Lowes vs. Home Depot?

[Tejaas]

Which one do you prefer, and why?

Whatever your preference is, explain your logic!

No "write-ins"!!!

I'm betting it won't be long before someone chimes in with a store loyalty due to Nascar... Just saying. Haha.


~Tejaas~

 

[rice rocket]

HD carries Milwaukee and Lowe's doesn't.


But HD also has better pricing on the non-standard stuff. i.e., I needed a 4" concrete grinding cup wheel, $60 at Lowe's, DeWalt brand only, at HD, I could pick between three brands, cheapest at $40, and their DeWalt was $5 cheaper.

And one thing that bugs me about Lowe's is how non-standard their pricing is across stores. When HD puts stuff on sale/clearance, it's on sale at most their stores. Lowe's, every store does what they want.

 

[yuk]

lowes website is a waste of time. the search engine is so 1950s
i have bought from HD online several times with good success. every time i tried to with lowes, they couldnt finish the transaction.
in store its HD all the way. dealing with (b)lowes to return or replace a messed up item has been an uphill battle every time.

 

[alden]

there are 3 Lowes and 1 HD near me, so I'm more likely to be near the Lowes...that being said, when I'm at the Lowes that is right next door to the HD, I don't really care which one I end up at.

 

[junkman104]

Lowes is in my town, HD is a 50 mile round trip. I like HD better but not that much better.

 

[Mustang51js]

I usually go to he because it's cheaper for the most part

 

[carterbeauford]

I like Lowe's for stuff like lighting because I've had good luck with their Utilitech brand. power tools, sandpaper, paint I get at HD. I'm in the local Ace Hardware more than either of the two because they have a better assortment of fasteners that I use in my shop. try to get a spring action hose clamp or a 9/16 fine bolt at either of the big box stores.

 

[lat905]

I'm 50/50. Some stuff is better at Lowes and some is better at HD. HD is 2 miles from my house, so I go there more often. Lowes is about 6 miles away. HD seems to have better power tools, better plumbing section. I like Lowes electrical section better.

Overall service/feel/experience I do prefer Lowes.

 

[jethrodawg]

Lowes carries Pass & Seymour electrical devices and I like their plumbing selection better.

But, I otherwise prefer HD and they have a store closer to me by about 12 miles so easier to pop in and out.

 

[BellyUpFish]

Both are about equidistant from my house, so it just depends.. I've been hitting HD lately, they seem to be setup more for the "professional" type DIYer rather than the "newb" DIYer.. LOL..

 

[lotsoftools]

Here they are only 1/8 of a mile apart, so it is easy to get to either. I choose HD 99% of the time. Prices are similar at both places, but HD makes it easier to get a military discount. They just run it, Lowes has to call a manager. Our HD also has a covered loading area where the Lowes does not. The other reason is the parking lot. The Lowes parking lot here stinks. It is slightly sloped and the spaces are a little bit closer together than at HD.

 

[RalphInCA]

Seems to me, and this may just be in my head, Lowes is easier to navigate. I can find things easier. For some reason I always have trouble at HD.

 

[cburnscrx]

At this point I would say Home Depot > Lowes. I use them both, but I am adventuring into Lowes less and less. They've pretty much switched all their hand tools over to Kobalt and eliminated much the the "better" brands. Of course both stores have their strengths. I will say the Home Depot website is MUCH better than Lowes. Additionally their inventory contol seems to be better too. If they say they have 4 on hand, they actually do. I've seen Lowes say they have 20 of something only to find out they don't have it at all.

 

[nehog]

Lowes: always gives veteran discount (10%) when HD may give it if they feel good often do not. I won't take the risk of paying 10% more, so I go to Lowes!

 

[nit2wn]

Both are 30+ miles away but Lowe's has two stores in that area vs Home Depot's one. Lowe's usually wins with us just due to having appliances in stock where HD will have to order no matter what. Lowe's seems to have more lumber and when I went looking for composite railing for our deck Lowe's had it on display although their line is screwed up, HD had none and was changing brands. I'm one of those people who needs to handle the purchase before I make it. Sears had the best price on washer/dryers a few weeks ago. They lost their sale to me when they didn't have one in store for display even. I found it online, was ready to purchase, just needed to handle one to seem how well made they actually were. Lowe's had the display and priced matched although they did have to order it.

