Don't say nothin' bad about Lowes

[ultrarunner]

When I'm in Olympia WA I prefer Lowes... although the Home Depots in the area are good.

Maybe, it is because there are 3 HD nearby and Lowes tries harder?

I've also found the lever of customer service outstanding at the stores in the area compared to the SF Bay Area stores.

Lots of military in the area and the Lowes wants their business...

The first time, I thought the exceptional service was a fluke until I found it to be the case each visit.

Where else would the manager open a locked store and man the register just to let a customer pick up some needed plumbing supplies? Never would have thought a big-box would do that.

Of course have my truck broken into at Bay Area HD doesn't make me warm and fuzzy either.

My brother is a commercial real estate portfolio manager and one of his centers has both a Home Depot and a Lowes... kind of makes a visit one stop shopping.

 

[Bird]

bought a 5x8 2000lb trailer with ramp today on sale for 498 with my 10% I got out with 448.20 (no tax DMV will get that) randy

Is that a typo? Or did you really get that kind of a deal? The cheapest 4x6 here is $525 and the 5x8 is $998. If I could get the $498 price on a 5x8, I'd jump on that like a duck on a June bug.

 

[vaskeet]

Is that a typo? Or did you really get that kind of a deal? The cheapest 4x6 here is $525 and the 5x8 is $998. If I could get the $498 price on a 5x8, I'd jump on that like a duck on a June bug.

Bird not a typo it was in the local sale paper (elizabeth city NC) I also used my lowes card so no intrest for 1 year They were selling like hotcakes. I bought it at that price so I dont have to use the 18 foot trailer to haul small stuff. Now permanent tags/taxes will add about a $125.00 or so.Randy

 

[jinman]

Randy, I agree with Bird. That price is lower than they sell for used around here. That is an incredible deal far better than my "paltry" $250 savings. I'm jealous.:ashamed: Good for you!:thumbsup:

 

[vaskeet]

once in a while I find good deals I wonder if its because a tsc just opened in Elizabeth City Randy

 

[caver]

It seems to me that customer service has improved in many places since the economy tanked.

I had an issue with my hot tub on one of the coldest nights we had this winter. The company was in CA and I was surprised someone was still manning the phones. I had to wait very little for a customer service rep and he was very helpful on what might cause the problem I was having. Blew me away enough that I told him I was blown away by the customer service.

 

[bdeboer]

I have my own beefs with lowes. I dont like the way they price things even from one store to another. I am fortunate to live about 30 minutes from 4 DIFFERENT lowes. All in ohio, Mansfield/Ontario, Mt. Vernon, Marion, Ontario.

Marion store has a lowes 1/4mile away. Mansfield has a HD and Menards 1/4mi either side. Those two stores have MUCH cheaper prices than the Mt. Vernon store and the Columbus stores are hit and miss.

I have mentioned it before, but about 6 months ago a friend of mine was on his way to the Mt. Vernon store for some Blow in insulation. I told him to hold on while I checked online. Sure enough 9.89 in Mt. Vernon and 5.98 in Marion, SAME EXACT STUFF.

And I just last week found another one. 4" corrugated drain pipe.

It really pays to use that "Check other stores" option on their site.

And NO the Mt Vernon store will NOT price match their other stores.:confused2:

Edit: Well apparently the links didnt work

But marion (zip 43302) is $33.88 and Mt. Vernon (43050) is $54.30

Talk about price gouging

I have noticed that the basic framing studs and OSB are competitive with the Lowes and HD in Marysville, but sometimes save money on treated lumber or longer 2x6 etc at Menards in Marion. The most annoying thing to me about the Menards in Marion is finding one of their customer service people to enter in my order at the Lumber counter. So that I can stand in line to pay for it, then find the lumber and maybe get some help loading in the back.

 

[LD1]

I have noticed that the basic framing studs and OSB are competitive with the Lowes and HD in Marysville, but sometimes save money on treated lumber or longer 2x6 etc at Menards in Marion. The most annoying thing to me about the Menards in Marion is finding one of their customer service people to enter in my order at the Lumber counter. So that I can stand in line to pay for it, then find the lumber and maybe get some help loading in the back.

I actually perfer the way mernards operates in this aspect:thumbsup:

I hate lowes and HD where you are expected to cart it all out of the store instead of being able to drive the truck and trailer right up next to it.

And I usually decline the help when offered at menards. I PERSONALLY what to check each board as it goes into my truck/trailer. Because when I plan a job like a shed or deck, I figure EXACT. Nothing worse than having to make a 35min trip back because a 2x4 was twisted or split.

The only time I usually let them help load is when I am getting something like a full pallet or two of landscape bricks, or concrete, etc.

Plus, everything outback is paved/concrete. Nothing like driving through the mudholes and walking through them when loading up at carter or 84 lumber.

 

[jinman]

Yesterday, I was turning on an outside spigot and noticed my water heater pressure relief drain was dripping. I went inside to investigate and cycled the valve a few times open/closed to reseat it. When I checked it was worse. . .much worse. So it's Sunday. Every hardware store around is closed up tight. The chances of TSC or Walmart having a water heater temperature/pressure valve is slim and none. Off to Lowes we go after shutting off the water and removing the old valve. What a pleasant surprise to find that Lowes had three lengths of valves. The longer necked one was a near match to my water heater and priced at $12.24. I needed some CPVC glue, cleaner, and Rectorseal TFE pipe thread dope too. I had cut the CPVC to remove the valve, but had a 3/4" CPVC union to splice it back together. Since my water heater sits open in the corner of my garage, it was easy access and a snap to do the repair. I ran a hose from the drain and flushed out sediment while I was doing the valve repair. My local Lowes came through for me again; all with a 10% retired military discount of course.

This morning, my telephone rang about 9:30 AM. It was an automated message from Lowes. The Jacuzzi corner drop in tub I ordered last Thursday afternoon is at the store and ready to be picked up. I'll probably go get the tub in a few minutes to ensure it doesn't sit in the warehouse and maybe get damaged. They told me they would help me load it out in my pickup so I would not have to pay a $65 delivery fee.

Okay, I know I'm starting to sound like a commercial for Lowes, but I might have great stories bout Home Depot also if they were here. It's just that lately Lowes has been a positive experience for me everytime I walk into the store. If they screw up, I promise to post it, but for now they are sure on my good side.:thumbsup:

 

[JB4310]

We have both close by, My biggest gripe with Lowes is they always have just 1 or maybe 2 registers open! Drives me crazy!

My nieces husband works in appliances at Lowes, you should see the deals he gets, his regular discount is just 10% but if some one returns something and they can't resell it (or just managers discretion), he can get it for deep deep discount. One week a year the employees get an extra discount as well.

They're a young couple with their first house, they have remodeled and furnished that house from top to bottom thanks to Lowes.

JB