Lowes vs Home Depot

Lowes vs Home Depot

  • Total voters
    17
jeepinmatt

jeepinmatt

#1 WEBWHEELER
Moderator
Joined
Mar 24, 2005
Location
Stanley, NC
Is it just me, or is Home Depot just becoming better than Lowes?

To start with, the search on Home Depot's website seems to actually produce the results I want, whereas Lowes is a crapshoot and rarely gets me the products I'm looking for. I was just searching for a 3/8" x 2.5" Lag bolt, and on Lowes website, it is nowhere to be found in the first 50 results. The first thing is a 1/2"x3", and it just gets further away from there. Home Depot, its the first result, and the first 7 results are all 3/8"x2.5" with different finishes and pack sizes, even if I use crappy syntax for my search. And it's been this way for at least 5 years.

Also, the HD stores seem to have a better selection of stuff, and the prices are better. I first noticed when I was building my house, and I needed 4x8 sheets of melamine board. HD had it, whereas Lowes only had 2x4 or long shelving width boards. I had been a big Lowes fan up until that point (mainly because it was closer to the house, and they are a Mooresville based company), but I began to notice things being a little cheaper price at HD and them often having things that Lowes did not. I would have expected it to be a balance of have/have-not, but it really does seem to be one sided in favor of Home Depot.

Employees in the store seem to be a similar reflection. I'm the kind of guy who doesn't want help, I'd rather find it myself. But if I'm in a hurry, or don't even know where to start, I will ask. At Home Depot, it seems like most associates will address you as you walk by, and can generally point you in the right direction. Product knowledge is hit or miss, but that's what I'd expect of a retail sales associate. Every time I go to Lowes, the associates tend to avoid me, and when I do ask them a question, they either don't know where the product is, or they proceed to read me the box I'm already holding (thanks, that's really helpful). The wife has noted the same experience time and time again, at different locations of both stores.
 
I agree completely. HD always seems to have actual supplies that Lowes only carries online..... but if you need some chrome wheel covers for your riding mower. Lowes is your place. It is the Walmart of home improvement. I only hate that Lowes is 2 miles from my house. HD is 15....
 
I've felt the same for a while actually.
HD seems to positioning itself more as Target to Lowe's Wal-Mart.

Around here Lowe's is generally cheaper on identical items by a buck or so but the stores arent as clean or organized the associates seem to hate their job. Etc.

The one thing Lowe's absolutely gets right is their web site item locator. Now their search functionality sucks as @jeepinmatt says, but if I can find what I want, I can screen shot it to the wife and it will have the aisle and bin location and my wife can grab what I need if she is close by. Really like that feature.
 
Last edited:
Its been a while since I've been in a HD, but when I lived 'in town' and both were fairly nearby, I would go to HD since it was 2 miles closer. If I needed some nuts/bolts though, I would trek over to Lowes because HD's selection sucked. this was over 10 years ago, before I was a web shopper, ie websites didnt matter.
Now that I've moved, there are 2 Lowes much more conveniently located compared to the HD. I actually stop at Tractor Supply or Northern if I can before Lowes or HD. Another thing I like about Lowes is that I can get a $50 gift card for $45 cashback bonus from my Discover card. Oh, and they have a better selection of house air filters. For whatever reason, my house has 4 different size air filters :eek:
 
I wish the new HD would hurry up and get constructed in Greenville. We have 2 Lowe's and not HD for at least 6 years now. I'm ready for Lowes to have some competition.
 
Ron said:
The one thing Lowe's absolutely gets right is their web site item locator.
Click to expand...
I do agree on this. I tried to use it at HD a couple weeks ago, and it either wouldn't load, or had some cryptic crap like "seasonal display". Lowe's will say "Isle 23, shelf 7, bin 14" and you can go right to it. Both stores have inventory accuracy issues, but that's no surprise.
 
Lowes always gets first shot at my business. Lowes put food on the table when I was growing up. My grandfather retired from there. He built windows in the back, back when you would go in and tell them your window size, and they made them in-store. My Dad retired from there. He worked there back when every employee wore a neck-tie! I also remember as a kid watching them close up the Hickory store, closing the gate to the warehouse and releasing two dobermans to guard the warehouse and yard. Imagine if a store had guard dogs and some idiot jumped the fence today!
Oh yeah, and I have a little Lowes stock.

That being said, if Lowes doesn't have it, I'll go elsewhere.

I also agree, their website search sucks.
 
