Holy Crap!

It's like back in the seventies when the Moonies came running up to you, all
smiling.

I don't think I passed an employee that didn't say hello to me. Sheesh, I
think I'll just go there on the days when I'm not feeling well, but don't
need anything.

I ended up spending $464, and all we went in for were sprinkler plugs and
wire nuts. Oh, yeah, took in a Eureka yellow POS $49 vacuum that was
worthless. Wifey found a nice new vacuum for $200. Rang up at $229, and
the manager came over and gave us a ten buck gift card.

It will be a long time before I hit the Big Orange again.

Steve

"Steve B" wrote in message
...

It will be a long time before I hit the Big Orange again.


I as well am preferring Lowes when possible. The stores are much cleaner
and organized than any HD I've ever been in.

Frank Ketchum wrote:

It will be a long time before I hit the Big Orange again.

I as well am preferring Lowes when possible. The stores are much cleaner
and organized than any HD I've ever been in.

From April through June, Discover Card is giving a 5% cashback bonus on
all charges made at Lowe's. (But you gotta be signed up for the 5%
program with Discover Card to get it.)

http://www.discovercard.com/discover...wd_nap _enr_1

or

http://tinyurl.com/287en2

P.S. In my last trip to Lowe's I left after 15 minutes of waiting for
an employee to come to the plumbing department -- even after two PA
system calls. Yesterday in Home Depot I saw THREE employees that didn't
have lines of customers waiting for service. I'm still partial to HD
myself.

"BZ" wrote in message
...
Frank Ketchum wrote:

It will be a long time before I hit the Big Orange again.

P.S. In my last trip to Lowe's I left after 15 minutes of waiting for an
employee to come to the plumbing department -- even after two PA system
calls. Yesterday in Home Depot I saw THREE employees that didn't have
lines of customers waiting for service. I'm still partial to HD myself.


That sort of thing happens in every store at different times. Much depends
on the area you live in as well as the individual manager. Sometimes HD has
the advantage, a few towns over, Lowes is the better place. In most places,
neither one is very good.

Frank Ketchum wrote:

"Steve B" wrote in message
...

It will be a long time before I hit the Big Orange again.



I as well am preferring Lowes when possible. The stores are much cleaner
and organized than any HD I've ever been in.


Same here. But HD tends to have better locations (at least around here).

--
The e-mail address in our reply-to line is reversed in an attempt to
minimize spam. Our true address is of the form .

CJT wrote:
Frank Ketchum wrote:

"Steve B" wrote in message
...

It will be a long time before I hit the Big Orange again.

I as well am preferring Lowes when possible. The stores are much
cleaner and organized than any HD I've ever been in.

Same here. But HD tends to have better locations (at least around
here).

Location is a huge factor no doubt. Concerning the big-box versus mom & pop I
have all three; Lowes, HD, and a HandyMan, with no more than 50 yards different
on the distances (I could easily walk to any of them).

I believe each have their pros/cons but traditionally I gave the nod to the
HandyMan for one main reason. CHECKING OUT! The big boxes never have enough
lanes open, always have long lines and (for some freakin reason) require that
you enter way the hell at this end of the building, but check out way the hell
at the other end.

The exception to that is Lowes lumber area which has entrance, exit, and
checkout all together. Not much help if I'm buying anything but lumber though.

What is really threatening HandyMan with my business lately is the fact that
both big boxes have put in self checkout. Now when just grabbing that carryable
bunch of small items they are just as fast or faster for me to get in and out.
If this is a quick run in the middle of a project speed of in & out is my
primary concern.

On Sun, 18 Mar 2007 13:03:19 GMT, "Rick Brandt"
wrote:


What is really threatening HandyMan with my business lately is the fact that
both big boxes have put in self checkout. Now when just grabbing that carryable
bunch of small items they are just as fast or faster for me to get in and out.
If this is a quick run in the middle of a project speed of in & out is my
primary concern.

Soon after people get used to self-checkout, HD will eliminate every
live cashier except the one at the "contractor's" checkout.

So far there hasn't been more than a half-person line at the
self-checkout, but I wouldn't mentally say ggod-bye to HandyMan, if I
were you.

(Lowes started later with self-checkout, or doesn't have it yet.)

"Steve B" wrote in message
...
Holy Crap!

It's like back in the seventies when the Moonies came running up to you,
all smiling.

