Lowe’s Home Improvement Store in Ankeny, Iowa offers a wide range of home improvement and hardware products. With 78 years of business, the store is located at 1700 50th Street, West Des Moines, IA 50266. The store has a variety of hours, including Monday through Friday from 6:30am to 9:00pm. The Ankeny Hardware and Rent-It Center is also a popular choice for customers looking for a reliable source of home improvement supplies.
The store also provides same-day delivery services, with customers able to order their favorite Lowe’s products delivered within an hour. The store also offers a Pro Service Desk and offers tool and truck rentals. Lowe’s is known for its competitive pricing and commitment to quality.
For those in need of major appliances, paint, and patio furniture, Lowe’s is a great option. They also carry healthy plants and helpful items. For those in Altoona, Lowe’s is a great place to find the best deals on appliances, tools, paint, home décor, and flooring.
Lowe’s is located northwest of the intersection of I-35 and IA-160, near Target and the Ankeny Regional Airport. They accept credit cards and offer bike parking. Additionally, there are 24 Lowe’s jobs available in Ankeny, IA on Indeed.com, offering positions such as Cart Attendant, Sales Representative, Fulfillment Associate, and more.
📹 Lowe’s vs. The Home Depot
Episode Description: By almost any measure, Lowe’s and The Home Depot are the 2 largest hardware stores in the United States.
What is the new name for Lowes?
In July 2023, Rona, a Canadian retailer, announced the forthcoming launch of a new store banner, Rona+, which will encompass former Lowe’s locations. The conversion process commenced with the transformation of ten locations in the province of Ontario. The Canadian reality television series Rona Dream Home was first broadcast in 2004. It follows two families who are given ten weeks to transform a house into a dream home, with the winner chosen by viewers.
How many Lowe’s locations are there?
This article examines the American chain of home improvement stores, which encompasses 1, 746 stores. Additionally, the article references the now-defunct Canadian subsidiary, Lowe’s Canada. The company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol LOW and is led by President, Chairman, and CEO Marvin R. Ellison.
Why is Home Depot more successful than Lowes?
Home Depot has a larger market share and penetration in the professional contractor niche, while Lowe’s primarily targets do-it-yourself customers. Home Depot outperforms Lowe’s in key financial metrics like profitability, cash flow, and return on invested capital (ROIC). Its operating profit margin is several percentage points higher than Lowe’s, and its ROIC is near 40. Despite Lowe’s potential, Home Depot remains the top stock.
However, it comes at a premium price, with Lowe’s stock available at 1. 3 times annual sales and priced closer to 2 times revenue. Additionally, Home Depot is cheaper in terms of earnings, with a P/E ratio of 18 compared to Lowe’s 20.
Who is richer Lowes or Home Depot?
Home Depot’s deeper reach with professional contractors and greater scale make it a better investment for investors. With $15. 1 billion worth of net income in 2023, Home Depot can invest more in its growth. Since 2018, the retailer has invested billions in new technologies such as improved supply chains, web search, e-commerce, and integrating online and in-store experiences. In early 2023, Home Depot earmarked $1 billion for employees’ wages to improve customer engagement and established a $15 billion stock repurchase program to invest in Home Depot stock’s value. These investments have paid dividends today and continue to benefit the company’s growth.
Who owns most of Lowes?
Lowe’s Companies (LOW) stock is predominantly owned by retail investors, with Vanguard holding the most shares. The company’s ownership structure is a mix of institutional, retail, and individual investors. Institutional investors own 56. 49 of the stock, followed by 0. 96 from insiders and 42. 54 from public companies and individual investors. The remaining stock is held by institutional investors, 0.
96 from insiders, and 42. 54 from retail investors. The latest TipRanks data shows that 34. 04 of the company’s stock is held by institutional investors, 0. 96 by insiders, and 42. 54 by retail investors.
Who owns Lowe’s now?
Lowe’s (LOW) stock is owned by a mix of institutional, retail, and individual investors. Institutional investors own 56. 49 percent of the stock, followed by 0. 96 percent by insiders and 42. 54 percent by public companies and individual investors. The latest TipRanks data shows that 34. 04 percent of the stock is held by institutional investors, 0. 96 percent by insiders, and 42. 54 percent by retail investors.
Is Lowe’s home improvement owned by Walmart?
Lowe’s Companies and Walmart Inc. are two distinct retail chains in the United States. They operate independently with distinct ownership structures and management teams, despite being under the same corporate umbrella.
What is Lowes famous for?
Lowe’s, a leading home improvement retailer, has grown from a small hardware store in North Carolina to one of the world’s largest retailers. The company prioritizes its customers, offering expert advice and services for various home improvement projects. Lowe’s Total Home Strategy focuses on five key areas: Pro, Online, Installation Services, Localization, and Assortment. These areas are pillars of the strategy, aiming to create a seamless omnichannel retail experience for customers.
The company’s mission is to deliver the right home improvement products, with the best service and value, across every channel and community it serves. The company’s Total Home Strategy aims to drive market share acceleration and deliver the right products to customers.
Are Lowes and Home Depot the same?
Home Depot and Lowe’s compete for the same customers, dividing them into retail and professional categories. Retail customers are divided into “do-it-for-me” (DIFM) and “do-it-yourself” (DIY) types, with DIFM customers preferring DIY projects and DIY customers buying raw materials. Professional customers, including contractors and construction managers, require more complex services, such as direct delivery to construction sites, and are more likely to pay extra for installation services.
What was Lowe’s called before it was Lowe’s?
Lowe’s story began in North Carolina when farmer L. S. Lowe opened his store in 1921. The store sold hardware, building materials, sewing notions, dry goods, horse tack, snuff produce, and groceries. Lowe passed the business to his daughter Ruth and son Jim Lowe in 1940. After Buchan was discharged in 1943, Lowe offered him a job back home. Buchan realized that soldiers would return home, start families, and need houses. To anticipate this building boom, Buchan decided to focus solely on home improvement products. This idea was successful, and in 1949, they opened a second Lowe’s in Sparta, North Carolina.
Did Walmart buy out Lowes?
It should be noted that Lowe’s, a publicly traded company under the ticker symbol LOW, is not owned by Walmart and is not listed as a subsidiary. The company reduced its expenditure by limiting the number of employees it hired and by failing to provide them with adequate training.
📹 What Kind Of Caulking Should I Use? #shorts
Products In This Video: Alex Plus: homedepot.sjv.io/a1jv0q Alex Fast Dry: homedepot.sjv.io/BXOQP9 Alex Flex: …
This difference between Home Depot and Lowe’s can be summarized in one word: BRANDING. Home Depot has much stronger brand recognition than Lowe’s. It is used more in the media as a reference and the public usually follows suit. Lowe’s needs to either rebrand or provide a much more compelling reason to visit their stores.
