pricing - HD only has single packs of anything. And the single plumbing items are also cheaper than HD - 1/4 valves for under $4.50 compared to $6 at HD.The service help is useless drones and the stores are super understaffed - they seem like ghosttowns at most times of the day - never busy at any of the that I go to no matter the time of day. That's great if you want to get in and out but sucks if you need to order anything.One good thing about Lowes - they blow out clearance items on a regular basis much more often than HD - so it's always worth looking for the yellow tags for some amazing deals here and there.My vote goes to Lowes, if only because who likes orange and Behr products suck. (Lowes has Valspar - good stuff in my book).JT
I do use hyperbole at times, but that was not my intent with that post.Let me re-phrase tho, just to be clear -
Nothing is any worse than any HD I haver been to, in mo experience.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
That I can understand. I have found that many of the comments in this thread about both stores can be true of either, including variations in local HDs and local Lowes.
Some of the variations within HD lumber between only HD stores here, for example, tend to be more seasonal. Some HD stores do carry copper fittings in contractor packs and some only carry individual fittings. This can also vary over time within a single store.
I do like the Kobalt tools and the Lowes tool selection in general. Currently, they seem to carry more tile and plumbing products and they have more appliances in stock.
HD keeps a lot of cheap stuff in their aisles to entice you on the way out.
I find that when I can't find decent lumber in the local HD (which is only two miles from my house), I can often find it at Lowe's; however, it also happens the other way around.
Between the two of them, I can almost get anything I want. If I go back to building, I will of course use the local lumberyard for I-joists, delivery, and large quantities. Of course, I will check HD prices. You can get most things there if you can afford to wait a week.
Come down to the Brunswick/ Topsham HD and Lowes for a good change. Both stores have some very friendly and helpful sales people. In fact I find them more helpful than some of the counter crews in the local lumber yards. (Some of my opinions could be tainted by the fact that I'm not a volume buyer at the yards any more, the crews have changed, and I see the people less often.)
Piffin, there's a huge ACE in Bath that's well stocked and worth a look. Fills up almost all of the old Congress Sportswear mfg. building.
If you're headed south on Rt 1, after crossing the Kennebec, take the exit for Congress Ave as you pass the shopping center. Turn right on Congress Ave and it's maybe a thousand yards down on the left.
That's a little far for me to go, as I have great local yards up here.I will jump in the boat with the guys recommending Ace though. That is where I did business in CO
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
<That's a little far for me to go, as I have great local yards up here.>
Yeh, I realize that, but figured you must have to come down to civilization once in a while. :)
Think this ACE is in their top 10% size and volume wise.
The last two towns I moved to opened a new Lowe's right after I got there. So I've experienced two Lowe's openings and the pattern was pretty much the same for both.
When they open, they have tons of staff eager to help. They've been involved in setting up the store, and are fresh out of training, so they have some decent knowledge of what they have and where it is. It usually takes about 6 mo. for the staff to start dropping off, and within a year it's down to the core staff.
If you have made friends with the few who survived that long, you stand a reasonable chance of getting some decent service. Usually by that time I'd learned the store well enough to know where almost everything is myself. From then on, there is a fairly regular stream of new faces that are there for a short time and vanish. The cashiers who survived that long are now managers of various areas.
Usually, there is one or two departments who have someone fairly knowledgable in there areas such as plumbing and doors and windows, tools, and if your lucky contractor sales. We had one lady here who was promoted to contractor sales and was doing an excellent job helping the contractors, but apparently she wasn't nice enough to her coworkers (I would assume that she was actually doing her job and riding those that didn't), so they fired her.
We were restoring a house both times, and the stores were five minutes away, so trips to Lowe's virtually everyday was the norm. I still do most of my shopping there for convenience and I tend to like to be someone who gets what I need and only asks for help when I don't have any other options. ( I usually know better than the associate if they have something in overstock or not)
Frankly, the credit cards are the handiest feature if you watch for the 0 payments and interest specials.
Hope this helps,
Ott
You'll find different tools in Lowe's to some extent. Also, I find that their construction lumber tends to be a better quality than HD. Whatever, it's nice that you'll have a choice -- if you can't something at one, you can check the other.
Oh! What a great price-matching opportunity. You won't even have to drive between the two, LOL.
[escapee from FWW]
I go to Lowes because it on this side of the busy red light and HD across the red light, Plus the store blue, I like blue. The orange give me a headache. I stop shopping at walmart because they painted the walls ugly tan, like KMART use to be.
