[Edwin Pawlowski]

The question of who has the best prices often come sup here, it is Home
Depot or Lowes. Today, I had reason to be on both stores and checked the
price of an item I bought locally earlier this morning.

Taco circulator pump
Home Depot $86
Lowes $79
Supply New England $61.48

I still wonder why people line up at the big box stores thinking they are
saving a lot of money. If it was Sunday and I needed that part that day to
get the heat back on, I'd have paid it, but given the opportunity to go
elsewhere, it pays to do so.

[RBM]

I think a few years back, they did have low prices, and subsequently put a
lot of small stores out of business. Since then it seems the prices have
crept up incrementally to the point that they are no bargain anymore




"Edwin Pawlowski" wrote in message
...
The question of who has the best prices often come sup here, it is Home
Depot or Lowes. Today, I had reason to be on both stores and checked the
price of an item I bought locally earlier this morning.

Taco circulator pump
Home Depot $86
Lowes $79
Supply New England $61.48

I still wonder why people line up at the big box stores thinking they are
saving a lot of money. If it was Sunday and I needed that part that day
to get the heat back on, I'd have paid it, but given the opportunity to go
elsewhere, it pays to do so.

[Big_Jake]

On Mar 3, 5:00 pm, "RBM" rbm2(remove wrote:
I think a few years back, they did have low prices, and subsequently put a
lot of small stores out of business. Since then it seems the prices have
crept up incrementally to the point that they are no bargain anymore

"Edwin Pawlowski" wrote in message

...

The question of who has the best prices often come sup here, it is Home
Depot or Lowes. Today, I had reason to be on both stores and checked the
price of an item I bought locally earlier this morning.

Taco circulator pump
Home Depot $86
Lowes $79
Supply New England $61.48

I still wonder why people line up at the big box stores thinking they are
saving a lot of money. If it was Sunday and I needed that part that day
to get the heat back on, I'd have paid it, but given the opportunity to go
elsewhere, it pays to do so.

You can't beat Menards! I wonder how Lowe's and Home Depot stay in
business with the prices they charge. I guess people just don't know
any better!

JK

[RBM]

My guess is HD and Lowes build the bulk of their stores in the 39 states
that Menards isn't located



"Big_Jake" wrote in message
oups.com...
On Mar 3, 5:00 pm, "RBM" rbm2(remove wrote:
I think a few years back, they did have low prices, and subsequently put
a
lot of small stores out of business. Since then it seems the prices have
crept up incrementally to the point that they are no bargain anymore

"Edwin Pawlowski" wrote in message

...

The question of who has the best prices often come sup here, it is Home
Depot or Lowes. Today, I had reason to be on both stores and checked
the
price of an item I bought locally earlier this morning.

Taco circulator pump
Home Depot $86
Lowes $79
Supply New England $61.48

I still wonder why people line up at the big box stores thinking they
are
saving a lot of money. If it was Sunday and I needed that part that
day
to get the heat back on, I'd have paid it, but given the opportunity to
go
elsewhere, it pays to do so.

You can't beat Menards! I wonder how Lowe's and Home Depot stay in
business with the prices they charge. I guess people just don't know
any better!

JK

[lp13-30]

A lot of it probably has to do with convenience-- the box stores are
open 7 days a week, and til 9:00 on 6 of them usually.Dunno about your
area, but for probably half of the population of San Antonio, there is
either a HD or Lowes, or often both, within about 5 miles. Larry

[Sacramento Dave]

"Edwin Pawlowski" wrote in message
...
The question of who has the best prices often come sup here, it is Home
Depot or Lowes. Today, I had reason to be on both stores and checked the
price of an item I bought locally earlier this morning.

Taco circulator pump
Home Depot $86
Lowes $79
Supply New England $61.48

I still wonder why people line up at the big box stores thinking they are
saving a lot of money. If it was Sunday and I needed that part that day
to get the heat back on, I'd have paid it, but given the opportunity to go
elsewhere, it pays to do so.