After working for Lowe’s for ten years, I can tell you what I saw; Lowe’s tried to be everything to everyone. By that I mean that as a sales manager, we were told to focus on three big areas: special order sales, installed sales, and commercial sales. The first two aren’t terribly hard… You have a customer who wants something unique, you order it. Or a customer who wants a professional to install new windows, it’s covered. Where they failed, imo, was the commercial category. For example, you have a builder who is building a ten unit apartment complex, and they need 10 dishwashers, garbage disposals, stoves and refrigerators. To get them bulk pricing, we had to submit the order into corporate and wait 2-3 days for their best price. However, Home Depot had a team set up doing quotes as soon as they were sent over. Note: I left in 2009 so there maybe a change to this now. Who, as a builder, will you buy from? The store that tells you they’ll get to you with pricing sometime later in the week? No I liked working for Lowe’s. I just feel that corporate became too unattached from the sales floor. And the same can be said for other companies
I think that Lowe’s could actually be quite successful by honing in on being geared more towards the consumer. We have something similar in the Midwest called Medards and it has big convenience store energy despite being a home improvement retailer. We have a Home Depot in my hometown and most people actually prefer Menards for the righteous snacks and patio furniture selection.
I worked at Lowe’s at the same time a friend worked at home depot. At Lowe’s employees were treated like droids. At home Depot everybody seem to be treated like family. It really hit home one Black Friday when I wasn’t working but went shopping. Lowe’s and home Depot both set opening for 6:00 a.m. I drove through the Lowe’s parking lot and there were maybe a half a dozen people waiting in their cars for the doors to open. I could see employees trudging in the door like they were headed for a prison sentence.. I drove across the street to the home Depot and they had about 200 people in line waiting to get in. Now this was less than 3 minutes after I left a nearly empty Lowe’s parking lot. The storm manager and an assistant were out walking the line and engaging customers handing out hot coffee and donuts while the workers inside got the store ready. That contrast right there spoke volumes to me about how each one looked at their customers.
I’ve worked for both and when people have asked me what’s the difference in working there, I’ve said that Lowe’s is very DIY. Things like paint, blind/key/glass cutting are at the front of the store. But there wasn’t a ton of bulk loading carts and the checkout experience as an employee (cashier) was not user friendly and unnecessarily complicated. Home Depot is very Pro. The paint and cutting areas are more pushed back/hidden, but it’s super easy to find a flat cart for your lumber or buy 50 gallons of paint (no exaggeration) and the Pro Desk is always packed with contractors. But, Lowe’s felt like you just come in to help the customer and Home Depot felt like you come in to make the company money. When I left Lowe’s, they just started downsizing/demoting employees so I guess that attitude didn’t work too well.
You were dead on about Lowe’s and Home Depot as a consumer. I prefer Lowe’s but it’s not a big deal to go to Home Depot. And if my local Lowe’s is one that is closing, I’ll probably go to Home Depot since it is so close. I also like ACE but they are like the convenience store version. Smaller, more expensive, and less selection. But I can be in and out faster and always find some help. So they are often my backup
I worked at a Home Depot in college and you would be amazed by how many ex-Lowe’s employees we hired. Not because they got fired, but because the work environment at Lowe’s is so bad they quit. The customers would say the same thing about the way they were treated at Lowe’s vs. Home Depot, saying the service and prices were much better at Home Depot.
My take as a contractor: Home Depot often has a better selection, but their customer service is poor in comparison (All this is in my area/experience). So: If I need something I know Lowes has, I go there because it’s faster to get in/out and the service is generally better. If I am not sure Lowes will have it I go to Home Depot. The takeaway: about 95% of my dollars go to Lowes because time is money.
As a commercial construction project manager, my experience is when we source material from a retailer, it’s typically Lowe’s because they tend to have larger inventory. That said, if I need something for around the house, I go to Home Depot first. It’s generally (in my experience) view from construction professionals that Lowe’s caters to commercial construction more than Home Depot. The name says it all, Home Depot, yeah, they cater to the home owner and home builders.
As a Home Depot employee we hear a lot about our local Lowe’s store from our customers. One thing we try not to do is bad mouth Lowe’s to the customers but it gets hard when almost every customer that brings up Lowe’s has something negative to say. Now granted they are in a Home Depot when they say these things so it has to be taken with a grain of salt but the shear amount of negative comments makes you stop and think. After dealing with 100’s of customers venting about Lowe’s it all breaks down to Customer Service in the case of our two stores here. Our Home Depot really focuses on Customer Service above all else. The local Lowe’s does not as the major complaint we get is a complete lack of customer service at all levels. The Customers who come to our store over Lowe’s know that when they walk into our store they are the highest priority and will get the help they need whereas in our Lowe’s store they usually spend a lot of time just looking for someone to help them just to find out that the person they get doesn’t have the experience or training they need to help them in any meaningful way or they just don’t care enough to bother. This seems to be a consistent theme. Edit: On a side note I know some of the people that work at our local Lowe’s as I’ve worked with them in other jobs in the past. These are good people who have cared very much about customer service in the past but something about working at our local Lowe’s seems to beat that out of them very quickly. This leads me to believe that it’s Lowe’s Corporate policies or policies at our local store that are making them be this way in their current job.
Home depot is my store and I’m not exactly sure why. Something about Lowe’s doesn’t sit right with me. And it just feels like everything is in the wrong spot at Lowe’s. I end up walking around the entire store to get all the supplies for one project when most of it should be in the same section by logic.
I actually worked at both, both have a motivation song during the morning meeting. “Gimme an L! Gimme a O! Gimme a W! Gimme a E! Gimme an S! What does that spell? LOWES! Who are we gonna beat? Home Depot!” The song was reversed when i worked for depot. Goes back to I could care less who i work for, just give me a paycheck. Customers felt the same way, we had a Lowes literally next door, if we didn’t have something they went there and vice versa. Customers go back and forth constantly.
Ive been a DIYer basically all my life, but also over 5 years ago I started a kitchen remodeling business. That being said, ive been on both the commercial and residential side of buying from both Lowes and Home Depot. Honestly until I started my business I had no real preference at all between the two. It simply came down to convenience. Now as a professional I do prefer Home Depot. But really has nothing to do with store layout or advertising. I still like both, but Home Depot carries a wider variety of professional grade tool lines. For example: Ridgid, Makita, Freud. They both have mainstream brands like Dewalt or Bosch, but again they BOTH have those. Lowes lacks any proprietary lines aside from Kobalt. But Kobalt is a lesser grade line. And then similarly Home Depot has Husky.
The current Lowe’s vs Home Depot dynamic when combined with competition from Menards looks like of the cases where large scale capitalism is at it’s best multiple large companies in close enough competition to prevent one from gauging customers but the company’s are still large enough to pretty much maximize economy’s of scale not perfect but definitely an interesting dynamic. I Personally favor Home Depot for my personal purchases but would go to Lowes if it is more convenient.