I don't think I passed an employee that didn't say hello to me. Sheesh, I
think I'll just go there on the days when I'm not feeling well, but don't
need anything.

I ended up spending $464, and all we went in for were sprinkler plugs and
wire nuts. Oh, yeah, took in a Eureka yellow POS $49 vacuum that was
worthless. Wifey found a nice new vacuum for $200. Rang up at $229, and
the manager came over and gave us a ten buck gift card.

It will be a long time before I hit the Big Orange again.

Steve

I tend to avoid HD when at all possible and prefer shopping at Lowe's.
Actually I prefer shopping at local lumber yards, but those don't sell the
other stuff I need.

I don't have a problem with HD because of the store per se, but rather the
clientele. It's a entire store filled with soccer moms (and kids in tow),
trendy 30 something couples, and clueless idiots.

Steve B wrote:

....
It will be a long time before I hit the Big Orange again.

....
When a Lowes opened in Sunnyvale, CA, I eagerly went there hoping for
some real competition to HD.
Unfortunately, it was such a disaster that I will never set
foot in there again. Each day a different person claiming to
be the store manager would promise some corrective action,
but not communicate it to anyone, or to the next "store manager".
There was complete incompetence at all levels from the cashier
up to the store manager.
I could write pages and pages of all the screw ups and things that
went wrong, but I will save my fingers and not.
They made HD (which is not great) look very good. From what I have
read here, I am sure that there are other Lowes that are much better,
but not in Sunnyvale.

M Q wrote:
Steve B wrote:

...
It will be a long time before I hit the Big Orange again.

...
When a Lowes opened in Sunnyvale, CA, I eagerly went there hoping for
some real competition to HD.


It already exists. We built a deck and I simply brought the bill of
materials to the local mom & pop lumber yard and 2 days later there was
a stack of quality material in the driveway. No sorting through piles of
lower quality lumber hoping to find good stuff and the price was less.

Unfortunately, it was such a disaster that I will never set
foot in there again. Each day a different person claiming to
be the store manager would promise some corrective action,
but not communicate it to anyone, or to the next "store manager".
There was complete incompetence at all levels from the cashier
up to the store manager.
I could write pages and pages of all the screw ups and things that
went wrong, but I will save my fingers and not.
They made HD (which is not great) look very good. From what I have
read here, I am sure that there are other Lowes that are much better,
but not in Sunnyvale.

George wrote:

M Q wrote:

Steve B wrote:

...

It will be a long time before I hit the Big Orange again.

...
When a Lowes opened in Sunnyvale, CA, I eagerly went there hoping for
some real competition to HD.



It already exists. We built a deck and I simply brought the bill of
materials to the local mom & pop lumber yard and 2 days later there was
a stack of quality material in the driveway. No sorting through piles of
lower quality lumber hoping to find good stuff and the price was less.

I have to agree. I had a big deck railing project 2 years ago that the
plans included 168 of the pre-cut spindles, as well as 2x10's for steps,
& all the railing lumber - 2x8's 2x6's, 2x4's, 4x4's. All pressure treated.

I oredered the exact amount needed from Foley Lumber in Old Forge, NY.

Not a single bad board or spindle in the entire load that was DELIVERED
free to the worksite two towns over. No waste, no leftovers. They have
had my business since.

Rob

"trainfan1" wrote in message
et...
George wrote:

M Q wrote:

Steve B wrote:

...

It will be a long time before I hit the Big Orange again.

...
When a Lowes opened in Sunnyvale, CA, I eagerly went there hoping for
some real competition to HD.



It already exists. We built a deck and I simply brought the bill of
materials to the local mom & pop lumber yard and 2 days later there was a
stack of quality material in the driveway. No sorting through piles of
lower quality lumber hoping to find good stuff and the price was less.

I have to agree. I had a big deck railing project 2 years ago that the
plans included 168 of the pre-cut spindles, as well as 2x10's for steps, &
all the railing lumber - 2x8's 2x6's, 2x4's, 4x4's. All pressure treated.

I oredered the exact amount needed from Foley Lumber in Old Forge, NY.

Not a single bad board or spindle in the entire load that was DELIVERED
free to the worksite two towns over. No waste, no leftovers. They have
had my business since.

Rob


I wonder if this is a trend for the next decades. The big boxes ran the mom
and pops out, and now, the mom and pops are making a comeback, and not even
having to advertise or look for customers.