I put a 5 1/2" MDF base board in my house Home depot $1.59 lnf local
lumber/hardware Meeks $.99 lnf.
If your buying just a little bit of stuff there convenient but any major
purchase shop around.One thing they do that just ****es me off Lowes and
Expo do it to they want $60 to come and measure you carpet. I brought a
detailed drawing to the 1/2" of three rooms door closets every measurement
you need, they said they have to come out and measure themselves. My answer
was if you can't give me a price from that drawing your to stupid to put in
my carpet. I've got prices on all kinds of flooring when I was in the
remodel businesses never was charged for an estimate. There the stores you
love to hate.

[Sacramento Dave]

"lp13-30" wrote in message
...
A lot of it probably has to do with convenience-- the box stores are
open 7 days a week, and til 9:00 on 6 of them usually.Dunno about your
area, but for probably half of the population of San Antonio, there is
either a HD or Lowes, or often both, within about 5 miles. Larry


Same in Sacramento I can drive to four HD and two Lowes in 20 minuets Two
of the home depot are about 3 miles apart. I also have a Ace hardware 1/4
mile but they are so expensive it's a I need one screw store.

[cm]

Ed,

I see this almost every day. My local Ace or True Value are less on many of
my home repair parts.

cm


"Edwin Pawlowski" wrote in message
...
The question of who has the best prices often come sup here, it is Home
Depot or Lowes. Today, I had reason to be on both stores and checked the
price of an item I bought locally earlier this morning.

Taco circulator pump
Home Depot $86
Lowes $79
Supply New England $61.48

I still wonder why people line up at the big box stores thinking they are
saving a lot of money. If it was Sunday and I needed that part that day
to get the heat back on, I'd have paid it, but given the opportunity to go
elsewhere, it pays to do so.

[C & E]

"RBM" rbm2(remove wrote in message
...
I think a few years back, they did have low prices, and subsequently put a
lot of small stores out of business. Since then it seems the prices have
crept up incrementally to the point that they are no bargain anymore

I believe it's called "strategy"! No kidding. Capture the market share and
do what you will afterwards. Can you say, "Wal-Mart". No smart A** comment
intended here.




"Edwin Pawlowski" wrote in message
...
The question of who has the best prices often come sup here, it is Home
Depot or Lowes. Today, I had reason to be on both stores and checked the
price of an item I bought locally earlier this morning.

Taco circulator pump
Home Depot $86
Lowes $79
Supply New England $61.48

I still wonder why people line up at the big box stores thinking they are
saving a lot of money. If it was Sunday and I needed that part that day
to get the heat back on, I'd have paid it, but given the opportunity to
go elsewhere, it pays to do so.

[[email protected]]

Price is not always the issue- availability is- A part may be a couple
$$ cheaper at a local store but will the mom and pop store have it in
stock? If I need something I will pay a bit more to get it quicker.
You used one item as an example. Some items like exterior doors are
cheaper at home depot than lowes. Yes the prices have gone up but are
more reasonable when there are lowes and HD near each other

On Mar 3, 5:45 pm, "Edwin Pawlowski" wrote:
The question of who has the best prices often come sup here, it is Home
Depot or Lowes. Today, I had reason to be on both stores and checked the
price of an item I bought locally earlier this morning.

Taco circulator pump
Home Depot $86
Lowes $79
Supply New England $61.48

I still wonder why people line up at the big box stores thinking they are
saving a lot of money. If it was Sunday and I needed that part that day to
get the heat back on, I'd have paid it, but given the opportunity to go
elsewhere, it pays to do so.

[RBM]

Except that the bigger War-Mart gets, the lower their prices go





"C & E" wrote in message
...

"RBM" rbm2(remove wrote in message
...
I think a few years back, they did have low prices, and subsequently put a
lot of small stores out of business. Since then it seems the prices have
crept up incrementally to the point that they are no bargain anymore

I believe it's called "strategy"! No kidding. Capture the market share
and do what you will afterwards. Can you say, "Wal-Mart". No smart A**
comment intended here.




"Edwin Pawlowski" wrote in message
...
The question of who has the best prices often come sup here, it is Home
Depot or Lowes. Today, I had reason to be on both stores and checked
the price of an item I bought locally earlier this morning.