 

[Morrison]

I do most of my shopping at HD. if I have already made two or three trips in the same day to HD, I will then go to Lowe's to avoid being seen so many times in one day at the same store.

 

[Albiemanmike]

HD carries Milwaukee and Lowe's doesn't.


But HD also has better pricing on the non-standard stuff. i.e., I needed a 4" concrete grinding cup wheel, $60 at Lowe's, DeWalt brand only, at HD, I could pick between three brands, cheapest at $40, and their DeWalt was $5 cheaper.

And one thing that bugs me about Lowe's is how non-standard their pricing is across stores. When HD puts stuff on sale/clearance, it's on sale at most their stores. Lowe's, every store does what they want.

I have Lowes and Home Depot across the street from each other so I go to both. But when they both carry the same item and one doesn't have it in stock just bring a printed copy of the web page from one or the other and they will match pricing no questions asked.

 

[Albiemanmike]

At this point I would say Home Depot > Lowes. I use them both, but I am adventuring into Lowes less and less. They've pretty much switched all their hand tools over to Kobalt and eliminated much the the "better" brands. Of course both stores have their strengths. I will say the Home Depot website is MUCH better than Lowes. Additionally their inventory contol seems to be better too. If they say they have 4 on hand, they actually do. I've seen Lowes say they have 20 of something only to find out they don't have it at all.

I have experienced that myself and it is maddening to a fault. Hoe Depot does semm to be better at inventory but finding the item is another story all together.

 

[Albiemanmike]

seems to me, and this may just be in my head, lowes is easier to navigate. I can find things easier. For some reason i always have trouble at hd.

agreed!

 

[reddevildemo]

HD for me, my local store will match online pricing, even on Milwaukee tools, Lowe's will not. Pricing at HD just seems more in line. I go to HD or Menards before I go to Lowe's.

 

[Davefr]

They both have the same cull grade lumber, Chinese merchandise and crappy service.

HD seems to offer a little more in the way of contractor supplies but Lowes has a little more homeowner type stuff.

Prices are identical.

Fortunately our Lowes and HD are in the exact same lot and separated by about 100' so comparison shopping is easy.

I prefer to skip them both and go to Ace H/W for most stuff since they have a much broader selection.

 

[Jeep51]

I'm a general contractor and I prefer Home Depot. Lowes is more home owner oriented. I couldn't tell you how many times I went to Lowes to get something and ended up back in the truck heading to Home Depot!!

 

[Streetbu]

Split decision. Go to both, try to get the more expensive stuff at HD, They support our troops. HD even redid the landscaping for free at my old house when I was deployed. That means a lot to me... Lowes is closer to me though but I hate supporting Walmart

 

[Wes Tex]

I wish we had a HD like all of you seem to have. We have two Lowes and one HD. At Lowes you can get help from the employees. At HD you cannot even find an employee until you go to the self checkout. Lowes does not even have self checkout, but they always have multiple lanes open for clerk checkout. One time I was at HD the self checkout machine ran out of change . It took 10 minutes to find a manager who could bring me my change. Going to HD is always an adventure, but I do like their brands.

 

[kngelv]

I used to favor Lowes but find myself hitting Home Depot more often. Lowes has really dumbed down a lot of their merchandise. A Menards recently opened near me and I'm starting to use them too.

James

 

[bobemmerich]

I have a HD in my town, so I frequent it more. Both have stores in neighboring towns that I frequent. I like both about the same. What I don't like about HD, Lowes has-Storage, hardware- I used to use a local ACE, but they closed last month . I think Lowes Kobalt prices are outrageous for mechanics tools, since they're made overseas. Husky mechanics tools are more reasonable, but Lowes has more variety.
To answer the OP question, I like them both about the same.
I wish H.C. Lovell Hardware(local Mom & Pop) was still around, though....

 

[fluid power]

Seems to me, and this may just be in my head, Lowes is easier to navigate. I can find things easier. For some reason I always have trouble at HD.

nailed it for me....

