Lowe's closing 50 stores !

[PILOON]

Oddly enough we have 2 of them within 3 blocks of each other and both will remain open but then we are in a very active retirement area where many folks are converting cottages into retirement homes and also there is a fair bit of new construction as well.

I'm thinking that consumer debt is so high these days that renovations are falling off.

Another trend is high rises and condos and those contractors buy direct bypassing the Lowe style supplier.
Another trend has been the downfall of local lumber mills and lumber yards.
Kind of like Wallmart* killing the local merchant trade
For now as even they are hurting from 'on line' sales.

*even WallMart is changing, gone is automotive dept and now isles are mostly food items with row upon row of freezers.

Another thing I noticed with the Lowe's takeover here is that they are stocking up on appliances and cutting back on building supplies. What was a lumber yard now stores lawn mowers and snow blowers.

 

[kenmac]

*even WallMart is changing, gone is automotive dept and now isles are mostly food items with row upon row for freezers.

Really ? Not the case here. Still have plenty of auto stuff. They still have the auto centers change oil, batteries tires,flats, rotate balance, etc.

They may not be building new stores with the auto centers. All around here are the older stores with them

 

[Big Barn]

No Walmart auto centers here either.

 

[PILOON]

Re WMart follow up-
Well here in Quebec they sold (leased) the auto department to Mr Muffler who mainly sells tires, and also the stores that had a McDonald's installation no longer do.
I also have noticed that their electronics dept seem to have shrunk somewhat.
They were a decent source for hydraulic fluid but under the new system the fluids are rare and no longer can U find 5 gal pails.

I have 2 Wmarts within decent range and how different the customer service attitude can be.
One store practically told me where to go when I wanted to see to buy a BBQ shelter, told me to take the packaged thing home if I wanted to see it and return if not satisfied. (I mainly wished to eyeball the structure for rigidity and quality etc.
They refused to let me even crack open the box to eyeball the components.

The other store had a demo erected which looked good so I bought one. They even loaded it onto my roof rack for me.
\Later at home I discovered bad welds and some defective parts.
I phoned the store, which naturally said to return it, but at that point the box had been destroyed during unpacking.
The store manager understood the problem and promptly advised me that a credit issued in my name would be waiting 4 me at the counter!
Also apologised and told me to scrap the shelter!

Retail is all about giving service (politely) aka 'the customer is always right' attitude.
Last U want to do is PO him with an attitude.

 

[kenmac]

Bought my last tractor battery from wal mart. It exploded about 2 weeks ago.
I returned it to the auto dept and they gave me a new one

 

[Oaktree]

The Lowes in my area doesn't even keep their lumber aisle stocked with basic stuff. The last three times I stopped in for a few pieces they only had a few pieces to choos from and the ones they had were worse than bananas, so bad they couldn't even be cut up for scrap.

Rarely if ever have that problem at the Lowes nearest me (Littleton). I've found the lumber to be better both quality and quantity at Lowes vs HD. HD does better with plywood though.

 

[jerrybob]

I get better prices from my local mom and pop hardware store than Lowes, or HD.
only problem with mom and pop is, their store hours are limited and they don't have everything I may need on hand

I shop our local hardware store as well. They can get me anything I need and I know everybody there. I've actually had them tell me...take it home...make sure it fits before you buy it....can't beat that service. They might be a few dollars more on some items....but supporting them is what it's all about. The closet Lowes is 60 miles away...the closet HD is 35 miles away.....rarely go to either.

 

[ultrarunner]

Lowe's has been downsizing for a while--they bought Orchard Supply after it went bankrupt in 2013 only to close them all down by the end of this year. I only shopped for plants in Lowe's garden center. HD is my go to store for all my hardware needs.

Yep... Lowe's shut down all 100 Orchard Supply stores that have been around since 1931 and my go to store for many things... I was thinking what is next especially after a lot of money was spent renovating.

 

[ultrarunner]

I shop our local hardware store as well. They can get me anything I need and I know everybody there. I've actually had them tell me...take it home...make sure it fits before you buy it....can't beat that service. They might be a few dollars more on some items....but supporting them is what it's all about. The closet Lowes is 60 miles away...the closet HD is 35 miles away.....rarely go to either.