Was searching for a couple things online from lowes, found a store that had them in inventory. Drove all the way over there and they had none in the store. Asked the employee about the items shown in stock: "We have them in our store inventory, but they are at the other store." o_O
 
HD is usually a lot cheaper, and actually has stock, whereas Lowe's doesn't.

HD you have to check yourself out, Lowe's you have to stand in line for 10 minutes.
 
shawn said:
HD you have to check yourself out, Lowe's you have to stand in line for 10 minutes.
Click to expand...

All 3 lowes near me have self checkout. haven't stood in line in years at a lowes
 
Capture.JPG
 
I can't say I've ever actually stepped foot in a Home Depot...bought some stuff online, otherwise...I've always had a Lowe's or Sears within a couple miles. But in reality, I rarely buy in person, unless it's an emergency repair, because I'm buying online and can usually find what I want cheaper elsewhere.
 
I'll go against the consensus here. I prefer Lowes over HD just about every time. IMO, HD caters to the Pinterest projects. Last time i set foot in a HD was 3+yrs so it might have changed. If I'm needing nuts/bolts I head to Ace, much better selection and I can buy the exact number I need.
 
HD usually has better quality tools, especially the lower-end stuff like masonry and drywall tools. Lowes has Kobalt from whatever Chinese factory is making their stuff this week, and HD has Marshalltown.. Pretty much the same price, which one would you choose?

Honestly though, I usually go to both, strike out at both, and have to find someplace else (like Hoke Lumber in Davidson, which is a REAL lumberyard.).
 
Fabrik8 said:
Lowes has Kobalt from whatever Chinese factory is making their stuff this week
Click to expand...

Oh, you mean you don't want to buy the same tool with a bunch of blue rubberized plastic dripped all over it and pay an extra $5 for the privilege?
 
shawn said:
View attachment 232495
Click to expand...

Own one Minka ceiling fan and you will never buy, install or listen to a Hunter fan again.

From the quick connect sealed pigtail, to the ez hanger...to the fact that you cant hear the thing running if you try....

but Hunter makes Lowes and HD specific models for each store. The other store can get the other ones but they wont stock them.
Id guess thats what you are seeing there...
 
Ron said:
but Hunter makes Lowes and HD specific models for each store. The other store can get the other ones but they wont stock them.
Id guess thats what you are seeing there...
Click to expand...

That's the same model number. We have a bunch of these. They don't make noise.

But that's not the point. The point is that Lowe's charges more for shit where you're less likely to price match. Big appliances and power tools? They're the same to the penny. Smaller hand tools, hardware, etc, they're usually a lot more.
 
shawn said:
That's the same model number.
Click to expand...

Right, but most manufacturers dont ship the same model # in "fashioned products" to competing manufacturers. I'd thionk you'd run into this all the time in your world.

So when HD's procurement guy is beating up Hunter's sales guy, they want some competitive advantage. So suppliers invent chain specific models..
Ok HD how about this. We will sell you this wonderful Style X Model 53069 and we will guarantee you that you will get a 20% advantage over Lowe's on the same model.
Ok Lowe's no, you dont want model 53069, you want model 53609. Whats the difference? Oh we use our premium magical motor and special unobtainium attaching screws. It's the same price as the 53069 but better and we will offer you as 20% price protection over any other retailer on this model.

Now Lowe's will never stock that model, but if you want it they can order it.

Then there is a similar model number at Lowe's with the opposite price points.

And we havent even factored into the equation different store classings and localized price models...
 
Ron said:
Right, but most manufacturers dont ship the same model # in "fashioned products" to competing manufacturers. I'd thionk you'd run into this all the time in your world.

So when HD's procurement guy is beating up Hunter's sales guy, they want some competitive advantage. So suppliers invent chain specific models..
Ok HD how about this. We will sell you this wonderful Style X Model 53069 and we will guarantee you that you will get a 20% advantage over Lowe's on the same model.
Ok Lowe's no, you dont want model 53069, you want model 53609. Whats the difference? Oh we use our premium magical motor and special unobtainium attaching screws. It's the same price as the 53069 but better and we will offer you as 20% price protection over any other retailer on this model.

Now Lowe's will never stock that model, but if you want it they can order it.

Then there is a similar model number at Lowe's with the opposite price points.

And we havent even factored into the equation different store classings and localized price models...
Click to expand...

You're wrong. Go look it up yourself.
 
Back
Top