 

[bobemmerich]

^^There is some truth to that^^

 

[editedforsafety]

I work next door to a home depot, and there are 3 within 4 miles of my house. There are two Lowe's in the same range, but I go to Home Depot much more. Lowe's has such a small selection on tool brands, so I don't bother with them for tools. They are fine if they have what you want, but they seem to have none of the brands I prefer.

Lowe's does seem to have more homeowner type stuff, but I mainly avoid that stuff as much as possible. I'll work on my car all day, but inside the house gets the minimum of effort. If I need something for the house, I'm probably go to intensively pre-shop for pricing before hand anyway.

 

[dledinger]

Lowes is right next door, Home Depot is 45 mins away. I, too, have an easier time finding stuff in Lowes. Prices are damn close. One is cheaper on one thing and more expensive on the next. Basically a wash.

At Lowes I always check out at the lumber end. I know the clerks there and they treat me pretty good, and I rarely have any wait.

 

[brownbagg]

both are about the same to me, i go to lows because i would have to cross a major intersection to get to HD and that would add thirty minutes each way.

main reason, might sound funny but the orange and yellow paint on the walls at HD bothers me, the blue and gray of lowes makes my shopping so much pleasant.

Im not joking

 

[383 240z]

Both are the same distance from me. I like lumber better at HD, Lighting better at Lowes, Paint at HD, electrical Lowes. Both hardware sections **** (TSC) I don't buy tools at either one, but I did get a nice deal on a Makita 1/4" impact. Keith

 

[Fixnfly]

I can never seem to find what I'm looking for at HD so I just stopped going there.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

I try to deal with local privately owned stores most of the time, but if I have to go to HD or Lowe's, it's Lowe's. I stopped buying from HD when I found out they refuse to honor their 10% Veteran's Discount Program. My friend is a Viet Nam Vet. He went to the store to get a few things and he was told they could only honor the discount when he showed them his Veteran's ID or Military Health Benefits card. There is no such thing as a Veterans ID and not all Vets get a health benefits card, usually just disabled or injured Vets. They also will not accept discharge papers as proof. No more HD for me...

Tommy

 

[2hep]

I use to like Home Depo... when it was a depo and you could buy grade 8 bolts in bulk. There's a Lowes right next door (other side of the parking lot) and it is has less shoppers, so I go there now, since neither of them carry the bulk in nuts and bolts anymore.

 

[ChargedUp!]

As said above, I prefer Lowes because it is easier to find stuff vs. Home Depot.

 

[retfr8flyr]

I prefer HD but it is easier to navigate and find things the way Lowes stores are laid out. As far as on line goes I quit trying to find things on the Lowes web site. Their search engine is impossible to use. HD has a great site for finding things and I order for store pickup a lot but also get things shipped to my home, when it's free shipping.

 

[c4cruiser]

HD carries Milwaukee and Lowe's doesn't.


But HD also has better pricing on the non-standard stuff. i.e., I needed a 4" concrete grinding cup wheel, $60 at Lowe's, DeWalt brand only, at HD, I could pick between three brands, cheapest at $40, and their DeWalt was $5 cheaper.

And one thing that bugs me about Lowe's is how non-standard their pricing is across stores. When HD puts stuff on sale/clearance, it's on sale at most their stores. Lowe's, every store does what they want.

Both my local Lowe's stores carry Milwaukee power tools. Both stores offer the same sales prices and both have the same weekly flyers on hand. What the two stored do differently in terms of pricing is how they mark down sale prices on returns or closeouts.

Now my area Lowe's stores are different in overall physical size and what is stocked, but that's also the same with Home Depot stores.

 

[tdkkart]

Front door at Home Depot says "ENTER"

Front door at Lowes says "ENTRADA"

This is AMERICA God Dammit!!!! I don't press 1 for English!!!
I've been in our local Lowes store exactly once since it opened. Came home, emailed corporate and told them I would not return till the Spanish signage was gone. Haven't been back since.

That said, I usually to Menards first, then Home Depot.

 

[TheShrine]

I prefer HD because they give me less flack about my service dog. Bottom line I shop both. I don't have a lot of choices in my small town.