Steve

Steve B wrote:
"trainfan1" wrote in message
et...

George wrote:


M Q wrote:


Steve B wrote:

...


It will be a long time before I hit the Big Orange again.


...
When a Lowes opened in Sunnyvale, CA, I eagerly went there hoping for
some real competition to HD.



It already exists. We built a deck and I simply brought the bill of
materials to the local mom & pop lumber yard and 2 days later there was a
stack of quality material in the driveway. No sorting through piles of
lower quality lumber hoping to find good stuff and the price was less.

I have to agree. I had a big deck railing project 2 years ago that the
plans included 168 of the pre-cut spindles, as well as 2x10's for steps, &
all the railing lumber - 2x8's 2x6's, 2x4's, 4x4's. All pressure treated.

I oredered the exact amount needed from Foley Lumber in Old Forge, NY.

Not a single bad board or spindle in the entire load that was DELIVERED
free to the worksite two towns over. No waste, no leftovers. They have
had my business since.

Rob



I wonder if this is a trend for the next decades. The big boxes ran the mom
and pops out, and now, the mom and pops are making a comeback, and not even
having to advertise or look for customers.

Steve



Where they are located, I use the 84 Lumber yards too. Very competitive
pricing, delivery, & good product knowledge.

Rob

"Steve B" wrote in message
...

"trainfan1" wrote in message
et...
George wrote:

M Q wrote:

Steve B wrote:

...

It will be a long time before I hit the Big Orange again.

...
When a Lowes opened in Sunnyvale, CA, I eagerly went there hoping for
some real competition to HD.



It already exists. We built a deck and I simply brought the bill of
materials to the local mom & pop lumber yard and 2 days later there was
a stack of quality material in the driveway. No sorting through piles of
lower quality lumber hoping to find good stuff and the price was less.

I have to agree. I had a big deck railing project 2 years ago that the
plans included 168 of the pre-cut spindles, as well as 2x10's for steps,
& all the railing lumber - 2x8's 2x6's, 2x4's, 4x4's. All pressure
treated.

I oredered the exact amount needed from Foley Lumber in Old Forge, NY.

Not a single bad board or spindle in the entire load that was DELIVERED
free to the worksite two towns over. No waste, no leftovers. They have
had my business since.

Rob


I wonder if this is a trend for the next decades. The big boxes ran the
mom and pops out, and now, the mom and pops are making a comeback, and not
even having to advertise or look for customers.

I wish there was a mom'n'pop left around here- closest we have left is 84
lumber, which seems to be down to pole barn and kit/tract house supplies
now, doesn't even pretend to be full-line.

aem sends...

"Steve B" wrote in message
...

"trainfan1" wrote in message
et...
George wrote:

M Q wrote:

Steve B wrote:

...

It will be a long time before I hit the Big Orange again.

...
When a Lowes opened in Sunnyvale, CA, I eagerly went there hoping for
some real competition to HD.



It already exists. We built a deck and I simply brought the bill of
materials to the local mom & pop lumber yard and 2 days later there was
a stack of quality material in the driveway. No sorting through piles of
lower quality lumber hoping to find good stuff and the price was less.

I have to agree. I had a big deck railing project 2 years ago that the
plans included 168 of the pre-cut spindles, as well as 2x10's for steps,
& all the railing lumber - 2x8's 2x6's, 2x4's, 4x4's. All pressure
treated.

I oredered the exact amount needed from Foley Lumber in Old Forge, NY.

Not a single bad board or spindle in the entire load that was DELIVERED
free to the worksite two towns over. No waste, no leftovers. They have
had my business since.

Rob


I wonder if this is a trend for the next decades. The big boxes ran the
mom and pops out, and now, the mom and pops are making a comeback, and not
even having to advertise or look for customers.

Steve
I think its a reaction to the big box stores. The handyman types don't like
those stores because of either the clientele or the atmosphere in them. So
they seek out the stores that cater to them. I've been going to Dunn Lumber
more and more - used to be a "big box" style store way before that was in
vogue, then it got forced out by Eagle, then Lowe's/HD, now it seems to be
making a comeback as a contractor/DIY store for people who know exactly what
they want. They don't have hardware, but if I need lumber or fittings they
have quality stuff - no 2x4 pretzels there.