I agree that it is about branding. Home Depot’s typefont is even more fun-looking. It looks like some sort of “This Old House” store. I personally prefer Lowe’s. I don’t know what Lowe’s can do to improve sales, other than be really smart about following fads and having some really killer items. I think that their Lowe’s exclusive indoor plants are an attempt at the latter, for example.
I work for Lowe’s and for the first time since 89 we took over the number one spot at the end of December last year. I highly doubt it’s still that way we’ll because Lowe’s is having a hard time keeping workers and company morale is at an all time low meaning we don’t care to help anymore therefore people leaving without spending. Just my two cents on an older article! “Thanks and have a Lowe’s safe day!”
I’ve been in construction for almost twenty years now. I prefer using Home Depot, if I must shop at a big box store instead of the lumber yard. Here’s my reasons why: 1.) Home Depot has an excellent range of tools that tend to be more professional quality. Brands like Milwaukee, DeWalt, and Makita are major brands that professionals trust. Even the house brands, Ridgid and husky, are solid quality tools. 2.) Home Depot has a dedicated team of customer service reps that facilitate material orders and help contractors coordinate deliveries. Their ProExtra service provides excellent business tools for making the experience more efficient. 3.) I’ve learned from experience that buying lumber from Lowe’s can be a risky venture. It seems like their 2x material is very dry and splits when nailed together. Especially when an adjustment in framing is needed. Home Depot has excellent quality material and can be compared to the lumber I get from a lumber yard. That said, recently Home Depot has tinted their treated lumber and thus, increases the price. However, most homeowners appreciate the tinted look. 4.) They rent tools. 5.) These are more minor and miscellaneous than the others. The home Depot website is neatly arranged and even shows the specific Bay and aisle location of products in the store. The lay out of the store is better suited for professionals to make quick visits on the run. Last, if I have any problems about anything at a Home Depot, a manager will go above and beyond to rectify this.
Having worked for both (Home Depot in the early 2000’s and Lowe’s from 2010-2012 and again from 2014-2016), Lowe’s treated me far better as an employee, made me feel more valued, I was able to transfer to other locations with ease when I moved, less inner company drama and politics, I made far better money, and I still know lots of people working at Lowe’s, but don’t know anyone who works at Home Depot. I also went back to Lowe’s (for awhile) because I honestly enjoyed working in Pro Services as a specialist. There were some douche bag middle manager booger eaters, but that’s any big company. I’ve heard from friends there that things aren’t as enjoyable at Lowe’s now with several mid management changes at store level, and apparently the new president that came in made some changes that have friends seeking new employment. Wish sucks actually. I know folks who are 20 year + Lowe’s employees. I still shop 50% at small local hardware stores, 40 % Lowe’s, and 10% Home Depot. I find Lowe’s and Home Depot are similar priced, but Lowe’s has a “warmer feel” shopping. Home Depot seems like a dull Warehouse. I enjoy my career now, it’s like 100x better. But if I ever fell on hard times and needed a job, I would probably consider working for Lowe’s again till I found something better. Can’t say that about Home Depot.
I have a Lowe’s and a Home Depot about the same distance from my house, and I have been to both. I went to Home Depot for one project and while ppl were willing to help me when I asked, they didn’t really have the answer I was looking for as to what I needed to buy. I was at Lowe’s for another project, and I didn’t even have to ask for help. Someone in the department I was in saw me looking at some products with confusion, and asked if I needed assistance. I told him what I required, and he was able to tell me what would work. Definitely going to stick with Lowe’s
Hey Company Man this May sound dumb but this is a serious idea can you make a article on how big sports car brands such as Ferrari or Lamborghini stay in business like I get that they sell a couple thousand cars a year that are upwards of 200,000 dollars but is it really enough to keep them in business
One time in Home Depot, I saw a fat kid taking an actual dump in a display toilet. He was wearing absolutely no clothes, as he had folded them nicely and placed them on the toilet tank. That aisle stank all the way to the wood and dishwashers. He gave me a firm look in the eye and winced with each pinch. That being said, you should totally do a article on the decline of Circuit City. What the hell happened to those fun bastards? I remember shopping for GameCube games and stealing all of the free Windows XP SP2 update discs.
Until recently, Home Depot had more retired professionals in the lumber, electrical & plumbing departments, and they always made an effort to find customers and greet them & ask how they could help. This was pre-covid. Now both Lowes and Home Depot are increasingly short staffed. Also, Home Depot lumber prices seem to follow the marked price decreases faster. Oh – I am more “consumer” than professional contractor..
I’ve always been loyal to Lowe’s because I live near Wilkesboro and they’re still based out of North Carolina. However, I found that Home Depot has a much much better selection in the electrical isle. In that regard, Lowe’s never has what I need or the whole isle is disorganized beyond belief. Home Depot also seems to have better quality lumber.
I shop almost exclusively at Home Depot because they are in town. I’ve been to Lowes many times because they may carry something I need/want one town over. I can say that I prefer Home Depot. Their employees are noticeably more helpful/friendly. I dont know if this is just my area but it does make a big difference when you need help finding something or buying bulk wiring etc…
I prefer Lowe’s because it’s closer to my house. However, I think Home Depot’s edge on Lowe’s comes from the fact that they rent power tools to people whereas Lowe’s does not. Or, at least, Lowe’s doesn’t rent nearly the same variety of tools that Home Depot does . If I’m refinishing my wood floors and I need to rent a sander, then I’m going to go to Home Depot and get my lacquers and stains there along with the sander, rather than make one separate trip to each store for what I need. Perhaps this ties in with your observation about Home Depot having more appeal to contractors, but it might also be that Home Depot has more appeal to consumers who would prefer to operate their own heavy equipment on an as-needed basis rather than hire a contractor who owns the stuff already. Lowe’s could potentially cut into Home Depot’s lead if only they rented more tools than they do.
The reason Home Depot became more successful is very simple… the name of the store describes the nature of the business, but the name Lowe’s doesn’t give any clue about what it sells. Lowe’s original name “Mr. L.S. Lowe’s North Wilkesboro Hardware” was a ridiculous name, but at least the name indicated what it’s business purpose is. Lowe’s needs to change it’s name to “Lowe’s Home and Hardware” and then lower prices 10% to be more competitive with The Home Depot.
As an outside vendor who’s companies service BOTH Lowes & HD … I have to say that LOWES is a far BETTER shopping experience than ANY HOME DEPOT . Day in, day out, I watch Home Depot customers “frustrated” at: 1) the lack of “knowledgeable” help, availability of anyone working to help customers. Home Depot’s management style is to CUT payroll expenses AT ALL COSTS !!! and so HD stores are always messy, UN-ORGANIZED, and low on stock …. On the other hand, folks that chose to walk into LOWES get immediate assistance, better trained personel . a much better stocked, and cleaner store to shop in … There is NO doubt in my mind that LOWES is the wiser choice, by FAR !!!! Take it from someone that is in BOTH company stores, in many areas, ALL YEAR LONG !!