Taco circulator pump
Home Depot $86
Lowes $79
Supply New England $61.48

I still wonder why people line up at the big box stores thinking they
are saving a lot of money. If it was Sunday and I needed that part that
day to get the heat back on, I'd have paid it, but given the opportunity
to go elsewhere, it pays to do so.

[Edwin Pawlowski]

wrote in message
ups.com...
Price is not always the issue- availability is- A part may be a couple
$$ cheaper at a local store but will the mom and pop store have it in
stock? If I need something I will pay a bit more to get it quicker.
You used one item as an example. Some items like exterior doors are
cheaper at home depot than lowes. Yes the prices have gone up but are
more reasonable when there are lowes and HD near each other

My point is that people blindly shop at the big stores and assume they have
the lowest prices and best selection. Far from the truth. They may be
lower on exterior doors, but when I replaced my slider, instead of buying
Pella at Home Depot, I bought Pella from the dealer across the street. He
carried the full line and had models that HD does not even order.

Same with appliances. HD sells the same brand I bought from the guy around
the corner. To answer your availability question, I could either drag it
home or wait a week for delivery. For about the same price, the local guy
delivered and set up the new one and hauled away the old one. I've never
been able to figure out why a sane person would want to take home their own
refrigerator and drag it into the house to save maybe $10.

In spite of the size of the big box stores, they carry a limited selection
of brands of some items. There is much more to chose from in this world.

[Pete C.]

Edwin Pawlowski wrote:

The question of who has the best prices often come sup here, it is Home
Depot or Lowes. Today, I had reason to be on both stores and checked the
price of an item I bought locally earlier this morning.

Taco circulator pump
Home Depot $86
Lowes $79
Supply New England $61.48

I still wonder why people line up at the big box stores thinking they are
saving a lot of money. If it was Sunday and I needed that part that day to
get the heat back on, I'd have paid it, but given the opportunity to go
elsewhere, it pays to do so.

Variety mostly. For a single item like your pump, you go to the "real"
plumbing or HVAC supplier. For a big project you quote out to the
various plumbing, electrical, building matl., etc. suppliers. But for a
small project like perhaps a bathroom semi-remodel, the convenience and
savings in gas and time you get by finding everything in one location
may exceed the higher price.

Pete C.

[Nate Nagel]

Pete C. wrote:
Edwin Pawlowski wrote:

The question of who has the best prices often come sup here, it is Home
Depot or Lowes. Today, I had reason to be on both stores and checked the
price of an item I bought locally earlier this morning.

Taco circulator pump
Home Depot $86
Lowes $79
Supply New England $61.48

I still wonder why people line up at the big box stores thinking they are
saving a lot of money. If it was Sunday and I needed that part that day to
get the heat back on, I'd have paid it, but given the opportunity to go
elsewhere, it pays to do so.


Variety mostly. For a single item like your pump, you go to the "real"
plumbing or HVAC supplier. For a big project you quote out to the
various plumbing, electrical, building matl., etc. suppliers. But for a
small project like perhaps a bathroom semi-remodel, the convenience and
savings in gas and time you get by finding everything in one location
may exceed the higher price.

Pete C.

In my experience that doesn't happen, however. At least my local Home
Despot is always out of at least one necessary item forcing me to wait
until a weekday and go to the "real" store anyway.

nate

--
replace "roosters" with "cox" to reply.
http://members.cox.net/njnagel

[Charlie Bress]

Yesterday I was trying to remove a Moen faucet from the sink. It reqires a
special tool to reach a nut that is way up on a thredded piece. The tool
comes with the faucet, but I don't have it because the builder's guys didn't
leave it. I stopped at my Local Ace. Nope they don't seel that item. They
would lend me one.
The deposit? Write your name and phone number on a file card. Tell us your
name so when you return it we can throw the card away. Try that at HD.

After I got the old fauct out I returned the tool. Then putting in the
replacement faucetI decided the old supply lines were too long and snaked
around the cabinet. Time for new supply lines. Did I go to HD to save a
buck? No way.

By the way This Ace is open Sunday morning and the folks there know what
they are talking about.