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A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and gets to bed at night, and in between he does what he wants to do...
The orange give me a headache
Well, the HID light fixtures cannot be helping that at all <g>.Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)
Around here, Lowes has better help, more help, NO self checkouts (good thing), several real humans to do checkout, a better merchandise selection, nearly always blow away home depot prices, so far my truck was burglarized only at HD, the lanes at Lowes are not blocked off or constricted like they always are at HD, Lowes really almost gives stuff away on clearance, but still, could be a lot better store than they are.
I have personally built two Loew's and one Home Depot all by myself.* I closely watched the store set up operations. Loewe's had a more oranized delivery truck system. They had two truck docks open round the clock; HD only one and more sporatic.
All the stuff on the shelves is organized by planogram. These are little charts or diagrams and eack product is identified by some long number. Hence the clerks may not know the difference between a screwdriver and a screw but they can lead you right to #89336-5029. If one digit is off, you will find the windows stocked with the other hammers.
Home Depot definately has a better tool selection. Loewe's, for instance, offers only one color of chalk: blue. Loewe's, the parent company and owner of Taunton, is only for home owners and DIYs. HD makes some effort to supply contractors, for instance in the case of electrical conduit -- they go up to 2".
~Peter
* Well, I had a little help with the paving, structural steel, plumbing, painting and other trivial things, but I did all the electrical work all by myself except for the stuff others did.
We've had a Lowe's and Home Depot in the area for a number of years, so they are both settled in. The differences I find are that Lowe's has much better selection of fasteners and home storage items. Home Depot is better with light bulbs.
It's been easier to find a checkout person at Lowe's and the lines are consistently shorter.
Home Depot harasses non-profits who wish to purchase tax exempt. They require that the forms be filled out at the register for every single purchase, every time. They will not keep the records on file like most stores will.
The local Home Depot also has a really annoying store layout with the entrance and the exit located at opposite ends of the store, so there's no way to park in a convenient place no matter how unbusy the store is.
Of the two I definitely find it more pleasant at Lowe's. But, I without fail get much better service than either one at the local lumberyard and hardware stores, and in some areas the selection is better in the local stores.
only thing I like about HD is some have tool rental..A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and gets to bed at night, and in between he does what he wants to do...
JD Powers just released a study on Customer satisfaction for "home improvment" stores.http://sev.prnewswire.com/retail/20070531/LATH03631052007-1.html"WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif., May 31 /PRNewswire/ -- As summer approaches and consumers tackle new home improvement projects, being able to rely on the help and knowledge of the sales staff at home improvement retail stores is critical in driving customer satisfaction, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2007 Major Home Improvement Retail Store Satisfaction Study(SM) released today.The inaugural study is based on responses from 16,239 consumers who purchased a home improvement product or service within the previous 12 months from a store that sells home improvement products. The study measures customer satisfaction with home improvement retail stores, based on performance in six factors. In order of importance, they are: sales staff, merchandise and services, store facility, price competitiveness, sales/promotions and checkout."Home improvement retail stores typically have a wide array of product offerings, which could be overwhelming to shoppers, especially those seeking support for do-it-yourself projects," said Jim Howland, senior director of the real estate and construction practice at J.D. Power and Associates. "Many of these retailers tout the quality of their customer service in slogans and advertising, but the study tells us that those companies that truly 'walk the talk' differentiate themselves and demonstrate notably higher customer satisfaction."Among major retailers, Ace Hardware ranks highest with an overall satisfaction index score of 812 on a 1,000-point scale. Menards and Lowe's follow with 801 and 798 points, respectively. Ace performs particularly well in sales staff, store facility, and checkout. Menards performs well in price competitiveness and sales/promotions, while Lowe's scores well in merchandise. Also ranking above the industry average are Costco (784) and True Value (776).The study finds that customers report spending an average of $2,138 per year on home improvement products. Ace Hardware 812
Menards 801
Lowe's 798
Costco 784
True Value 776
Industry Average 773
The Home Depot 757
Target 757
Sears 756
Wal-Mart 721
Kmart 693".
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A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
Until my recent relocation, I lived 18 years in upstate New York. The main hardware store in town was an Ace and it was terrific. We developed such a relationship that we occasionally email back and forth (me and the store), and I visit the store as I would visit my other friends in town.
