Is it just me?

[bigstick509]

Both big box stores are within 5 miles of me, so I shop both regularly.
Here lately Lowe's has been much better on selection of merchandise and customer service.
This is new in the area. HD was the go to store. Anyone else seeing this in there area.

[Bruce Cohen]

Nope,
You're not dreaming, I too have a Lowes and HD within 3 miles of me and lately, I've been going to Lowes, cleaner store, more organized, neater, better help and better selection.
The only thing I now go to HD for is the occasional sheet of MDF, way better quality than Lowes.

Bruce

[chopnhack]

I think is a geographical issue. I remember living up in NYC and HD was the only game in town as far as Big box stores after the lumberyards started closing down circa late 80's early 90's IIRC. Lowes came on the scene later and most in the area regarded them as better run, etc. Down here I have found the exact opposite where the Lowes was run like a walmart and the HD was run like a Publix... I guess it has everything to do with the people managing and staffing the stores - its always the right people at the right place doing the right thing IMHO :-)

[dbhost]

It depends. The paint dept, as well as lumber dept at my local Home Depot tend to carry greater selections, and the tool department, well Ridgid and Ryobi... Lowes carries greater selections of flooring, appliances, lawn and garden etc...

For service, hands down Lowes beats Home Depot... It's not even a fair fight...

[herb fellows]

In the NYC area, Lowes is definitely the winner in customer service.

Selection sometimes, depends on the depatment and exactly what you need. Neither is anywhere near as accomodating as the local hardware store.

When they first opened, Home Depot policy was that if a customer asked an associate where something was, the associate owned that customer until they were shown the item. The associate was instructed to walk with the customer to the item!
These days, for the most part, if you get a grunt and a finger point consider yourself lucky. Usually it's 'what's that?' or 'I don't know' or 'go to the customer service desk'.
Of course, there are exceptions and these are the people that keep me using Home Depot. We have an electrical guy who will sit down and draw you a diagram of the wiring!

[cabinetman]

There's 5 locations within 10 miles of both HD and Lowes. Some with both only 1/4 mile apart. My regular trips to either are for propane tank refills. Lowes is a step up from HD. I think the hardware sections better at HD, and the tools better at Lowes. Both lack in help. Both give me a military discount.

.

[cwsmith]

For the last few years, it pretty much depended on what you were looking for. But, I have to admit that Lowe's is increasingly the store that I visit. Much better service in electrical, cabinets, plumbing and appliances. The construction type "2 x" lumber has also gotten considerably better in the last six months at Lowe's too.

Tool selection (at least brand preference) is still better at Home Depot, but as we all know, Home Depot has done a devastating job of removing most all of the stationary products. A real negative from my point of view.

I don't know where the mindset is at, but since the renovation from last summer's flooding, my local Home Depot lumber area has lost all logic in it's lumber area. I used to buy my 1 x stock there, as it was mostly palleted, which gave maximum stock and allowed for easy selection. Now, it is in a very narrow isle, where it is stacked vertically and there is simply no way you can pick through the stock. Hence, they've lost my business... it is now better to make the trip to a more distant lumber yard.

Bottom line, at least for the two areas that I visit across the southern tier, is that Home Depot is dramatically loosing ground to Lowe's, especially as Lowe's seems to be making a consistent effort to improve it's service, product, and lumber quality.

CWS

[sailor55330]

I honestly don't think either retailer does everything well. I also think that the staff within a given store makes or breaks the shopping experience. While HD is not always the best at customer service, at least they approach me. I can't say that about Lowes associates. The last time I was in Lowes, I got chastised for not putting the 1/4" flat washer in a plastic bag for the clerk. For me, HD has a slightly better selection of lumber (but not as good as Menards), but Lowes has more home furnishings (lighting, window treatments, etc). They just closed the closest Lowes to me after being open for just over 2 years. That now means to get to a Lowes, I have to drive past two HD's. Maybe the store closing after only being open for 2 years speaks the loudest.

I guess the bottom line is if I'm building, I got to HD, if I'm decorating or planting, I go to Lowes. If I'm desparate, I go to Menards.

[JoeyGee]

Around here I have noticed HD has been making a serious effort towards customer service. I can't walk 20 feet sometimes without being asked if someone can help me. I think Lowes has always has better customer service, but I have always preferred HD. Of course, I assume all customer service is non-existent, so any time I get help, it's just a freak bonus .

[toolguy1000]

In the NYC area, Lowes is definitely the winner in customer service.

Selection sometimes, depends on the depatment and exactly what you need. Neither is anywhere near as accomodating as the local hardware store.

When they first opened, Home Depot policy was that if a customer asked an associate where something was, the associate owned that customer until they were shown the item. The associate was instructed to walk with the customer to the item!
These days, for the most part, if you get a grunt and a finger point consider yourself lucky. Usually it's 'what's that?' or 'I don't know' or 'go to the customer service desk'.
Of course, there are exceptions and these are the people that keep me using Home Depot. We have an electrical guy who will sit down and draw you a diagram of the wiring!

which one do you frequent? there aren't any here in westchester, but there are 4 HDs and a totla of eight HDs within an hour of me.

[dbhost]

I do agree that the staff at a particular location makes a huge difference in the shopping experience. The Lowes at Farm Road 646 in League City has a very good staff, where the home depot literally across the street, not so much. But the Home Depot on Farm Road 2094 in Kemah are friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful... for the most part...

I was a LOT happier with Home Depot 3 to 4 years ago... In the tool area. The selection of Ridgid and Ryobi was much better than it is now. It seems like Lowes has taken up where Home Depot left off by bringing the Delta / Porter Cable stuff in... And they kept a decent selection of Hitachi, Makita etc...

Lumber wise, especially in 2x construction grade stock, and sheet goods, Lowes has been more expensive, but carried much higher quality around these parts for a long time...

[3thumbs]

Here the Home Depot is on the decline, the store is dirty and the assistance is very poor. Their plywood, MDF and lumber is better though. Lowes is much more clean, friendly and busy.