After years of using HD, across the street, I'm tired of the increasing number of hassles and inconveniences. After my last game, I snapped and decided to try anyplace else and drive across the street to check out Lowe's. I needed concrete and, honestly, I didn't think Lowe's would have it. I was wrong.
Not only did they have what I needed, at the same price as the other place, they had the carts to load it and a cleaner store!
Since I was there, I checked the tile selection and was happy to see the selection was very good, a bit larger than HD perhaps. Maybe it's just more organized, or more care is given to the store layout and organization, but I found the tile I was looking for and spent another $2k.
I'm still checking out the Pro perks, since I enjoyed them across the street, but even if they are less, I'll be coming here more, because I can just buy stuff and leave, instead of dealing with companies that don't appear to care about its customers.
My only trouble was this Lowe's, picking up heavy items. I ordered ahead got a text my order was ready for pickup. I went to the area it was placed before, but there was nothing for me and was told to go to the order pickup desk.
Nobody was there, so I went to the register next to it and waited in line. The guy was friendly and helpful. He called someone to get the order. He sent me back to where I came from. (Got exercise, walking the store length). I waited 15 minutes, then went back to ask if the order was actually ready. He told me it was coming right out. I walked back and waited. A bit more than 25 minutes of waiting and I see someone slowly pushing a cart with bags of concrete. Slowly is an understatement. When he eventually arrived, he brought the cart to my truck and I began loading the bags. He helped load two, and was on his phone while I loaded the rest. I think this experience was an anomaly, but I'll use a different location for this type of order in the future.
It would have been significantly faster to have just bought it when I arrived. Lesson learned, since I had guys working and waiting that I pay by the hour. From the speed the Lowe's worker pushed the cart, I think he's paid by the hour too.
However, given the many hassles I've had with mail order, finding carts to load lumber and concrete, ineffective customer service, and the way the store culture doesn't seem to consider the customer, I've left HD for everything I can find elsewhere. I've found local business lumber yards and concrete place that will deliver for less than I would have expected. I even found a couple great tile places, and started using Lowe's. Took me a couple years to finally give in and look at options. Guess I'm stubborn? read more