ACE (like True Value and Do It Best) are not chain stores.They are buying groups. I am sure that the ACE corporate has standards that the stores need to meet, but realy each store (or group of stores) will vary a lot.For example some lumber yards are also ACE hardware stores. Those often focus on the tools and hardware and will have limited, if any, lawn and garden, BBQ, etc equipment.Locally most of the ACE are a part of a mid-American chain, Westlakes. I like them for the one'zs, tow'zs, and specialty hardware, and lawn and garden. But go to Lowes for larger purchases..
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A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
Edited 6/3/2007 10:07 pm by BillHartmann
ACE (like True Value and Do It Best) are not chain stores.
They are buying groups.
If they aren't chains, then how do they do national advertising and coupons, etc.? I never see the "participating locations" verbage on their coupons - and have never had a problem with an Ace taking a coupon (like the $10 off a $30 purchase coupon for 6/2).
That is part of the "buying group" thing. They are more like franchises than chains. Chains are centrally, not locally or individually owned. I am pretty sure the Ace coupons I have seen have participating locations on them, True Value does as well as Do It Best stores.
Because that is what is required to be a member.http://www.myace.com/"Rock Solid Foundation - Fad Proof Future - For over 80 years Ace has been steadfastly committed to the independently owned, cooperative business model. And with projected annual growth of 5.7 percent (from 2005 to 2010) in the $300 billion home improvement industry, your future is not contingent on the next new fad.Ownership - We understand your business dreams are just that - your dreams. No franchise fees, no royalty fees; you're the owner. Ace is unlike any other business or franchise opportunity on the planet. Profits the company earns are distributed to our retailers each year."http://www.myace.com/index.cfm?fa=strength"Since the Ace Hardware cooperative structure allows our buyers to negotiate with combined buying-power of over 4,800 locations, our store owners have a significant advantage over non-affiliated stores. Our regional and state-of-the-art distribution centers and computerized ordering give you efficient access to more than 65,000 items in every major hardware category.Your Ace Hardware store will also be equipped with a proprietary computerized management system, which will provide accurate sales transaction processing, detailed sales and expense information, and extensive inventory management and ordering features to help you run a "tight ship."But being a part of the Ace family has other advantages - shared innovations, corporate marketing insight and state-of-the-art retailing design, to name a few. You'll be backed by national media advertising, proven business models and a corporate culture that is driven by service and innovation.A true co-op atmosphere Including owners, store personnel, retail support and corporate employees, there are more than 80,000 members in the Ace Hardware team. Their combined talents strengthen the Ace name. Their vision propels the future of the corporation. And their dedication and expertise works to help all Ace Hardware owners run their business efficiently.".
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A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
That's a very large sample, but does JD Powers give any indication of the "confidence interval" surrounding those numbers. That's very loosely the range of potential error in the numbers. It could be that numbers that are 5 points apart can't really be distinquished statistically.
I don't know for sure, but I suspect that is the just the PR version.
And that for $35,000 you can get the full report and find out on which day of the week most 3rd grade school teacher shop. And it will be different from naturally blonde 4th grade teachers..
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A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
I'm surprised you have that problem with the tax exempt puchases at HD. Here in Chicago I just give them the phone number of either of the two non-profits I make regular purchases for and presto, no tax. It's that way at every HD I've been to here, and never takes more than twenty or thirty seconds.Peace,Caseyhttp://www.streets.org
The Chicago (Lincolnwood) Lowes is within walking distance of two Home Despots. I strongly suspect that this is the underlying source of the (so far) very good customer service at this Lowes.
Ya know?
I prefer Lowes. I've even actually been able to find an employee (once) to help me load drywall.
Dont go in looking for the answer to any question harder than where to find the bathroom, but over all, if given the chance I go to Lowes.
Do not use the forklifts even if you have to wait 30 minutes for help. They will call the police. Don't ask how I know.
Actually I was waiting for the fork lift to load palet of small modular wall bocks. It was tied up at the other end of the building.After waiting about 15 minutes and the cashier saw me waiting told me that was too long and sent me to customer service to get a 10% discount.And by the time I got back they fork lift showed up..