Charlie

"CM" wrote in message
...
Ed,

I see this almost every day. My local Ace or True Value are less on many
of my home repair parts.

cm


"Edwin Pawlowski" wrote in message
...
The question of who has the best prices often come sup here, it is Home
Depot or Lowes. Today, I had reason to be on both stores and checked the
price of an item I bought locally earlier this morning.

Taco circulator pump
Home Depot $86
Lowes $79
Supply New England $61.48

I still wonder why people line up at the big box stores thinking they are
saving a lot of money. If it was Sunday and I needed that part that day
to get the heat back on, I'd have paid it, but given the opportunity to
go elsewhere, it pays to do so.

[Pete C.]

Nate Nagel wrote:

Pete C. wrote:
Edwin Pawlowski wrote:

The question of who has the best prices often come sup here, it is Home
Depot or Lowes. Today, I had reason to be on both stores and checked the
price of an item I bought locally earlier this morning.

Taco circulator pump
Home Depot $86
Lowes $79
Supply New England $61.48

I still wonder why people line up at the big box stores thinking they are
saving a lot of money. If it was Sunday and I needed that part that day to
get the heat back on, I'd have paid it, but given the opportunity to go
elsewhere, it pays to do so.


Variety mostly. For a single item like your pump, you go to the "real"
plumbing or HVAC supplier. For a big project you quote out to the
various plumbing, electrical, building matl., etc. suppliers. But for a
small project like perhaps a bathroom semi-remodel, the convenience and
savings in gas and time you get by finding everything in one location
may exceed the higher price.

Pete C.

In my experience that doesn't happen, however. At least my local Home
Despot is always out of at least one necessary item forcing me to wait
until a weekday and go to the "real" store anyway.

I haven't found that problem for smaller projects, and the Depot and
Lowe's here are 1/4 mile apart. For larger projects I find that there is
always 30% of what I need that can't be found at Depot, Lowe's or any of
the local "real" supply houses that I always end up having to special
order and / or truck 75 miles to get myself.

Pete C.

[Nate Nagel]

Pete C. wrote:
Nate Nagel wrote:

Pete C. wrote:

Edwin Pawlowski wrote:


The question of who has the best prices often come sup here, it is Home
Depot or Lowes. Today, I had reason to be on both stores and checked the
price of an item I bought locally earlier this morning.

Taco circulator pump
Home Depot $86
Lowes $79
Supply New England $61.48

I still wonder why people line up at the big box stores thinking they are
saving a lot of money. If it was Sunday and I needed that part that day to
get the heat back on, I'd have paid it, but given the opportunity to go
elsewhere, it pays to do so.


Variety mostly. For a single item like your pump, you go to the "real"
plumbing or HVAC supplier. For a big project you quote out to the
various plumbing, electrical, building matl., etc. suppliers. But for a
small project like perhaps a bathroom semi-remodel, the convenience and
savings in gas and time you get by finding everything in one location
may exceed the higher price.

Pete C.

In my experience that doesn't happen, however. At least my local Home
Despot is always out of at least one necessary item forcing me to wait
until a weekday and go to the "real" store anyway.


I haven't found that problem for smaller projects, and the Depot and
Lowe's here are 1/4 mile apart. For larger projects I find that there is
always 30% of what I need that can't be found at Depot, Lowe's or any of
the local "real" supply houses that I always end up having to special
order and / or truck 75 miles to get myself.

Pete C.

Maybe the difference is that I don't have a Lowe's to give HD any real
competition. The nearest Lowe's is 20-some miles away, and I will go
there rather than to HD if I do have a small project where I think I may
have a fighting chance of getting everything I need at a "big box."

nate

--
replace "roosters" with "cox" to reply.
http://members.cox.net/njnagel

[Big_Jake]

On Mar 3, 5:10 pm, "RBM" rbm2(remove wrote:
My guess is HD and Lowes build the bulk of their stores in the 39 states
that Menards isn't located

"Big_Jake" wrote in message

oups.com...

On Mar 3, 5:00 pm, "RBM" rbm2(remove wrote:
I think a few years back, they did have low prices, and subsequently put
a
lot of small stores out of business. Since then it seems the prices have
crept up incrementally to the point that they are no bargain anymore

"Edwin Pawlowski" wrote in message

et...

