What's your most favorite 'big box' home store and why?

[MossRoad]

It doesn't matter which one I go to, but usually if I need 4 of something, they'll all only have 3 and I'll have to go to one of the other competitors to get the last piece. :laughing:

We have a dinky Menard's in our town. No lumber yard. Its kinda disappointing in that while they have lots of stuff in the store, its usually not the stuff I am looking for. So I've stopped going there all together and I'll hit Lowes a couple blocks over. In the next town over, they have Lowes, Home Depot and a full size Menards. All are relatively close to each other.

However, if I can, I skip them and go to one of the local hardware stores and the local lumber yard. Its usually just a bit more expensive, but the service makes up for it.

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

I don't shop at Home Depot except as a last resort. I don't care for their politics and contributions to organizations I despise.

I do like Lowe's. I've never had a bad experience in one of their stores.

Around here, where there's one, the other is either right next to them or just down the road.

Menard's is relatively new in the St. Louis Metro East area, and we have one about 15 miles from us (a tad closer than Lowe's). I like their store, and they seem to have a bit of a different feel than the others. I've never had to chase down an associate to get help with anything either. Very friendly. They are probably my favorite.

X3. Home Depot really is the Walmart of "hardware" stores. Fortunately, we have a really good local lumber yard in addition to a Lowe's not too far away.

 

[JerryK]

1-Menards.. carry lots of stuff that Lowes/HD don't, and generally less expensive [ try buying 8" pvc pipe or big culvert at Lowes or HD ]
2-Lowes.. usually better quality lumber than HD and stock different stuff than HD sometimes [ like ceiling tile ] Better trees selection in spring.
3-HD... no real complants... Better mulch sales than Lowes

 

[Oaktree]

HD and Lowes are right next door to each other near me. I'd rate both about equal...each has things the other doesn't. Prices are pretty competitive with each other.
Not familiar with Menards, they don't have any stores anywhere near here.

 

[dragoneggs]

I've never had this problem. I thought it was store policy that its year round?

Local HD here give military discount year around.

 

[300UGUY]

The nearest Menards is 20+ miles away, but for a big project, I'll go there or HD. Lowes I go to mostly because it is the closer of the 3.

 

[dstig1]

Menards was new to me when I moved into this area in '92. And they were known for junk back then. When HD first moved into the area in the late 90's, it was a huge blow to Menards. There was also Builder's Square at the time here. They folded like 5 min after the first HD opened. It seemed like it the plan was "once a HD opened in the area, we know we are cooked, so board it up." I think they filed bankruptcy not too long after. Well I think HD put the hurt to Menards at that time. Since then they have responded and responded well. They have upgraded stores a lot. Added a lot of covered lumber storage outdoors (used to be all/mostly exposed), and generally expanded as many of their stores as they could. Now it is a no-brainer. A HD opened literally next door to my local Menards in an old Kmart (when they were closing stores like crazy). The Menards expanded and improved and is generally very well stocked. Now I rarely go into HD as it is a smallish store and they often don't have what I need. I do go sometimes for certain things, but 95%+ of my business is Menards, and since we have been building a new house the past 3+ yrs, that has been a LOT of business. We also used a real lumber yard for a number of things that you can't get at the bog boxes, but the local Menards should buy me a birthday present at this point

Menards, hands down. We have a Lowes or two in the area but not close so I have not spent much time there. There is a bigger HD on the way to/from work, so sometimes I stop there too. I know certain things are a no-go at one chain or the other, so I am selective for those things.

 

[Deere Dude]

I much prefer Menards to Depot in Scottsbluff. The Menards is a larger store and I really like the layout especially in the electrical and plumbing areas.

Lowes is geared towards homeowners and Depot is geared towards contractors, Menards is right in between. The best part is you can get food at Menards, even milk and a few meats. If they start selling beer I'll only need to stop at 1 place when I go to town, LOL.

I think you will see Menards grow into new areas moving forward. Loading out back is much better than carts in the lumber aisle inside the store.

I wish I could share your optimism.

Two years ago my wife heard a Menards advertisement on a Nashville radio station. Just moving from Wisconsin I was elated because there aren't any except 4 hours away. I googled it an found nothing.

Finally I emailed customer service and the reply was there is not any in Nashville. I replied to that and explained I heard an advertisement on a Nashville station and he said it was probably for the store 4 hours away. Then he wrote that there won't be any more stores opening with this current political climate we have. He didn't go into what he meant by that. But, that admittance surprised me, but can understand it.

 

[MossRoad]

I wish I could share your optimism.

Two years ago my wife heard a Menards advertisement on a Nashville radio station. Just moving from Wisconsin I was elated because there aren't any except 4 hours away. I googled it an found nothing.

Finally I emailed customer service and the reply was there is not any in Nashville. I replied to that and explained I heard an advertisement on a Nashville station and he said it was probably for the store 4 hours away. Then he wrote that there won't be any more stores opening with this current political climate we have. He didn't go into what he meant by that. But, that admittance surprised me, but can understand it.

That's a whole nuther topic for the politics forum. Google menard's, unions, president obama, melania trump, ohio, NLRB and start reading.... just don't discuss it here! :laughing:

 

[MossRoad]

A little over 20 years ago we ordered shingles from XXXXXXXX delivered to our roof. A flatbed truck showed up with a portable conveyor. The driver set the conveyor on the back of the truck bed, leaned it against our house, denting the siding, then knocked it off the back of the truck. It fell against the house and slid in and arc down to the ground, gouging the siding. I sent him and the shingles back to the store. I called the store manager and was told he was a sub-contractor (even though the truck said XXXXXXXX all over it) and I'd have to pursue any damages through him, not XXXXXXXX. So I called their company headquarters... and was told the same thing. They refused to help me. I had to go after the sub-contractor myself, which we did. I didn't do business with them for about 20 years, and I told everyone I knew about my experience with their sub-contractor and their lack of assistance. And I wrote a letter to the local paper who did a story on it. Anywho.... take it for what its worth. Check out any company's policies on delivery, sub-contractors, insurance, etc.... its an eye opener, for sure.