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A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
At Lowes, they really get their panties in a wad, if you buy a stove and pay for it, It is bewteen the cashier and the door, and you touch it. Even if you have your three brother in laws, Bubba, Bubba and daryall. who have a combined weight of over 500 lbs and an IQ of less than 70, combined. Daryall can bench press a oldsmobile. "Daryall, that aint your daddy's oldsmobile"But no, you got to wait 47 minute for the snot nose kid who wants to be a painter come back from lunch break. A kid that weighs less than 120 lbs. Even if your truck is only seventeen feet away. They really get their panties soiled when the kid takes half the paint off the mason wall and you ask the boy "Are you stupid or did you go to school for that" meanwhile Bubba 1 is on one side of the automatic door and Bubba 2 is on the other. To think they was seperated at birth. If it wasnt for Daryall walking into the glass, I though we would need the fire dept to get Bubba 1, outside.But, if you have it delievered it will take three days, because the snot nose kid doesnt work mornings. Hel he doesnt work afternoon either.They hired him to throw all the culled warp wood back on top of the good wood.Hey if you order 200 2x, you going get 199 culled 2x and one good one, its on bottom.And to think, people ask these guys for advise..A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and gets to bed at night, and in between he does what he wants to do...
Edited 6/3/2007 8:13 pm by brownbagg
Taunton press does not know what there doing if they dont hire you to write a column for their mag. It'd be a feature.
I still got tears runnning down my face from laughing so damn hard!
Doug
I had just the opposite experience. I bought a replacement stove (kitchen, not wood-burning) last Oct. -- checked out different brands on line, decided what I wanted, then went to Lowes to buy it because they were cheaper. Guy in appliances didn't think KitchenAid made one the size I wanted & was a little stubborn about it. I had to convince him they did by showing him the website description but then he thanked me for letting him know this was an option - not many 24" convection units out there. They brought it up front from the back supply room but I got to load it myself.
They will call the police.
Please elaborate. Seriously, what can they do? Its not illegal is it?
Doug
They thought I stole the load(receipt signed by dummy) Next time I came in, 2 hours later, police detective and Lowes rent a cop. Police said nothing after seeing receipt and I was advised by rent a cop and told I was in front of police not to use forklift. Police still have nothing to say. Try them if you like, jail doesn't agree with me.
I suppose it's a form of trespassing.And the idea of any john dick or BTer hopping on one in the big box and doing whatever comes to mind scares the bejabbers out of me.
With my mouth I will give great thanks to the Lord; I will praise Him in the midst of the throng. For He stands at the right hand of the needy, to save them from those who would condemn them to death.
- Psalms 109:30-31
scares the bejabbers out of me.
And that 16-17 year old kid driving one around doesnt concern you!
Seriously I just wondered what they would call the police for, not real sure that trespassing would stick in court, you'd probably know better about that then I.
I've never seen any signs posted that specifically deal with random people jumping on a fork lift and driving it around, even though I would assume that its not allowed.
Doug
Don't bother getting all excited - best to go online
for those higher-end tool purchases and do
your comparison research/homework. Amazon still has some
of the best deals anywhere and with free shipping
if you can wait 1+ weeks to get it.
-regards,
For the most part, they both sell the same brands at about the same prices. There are a few differences.
Interior hollow-core doors at HD are Masonite with a woodgrain print pattern. At Lowes, they're hard cardboard with a tissue-thin layer of Luan.
Lowes main brand for light bulbs is Sylvania; HD sells GE and something else.
Lowes sells Cooper electrical outlets and switches; HD sells Levitron.
Lowes sells wallpaper; HD does not.
Lowes sells trim in 8', 10', and sometimes 12' lengths; HD sells it by the foot. In general, HD quality here is inferior.
The main window brand at Lowes is Pella; at HD, it's Andersen.
Here, Lowes has a much better selection of appliances, but you can still do better at a "real" appliance store.
In this part of New Jersey, Lowes is more likely to be out-of-stock of any particular item. If I have a long shopping list, I'll stop at HD first, 'cause I'm going to have to go there anyway. On the other hand, items at HD are much more likely to be in the wrong bins, which makes it hard to find anything.
I can think of more, but that would take the fun out of you finding out for yourself.
One tip; check out the tool sales at Lowes every time you're there. I've gotten some fantastic deals that way.
It might be short lived, but I think you'll see a marked improvement at the HD now that Lowes is coming. It seems to be that way to me when a new competitor opens close by. The other nice thing is that, at least initially, everything will be more or less where it is supposed to be in the Lowes.
Peace,
Casey
When I first went to a Lowe's store, I thought it was cold and the employees looked at you as if they barely had time to care....
When a Lowes was built in my town, the local employees were warm and helpful.
The Home Depot got a 2 year headstart, but now any "culled" lumber is not sold anymore. It is now cut into 4' long sections, taken to the internal dumpster, and THROWN AWAY... Lowes still sells theirs by the cartload for $20-$50...depending on amount or sizes of lumber. WHAT A BARGAIN!!