When I was young, we would go to this specific Home Depot that was near my aunt’s house. I loved going that specific store because they had a working MINI WASHING MACHINE on top of one of the bigger ones. I fantasized about how much doll clothes I could wash with it. … then one day it was gone. Home Depot was never the same since.
Two things: 1) I like both Lowe’s and Home Depot and use both. Since I retired in 2011 (45 years as a financial analyst) I periodically buy repair/upgrade older homes and re-sell them. I act as the general contractor and hire the subs to do the specific work required. However, I do use Home Depot about 70%-80% of the time because they have more stores and they generally have a store closer to whatever job site I happen to be working on at the time. Over the years I’ve found the price differences between the companies for the same or similar items to be negligble and not worth the time or effort especially when it’s a low volume item. 10¢ /board foot on several thousand feet is important. 10¢ per 5 gallon pail of paint is not. 2) If your only access to the internet is with a phone, I can see using empower. If you have a PC at home (laptop or desktop), there is no reason to have and keep personal financial info on a phone and plenty of very good reasons not to do so. Saying it’s convenient is a BS reason. The average person does not need the full panoply of financial info at their fingertips 24/7.
It’s always good to look at both stores when looking for something; I’ve found time after time that Lowe’s offers some items cheaper while Home Depot is cheaper for others. Also sometimes Lowe’s carries items that Home Depot doesn’t and vice versa. Because of this I honestly can’t choose one over the other (I do think Lowe’s is slightly more upscale, though 🙂
There is a Lowes and Home Depot almost next door to each other near me. I go to Lowes at least once a month, usually more. I went to Home Depot one time about 15 years ago. I bought a window air conditioner and it wouldn’t get cool, so I took it back. The customer service acted like they didn’t believe me. They would not give me my money back until they plugged it in at the store and let it run for an hour to see for themselves. That really upset me and never went back. I didn’t want that hassle anytime I needed to return something. I have never had an issue with Lowes. No, Lowes is not the place to shop if you are a contractor or have a big project, especially lumber, but I don’t think Home Depot is either. Not around here anyway. There are building centers for large purchases.
I think it was a mistake for Lowe’s to aquire Craftsman tools. Not impressed. They have lost focus on Kobalt tools. And ThD has a better website. Sometimes Lowe’s can come up with outstanding deals. But if the product is less than THD, you can get the 10% less price match at THD. This can be substantial, so always compare prices before purchasing.
Home Depot is far better at keeping the most needed products in stock. Often the most basic plumbing fittings are absent at Lowes. Customer assistance at both locations isn’t great, but I’ve frequently been stuck waiting ridiculously long times for customer service at Lowes, but it’s not so bad at Home Depot.
I had a comparative experience with Lowes vs Home Depot. While shopping in Home Depot’s stores, I found the employees much more helpful. At Lowes, they seem short handed and you are lucky to have anyone come up to you to ask if you are finding what you want, and it is just as hard to track someone down for help. At Home Depot I had questions about garbage disposals, and had more than one employee helping me. I let them know just how much more helpful they were than Lowes. Trouble is, I live only a few minutes away from a Lowes, and 20 minutes from the nearest Home Depot, (dang). Solution without having to travel so much for something……shop at Menards. Sigh!
I work at Lowe’s, we definitely try to pass Home Depot. A lot of our meetings include numbers and how close we are to them. At my location we are above the closest Home Depot and menards. I would like to say the part about Lowe’s being more geared towards the average joe is somewhat true. We have a lot of different systems in place that make it a lot easier for people who don’t know much about the stuff they’re buying, as does Home Depot. But there’s one thing that sticks out to me the most when it comes to accommodating the average consumer. Tool rentals. Lowe’s doesn’t do tool rentals, and I don’t think they every will. Home Depot does. The professional already has the power tools for the job, the DIYer doesn’t. Another thing is Lowe’s pro service. I don’t know much about Home Depot when it comes to this, but I’m sure they have something like this. But Lowe’s has lots of different options for contractors and company owners. For example, when it comes to credit cards, Lowe’s has 3 or 4 different types of credit cards you can get for the pros, and only one kind for the DIYer. In contrast to all of this, Lowe’s focuses a lot on making sure the employees don’t treat their customers like they know everything. The way they train us and the atmosphere of the store is definitely for the DIYer. One last thing I’d like to add is product quality. If you know about power tools, you know Home Depot has Lowe’s beat. With ryobi and ridgid, we don’t stand a chance. Those brands are made for the pros.
I got a Lowe’s less then a mile from my house and I try to get what I need from them but time and again I end up driving to the othet side of town to Home Depot. Why? Because Home Depot has a better selection and offers the products I use at a better value / price point. Home Depot for example has a far better lumber selection. Also not mentioned in this article. Home Depot bought the Giant distributor US Lock and at least one other company like US lock in the past few years. Lowes lacks in too many areas to be my go to store if they were both the same distance from my house. However since Lowes is closer I go there and then find it a waste of time and wish I had driven the extra few miles and just gone to Home Depot.
I agree with almost everything you said. The only thing that doesn’t make sense is just how well Lowes seems to be doing. Whenever I visit one of the Lowes stores in my neighborhood the entire store is empty, I mean nobody. While at the same time the Home Depot across the street has lines down the aisles. I always assumed Lowes was on the brink of bankruptcy, not enjoying a comfortable 2nd place.
Not to question what you said but I have worked for both Lowe’s and Home Depot. If i had to say, I would guess that Home Depot has much more customer knowledge than Lowe’s. Now this could be only for GA but from what I could tell and from customers that I have heard from Lowe’s is gauged for consumer sales but is much less knowledgeable and helpful to the consumer compared to Home Depot. While Home Depot may be set more for professional, or contractor sales, the average home depot employee has greater product knowledge and provides better customer service. That could easily be changed on Lowe’s part, but from my experience that’s the difference
I’m a small nobody mechanical contractor, and I never go to Lowe’s. HD allways had a vet discount, help loading your stuff in the car,far better quality lumber that cost 20% less than Lowe’s. Want to build a deck ? HD pro desk has diagrams for lots of designs, with complete parts list with prices, free. Rent a chain saw, floor sander, drain snake? HD has hundreds of rental tools up to back hoes and moving trucks. Lowe’s, uh,, no. Need I go on??
As a former customer service associate for Lowes, I can say that my training was completely geared toward accomodating do-it-yourselfers. The pro-services portion of the store is much smaller than the rest (about 1/6th of my store) and it was often understaffed leading to many angry professionals just trying to pay for what they need and leave. Many times I was pulled away from working on the other side of the store in the Lawn & Garden center to load a pallet or two of materials into a professional customer’s truck because they didn’t have any licensed fork lift operators on duty which is unacceptable if they want to attract more builders. Thats probably why Home Depot is doing better. They also hire people who really know what they’re talking about and in my experience, shopping at Home Depot is better all-around.
