Home Depot vs. Lowe's: Battle of the Brands

I just came across this blog. I used to prefer Home Depot because I was more familiar with it. The stores in my area however (Cumming, GA) are horrible with customer service. I literally had to walk around the stores to find someone to help me. It used to not be that way. I started going to Lowe's. They might be a little more expensive but within minutes of me walking in the door I will have at least 2-3 people asking if they can help with anything. Lowe's will get my money every time until Home Depot can stop being so complacent.

Home depot definately has less selection, but as a person who is in the construction business, home depot carries much better quality items, but you will pay more for them. I would pick home depot over lowes, unless im picking out lights, in which lowes kicks butt.

I work at a Lowe's in SC as a Plumbing Sales Specialist. I've been all over the country throughout the course of my life, and I've been in a great many of both stores.

It is true that Lowe's employees are generally treated worse than HD employees, but from what I've seen and read we get better benefits. Knowledgeable employees vary from store-to-store for both HD and Lowe's, and product availability does as well. I've seen and experienced that some Lowe's stores have absolutely asinine rules (like the aforementioned "paging employees in Spanish" post) but those are usually store-based rules that aren't company wide. The Home Depot across the street from us is full of morons who are rude, don't know the product, and send people over our way when serious plumbing or electrical issues come up.

The truth of the matter is, you just have to look at each store individually. Home Depot is definitely better in some regions than Lowe's is, and Lowe's is better in some regions than HD. I hear about (and have seen a few) great HD stores all the time, but they sure aren't in the Greenville/Spartanburg area. Home Depot may be faltering right now because of their past (hopefully over with) upper management problems, but they'll bounce back. The competition keeps both companies in check and that's good for everyone.

I work at Lowe's and sure we get 10% discounts and a great retiring program, the problem is they don't like giving out hours. They pushed me into debt and didn't care. I was only getting 5 to 10 hours a week as a part timer when they promised me 25. Lowe's treats their employers like garbage dumping them out as they go. They strive on customer service when they won't even teach us a single thing about the products we sell. We may be cleaner than Home Depot, but Home Depot doesn't treat their employees like crap. Which is why I'm quitting Lowe's and going to Home Depot. And someone mentioned Lowe's is dog friendly, not true we have a no animal sign on the entrance door. We can't be responsible if Sparky attacks somebody. We just haven't pushed that rule much.

I personally like Lowes to shop in because of the kids. I feel we are safer in Lowes, than in the dirty, rugged, and scary monster that Home Depot is. I also find it easier to shop Lowes because I find the aisle easy to navigate and very organized. As for knowledgeable employees, well...Home Depot gets the score. But since I shop with my young kids a lot, I do my DIY research online, make a list, and go to Lowes, I would say 80% of the time. So, I will agree with the consensus that Lowes caters to women, and HD...the manly men!

Store wise, I believe they are about the same. Lowes is cleaner and brighter and they seem to have a better selection. Home Depot seems to have more parts and odds and ends. However, as far as home installation goes, Home Depot is NOT the best choice. We ordered new windows and doors over a month ago and they have yet to be installed. The first sub-contractor never showed, the second one got to Home Depot's Warehouse only to find it locked up, and we still don't have a date for a third contractor! We've tried to contact their financial department to discuss the contract, as we have found discrepancies in the financial paperwork. They haven’t bothered to return our calls. The regional manager passed us on to another manager, who passed us on to someone else. The customer care website passed us on to their Research Department. Everyone seems to have been given the same training: just pass the customer off to the next person. Obviously, their home installation program needs a lot of work! We are opting to pay the fee for canceling the contract and will have Lowes install our window. Lowes appears to have a better understanding of customer needs…and they’re cheaper

The thing about Home Depot is that products are organized in such a way as to encourage you to both interact with a sales trained employee and to pass lots of other merchandise on your way to finding the product you came in for.

As a current HD employee (normal grunt not corporate), I can say tell you the store priorities in order of importance: 1) Helpfulness to customers 2) Sales 3) Product availability [facing merchandise on shelves and packing it down from overhead stock] 4) Cleanliness of store

HD is a very sales oriented company. The reason why HD doesn't carry as much selection as Lowe's is b/c HD only keeps stock of products which are known to sell and make high margins. You won't find that super old swinging under sink towel rack at HD because to the company it just isn't worth keeping on a shelf over a product which sells better.

I was hired in my department because I worked in the specific construction field as a professional for several years. I was surprised by HD's offer when I interviewed... it was more than I made at the company from which I gained my experience. Go figure. I could work a back breaking day on a construction site or in a store helping DIYers and stocking shelves and make more... hmm.

As for HD installation services, keep in mind that the installation company is subcontracted. So when you order full installation of your ceiling fan you will get a "Random XYZ Electric" van at your door, not an HD van. However, if they do a poor job do not hesitate to contact HD and keep on them until they make it right.

This is to Jim, the HD employee. You stated that you can always call customer service. You've got to be kidding! I moved into an Historic home a couple of years ago with the intent on spending a ton of money to fix it up. I went to Home Depot, because I wanted a new kitchen, a new fence, central a/c, siding, windows, etc. All in all the amount to be spent was apprx. $50,000 at the time. Apparently Home Depot didn't need the money, because no one, and I mean no one called me back once I had signed up with stupid people who stand there at the front door and try to get you to sign up for A/C, fencing, etc. I finally got an appointment to design a kitchen and the man didn't even know how to work the computer program. I tried to speak to someone in charge at HD through customer service, but of course I only got to speak with someone that only handles customer complaints. About three months later I received a standard company letter saying they were sorry. It didn't address any of my concerns or complaints. I have never returned to home depot and I never will. I drove 35 minutes out of my way to go to Lowe's until they opened one 3 minutes from my home. Lucky me. Now I have a wonderful bathroom, and front porch. All the other things came from IKEA and Long Fence. They have great customer service and they are all very knowledgeable. I MISS HECHINGER'S!

Oh yeah...and I forgot to mention all the times I have been blatantly discriminated against because I am a female. That has never happened to me at Lowe's! There was one time I was patiently waiting at the paint counter to order my paint. The four HD employees were behind the counter talking ( I liked to assume they were discussing business and that's the reasoon they didn't acknowledge me.) Up walks a man and they were all over him to help him out...including the female employee. THAT'S BLATANT!

This was a great comparison. I would like to include it as a link on our Lowe's forum:

http://groups.msn.com/LowesRedApron

Would you guys be ok with that?

"Bunker"

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