I am a contractor and I spend a real amount of money on building supplies every year, so I am writing this from that angle, not as someone popping in for a few screws on a Saturday.
Rona Uxbridge is the closest yard to my main site, which should make them my go-to. It does not. The gap between them and Home Depot has gotten too big to ignore.
At Home Depot I have actual people I deal with by phone and email. They know me, they know what I usually order, and they help me build out the order before I even get there. They chase down better pricing, suggest alternatives when something is back-ordered, throw in discounts where they can, and waive delivery on the bigger jobs. That kind of relationship saves me hours every week and a meaningful amount of money over the year.
Rona has been the opposite. Most of the staff are green and clearly have not been trained properly. Ask about something that is not sitting right in front of them and you usually get a shrug, a vague point at an aisle, and that is the end of it. Nobody checks stock, nobody offers an alternative, nobody follows up. Their system for pricing and product info is a mess to navigate, and there is no real contractor desk to speak of. I have read other reviews from local contractors saying the same thing, so I know it is not just me. There are one or two good ones in there who clearly care and know their stuff, but they cannot carry the whole store.
It is frustrating because the location is great and the yard itself has potential. Proximity only matters if I can actually get in and out without losing half my morning. Until they put real effort into training their team and building out proper contractor support, I will keep driving the extra distance.
If you are a homeowner grabbing a few odds and ends, you will probably be fine. If you are running a business and your time is money, you already know where to go. read more