I actually work at a Home Depot. And I rarely hear customers make comparisons but when they do they always refrence our customer service. At lease for the store in my area, our home depot tends to have much more staff. And we are expected to prioritize customers over any other task. There is almost always someone at the door to greet you and if not you can’t go more than a few aisles without finding someone. The few times I’ve been in Lowe’s it’s felt like a ghost town for both employees and customers. Store location might have something to do with this as the Lowe’s is off in a sort of commercial district without any nearby residential areas while the hike depot is near a large shopping area (mall, grocery store, food etc) and close to the downtown area and residential areas of the same city.
As an electrician I go to Home Depot because they have the tools I want as well they have just better materials. But Lowes sometimes has better deals on things like panels and and stuff for small service jobs and repairs. I still do find myself going to Home Depot more because of course, they sell Klein and Milwaukee tools
The town I live in, at least used to, have a contract with Lowes, preventing a Home Depot from coming, despite most people wanting both. My dad is a huge Dewalt tools fan (exclusive to Home Depot), and by extension I am a fan too when I help him. So for basic hardware we go to Lowes. But if we need a new tool he orders online and either picks it up from a Home Depot on his way home from work, or he can order it straight to our home. If Lowes is out of hardware, we’re screwed because he doesn’t want to take the truck that far out of town for gas and the small size of our truck. Sure he has a CDL, but carrying a bunch of wood down the interstate in a small bed 4 door truck isn’t ideal.
I worked for HD for 15 years . I have always been recruited by Lowes after I left HD. After 7 years or so of ‘separation anxiety’, I finally interviewed with Lowes, I visited several stores in Wisconsin and Illinois, and they were all ghost towns. Home Depot on the other hand has become greatly diluted by poor corporate leadership, and has become a culture less embarrassment for a former orange bleeder like myself. Home Depot has been ‘ripe for the picking’ for the last 15 years or so. Neither Lowes or Menard’s has the ability to completely cannibalize HD’s sales. Regardless of how bad Home Depot is run, 1.)Lowes never could, and cannot develop proprietary brands with any credibility (this latest Crafstman coup is a real joke, because the brand has been dead for years). Contractors want the real deal. Home Depot has always had top of the line brands for contractors….even if that is not true anymore…no professional is painting with Valspar (example).2.) Menards has come a long way, I am positive they sell more lumber/building materials per store than HD and Lowes combined. They also have a dramatically improved paint line and sell tons of Paint..probably also more than HD (now anyway) and Lowes. However Home Depot remains at the top for two reasons. Flooring and Kitchens, and both of these departments are afterthoughts by Menards. Menards wont even allow anyone scheduled in the flooring department until 3 hours after they open. I can assure you that in a 50 million dollar Home Depot, Kitchens and flooring will account for almost 40% of that 50 million, and that is where all the margin is as well.
yes and no to what you are saying but this is coming from working in a Lowes from 2019 to now. One of the kickers is the person now running Lowes, used to be the CEO of home depot. From what I have been seeing, more or less, they try to serve both the consumer and the Pro customers at the same time, which leads to delays on both ends. The Pro Desk is a part of the infrastructure built to combat this demand, but the programming in the Lowe’s order priority puts Pro first, over in-store consumers. This leads to a lot of very angry customers, who come into the store, order ready, and have to wait upwards of hours or more to collect their products. While Home Depot closed their stores early on duing the first parts of this pandemic, Lowe’s extended their hours to compete. TLDR order priority is garbage.
From my analysis of Home Depot I think HD has incredible info system that helps them raise the amount they sell per square feet. They know exactly what is the demand for each product and they adapt very quickly. I think this is probably why their performance per square feet is superior to Lowes. Lowes should hire more data analysts and upgrade the system if it wants to improve the sales per square feet.
In the early 90s I worked for the awful Builder’s Square (owned by Kmart) when the first Lowes in our town opened up half a mile away. I asked my General Manager if he was concerned. “No,” he said. “But there’s a chain in Texas called Home Depot. If they open around here, we’ll be out of business with 6 months.” He was wrong. The first Home Depot put him out of business in three months.
These two companies seem to compete only in fairly populous towns. Smaller markets get one or the other. I’ve always lived in Lowe’s towns, but there’s an HD about 50 miles away. When I built my home (as general contractor), I shopped both for nearly everything. I bought mostly at Lowe’s because it was closer, but at HD when they had something that I liked more. HD often has more variety and innovative things, but its website is horridly user-hostile. Lowe’s generally has better products (certainly better appliances), and are much nicer and cleaner stores. You can’t beat the 5% off on everything you buy on the Lowe’s card (new since building my home).
I grew up with a father and grandfather that worked in the trades. They’d both go to Home Depot over Lowes because 1) Home Depot seems to be cheaper and 2) the people that work at Home Depot aren’t as annoying. Back then it seemed like Lowes employees would follow you around the store, when you already knew exactly what you needed.
As somebody who’s been in the trades my whole life I have to say Lowe’s is cleaner, more organized and offers finer quality materials. Home Depot in the other hand has better tools and more professional brands, although Lowe’s carries dewalt, paslode, senco, Irwin ect Home Depot has Milwaukee, makita, and almost every tool brand also that Lowe’s has. Home Depot is also busy and dirty. Home Depot does have more but their lumber for example is always dry and shaped like a hockey stick unless you get there early like myself and wait in line with all of the other contractors for wet wood. It really depends on what you’re in there for though. They both have big positives and negatives and I go to both stores but for separate reasons. The real thing I’ve noticed is their convenience. They’re both basically the wal Marts of construction, if you ever go to a family owned tool store or a local family owned lumbar yard. They have specialty items Home Depot or Lowe’s has never carried and the customer care is unbelievably different. Anyway, that’s just my 2 cents.
As a plumber, if I need parts, and a legitimate plumbing supply house is too far away, I will choose Lowe’s or Home Depot. My decision is based on which store is closest at that time. Both locations have a comparable variety of plumbing products and prices. But I won’t spend even an extra 10 minutes to drive to one store or the other. Go to closest store, buy parts, and return to my customer.