I had the water off and made a dash to Lowe's in Olympia... it was just past closing... I was figuring on no water that night... security radio called the manager inside and told me to get what I need and he would wait...

This would never happen in a SF Bay Area store... it really impressed me and Lowe's is my store in Washington.

 

[Diggin It]

Anybody know anything about this guy? The Sears Dude seems to have been intentionally raiding the company thorough his other ventures. Does this guy have any similar side interests that could make us wonder about his intentions?

 

[PILOON]

Anybody know anything about this guy? The Sears Dude seems to have been intentionally raiding the company thorough his other ventures. Does this guy have any similar side interests that could make us wonder about his intentions?

I did read something about him.
Lives on some island, never attends meetings and does everything on line or by phone.

 

[prichard]

Anybody know anything about this guy? The Sears Dude seems to have been intentionally raiding the company thorough his other ventures. Does this guy have any similar side interests that could make us wonder about his intentions?

Is he running Lowe's? If so their days are numbered.

 

[jerrybob]

I had the water off and made a dash to Lowe's in Olympia... it was just past closing... I was figuring on no water that night... security radio called the manager inside and told me to get what I need and he would wait...

This would never happen in a SF Bay Area store... it really impressed me and Lowe's is my store in Washington.

That might be the Lowes store that I mentioned....probably more like 70 miles away but it is the closet to us. Can't beat good service. A few years ago...I renovated our community center....the old basement had a sump pump that pooped out....called the local hardware store owner at 11:00pm....he told me where they hid the key to the store for the back door...said go in...get what you need and I'll let you know what you owe me tomorrow. That never happened to me when I lived in So. Calif. Like I said....can't beat that service.

 

[Dftodd]

You can usually buy a roll of wire for what it costs to buy half a roll by the ft. Or you go to your local supply house and pay even less, which makes me wonder why contractors even shop at Lowes or HD. I can see getting a few odds and ends.

I wondered the same thing with the local fence companies. They just mark up the home Depot stuff. Same with chain link supplies.

They went away from building it themselves for less money.

 

[ultrarunner]

That might be the Lowes store that I mentioned....probably more like 70 miles away but it is the closet to us. Can't beat good service. A few years ago...I renovated our community center....the old basement had a sump pump that pooped out....called the local hardware store owner at 11:00pm....he told me where they hid the key to the store for the back door...said go in...get what you need and I'll let you know what you owe me tomorrow. That never happened to me when I lived in So. Calif. Like I said....can't beat that service.

After I posted I got to thinking it is probably the nearest one to you too...

I do have the cell phone for the owner of a small ACE... he was a manager for the big city block ace that shut down a couple of years ago after the founder died and the heirs couldn't agree...

I have overall been very pleased with the retail service provided in Olympia... much different experience compared to the SF Bay Area except with establishments where I regularly trade...

I became a regular... in that I was up for 15 days working on things around the property... during the day I made notes of what I needed and each evening Mom and I would go out for dinner and after stop at Lowes... sometimes Depot too...

The clerks and store manager would say hi and greeted us warmly.... the smaller family owned appliance store and lighting were just as helpful...

 

[Diggin It]

So, why exactly would they have 3/4"-10 nuts, 3/4" washers and NO 3/4" bolts at all??? Not out of stock, no place on the shelf for them.

 

[ultrarunner]

Bolts are more expensive???

More people lose nuts than large bolts?

Tying up inventory on slow movers?

 

[Big Barn]

Tying up inventory on slow movers?

This^^^^^

Plus only 3 or 4 bins required as opposed to 10or more to cover bolt lengths.



My 3/4 NC bolt selection is limited but you are welcome to drop by

 

[bcp]

No 3/4 bolts? Just use two 3/8 instead.

Math is fun, and has practical applications.



Bruce

 

[ovrszd]

Terry, my wife says I have too many bolts, nuts washers. I'm gonna show her your picture.

I bought the inventory from a closing auto dealership. Then I bought the inventory from a closing old time hardware store. I got a lot of sizes and types I'll never use.

Guessing 25 different sizes of carriage bolts. Not sure what an automotive type like me will ever do with those....