Lowes/Home Depot vs. small local stores - recent experience

[jinman]

I think one of the huge advantages of Lowe's and HD are that they are INDOOR lumber yards. There's nothing like shopping for lumber in air conditioned comfort inside a big warehouse while it is 100+ outside and/or raining cats and dogs. If you are buying small quantities, you can pick your lumber and cull out the rejects. You just can't do that very well in lumber yards where you order inside at a desk and they load you up outside. Indoor lumber yards have a huge advantage in my opinion.

 

[dmccarty]

...
However, when I needed a gross of large galvanized lag screws, I ordered them online as there were none in any of the local stores. The brick-and-mortar businesses nearby (this includes TSC and several independent HW stores) seem unable to stock everything I need, no matter their size.

Moral of the story: competition and variety are good, and a bigger factor in *my* satisfaction than any theory of consumer ethics.

Online stores are certainly impacting local stores. I much prefer to shop online if I can. It is faster, easier, and sometimes cheaper. We have Amazon Prime so second day shipping for us is free. This cuts both ways though. There is a product I have had in my wish list for YEARS. :laughing: Obviously I have not gotten around to pushing the buy button but recently I almost bought the item. The problem was I would have to pay shipping. :laughing: Since I don't need the item ASAP we will just wait until we are in town and buy it for the same price. On the other hand we need a pole saw and I checked out Lowes. I did not really like what I saw and looked at Amazon which has a better pole saw. Eventually I will buy from Amazon because it is a better product, I won't have to pay shipping, and it will be delivered to my door instead of me having to go back to Lowes. Course it cracks me up to think of UPS/FedEx driving up with a long pole saw.... :laughing:

There have been a few tools and fasteners I have need that simply are not available locally so you have to buy mail order. I much prefer to buy online since I can shop from home when I have time and have the product delivered. That saves quite a bit of time and money compared to me having to find time to stop at the store.

Later,
Dan

 

[IslandTractor]

Online stores are certainly impacting local stores. I much prefer to shop online if I can. It is faster, easier, and sometimes cheaper. We have Amazon Prime so second day shipping for us is free. This cuts both ways though. There is a product I have had in my wish list for YEARS. :laughing: Obviously I have not gotten around to pushing the buy button but recently I almost bought the item. The problem was I would have to pay shipping. :laughing: Since I don't need the item ASAP we will just wait until we are in town and buy it for the same price. On the other hand we need a pole saw and I checked out Lowes. I did not really like what I saw and looked at Amazon which has a better pole saw. Eventually I will buy from Amazon because it is a better product, I won't have to pay shipping, and it will be delivered to my door instead of me having to go back to Lowes. Course it cracks me up to think of UPS/FedEx driving up with a long pole saw.... :laughing:

There have been a few tools and fasteners I have need that simply are not available locally so you have to buy mail order. I much prefer to buy online since I can shop from home when I have time and have the product delivered. That saves quite a bit of time and money compared to me having to find time to stop at the store.

Later,
Dan

I have had almost the identical experience. I also count as a plus when buying from Amazon that I don't need to drive anywhere. Cutting out twenty trips to the local HD or Lowes or mall each year easily saves enough gas to pay for the Prime annual fee.

 

[cdaigle430]

I think what helps in my area is the fact that Home Depot and Lowes are only 500 feet apart from each other so there is always great competition going on And of course its a win win sit for me.

 

[Martian]

Went to my Menards today! It is indeed a Home Depot or Lowes on steroids. Not only is the store itself probably 25% larger, but most of their lumber is kept outside, so that 10-15% of the store that was full of lumber is now floor space. Not to mention that they have MUCH more lumber than Home Depot/Lowes. They even had groceries, not a full section, but snacks, drinks and canned foods. I was really impressed, wondered around for a good couple hours just looking at all their stuff.

When I finally got to looking for what I'd came for it was there. Been laying corrugated pipe to help some water drain at my cabin. Looked at Home Depot/Lowes and a couple local stores looking for something bigger than the 4" rolls, on about the 5th place, I found a 6" roll, I really wanted 8"+, but I figured I'd spent enough time looking. Of course I didn't go to Menards, they had up to 18" corrugate pipe and their 6" roll was $75 cheaper than what I paid at the local place. I got some pipe connectors for it (I measured once, and now need to cut twice:ashamed and am now on my way. I will definitely be going back to Menards.