My two cents: when I was in construction Home Depot was the place to go. They’d have everything in stock, one stop shopping. Now that I’m out of that industry I prefer Lowes. Overall the customer experience is better (unless you want to return something in which case I’ve had less issues with Home Depot). That being said, after dealing with workers and contractors in the various trades they undoubtedly prefer Home Depot to Lowes. If both were equal distances apart they’d opt for Home Depot. That being said, I believe your assesment is correct. If the housing market takes a tumble, so will the sales and stock of Home Depot. Lowes may weather the storm better than Home Depot as they seem to attract (anecdotally) the average home owner more than contractors. We’re on the precipice of a major market correction and house sales will undoubtedly tumble, so let’s wait and see if that assessment is correct. One final thought, Home Depot has better branding and awareness. I can hear it in my head right now. “You can do it, we can help.” I can’t even think of what Lowes’ tag line is. Do they even have one? Love your vids. Very thorough and simultaneously educational and entertaining. You have a knack for taking the complex and wildling it down to a straightforward and cohesive narrative.
Around here you really can’t choose one or the other – you need to choose both; as well as in person vs. online. Generally Lowes is consumer oriented and tends to have better selections in plumbing and a few other things. Home Depot I need to visit for certain other specialty supplies… I’m a serious DIYer and neither store does everything. Additionally the stores are almost always managed incompetently, so I need to order online due to stocking issues and selection. Home Depot is the best for shopping online due to shipping rates. Neither is good for Lumber – you can save a huge margin by going to a Lumber or Construction supplier – at least for larger projects (like home additions).
As a truck driver, who’s delivered to them, I prefer Lowes. As a consumer, they have their differences. I have the Lowes card and I usually try to shop there first. Bought my vinyl fence from them and check there first. When it comes to powered tools, I prefer Mikita and Home Depo sells them, so I’ve bought a bunch from them. Lowes doesn’t sell that brand. Wish they did.
My boyfriend swears by Lowe’s because they have a better Veterans discount, and he “didn’t get nasty nerve damage through my right arm for nothing.” I like it because our dogs fifth favorite person works there and she lets him put his head in her lap while giving him a head massage. (Ranking goes Boyfriend-Granny-me-auntie-Lowe’s girl-Nana-every child in existence)
I’ve always viewed places like Lowe’s and the defunct Pergament stores tailored more towards the civilian and Home Depot for the contractors. Home Depot, however, is not very good at customer relations at all. They advertised when they came up here to NY during the late 1980’s that they would always have an ample amount of sales people on the floor to help the customer and that no one would ever tell a customer with a question that it is not their department. Yet, nowadays it is much easier to find a needle in a haystack than it is to find a Home Depot employee willing to assist the customer. Unfortunately, Home Depot’s biggest weakness comes from buying appliances to have delivered. Unlike most places who buy their products on credit, HD buys direct. Therefore, if there is an issue with an item, they are too likely to deliver the defective item to the consumer’s home. Maybe a dishwasher with a forklift like dent on it, etc. HD will also try to pass the buck to the manufacturer and expect the consumer to be happy with the supposedly new dishwasher with a huge dent on the front door of it. Lowe’s employees are more available on the floor and much more helpful, but they need to do a much better job with their deliveries. Back in 2020 when everything was locking down, I went to Lowe’s to purchase a shed that I was going to insulate, draw a line and raise up off if the ground to turn into a gym shed. After finding the shed I wanted, a date was scheduled to have it delivered on August 31st of that year.
I use to work at Lowe’s in the mid to late 90s. Home Depot built a store in that time within 10 miles. Where I am now they are much closer maybe 5 miles. I think while Lowe’s does have commercial sales they do more do it yourself. Lowe’s had more and selection and decor items. I think Home Depot is quick if you know what to get. But if you want selection Lowe’s. I think each have there place in the market
You are very wrong here. I work for Home Depot and deal with dozens of disgruntled Lowe’s customers every day. The problem with Lowe’s is that they DON’T focus on the consumer. We here at Home Depot do that, it’s literally our company motto, ” Customers first “. I hear from many people that the reason they don’t go to Lowe’s is because they have terrible customer service and not enough selection. The way we look at it, Lowe’s is an appliance store that happens to sell Hardware, and we like to say we are a Hardware store that sells appliances.
I’m in Dallas, Tx. YEARS ago I stopped going to H/D. BAD Customer Service, IF I could even find anyone, missing inventory (i.e., I call ahead to make sure they have it, make a special trip out of my way, and come to find out that they didn’t have any or Never carried it) I can understand if I took an hour to get there and they sold the last one, but I get there 20 minutes later and what I was told on the phone was complete Bull Shit. The employees don’t want to be there or are down right angry. And not just 1, it’s like the Whole Store was pissed off. And this isn’t just 1 store, this is half a dozen or more stores in the Dallas area, in 3-4 different cities. Lowe’s was/is the complete opposite. (oh, and I started DYI, and over the years became a contractor) When I talked to other contractors it seems that they had run into the same thing but just kept going back because that’s where they had been going for years. I don’t go to H/D unless I have no other choice. :>/
In my experience, Home Depot is cleaner, more well laid out, and some of the employees know what they’re talking about. Whereas at our local Lowe’s the cart racks are falling apart, employees refuse to help you, the store is dirty and run down, and there’s shootings and break-ins in the parking lot. Even though the two stores are less than a mile from each other.
As a Professional Tradesman, I can tell you the main differences between the two in recent times, back in the late 80’s, as I was a teenager just starting out in the trades, up to now. Lowe’s is definitely geared more towards the Homeowner/DIY crowd, with a little focus on the professionals. Although in the last year, they have been trying (with little results) to go after the Professionals. Their finish products, like light fixtures, ceiling fans, bathroom furnishings is a little nicer, but their limber and rough products are definitely Lacking. They sell junk Kobalt tools and their new addition of Craftsman is a last ditch effort on both sides to stay relevant. But at least their top line, DeWalt is their only saving grace in the tool department. They recently have some sort of exclusive deal with EGO for OPE, but who is EGO? They are a Pro-Sumer brand I guess. Now Don’t get me wrong, I am,… was a die hard Craftsman hand tool guy. Until of course they started making their tools in China, and their quality dropped like crazy. They are supposedly in the process of making their hand tools in the USA, but not right now. Although they are also mak, ng some things here, I can only wait until I actually use one of their tool chests over a period of time, because the ones I see in the stores are all beat up. But they are a lot better than the Kobalt junk. Lowe’s has crap lumber as well, and not a large enough selection most of the time for me to bother stopping in. Never order lumber online, because you will only get what you receive from someone that is simply filling an order.
I’m from Eastern Kentucky and the closest Home Depot is in Lexington in the center of the state there’s 2 home Depot there, as far as Lowes there’s a Lowe’s in just about every city that has a super Walmart so as a diyer and now a professional contractor Lowe’s is the only place available for the most part unless I want to drive over an hour to shop at a orange store.
As someone who shopped at home depot on a regluar person level and with than a contractor for work. I felt they focus more on contractors. Now as someone who works at homedepot, they push for us to focus on the customer alot more now, while still keeping contractors satisfied with their needs. I think homedepot trying to push a balance is what their doing and what has worked for sure.
