Lowes vs HD

[crokett]

I've been buying a fair bit a Lowes lately and decided to stop shopping there. At least my store (admittedly one of the smaller ones) doesn't seem to have much of the more serious DIYer stuff. Lowes seems to have more for home decorating and less of the construction materials

For example, with the countertop project my Lowes doesn't carry flat remesh, 2 of the trowels I needed, a rebar bendor or any of the concrete additives beyond the coloring or some conditioner. HD had rolled and flat remesh, a wider selection of rebar, all the trowels, the bender and 2 kinds of concrete sealer, etcher/cleaner and more different kinds of concrete. Not to mention all the additives.

I've also noticed HD has a better selection of lumber and a bigger hardware aisle for hard to find parts. And my HD is a smaller store. There is another a bit farther away with an even bigger selection.

What do you guys think?

[Howard]

I have found the Lowes close to my home has a better selection of ww tools than HD. For example, I bought a Kreg PH kit there and HD doesn't stock them. They also have a more complete line of power tools, not just the Rigid line HD carries. They both have a similar amount of lumber. I also managed to buy 4 Bessey clamps there at 40% since the local Woodcraft had run out during their sale. HD carries Jorgensen but I haven't seen Bessey or Jet there. I shop at both but I'll say that HD gets more of my business overall, primarily due to proximity.

[JTimmons]

I'll have to agree with you about HD vs Lowes in the lumber and building materials too for my area now. It wasn't the case when we lived in Oklahoma though, Lowes blew HD out of the water there.

[linear]

Sometimes you have to deal with a supplier to the trades--the big boxes can't be everything to everyone. It can be a challenge to find a supplier that will deal with you but I've always had superior results dealing with local businessmen.

[ufg8r85]

That's why they make chocolate and vanilla

[thestinker]

I will shop both, and being in a huge citty there are tons of both within a few miles. There are 2 HDs real close and 1 big lowes. There is also a big HD about .2 mi from work. Now, as far a customer support and an enjoyable shopping exp with helpful people and what not..Lowes is the kig, hands down bar none over the depot. There is a small lumber yard not far from the house, but they close at 6 and arent open on Sundays, so I usaly don't go there. But, they do have great customer support advice and what not...its like a family type thing.RS

[LarryG]

Here, in my small, semi-rural city (although it's getting less semi-rural all the time), the two Lowe's and one Home Depot are the major players not only for the home improvement crowd but also for the trades. Both have a fairly comprehensive, although not quite identical, selection of tools, materials, and sundries. If it weren't for differing color schemes and the fonts used on the shelf price tags, I almost wouldn't know which store I was in.

[crokett]

Sometimes you have to deal with a supplier to the trades--the big boxes can't be everything to everyone.

Yup. For plumbing/electrical stuff I go to a supplier. Several within easy driving distance of work. For lumber in big enough lots (when I framed my basement) I have it delivered. This counter project though the only deliveries I could get were minimum quantities much more than I could use.

[ChrisD]

That's why they make chocolate and vanilla

Or Bruce Lee and Jet Li.

In 2006 I laid hardwood floors in 4 rooms, painted 6 rooms, and renovated a bathroom. I'd say 95% of the materials were bought at HD. The only stuff I went elsewhere for were hardwood lumber and some bath hardware.

There are 6 HD's within 10 miles of my house vs 2 Lowes'.

[TheRic]

I have visited some stores out of state, and out of the area. They all seem the same but different. I think it matters on what sells in the area. First they are not going to stock much of items that don't sell much in the area. If the item is a hot sell, you will see a wider selection.

[Knottscott]

That's likely to vary alot between locations. Our Lowe's have a pretty good selection of tools and accessories, and so does our HD, but Lowe's tools are displayed better. Our HD was pig sty, and the people were incredibly unhelpful until Lowe's went in down the road. The Lowe's store was new and neat and the people were super friendly. Around that same time, I noticed a marked improvement in the HD folk's attitudes, and there was some attempt to neaten the store. As time's progressed the Lowe's has gotten somewhat dirtier, but overall it is simply a neater brighter place to shop IMO.

One thing that does bother me about Lowe's is the revolving tool brands. They're constantly changing who their associated with....guess I should view that as a buying opportunity! HD at least sticks with Ridgid and Ryobi pretty consistently...or at least did. Now they're getting rid of the display models of large stationary tools.

[LCHIEN]

I've got a Lowes and a HD on opposite corners of the I-10 freeway exit about 2.5 miles from my house.

Lowes being on my side of the freeway is a bit easier to get to (I-10 is now about 5 main lanes each direction + HOV lane + 6 access road lanes.)
I feel like Lowes is cleaner, I feel like HD has more stuff.
Help is sometimes hard to find at both. But I do shop at both.
One of the VP's I used to work for, when we were evaluating mutli-million-dollar systems to buy from two manufacturers, said "competition is wonderful, it reduces the price and improves the product (from your favorite seller), but the bad news is you have to buy from (the second guy) every now and then or he'll go out of business".

[Jeffrey Schronce]

I find that Lowes in this area are far better than HD. It seems to be the exact opposite of the experience of the OP. In fact some of our Lowes have completely gotten rid of the the in stock wall paper aisle. HD seems to be dedicating more and more to decorating, etc. Take a look at the web sites! HD sell fitness equipment, computers, tables, chairs, barware,etc.