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RSS FeedWhich is the better DIY store: Home Depot or Lowe's?
Results so far:
| Home Depot | 50% | 163 votes | Total: 325 votes | |
| Lowe's | 50% | 162 votes |
Home Depot
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Add to FavoritesAs with any retailer, choice is a matter of opinion. Both stores are comparable in products and both offer a competitor price guarantee. The difference, to me, all comes down to convenience and customer service.
My husband and I have a little "side business" doing home repairs/odd jobs for those less talented. There are more Home Depot stores than Lowe's stores per capita. We have also discovered that there are more floor employees available at Home Depot than there are at Lowe's and those employees are much more knowledgeable. They undergo at least two (2) weeks of training before they hit the sales floor. Someone I know recently applied at both stores and was offered a better wage and more flexible work schedule at Home Depot than at Lowe's. If employees are happy with their job and their employer, they will provide better customer service. I don't think these higher wages transfer into higher costs because the service level means more customers and that translates into better pricing.
Dollar for dollar, we have found prices at Home Depot to be slightly less than that of Lowe's. Though it seems that the quality of lumber products is superior a Lowe's, if you are willing to spend a few minutes looking through the supply at Home Depot, you will find sufficient quality material and at less cost.
Learn more about this author, Mary Rose Lemons.
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Lowe's
In my 20 years as a contractor and home repair specialist I have ventured far and wide in a never ending quest for materials and supplies. I have had the pleasure of wearing my tool belt everywhere from the sweet wine country of California to the red white and blue row houses of DC, across the sprawl of Atlanta to the hills of Arizona and then some. I have had the pleasure of helping a wide demographic of people with just about every type of home repair and many kitchen bathroom and basement remodels.
Each project and customer was unique in challenge, tastes and wants vs needs. As a professional I would have to emphasize that the more you have to choose from the better. In fact, the first thing I do before starting a project is to map out the closest HD and Lowes. The type of work I need to do for my client would actually dictate my preference for one or the other of our big supply competitors. For example, there are some adhesives and building supplies that one store will have over the other, be it a particular brand or in some cases, a certain product which can only be exclusively obtained at one or the other. So have no fear this holiday season when you are doing your shopping and as you go between HD and Lowes you keep seeing the same dirty carpenter, He's not stalking you Promise! Just like you he's just getting what he needs to get the job done. So with the stage set and with our minds firmly prepped for a swift comparison of the two, let's begin!
First I would like to say in both cases that Lowes and Home Depot come in various sizes and in this case bigger is definitely better. The bigger the store the more inventory selection and choices. When it comes to an average home repair for either the home owner or contractor HD will do fine for material selection, however when you consider overall customer service, store cleanliness, layout and an easy transition from accusation to purchase I have to go with Lowes.
Customer Service, Customer Service, Customer Service! Most people that go into any hardware store need help. Weather they are looking for a light bulb or remodeling a kitchen they need advice. And if they don't need any assistance everyone appreciates a friendly smile and simple acknowledgement. Lowes by far has shown me over the years to have this on more occasions than HD. I have had some great experiences with HD and will always find them a good source of supplies but for Joe or Jane homeowner I would once again recommend Lowes. Outside more consistent and excellent customer service you will also find more home decor selections and a higher end selection of some on hand building materials such as tile and wood trim. HD provides much of the same high end materials but on an order only basis. With their wider selection of customer friendly products, attention to keeping their merchandise in order and more attention to the ever important customer service Lowes has the advantage in overall shopping experience and atmosphere. Both stores have their advantages but Lowes truly makes a better attempt to help the consumer in more ways than one. So if you got what it takes to build it, Lowes truly makes the effort to help!
Learn more about this author, Ed Maloney.
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