Home Depot Or Lowe's? By Joan Young on - Updated Oct 15, 2011
Is there a difference? Yes, I now exclusively choose Lowe's. I had several years to give Home Depot a try before Lowe's chose to also build in our rural area.
As a small woman, now with gray hair, I suppose I don't look like a serious do-it-yourself contender. Little do they know that I could easily hold my own selling hardware and tools. On several visits to Home Depot I was treated rudely or totally ignored. This infuriates me.
One time I went looking for someone who could answer questions for me when the fluorescent light bulbs were new, and we were all trying to learn about them. More than once I approached an employee, and as soon as they saw me coming they turned and disappeared down another aisle.
The final straw was when I went to purchase a quarter sheet of plywood. The one I wanted was in a top bin that I could not reach. Employees sidled off in other directions when I saw them. I returned to the plywood racks and was contemplating whether I could climb up the shelving. All the ladders are marked, “For your safety, employees only,” of course.
Then a tall, friendly customer came by and asked if he could help. I explained that I'd been looking for an employee. “Good luck with that,” he said. He then asked if HE could help me and, not being a complete idiot, I allowed him to reach that piece of wood for me.
On the other hand, at Lowe's I am always treated with respect. I was carefully shown the difference between the various jig saws when I made a purchase, with no condescension of attitude. I am always able to find someone there to locate or explain products. Employees look for customers to help rather than scoot off to find solitary jobs.
I made the switch to Lowe's and have never looked back
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This is really good to know since I have a choice myself! Home Depot is closer , and there are more of them. We also have a locally owned hardware chain called McLendon's that is where we usually go for our hardware store needs. We have a friend whose ankle was crushed at a Home Depot when a huge bolt of carpeting fell on her from a sky shelf - another reason, maybe, to avoid that place!
Even when walking down the aisles at Lowe's and an employee passes they always greet you and ask if you're finding what you're looking for. We usually never have to go far to find an employee either, great store!!!
I haven't been to the new Lowe's that just opened in our area but we are fortunate to have fairly good staff at the Home Depots that we go to (or maybe it's just that . I'll have to try Lowe's to see what they offer in both products and service.
When Home Depot sold and changed owners and policies, the whole atmosphere of the HD went in the toilet. Only one time did I encounter a Manager that went out of her way to help me. You are correct in that the employees don't care like they use to - and my husband had been one of their employees but back when they had great perks and truly cared and encouraged their stores. Those days have been gone for several years now. And the reason many don't care is because the management doesn't put into the employees like they had many years ago. So we also choose Lowes, even though it's a farther drive.
This is an interesting article. I have often wondered myself...which is better. I think they both have their niches, but I think Lowe's is cleaner and I agree that their staff is much more accessible. For me, I used to go to Home Depot first and then Lowe's. As of late though, I have found myself doing just the opposite. Bottom line is, if I can't find it in one, I go look for it at the other one <g> I do think that Lowe's is brighter and cleaner though.