What's The Difference? Lowe's Vs. Home Depot

[MULTIZ321]

What's The Difference? Lowe's Vs. Home Depot

What's The Difference? Lowe's Vs. Home Depot - House Digest

Lowe's and Home Depot are home improvement retail giants, and at first glance, they seem identical. But it turns out they have quite a few differences.

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Richard

 

[Talent312]

The first time I went to a HD, I was amazed. I thought, "Wow!"
I shoulda bought stock in the company then and there.

But Lowes seems to have caught up. These days, I prefer Lowes.
1. Lowes merchandise seems slightly higher quality overall.
2. Their aisles seem better organized. with better lighting.
3. Their CC offers a 5% discount which makes their prices competitive.
.

 

[DaveNV]

Lowes gives an automatic 10% military discount on purchases, even those made online. HD gives the same discount, but only on purchases made in the store, not for online sales, and you need to be registered with that store location to get the discount. Recently they changed it, and now you have to stand there and log into their HD app at the register to get the discount. PITA. For items of similar quality and price, it leaves me with one logical shopping choice.

Dave

 

[Bucky]

Lowes gives an automatic 10% military discount on purchases, even those made online. HD gives the same discount, but only on purchases made in the store, not for online sales, and you need to be registered with that store location to get the discount. Recently they changed it, and now you have to stand there and log into their HD app at the register to get the discount. PITA. For items of similar quality and price, it leaves me with one logical shopping choice.

Dave

i have been a big fan of Lowes for years. Being able to use my 10% discount from the comfort of my chair at home is great. But, in all fairness to HD, they have just recently started allowing the 10% discount from home once registered. I still stick primarily to Lowes because I like their stores better and our local one is much closer than the Hd store.

 

[pedro47]

I liked Lowes for their 10% veteran discount and their carrying of Craftsman tools and lawn equipment.

 

[Brett]

I also go to Lowes because it's closer and more convenient

 

[PigsDad]

Honestly, both are about the same for me, so I usually shop at the closest one to my home. For me, that is Lowes when I am in CO, and Home Depot when I am in FL.

Kurt

 

[x3 skier]

Since HD has always been less “military/veteran friendly”, I use Lowes. I also find their products usually of higher quality except for their plants and flowers.

Cheers

 

[Passepartout]

For me it's '6 of one and a half dozen of the other'. I think I can find stuff easier at HD, but the automatic veteran's discount at Lowe's sort of trumps the convenience. DW likes the outdoor and plant area at Lowes better, and since she's usually driving, we go there.

 

[pedro47]

For me it's '6 of one and a half dozen of the other'. I think I can find stuff easier at HD, but the automatic veteran's discount at Lowe's sort of trumps the convenience. DW likes the outdoor and plant area at Lowes better, and since she's usually driving, we go there.

I will give your DW five (5) Brownie Points because she usually end in up driving. No, I should give her Ten Brownie Points. You are one lucky man. LOL.

 

[Ty1on]

I have found staff at my local HD to be more helpful than staff at my local Lowe's. At Lowe's it is obvious that they actively avoid contact with shoppers so as to avoid needing to answer any questions or help them. In something of a comedy, associates scurry down the aisles with their heads down to avoid eye contact. In each department, the associate tries to confine himself away from the aisles that draw the most calls for help, for example plumbing repair parts and irrigation supplies in the plumbing department. The lady at the design services desks picks up the phone and acts like she is helping someone any time someone approaches her area with a look other than that they are passing through to get to a place they need no help finding. There used to be a single dedicated cashier in addition to the one that babysits the self checkout line, but that has become spotty too, and I find myself most times stuck waiting in line for the "convenient" self checkout.

If I need advice, I go to HD. If I know what I need, I go to Lowe's despite all the above because it's closer.

 

[Bucky]

I have found staff at my local HD to be more helpful than staff at my local Lowe's. At Lowe's it is obvious that they actively avoid contact with shoppers so as to avoid needing to answer any questions or help them. In something of a comedy, associates scurry down the aisles with their heads down to avoid eye contact. In each department, the associate tries to confine himself away from the aisles that draw the most calls for help, for example plumbing repair parts and irrigation supplies in the plumbing department. The lady at the design services desks picks up the phone and acts like she is helping someone any time someone approaches her area with a look other than that they are passing through to get to a place they need no help finding. There used to be a single dedicated cashier in addition to the one that babysits the self checkout line, but that has become spotty too, and I find myself most times stuck waiting in line for the "convenient" self checkout.

If I need advice, I go to HD. If I know what I need, I go to Lowe's despite all the above because it's closer.

Actually, this is what I'm most interested in learning. If I use their full process (to make it as easy as possible for myself), what is their cancel policy?

sounds like your Lowes problems are store specific to me. I’ve always received excellent help at mine. Granted, I do have to look around to find anyone most of the time but thats just because I usually go very early before they are fully staffed for the day.

 

[pedro47]

sounds like your Lowes problems are store specific to me. I’ve always received excellent help at mine. Granted, I do have to look around to find anyone most of the time but thats just because I usually go very early before they are fully staffed for the day.

I liked to shop very early in the morning and I never have a problem at our Lowes .

