Lowes rant...

[tfischer]

For what it's worth, our neighborhood Lowes is about 3 years old, and has always had the 'new' layout described by the OP.

What bugs me more than that, though, is that the layouts of Lowes and BORG are similar yet different. I shop at BORG more than Lowes, so when I'm at Lowes, I go to where I think the plumbing section should be, and find myself in the electrical section. The plumbing section is where the electrical section should be if it were a BORG... Most everything else is reasonably in the same place...

Come to think of it, I think that's what makes the light bulbs seem so out of place. At the BORG, the light bulbs are also in aisle #1, but if you keep walking, you end up in the electrical section. Not so with Lowes -- you keep walking, and you're in plumbing. Weird.

-Tim

[docrowan]

If my local lumber company would stay open until 6 on Saturdays and someone would open up an Ace hardware in my town, I'd hardly ever darken HD or Lowe's door again. I get better quality lumber cheaper from the local lumber company and I love Ace hardware's service, variety, and easy to find stuff. I don't mind paying more for the service if it saves me time.

[Len]

'Ace is the place' ;^))

Toilet bolts, etc., I usually get at Ace Hardware as it's closer than Lowes or HD.

What I want to know is why none of them, including Ace, carry wooden mallets?

Len

[Schleeper]

'Ace is the place' ;^))

Toilet bolts, etc., I usually get at Ace Hardware as it's closer than Lowes or HD.

What I want to know is why none of them, including Ace, carry wooden mallets?

Len

Len, is that a serious question? (Sorry, but sometimes it's hard to tell.)

I don't think your typical hardware stores and BORGs are set up to cater to hardcore woodworkers. The list of items I've been unable to find there is pretty long (and I'm just a casual hacker.)

[gsmittle]

But, no matter what store you go in, if you have to go to the bathroom, it's on the far other side, all the way to the rear.
.

Except when you are waaaay in the back. The the loo is in the front...

g.

[Roger Ronas]

I do about 95% of my shopping online.
Reason being, can't find **** in the local stores.
As I'm legally blind, and $5.00 an hour clerks don't know their A$$ from a hole in the ground, I find it easier to order online.
Ace also works for me.
How many times have you gone to a store, and they are out of what you need or don't have enough of them.
A lot of times online is cheaper to an example, 10-24 teenuts, Lowes has them for 4.79 for a 4 pack, I ordered online for .10 each. Shipping can get you sometimes nut if you order enough, you can get free or reduced shipping. Even if it ends up more, the lack of frustration is worth it to me.

Roger

[Len]

Len, is that a serious question? (Sorry, but sometimes it's hard to tell.)

I don't think your typical hardware stores and BORGs are set up to cater to hardcore woodworkers. The list of items I've been unable to find there is pretty long (and I'm just a casual hacker.)

Yes, serious question. I've never seen them in HD/Lowes, but Ace used to have wooden mallets with a head about 8" long and 3" or so in diameter.

I had a need for a replacement (it's amazing what 7 year old grandsons can make disappear), but when I went back to Ace I couldn't find any with the other hammers and mallets.

When I asked about it, only the manager who's been there forever remembered they used to have them. They don't even have them in the inventory to order any more.

Frustrating.

Len

[Salty]

I want to get back to the issue of 'entering' thru the 'exit' door.
This is a serious question that has bugged me for some time.

Why are there more EXIT doors than ENTRANCE doors. I believe both box stores are that way.

And my local Sears store is even more weird. They have an entrance and an exit. The exit doors clearly say something like do not enter or not and entrance. But there is a cash register right inside the entrance door and that is the register that is attended most often. Seems silly to get checked out at a door 5 feet away and them have to walk 30 ft to the exit.

[Len]

The Lowes/HD around here have one 'Entrance', one 'Exit', and one 'Contractors Entrance' that in actuallity anyone can use. The 'Contractors Entrance' is both an entrance and an exit. Go figure.

Len

[Schleeper]

The Lowes/HD around here have one 'Entrance', one 'Exit', and one 'Contractors Entrance' that in actuallity anyone can use. The 'Contractors Entrance' is both an entrance and an exit. Go figure.

Len

We've got 4 HD's and 2 Lowes that are all less than 15 minutes from our house, and every one of them is configured that way. (They each also have an entrance/exit to their garden shop.)

[chopnhack]

In my area I have had great success with HD, but not so much with Lowes. Our HD's are setup logically, the nails and screws are in the fastener aisle which is two aisles away from the lumber. There are the typical bulk nails/air nails located right with the lumber as well as deck screws and simpson strong tie near the decking material. When I was building my home I always appreciated the layout that enabled me to quickly get in and out.

[cabinetman]

Except when you are waaaay in the back. The the loo is in the front...

g.

Man, that's the truth. It's gotta be a crime against nature to have one bathroom for 120,000 square feet of store. Codes are more stringent about parking lots. The handicapped hardly ever goes to the home centers, grocery stores or restaurants, as those blue lined spaces are always empty. Really, if they were as sympathetic to well being they would have a minimum of two bathrooms, conveniently located. More than once I almost ducked in behind the Ferns and Periwinkles in the outdoor nursery. Actually, the sod section looked appealing... less splashing.
.

[Uncle Cracker]

More than once I almost ducked in behind the Ferns and Periwinkles in the outdoor nursery. Actually, the sod section looked appealing... less splashing.

So that's why the sod was dead...

[Texas splinter]

Lowe's added another store here in Abilene about 2 years ago, that part was great because it cut about 30 miles (round trip) from my commute to the store. But, the two stores are arranged completely differently! (Aghhhh!) Something in Hardware at the old store is next to cleaning supplies at the new store (Furniture glides). Complaining gets you nowhere...