Basicly, Lowes feels like an upscale "Department Store" and Home Depot is darker, isles are narrower and dirty, and feels like an ill-kept Warehouse....
Bill
Bill
I actually like our Lowes but then again I am pretty easily amused. Hope y'all are too ..........
I might have called this 'How to economically renovate' or 'Great bargains' but the truth is 'Days off of the easily amused, possibly insane & even more easily tempted' might actually be more fitting. Whatever the case may be, every word is true & I blame it all on Lowes.
.
more gooder...
but that isn't saying too much...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
Supposedly Lowes pitches more to women (eg. blue color scheme) and HD to men (orange)
With my mouth I will give great thanks to the Lord; I will praise Him in the midst of the throng. For He stands at the right hand of the needy, to save them from those who would condemn them to death.
- Psalms 109:30-31
Lowes keeps thier lumber carts inside, lined up neatly ready to go. Home Depot you have to scour the parking lot.
I'd have to give the nod to Lowe's as well. Back when I remodeled my first house, I made several trips to the HD in Columbia (about 80 miles from here - one way) just to avoid shopping at Lowes. It was that bad. However, things have changed a lot since those days.
We finally got a Home Depot in Florence (about 8 miles away), but it is so poorly managed and organized that I only go in there when I have no other choice.
As far as employees are concerned, it's very rare to find competent, knowledgable assistance at any retailer. I spend more time helping the employees than they do helping me...and I'm not even a contractor.
The sad truth is that there is a very poor work ethic in America these days and it seems like very few employees at any place of business really care about providing quality service anymore. In fact, one of the main reasons I'm a DIY'er has more to do with quality than price. There are some good contractors in our area, but the people they employ are sometimes less knowedgable -- and almost always less particular -- about doing a job right than I am. That's why I love this forum. It's refreshing to discuss the trades with people who actually give a D***.
MichaelNew knowledge is priceless.
Used knowledge is even more valuable.
Lowes has way hotter chics.
Cruise the paint department evenings and w/e's
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
"If you come to a fork in the road, take it"
Where's the Lowes in Tampa? Hoping to spend part of next winter on Davis I.
Leave DI and get on Bayshore
R on El Prado
L on DM
and its a few blocks down on your left.
Not too far relatively speaking
DI is really really nice. I live between DI and the Lowes-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
"If you come to a fork in the road, take it"
Thanks! Must be fairly new? Been to two HDs on DM one near the stadium and one nearer MacDill AFB, but neither in the last year or two.
Yep, DI is great. Been going there for visits for twenty-five + years. Finally got to Gasparilla Festival this winter.
Do you use the boat launch by the airport and the dog areas? Great area. Used to wind surf (poorly) around the sailboats in the basin. Don't think I'd want to get in the water there now - too polluted.
Edited 6/4/2007 5:49 pm ET by oldfred
No, I launch at Ft Desoto, sometimes Gandy if I am not heading offshore.
Great dog park though.
The Lowes has been around a few years. It's convenient when I need a quick fix thats for sure.-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
"If you come to a fork in the road, take it"
Don't know how we missed the Lowes, other than that we avoid Del Mabry and take side streets to get to either HD.
New Lowes here a couple years ago. I find it comparable with HD - buy from both.
Will take your advice on checking Lowe's paint dept. , but it will be a bit less interesting here on a rainy day in Maine than a hot day in Tampa.
Been to DeSoto and launched at Gandy once. Sea trout not far from the bridge. (That was twenty yrs. ago) We like DeSoto a lot - the trails on the back side.
Did part of the Hillsborough River in canoes last Spring. Put in at Seargents Park off Fowler Ave. Used Canoe Escape's gear - good people, good trip.
What Gene said.
The blue boxes have better lighting, and usually a "prettier" appliance and KD cabinet display.
They will have almost the same products as the orange box across the street, and for almost the same price (usually within 2%, depending on sales, loss-leaders, etc.)
They both use a National Buyer to stock the stores, who will "dump" an entire product line for a 0.01¢ better price per unit, and not carry something you only bought 8 or 12 of . . .
Blue box will have a bigger selection of cheap xmas stuff, usually, too.
Blue box will have a slightly better selection of lamps (like 25w halo spots, or 15w mini-floods) than the orange box. They typically carry the 123 Li batteries, and orange does not.
"Both have greatly improved our lives by reducing the tyranny of the local lumberyard lords."