 

[forgeblast]

They have a chocolate calzone!!! wow my wife wants me to find the recipe now lol.

 

[dmccarty]

They have a chocolate calzone!!! wow my wife wants me to find the recipe now lol.

Yeah, the chocolate calzone is pure sin. It should be banned. :laughing::laughing::laughing:

It is just a regular calzone with the cheese and then she fills it full of Nutella. At least a cups worth of Nutella. :licking: LOW FAT it is NOT! For the first few years they had different sizes but the large one was HUGE. It would take up a large pizza box. Now they only have a small size which still lasts us for a few days.

This calzone was REAL BAD for my healthy diet. :laughing::laughing::laughing:

Gots to stop thinking about the place. It is Friday and it is tempting to go get a pizza...... :licking:

Later,
Dan

 

[aczlan]

Gots to stop thinking about the place. It is Friday and it is tempting to go get a pizza...... :licking:

We have a tradition to make or get a pizza every Friday (so far, our homemade Sweet Baby Rays BBQ Chicken pizza is our favorite)... My wife has started making her own crust with the Kitchenaid I got her last year and it blows any store bought crust or dough that we have tried out of the water...


Aaron Z

 

[dmccarty]

We have a tradition to make or get a pizza every Friday (so far, our homemade Sweet Baby Rays BBQ Chicken pizza is our favorite)... My wife has started making her own crust with the Kitchenaid I got her last year and it blows any store bought crust or dough that we have tried out of the water...


Aaron Z

:laughing: The pizza place we really like has a Buffalo Chicken pizza that is oh so good. :licking: All I am getting for dinner is a tortilla toasted on a cast iron skillet, then folded over with cheese and turkey. A friend brought us some tomatoes so that will go inside as well. It is good but the pizza would be better! :laughing::laughing::laughing:

Later,
Dan

 

[Cat_Driver]

Happens in every store.
At my local Home Depot, I was standing in a line, I was next, but the guy in front of me had a ton of stuff. I had already been in line for several minutes, a guy came in behind me and waited for about a minute. An employee spoke Spanish to the guy behind me, then walked him over to a register and checked him out.

I WAS LIVID, I've been in line for many minutes, PLUS I was next and because he was Mexican and the cashier was Mexican he gets serviced and I don't.

I instantly called the manager down and tore him a new one for allowing "her" employees to do this. I got nowhere as she was also Mexica.

I got home and called Corporate Home Depo and tore them a new one.

This was blatent reverse discrimination because I was NOT a Mexican.

Corporate Home Depot appreciated the info and sent me discount coupon.

 

[aczlan]

:laughing: The pizza place we really like has a Buffalo Chicken pizza that is oh so good. :licking: All I am getting for dinner is a tortilla toasted on a cast iron skillet, then folded over with cheese and turkey. A friend brought us some tomatoes so that will go inside as well. It is good but the pizza would be better! :laughing::laughing::laughing:

Sounds good.

I dont remember where we came up with the recipe, but if anyione wants to try it, here is what we do:
Prepare the chicken:
1. Marinate the chicken overnight in Sweet Baby Rays
2. Cook the chicken (BBQ is best, pan also works)
3. Once it cools, you shred it

Make the pizza:
4. Make your crust and spread it on the pan
5. Partially cook the crust in the oven
6. Spread the crust with Sweet Baby Rays to taste (we don't use much or it overpowers the chicken)
7. Put on cheese to taste
8. Put on the chicken from step 3
9. Bake until the cheese melts
10. Let it cool and enjoy
We have tried not pre-baking the crust, but have found that the little pieces of chicken tend to get burned that way.

Aaron Z

 

[CompactTractorFan]

Only on TBN could a thread about Lowes, Home Depot, and hardware stores turn into a thread about pizza. :laughing:

 

[CompactTractorFan]

Went to my Menards today! It is indeed a Home Depot or Lowes on steroids. Not only is the store itself probably 25% larger, but most of their lumber is kept outside, so that 10-15% of the store that was full of lumber is now floor space. Not to mention that they have MUCH more lumber than Home Depot/Lowes. They even had groceries, not a full section, but snacks, drinks and canned foods. I was really impressed, wondered around for a good couple hours just looking at all their stuff.