The question of who has the best prices often come sup here, it is Home
Depot or Lowes. Today, I had reason to be on both stores and checked
the
price of an item I bought locally earlier this morning.

Taco circulator pump
Home Depot $86
Lowes $79
Supply New England $61.48

I still wonder why people line up at the big box stores thinking they
are
saving a lot of money. If it was Sunday and I needed that part that
day
to get the heat back on, I'd have paid it, but given the opportunity to
go
elsewhere, it pays to do so.

You can't beat Menards! I wonder how Lowe's and Home Depot stay in
business with the prices they charge. I guess people just don't know
any better!

JK


I am shocked that both Lowe's and HD were able to build a presence
where I am in Milwaukee, since, in general, their prices on nearly
everything is higher than Menards. As I have thought about it more, I
am coming to the conclusion that Lowe's and HD gear much of their
marketing towards the consumer, and Menards just doesn't. I am much
more of a "pro" and I often feel that my presence at Lowe's or HD is a
hindrance. I can't often move freely down the aisles because the have
piled up special order mechandise or other clutter that makes it hard
to push a big cart through. My mission is to get in, get what I need,
and get out. I don't need a central air quote, or a class on
flooring, and I especially don't need to look around the store for 20
minutes to find a cart big enough to carry 4 sheets of drywall.

I agree with the other poster who said that Lowe's and Home Depot
carry a broader range of SKU's. When they first came to town, I was
excited to see that they carried a much broader range of copper
fittings for plumbing than Menards, but they have whittled that down
quite a bit, and for the few fittings that they still carry that
Menards doesn't, it is cheaper to go to a well stocked small hardware
store.

I also think that they miss out by not letting the dept managers and
store managers make decisions as to what they carry. I needed an A/C
disconnect with a built-in GFCI, which is necessary by code on
installations where there is no receptacle nearby. I asked the dept
manager why they didn't have them, and he told me that he would love
to carry them, and saw the need, but "Headquarters tells us what we
can and cannot carry". :-(

They also have a knack for getting rid of products that I really like,
but I could go on and on.

JK

[Rick Blaine]

"Big_Jake" wrote:

I agree with the other poster who said that Lowe's and Home Depot
carry a broader range of SKU's. When they first came to town, I was
excited to see that they carried a much broader range of copper
fittings for plumbing than Menards, but they have whittled that down
quite a bit

I think the whole big box diy model has changed over time. When they first
showed up, they stocked they exact same material and brands you'd find at a good
supply house. The convenience of being able to get that all in one location with
staff that knew what they were talking about was what led to their popularity.

Unfortunately, once they reached critical retail mass, they could start
demanding manufacturers provide consumer grade products that had better margins.
That and optimizing the product mix for profit instead of completeness make them
less useful stores.

[Eigenvector]

"Rick Blaine" wrote in message
...
"Big_Jake" wrote:

I agree with the other poster who said that Lowe's and Home Depot
carry a broader range of SKU's. When they first came to town, I was
excited to see that they carried a much broader range of copper
fittings for plumbing than Menards, but they have whittled that down
quite a bit

I think the whole big box diy model has changed over time. When they first
showed up, they stocked they exact same material and brands you'd find at
a good
supply house. The convenience of being able to get that all in one
location with
staff that knew what they were talking about was what led to their
popularity.

Unfortunately, once they reached critical retail mass, they could start
demanding manufacturers provide consumer grade products that had better
margins.
That and optimizing the product mix for profit instead of completeness
make them
less useful stores.

It may have to do with the individual store itself. I've noticed that the
Lowe's in Bellevue, where I used to live, carried a smattering of plumbing
products that I needed. When I moved across the way I noticed that the
store nearest me carried lots of plumbing, but little electrical. Overall
it seems that each store carries what sells in their area rather than a
single product line across all stores. I don't know about HD, I only buy
Leviton switches and outlets from them - nothing else if I can help it.

[JK]

On 3 Mar 2007 15:03:15 -0800, "Big_Jake"
wrote:

You can't beat Menards! I wonder how Lowe's and Home Depot stay in
business with the prices they charge. I guess people just don't know
any better!