Honestly both stores are mostly interchangeable to me except for one thing, no matter what Lowe’s I went too, the customer service was always really bad. They didn’t seem to want to help me and made me feel like I was bothering them, and also couldn’t really answer my questions. Home Depot workers were always friendly, engaging, and very knowledgeable. So I prefer Home Depot
It’s not about catering to the customer. I am not a professional and I find Home Depot much more customer friendly. From everything to what’s available in the stores, to advertisement to other things like online ordering, Home Depot is much more accessible. I think the number 1 reason is that you can easily find a Home Depot. For every three Home Depot stores, there is maybe one Lowes somewhere. Plus, it seems to be cheaper.
I went to lowes and there was no one there. I needed help and there were no employees there. It was also dark inside and depressing. I work at Home Depot and there are so many more employees walking around. Honestly it just feels like since Home Depot’s color is orange and everything inside the store is orange, seeing the color orange everywhere makes you feel happier compared to a depressing dark blue color. Also since there is less employees, it feels depressing. Lowes is depressing and Home Depot is more happier inside
I’ve been perusal this website since the very first article of yours came out, and for some reason you continue to captivate me on a topic that otherwise was boring to me. I have a question that maybe you might be interested in answering: How does Mitsubishi manage to have such cheap prices on their brand new vehicles while also putting in some of the most new technology into cars? Mitsubishi’s cars are imports and are still cheaper than any domestic cars and trucks and have much more technology in them then domestic cars do. How does Mitsubishi manage to keep prices low? Everyone I’ve asked has the same two answers, either saying Mitsubishi cuts corners, or give there negative opinions of Mitsubishi as an answer to my question.
I run the maintenance dept. at the company where I work. I never let my employees go to Home Depot unless that is their last resort. The time they spend there is almost double then when shopping at Lowes. I went into Home Depot one Saturday to buy some screws for a project. It took 10 minutes to find the screws and over 2 hours for the Pro Desk to figure out how to ring up my sale. Lowes has a Guy (Brian) who is dedicated to just the Pro Desk. He is very knowledgeable and gets my employees out and back on the job in minutes. I know 2 hours is the worst we have experienced but most of the time at Home Depot it takes a half hour for them just to figure out how to look up our account. And you should see their face when I pull out a PO number. I do not know if it is like this everywhere but here Lowes is better for pros in my opinion.
My job deals with helping to schedule and deliver for the customers of BOTH Lowes and Home Depot. I always feel a hint bad for customers when a driver is late or something happens with the order and they’re mad at us and say, “Well, I’ll just go to the other store!” We deliver for both, dear. You’re still stuck dealing with us… Biggest issue is that neither allows customers to set their own time window. Why? Because we have too many orders in a day. Maybe if you were dealing with your local delivery company, you could pick a time, but we have anywhere from 15 to 30 deliveries in a day. Drivers in the New England area will also cover multiple states in a day. We can submit a time request for you but it’s just not a guarantee because we’re swamped. And for the love of frickin’ everything, if you don’t HAVE to get a new appliance before the holidays, don’t! Buy it if you must for the pricing but do NOT have some high hopes of having it installed before the holiday! I’m rather sick already of the “But I need my new, expensive DOUBLE wall oven and fancy over the range microwave before Thanksgiving!” calls. There’s only so much time in a day that the teams can handle orders and we deliver six days of the week for Home Depot and 7 for Lowes. And some of the installers for HD will even give up their Sundays this time of the year to get things done. We’re already at full steam. If we have no availability for your delivery before the holiday, it’s because someone else was faster on the draw.
Yeah I can’t really put my finger on it. I think first off for a consumer, convenience was a big factor. There were more Home Depots close to me. Next, Home Depot just has a nicer feel. The orange has a brighter feel that Lowe’s. I think last, home depot used to have some very knowledgeable folks that would help me out. I have noticed a decline in these types of folks, though. I can’t tell if there are really any differences in prices. The key is to build a loyal following, either from professionals or from consumers. Home Depot just feels better.
Thank you Lowes for closing down orchard supply hardware, employed since 2013 to 2018 (last day 11-17-18)as a receiving specialist in Milpitas CA, really liked the job, of course it was stressful at times and fun as well,especially my customers were awsome. For some who are curious, I was making $19.84 an hour full time Monday to Friday, weekends off. It was perfect for me. I’m still searching for work. Again thank you Lowes.
Lowe’s is almost too nice a store to go into. When a tool breaks and you’re halfway through a job and covered in grease and metal shavings you don’t want to go into lowe’s; Home Depot’s shelves and floor are usually all coated with a light layer of sawdust already which makes you feel less bad walking through there in a messy state. I don’t know if anyone else thinks that way, but its a minor reason for me lol. Home Depot is usually cheaper. Home Depot tends to have a better selection of average quality wood. Home Depot has more wood and metal working tools Home Depot staff tend to be less annoying(they usually couldn’t be bothered to talk to you which is fine by me). Home Depot has better deals when getting cuts made Home Depot rents trucks and equipment. I usually only go to Lowe’s after I’ve already exhausted the local Home Depot. Lowe’s is nice, but eh.
For me Home Depot has a greater selection than Lowe’s, but I tend to shop at both stores. Lowes tends to be more customer friendly & there tends to be less of a crowd. Lowe’s also tends to push their own brand of tools more so than Home Depot, but most DIYers tend to go with name brand tools over house (store brand) tools. If Lowe’s would stock just a little more of what DIYers are looking for they would be able to give Home Depot a run for their money.
Every Lowes store I have visited, you can’t walk out the entrance. That irritates me. They are wanting me to walk thru the store after I made a return. But more likely, I have forgotten my shopping list in my vehicle and now I have to walk thru the store to get back out to my vehicle. That is wasted time.
For the items I buy, I have had to make several returns at Lowe’s due to poorly performing products. While at Home Depot I have yet to make a return for a poor performing product. So when I think of Lowe’s I think of a consistently bad experience. Home Depot I get what I need, and returns are always my fault. Home Depot also has retired engineers and professionals at the location I frequent, compared to the teenagers at the local Lowe’s.
The way HD and Lowes make their money usually is more like this. If you go to a real trade store, say for paint, a gallon of the same primer (which may not be the same and may be a special run for just HD/Lowes) might be $32 while at HD it’s $29, but then the real paint store will charge $3 for a brush HD sells for $6-7, or sell a putty knife or taping knife for $8 the paint store sells for $4. I remember going to a real tile store and paying $13 for tube of caulk Lowes could only special order at $22 a tube. Obviously you can’t totally avoid these stores, HD and Lowes, and their hours are really convenient, but to be totally reliant on them is foolish, especially if you’re aspiring to be more than a handyman. Anyone to me that buys their tools/supplies only at HD or Lowes I look at with a lot of suspicion regarding their quality of work and their professionalism, because it means they’ve not taken time to really research whatever trade they’re proclaiming to be in, it’s just a matter of “well HD/Lowes don’t sell it” or even better “The guy at HD/Lowes said…” not that real trade stores are impervious to bad advice or quality of items, but a real local trade store has a reputation on the line, whereas HD/Lowes do not.