When I finally got to looking for what I'd came for it was there. Been laying corrugated pipe to help some water drain at my cabin. Looked at Home Depot/Lowes and a couple local stores looking for something bigger than the 4" rolls, on about the 5th place, I found a 6" roll, I really wanted 8"+, but I figured I'd spent enough time looking. Of course I didn't go to Menards, they had up to 18" corrugate pipe and their 6" roll was $75 cheaper than what I paid at the local place. I got some pipe connectors for it (I measured once, and now need to cut twice:ashamed and am now on my way. I will definitely be going back to Menards.

Sounds like a great store! I wish we had a Menards around here.

 

[CompactTractorFan]

All I am getting for dinner is a tortilla toasted on a cast iron skillet, then folded over with cheese and turkey. A friend brought us some tomatoes so that will go inside as well.

That would be called a Turkey Quesadilla.

 

[s219]

Sounds good.

I dont remember where we came up with the recipe, but if anyione wants to try it, here is what we do:
Prepare the chicken:
1. Marinate the chicken overnight in Sweet Baby Rays
2. Cook the chicken (BBQ is best, pan also works)
3. Once it cools, you shred it

Make the pizza:
4. Make your crust and spread it on the pan
5. Partially cook the crust in the oven
6. Spread the crust with Sweet Baby Rays to taste (we don't use much or it overpowers the chicken)
7. Put on cheese to taste
8. Put on the chicken from step 3
9. Bake until the cheese melts
10. Let it cool and enjoy
We have tried not pre-baking the crust, but have found that the little pieces of chicken tend to get burned that way.

Aaron Z

That is very similar to my wife's recipe, including the Sweet Baby Rays. She uses smoked gouda cheese mixed in with mozzarella. Good stuff!

 

[zman007007]

That is very similar to my wife's recipe, including the Sweet Baby Rays. She uses smoked gouda cheese mixed in with mozzarella. Good stuff!

Are these mean old tractor talking guys bothering you ladies wanting to swap recipes? lol

 

[techwrtr2]

Only on TBN could a thread about Lowes, Home Depot, and hardware stores turn into a thread about pizza. :laughing:

I consider such diversions welcome.

I think I may have babbled this before, but I don't care if a business is local or a big box store. If they earn my business, they will get it for the most part. I shop at Lowes or HD when I know what I want, don't need help and am valuing convenience very highly. Price may or may not play a part. I don't tend to go there for help though I know they have people floating around that actually know something if you can find them. For basic hardware needs, I have a local chain I use. Their prices are always reasonable, their selection is always good and it's hard at the particular store I use to not be approached to see if I need any help. I know the store pretty well and usually don't, but sometimes I do. There's another store near my office that is in the same town as a Lowes and has been for years. They have grown even though Lowes is there... and it comes down largely to how they treat their customers and what they have on the shelf. Top notch all the way around. Prices good too.

For lumber, since I tend to only need it when doing maintenance at my parent's place, there's a local lumber yard I use. Family owned, I was in scouts with the owner's one son. They have a pretty nice amusement park next to it. I go there because their inventory is always good, they know what they are doing, know their products, are always helpful and wouldn't you know it?? Their prices are very competitive with Lowes or HD. I've found them cheaper in various cases where I've bothered to compare. If I want lumber, I go to Knoebels. I avoid going in the summer due to their park (lots of traffic), so it's Saturday early AM or not at all.

 

[bcp]

Only on TBN could a thread about Lowes, Home Depot, and hardware stores turn into a thread about pizza. :laughing:

To connect this thread back to tractors, here is a clamp-on pizza cutter for your tractor:

View attachment 274272


Bruce

 

[MasseyWV]

In my area, Lowes and Home Depot employees are as bad as Walmart employees, where drool cups should be part of their uniform. Seriously, there can be some real knuckle-draggers in those places. Some local hardware stores do have issues, but not all of them, if you know where to go and/or who to talk to.

 

[Sackett2]

As we live 30 miles from HD, Lowes or the Local chain "Jerry's" we have to justify the cost savings vs the gas. For many projects, a few 2x4's and such one of our 2 local stores have what we need; if its a LOAD of stuff; we make a trip.