JK

I guess they don't, since Menards does a lot of business. I always
say that Menards is the Wal-Mart of home improvement. Lots of cheap
chinese made garbage.

They are cheaper than HD or Lowes though.
NewsGuy.Com - $19.95 Unlimited Bandwidth

[Steve Barker]

I'm just glad there's not one in my area. Just one more choice and place
I'd have to go to price compare. I'd be better off if there were no Home
depot close. That way, I'd just go to Lowes (where I end up every time
anyway) and have it over with.

--
Steve Barker




"JK" wrote in message
...
On 3 Mar 2007 15:03:15 -0800, "Big_Jake"
wrote:

You can't beat Menards! I wonder how Lowe's and Home Depot stay in
business with the prices they charge. I guess people just don't know
any better!

JK

I guess they don't, since Menards does a lot of business. I always
say that Menards is the Wal-Mart of home improvement. Lots of cheap
chinese made garbage.

They are cheaper than HD or Lowes though.
NewsGuy.Com - $19.95 Unlimited Bandwidth

[mm]

On Sun, 04 Mar 2007 11:14:16 -0500, Nate Nagel
wrote:



Maybe the difference is that I don't have a Lowe's to give HD any real
competition. The nearest Lowe's is 20-some miles away, and I will go
there rather than to HD if I do have a small project where I think I may
have a fighting chance of getting everything I need at a "big box."

Coming in late on this, there seem to be 2 to 4 times as many HDs as
there are Lowes in Baltimore, but until last summer, the closest to me
had a pair only a half mile from each other on the same street.

Yet I sometimes have to go 5 more miles to an ACE hardware. I posted
here about the time I needed a square U-bolt, and iirc neither HD nor
L had any, but the ACE had 7 sizes.

But it's not cheaper, afaict. Easily 20% more on a few things I know
the price of. OTOH, they sell window screening by the foot or a 4
inch piece (and I trusted them not to charge too much so I don't know
how much they charged, but HD and Lowes would have charge much more
for a minimum of I guess 6 or 8 feet. I would go to the ACE a lot
more if it were closer. OTOH, the last remaining small hardware store
on this street doesn't have very much at all, and they make a living
repairing lawnmowers and renting construction equipment.

[clifto]

Big_Jake wrote:
On Mar 3, 5:10 pm, "RBM" rbm2(remove wrote:
My guess is HD and Lowes build the bulk of their stores in the 39 states
that Menards isn't located

I am shocked that both Lowe's and HD were able to build a presence
where I am in Milwaukee, since, in general, their prices on nearly
everything is higher than Menards.

In the Chicago area, I haven't found Menard's to be significantly better
on pricing, and their selection is often limited. When I can get what I
need, Menard's is okay. But having several Menard's stores within ten
miles doesn't reduce the number of times I drive ten miles to get to a
Lowe's or HD.

--
Martians drive SUVs! http://oregonmag.com/MarsWarm307.html

[clifto]

RBM wrote:
Except that the bigger War-Mart gets, the lower their prices go

Sez you. Especially after having seen a show on PBS where a Wal-Mart
exec admitted that their prices are often not the lowest available, I
shop Wal-Mart the same way I shop Joe's Hardware; I check the price and
quality before I buy anything of consequence.

It's especially bad since Mr. Sam died. Practically before he was in his
grave, a quart of Pennzoil went from 97 cents to about $1.40 overnight.
There wasn't any change in the price of oil, there was a change in
management greed.

Ever see those cards of cheapo stuff they sell in out-of-the-way gas
stations? Gizmos on a card that says, "Total value $9.57, your price ____"
and the price is filled in at $1? Where the station paid about $4 for
the card of 20 items? Shortly after Sam died, I saw one of these cards
in a Wal-Mart store in Northlake, IL, little kits of eyeglass screws
and a tiny screwdriver. It said, "Total value $8.57, your price _____"
and Wal-Mart had dutifully filled in, $8.57. That's when I knew Sam
was rolling in his grave.

--
Martians drive SUVs! http://oregonmag.com/MarsWarm307.html