I have noticed that both Lowe’s and Home Depot store locations tend to be in high local sales tax areas. It makes me wonder whether the municipalities raised their sales tax to more heavily tax shoppers at Lowe’s/HD — or did the munis entice Lowe’s and HD with a sweet property tax abatement and raised the sales tax to recoup it? Compare this to Menards which tends to locate in lower local sales tax areas. In Illinois, for example, you will pay around 10% sales tax at a small town Lowe’s or HD and pay 6.5% at a small town Menards. Note that I am NOT referring to major cities where you will find all 3 of these retailers and obviously you will pay the same tax rate for all. While I am not always happy with Menard’s, that 3.5% adds up!
I’m a DIYer. I tend to prefer Home Depot when I am mid-project and discover I need something, and Lowes when I am actually planning out a project and buying the supplies for it. One of the big elements for me is the people there. Home Depot is really a crap shoot when it comes to helping customers. They tend to be understaffed, there is less likely to be someone from a particular department even on site, and I frequently encounter ex-contractors that really only seem interested in talking to ‘their type’. I also frequently run into problems of sexism, where they will completely ignore my partner and talk directly to me, even when she is the one asking important questions. This can get REALLY infuriating. Lowes seems to have better trained people, more likely to have someone with domain knowledge available to help, and are more willing to talk to women and non-contractors.
I shop at both stores. I find Lowe’s to be more customer-friendly than Home Depot in my area, and I usually find more of what I need at Lowes (and I’m a consumer, not a profesional.) I wish both stores could sell better-quality lumber. Most of what I buy there is really industrial-grade garbage; if I want good lumber for a woodworking project, I have to go to a local lumber yard.
tfw Lowe’s plans backfire because Home Depot set up shop in some of the Lowe’s locations that were closed, foiling Lowe’s plans to strengthen near by Lowe’s within 10 miles… This is exactly what happened to a Lowe’s that closed a couple towns over, soon after “Home Depot coming soon” banners popped up over the old Lowe’s signs. I bet those who are unaware of the other Lowe’s locations and don’t follow the news, I bet these individuals believed that Lowe’s was bought out by Home Depot or went bankrupt, especially with the Store Closing signs/sales previously and now having a Home Depot opening in it’s place. So in my opinion, they probably ruined their reputation with these individuals of the area who now just view/associate Lowe’s with failure now.
Omg I live in wilkesboro!!!!!!! I didnt know they were gonna say my town name omg I goto wilkes community college and lowes pays for alot of our tuition!!!!! Thats so crazy and the first lowes is still around but its not called lowes anymore. Omg Im shocked out if everywhere in the world he says my town!!!!
I like Lowe’s & Home Depot. But what holds Lowe’s back is tools Hone Depot carries Milwaukee & Dewalt and Mikita yes they have other brands but they stock all the major tool brands. Lowe’s carries Dewalt true but only other offers Kobolt & Craftsman brands. So this leads me to be buying more tools at Hone Depot and Lowe’s lumber in general seems a bit cheaper so I go there for that
Yeah I don’t know, I’ve always liked home Depot better even though my family always used Lowe’s as a kid. I think home Depot has spectacular branding and the stores are more easy to get through. In my experience, the workers there also tend to know what they’re talking about with supplies more than they do at Lowe’s.
so i think it really depends on opinion and location because home depot seems like they have better customer service in some locations then other i know as somebody who works at home depot that they tend to be friendlier then our competitor but i have heard the opposite from other in this comment section so i think it is down to where you are and your opinion of home depot/lowes i cant give a opinion on lowes as i have only been there once in many years and was there for like 10 minutes lol
Since I am a Lowes associate, Heres my 2 cents. And I’m certain a lot of you will agree when I say Home Depot seems to have more knowledgeable associates on the floor. I’m sure if my work had more people that know what they’re doing customers would be more inclined to shop with us. I’ve heard a lot of those complaints. They hire to many young people that probably have no business even being in a hardware store and not to mention working in one. I’m just glad to say that if you needed help finding something in hardware (the most frustrating dept) I can help you find anything 🙂 that’s because I’m not some ignorant teenager that doesn’t even know what a 2 dollar bill is LOL That crap amazes me and I’m only 31 Side Note: Not calling anyone out but some of the kids these days are just…. A wet match in a dark cave…
You should do a UK stores equivalent, not 100% what would be what here? i guess the dominating store is B&Q which is very similar to Home Depot in coloring and advertising, they do kinda dominate in that respect where the majority of other stores are much more trade focused, so in an ironic way the opposite formula seems to apply here, which is why i think maybe a little look into it would make an interesting article. (tradesmen here only seem to go to b&q when they need to, there’s a common trend that b&q staff don’t have a clue (though again that varies, older men at b&q know, younger ones don’t seem to)) but yeah, would be interested to see your take, the UK is very different in a sense, i think trades tend to do better over here in one sense, never out of work, however they don’t seem to grow the same, businesses that get big contracts for example, there’s maybe 10 in the UK, big company’s, but smaller tradesmen, joiners, electricians, etc tend to be self employed or are sub contractors. maybe that has a lot to do with it too? anyway, interested to see anyone’s take on it., not in the trades myself, my dad is a joiner however, so i tend to do most stuff myself relying on my dad for areas i don’t know, that and i worked with him for years also.
I worked at a Home Depot in Minneapolis for 17 1/2 years in hardware, paint and plumbing. I prefer Menards because of better selection of products. Home Depot had 90% of the basics for your project but wouldn’t have the finishing touches to complete it. Also it was hard to get things that would sell in our location but wouldn’t in another. A One Size Fits All strategy leaves some major holes in your inventory.
Visited a Lowe’s recently and it was one of the worst big box shopping experiences I’ve ever had. The furniture merchandise was embarrassing. There were wicker chairs for sale on the floor that had already fallen apart and a horrible wooden rocking chair that could be shook into pieces. The gardening and outdoor section looked depressing and bland. They were selling little cacti for about $6 each which was really expensive…and most of them had a fake flower glued on top of them which seemed like a scam. The lighting of the store was totally lackluster, dull, and gray. The actual lighting section was filled with outdated LED products and extremely overpriced GE light bulbs exclusively which makes no sense in this market. There was also random merchandise set on top of store displays. From what I saw there was a limited, overpriced, selection. Home Depot has almost none of these issues. The stores look appealing, brightly lit, and fairly organized. They sell competitive and desirable products. And they have decent exclusive in house brands which improves prices. I also went into Menards which is honestly better than both in terms of organization and selection. Home Depot has the best technology of all the home improvement stores and a fantastic website which may make all of the difference in the end. Lowe’s has awful technology.