 

[joestein]

I can say that neither Lowes or HD (across the street and down the block from each other) both need more salespeople. It is hard to find a person to ask questions - sometimes there is a queue.

I will also on windows and doors Lowes carries Pella while HD carries Andersen.

Joe

 

[geist1223]

I remember when I was shopping for a Power Washer. The Lowe's Online said my local Lowe's had what I was looking for at the price I wanted. But neither I nor several store employees could find it. It was not on the shelf the online said it would be. After a couple trips I located them in a different location. They were in the right aisle but on the very top shelf. Had to wait a bit until a trained fork lift operator could come and bring it down.

 

[rickandcindy23]

I can say that neither Lowes or HD (across the street and down the block from each other) both need more salespeople. It is hard to find a person to ask questions - sometimes there is a queue.

I will also on windows and doors Lowes carries Pella while HD carries Andersen.

Joe

We bought all of our Andersen windows at Home Depot. Rick installed himself and they are the best windows. I even went with Andersen for our storm doors and have never been disappointed. They have the green color window frames, too, which makes them look so pretty from the outside of the house.

 

[rboesl]

I have one of each close by but in opposite directions. I like Home Depot better for the customer service. If I can't find something at Home Depot and ask for help every person I've asked walks me to where the item is. At Lowes I'm just told which aisle to go to.

But, for tools I mostly go to Harbor Freight. Much better price. Brand names are different but the manufacturers are the same. You'll find, with a little research, that many different brands are made by the same companies. Same inards different outer casing.

 

[joestein]

I remember when I was shopping for a Power Washer. The Lowe's Online said my local Lowe's had what I was looking for at the price I wanted. But neither I nor several store employees could find it. It was not on the shelf the online said it would be. After a couple trips I located them in a different location. They were in the right aisle but on the very top shelf. Had to wait a bit until a trained fork lift operator could come and bring it down.

Had that on more than one occasion. Neither HD or Lowes is very good at having the correct location.

When I was selling my home this past year - I had a lot of permit related issues with my finished basement. I needed to do a few things - including installing firebreaks in the basement. I needed to buy something called 'Rockwool' to do it. No HD had it in stock. Only one Lowes in my area had any in stock. I ran right over, and it wasn't where it was supposed to be. They showed 50 bundles in stock - I needed only 1. I ran around for a while before we found it. Also on an upper level - still wrapped in plastic and on a pallet. What a horror all those inspections and the C of O.

 

[SueDonJ]

One result of Don's frequent work travel is that I do the majority of minor home repairs and either Home Depot or Lowe's works when I have a list of replacement items. I like Lowe's better, though, because it has more variety and better quality of the holiday/seasonal stuff that I like to browse. It's the same with fabric stores - I go in with a list but always come out with extras that I didn't know I needed.

 

[vpplayer]

Lowes gives an automatic 10% military discount on purchases, even those made online. HD gives the same discount, but only on purchases made in the store, not for online sales, and you need to be registered with that store location to get the discount. Recently they changed it, and now you have to stand there and log into their HD app at the register to get the discount. PITA. For items of similar quality and price, it leaves me with one logical shopping choice.

Dave

At any Lowe's checkout:
Me: "I have the Veteran's discount"
Checkout: "What's your phone #?"
Me: "xxxxxxx"
Checkout: ...tap tap tap tap... "Done"

That's easy enough for me. But I am glad to hear HD has opened things up a bit for Mil/Vets.

 

[VacationForever]

Quality is local, rather than brand specific.

 

[geist1223]

Apparently so many were cheating for the Veteran's Discount by using a firend's telephone number they now ask for your telephone # and ID.

 

[DaveNV]

Apparently so many were cheating for the Veteran's Discount by using a firend's telephone number they now ask for your telephone # and ID.

I carry my military retired ID card, and always use that when they ask for my ID.

I was insulted by a cashier at Home Depot several years ago, when I asked for my military discount on my purchase. It wasn't a big purchase, probably less than $20. Yes, at the time it added another layer of steps to making the sale, but it's part of the cashiering job. When I asked for the discount, the cashier rolled his eyes, and muttered, "Why bother?" I loudly said, "If I don't use the discount, your employer may stop offering it. So the next time I spend a thousand dollars here, the discount may not be available. That's why I bother." He didn't say anything more. Jerk.

So now I ask for the discount on everything I buy there, no matter how small the sale. They're nice enough to offer it, and I want them to know I appreciate it.

Dave

 

[Ken555]

sounds like your Lowes problems are store specific to me. I’ve always received excellent help at mine. Granted, I do have to look around to find anyone most of the time but thats just because I usually go very early before they are fully staffed for the day.

Um... I didn't comment on this thread. Seems you quoted me by error.

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

Quality is local, rather than brand specific.

Yep.

Here in the Seattle area there used to be a chain called Eagle Hardware - very similar to Menard's in the midwest. ~ 1993 neither Home Depot of Lowe's was in the area. First Home Depot moved, in building some big box stores, one in Bellevue, not far from where we live. I visited there several times, but the nearby Eagle was significantly better in many ways, most notably in the staff knowledge and capabilities.

The Lowe's bought out Eagle. Shortly after that happened most of the staff I knew at Eagle were now working for Home Depot. The Lowe's was a shadow of what the Eagle had been.