I'll give a slight edge to Lowes over HD, mainly for customer service and the better quality of their trim and moldings.
I agree 100% about the traditional lumber yards. People brag about them and I have to wonder if they come from another planet. The two yards here in town, 84 and Harbert, treat retail customers like dirt. When the worm turns later this year and this five-year housing boom exits stage left, I may just pay a visit to 84 and ask 'em how things are going...
Around here (in The OC) they don't seem to get the contractor business so their parking lots are not full of illegals looking for pickup work.
Tad more yuppie.
Selections differ in tools, electrical so I will often visit a Lowes if it's on the way. Unlike HD, they are not under every bush.
We have one in Tustin, another in H Beach. HD has them in HB, Santa Ana (2) Costa Mesa (1)
The ToolBear
"Never met a man who couldn't teach me something." Anon.
I don't know if 84 Lumber qualifies as the same kind of locally owned lumber yards that I buy from around here. Many of them are ACE hardware stores or follow the ACE model. Nearly every small town or one within five miles has one here and along with small, local hardware stores, I don't have a burning need or desire to use either of the boxes.Sometimes a customer wants a purchase there or it is actually the most convenient for a small pick-up or proprietary item. That said, I would never and I mean NEVER order any large quantity of lumber there. Not only would I never have a need to pay for delivery (the thought makes me cringe) as there are plenty of yards anxious to offer free delivery for my business, but why would I want to pick through a pile of cull wood once received? Much less pay full price for such crap? I also can't imagine spending time picking up an entire take-off from those places. Standing in line for 10 minutes to buy a friggin' drill bit is annoying enough. I do like the self check-outs for that reason. I'm with brownbagg, those places make my head hurt after about 10 minutes.And...why oh why oh why must I walk sixteen miles for a half hour before finding help at either of the stores? A local lumber yard is ready and available when I need them, via phone or fax or at their desk.It is amusing though how since Lowe's has hit the market here (about two or three years now), HD is starting to change their store layout to match that of Lowe's.
Expect the new Lowes to be a dream come true .... for the first three months.
The store will be all shiny and new, with fully stocked shelves, all sorts of useful things, plenty of helpful staff ... and a noticeable lack of ladders, etc., in the aisles.
Then that will slowly change.
Within three months, staff will be reduced by at least half. Of the original 100 folks on the payroll, ones who have been spending the past few months training, and making the store ready for you .... maybe six will remain. For Lowes, staff are a disposable commodity.
Approximately a third of the displays will disappear, as the merchandise is sold - and not re-ordered.
Cashiers will become as common as Sawsquatch, as Lowes tries to get you to use the "self serve" checkouts.
Expect the Lowes to place a lot more emphasis on selling appliances. It will also have much fancier kitchen design displays. On balance, the store will be much more brightly lit.
Do Lowes stores have self check out where you are? I live in Lowes backyard and have been to many and never seen one.
Yesterday I was in line and saw a guy with a big load of receptacles and switches and a nice shopping list. I asked him if they had been out of the contractor packs and he gave me a blank stare and said that the loose ones were what the guy showed him.
He went back and got some boxes and I compared his list to the piles. Noticed he was missing a few items. When he got back I gave up my next in line (great track position) and went back the the spark aisle and showed him the old work boxes he was mising as well as the pancake boxes. He said the clerk had not known what they were.
As no good deed goes unpunished I went back to the register and lo and behold no one in line, figured I must be the "lucky dog". I had two bottles of accoustic texture marked down from 11 something to $5. Gal rang up and called for manager override. I waited about four minutes, thanked her and said she could void it out as I walked out.
My local yard is pretty good, family operation, beats Lowes sometimes. They have po'ed me lately on several requests for quotes. Wait and wait for call back and say to heck with them and go to Lowes. I go into both HD and Lowes with not super expectations of knowledgeable help so I do not get too upset.
I did a very big lock order at Lowes and they were super nice, I had some problems and they worked their buns off to make it right. For me Lowes is 10 mi and HD 25mi. My yard is between home and Lowes.
I get all electrical and plumbing at local supplier who is also Heavy Duty Tools.net. I can go in there grab something to see if it will work and tell them to bill me later.
When this Lowes opened they imported seasoned folks to open and train. They eventually departed. Turnover is pretty bad. We all want to see cheap prices but you can't get superstar performers for what they can pay and still keep the prices down.
Edited 6/5/2007 12:01 pm ET by rasconc