Mrs. Angus and I ran some errands this morning. Not early, it was around 10:30.

We have a Lowes and Home Depot right next to each other. Separated by a row of hedges.

We first stop in Lowes. The store was busy but manageable. Picked up a few items and paid without much of a wait.

We then cross the hedges to enter Home Depot. WTH! Are they giving stuff away? We could barely find a parking spot and maneuvering the isles and check out lanes was like trying to walk thru Chic-fit-a at lunchtime.

Did I miss something? Is Home Depot killing it against Lowes?

Home Depot’s annual revenues are usually about 40% higher than Lowe’s.

In my neck of the woods, in normal times they seem to have the same amount of people. But when 50% and lower occupancy was being imposed, Lowes rarely bothered with it, while HD went hard core and had long lines all day long. So naturally people avoided those lines. Lowes hasn't ever harrased me about a mask either. They both have made a fortune from being the only places open for several months.

Lowes tried to move in on Deep Homo locally. They lasted about a year and closed down.

Personally, I preferred them. Inventory pretty much the same but MUCH more helpful staff. At least initially.

We have both around here. I tend to go to Lowes ~2x as often as HD. (Though I try to shop at the local Ace as much as possible... The Ace is small and the selection is limited, but it's great for stuff like bolts and plumbing repair parts.) However, there are certain brands that are HD exclusives, and HD's prices are sometimes better than Lowes' on certain things, so it's good to have them as an option.

I go to the hardware store if possible. They have helpful staff even though they are more expensive. Tractor supply also has a bunch of stuff.

The revenue per square foot metric is where Home Depot takes the lead over Lowe’s and where it outperforms in terms of the growth % of the metric as well as the absolute number. Before that, the companies were quite similar with regard to Number of Stores and Square footage per store. Net Income Margin is another metric where Home Depot currently does better than Lowe’s.
Thus, we can see why Home Depot is the largest home improvement retailer followed by Lowe’s, but given that Lowe’s has been having positive growth with regard to revenue and earnings, its expected to improve over time.

I get better customer service at my nearby Home Depot than the Lowes across the street from it.

The Home Depot seems to be better managed. Customer Service at Lowes is hit or miss, mostly miss.

I always go to Home Depot first.

My only issue with Home Depot is that they don't offer veterans' discount for online purchases.

In my area, the HD always seems a little busier but I've noted the following. Bear in mind this is my area of southcentral PA.

Lowes has better Lumber. It's not even close either.

Lowes has a better outdoor garden center with a better selection of plants.

Home Depot usually has much better sales on tools, etc....

I go to Lowes before HD. If Lowes doesn't have what I want, I'll give HD a try. I like it that at Lowes, you don't need to ask for military discount and then show proof as you do at HD. At Lowes you sign up for the MyLowes card and register your military info, then if you self check out you simply scan the card, or show it to the checkout person. If you don't have the card with you, they'll accept your phone number. Also works for online purchases. I also find HD dirtier than Lowes and more than once a store worker has sent me on a wild goose chase looking for a particular item. Good grief, if you don't know where stuff is, don't guess. It's a big store to be walking back and forth in.

Lowe's, at least here in Alaska seems to have a much broader selection than Home Depot. So much so that I don't even bother going to Home Depot.

^ Eagle hardware still open? I was in there almost 30 years ago (how did that happen?) and thought they made HD and Lowes look wanting.

We also have both in our town. I much prefer shopping at Home Depot. We also have a Menards but I really don't like that place.

Home Depot has been crushing Lowe's for many years now.

However, either of those options Trump the morons over at Menards.

we have several around here and homie dopies has way more customers in the lot, but we also have 2 jerry's home improvement they are allot like the big chains but have 10 times more help inside and out, they have at least 3 to 4 people working every department, then lots of store stockers. the lumber yard has 10 to fifteen people. they carry all the popular brands have tool sales with direct venders monthly pretty amazing place.

they have been in business 40 years I know of, started by a local guy before lowes and depoies moved in amazing that they can compete.

Here, in NC where Lowes is headquartered, I’ve found that HD has better staff, easier to get help if I have a question about something. I agree that Lowes here has better lumber and plants, but otherwise I try HD first for most stuff. HD prices slightly better as well. If its for a smaller, common item though, I’ll try my local ACE hardware. More expensive, but great staff and only a few minutes from my house, versus 20-25 to HD/Lowes, so I’ll pay a dollar or two more for an item there and its a wash on price when gas/time is considered. I’d love to be able to have the selection at ACE that the big guys have, and would use them more if they did.

We have accounts at both stores for 30 years, and have been in many of their stores in Florida during that time. Where we have been for the past 20 years, we have both stores within a mile of one another. Prices are generally competitive on most products. Usually Lowes lumber is better quality. For years I felt that Lowes customer service beat Home Depot hands down, but have been disappointed with them recently. I have gone over to HD and got a "we don't give a shit" attitude from some employees. Whenever I encounter that it will be a while before I come back. At the same time you can find some great employees in both stores who will go out of their way to help. I have seen that vary greatly at different LOWES and HD around the state. I have concluded that the individual store manager, and the employees he hires, makes or breaks customer service. I think both stores recognize the lag in customer service and seem to be making an effort to improve recently. We are in a building boom right now and I believe personnel economics are affecting the quality of employees they can attract.

In my immediate area we only have Home Depot. I find that everything they sell, and I mean everything, is absolute crap and the service is horrible. If I really need something I’ll drive half an hour (which is only about eight miles n this area) to get to a Lowe’s.

I was in a Lowes one day and we struck up a conversation about HD versus Lowes. She said she worked in the construction industry and that HD catered to Contractors while Lowes catered to homeowners. That’s why you’ll see a lot more bulk packs for things like screws and bolts.

I really do despise Home Depot.

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:
We have both around here. I tend to go to Lowes ~2x as often as HD. (Though I try to shop at the local Ace as much as possible... The Ace is small and the selection is limited, but it's great for stuff like bolts and plumbing repair parts.) However, there are certain brands that are HD exclusives, and HD's prices are sometimes better than Lowes' on certain things, so it's good to have them as an option.

I do almost the same,

some things Lowe's is better at, as far as selection and sometimes price,
some things Home Despot is better at (they rent tillers and such at the Despot, )

Lowe's tends to be neater, just as busy, and have a better garden section

both have good days and bad on Customer Service,

the local ACE, which used to be a local chain that went out of business (family run) has most of the smalls I look for at a close to the same price, with a staff that actually speaks to you and helps

My decision tree is typically:

1. Which one has what I need?
2. Which is closer?

More often this results in a trip to Home Depot.