Steve B wrote:

I wonder if this is a trend for the next decades. The big boxes ran the mom
and pops out, and now, the mom and pops are making a comeback, and not even
having to advertise or look for customers.

Steve



Don't know, the big box places have tremendous mind share because of all
of their marketing and many people seem to think there is nothing else.
Just look at the typical threads here where people declare lowes is
better than home depot and vice versa when they are identical. The same
is true in other lines too. A lot of people think that the "experts" at
best buy actually are because of the tremendous marketing they do and
people drive right by the local competent mom & pop places.

On Fri, 16 Mar 2007 17:35:29 -0700, "Steve B"
wrote:

Holy Crap!

It's like back in the seventies when the Moonies came running up to you, all
smiling.

I don't think I passed an employee that didn't say hello to me. Sheesh, I
think I'll just go there on the days when I'm not feeling well, but don't
need anything.

I ended up spending $464, and all we went in for were sprinkler plugs and
wire nuts. Oh, yeah, took in a Eureka yellow POS $49 vacuum that was
worthless. Wifey found a nice new vacuum for $200. Rang up at $229, and
the manager came over and gave us a ten buck gift card.

It will be a long time before I hit the Big Orange again.

Steve


IMHO:

Ah you are now a part of the club. I like my lowes for a couple
of things. They seem to hire people with friendly attitudes. IMHO,
Big Orange tries to hire 'trades people', but I rather get an "I don't
know" from a lowes person to my question, than advice on how to burn
down my house with my family in it from an orange apron wearing fool.
Not happy with advice from people not actually doing the work.

Lowes rocks, plus they seem to hire younger people that move much
quicker when you need something.

Just my options....

tom @ www.Consolidated-Loans.info

Just Joshin wrote:

Ah you are now a part of the club. I like my lowes for a couple
of things. They seem to hire people with friendly attitudes. IMHO,
Big Orange tries to hire 'trades people', but I rather get an "I don't
know" from a lowes person to my question, than advice on how to burn
down my house with my family in it from an orange apron wearing fool.
Not happy with advice from people not actually doing the work.

Lowes rocks, plus they seem to hire younger people that move much
quicker when you need something.

Just my options....

When they opened up a Lowe's here a few years ago, half the staff came
from Home Depot.

"BZ" wrote


When they opened up a Lowe's here a few years ago, half the staff came
from Home Depot.

What's wrong with this picture. People who SUPPOSEDLY have a firm 401k
program, lots of potential, lots of advancement, and a cement clad
retirement if they stay 30 years bailing ship. When they see their CEO
bailing with a $200 million + golden parachute.

Something's wrong in Kansas, Toto.

Steve

On Sun, 18 Mar 2007 21:31:35 -0700, "Steve B"
wrote:


"BZ" wrote


When they opened up a Lowe's here a few years ago, half the staff came
from Home Depot.

What's wrong with this picture. People who SUPPOSEDLY have a firm 401k
program, lots of potential, lots of advancement, and a cement clad
retirement if they stay 30 years bailing ship. When they see their CEO
bailing with a $200 million + golden parachute.

Something's wrong in Kansas, Toto.

Somehow it is related to the people who are against the estate tax as
if it were someday going to affect them. Very few people every have a
million or two more than they owe. Even fewer by the time that they
die.

Steve

On Sun, 18 Mar 2007 19:57:10 -0500, BZ wrote:

Just Joshin wrote:

Ah you are now a part of the club. I like my lowes for a couple
of things. They seem to hire people with friendly attitudes. IMHO,
Big Orange tries to hire 'trades people', but I rather get an "I don't
know" from a lowes person to my question, than advice on how to burn
down my house with my family in it from an orange apron wearing fool.
Not happy with advice from people not actually doing the work.

Lowes rocks, plus they seem to hire younger people that move much
quicker when you need something.

Just my options....

tom @ www.Consolidated-Loans.info

When they opened up a Lowe's here a few years ago, half the staff came
from Home Depot.

Guessing with the stories about a decline in moral in HD these were
teh smarter ones.

With everythign comes change. If HD messes up, Lowes dominate. If
Lowes messes up, HD dominates. If they both mess up, then a third
charactor will show up.

later,

tom @ www.FreelancingProjects.com

On Mon, 19 Mar 2007 13:55:36 -0400, Just Joshin
wrote:


Guessing with the stories about a decline in moral in HD these were
teh smarter ones.

With everythign comes change. If HD messes up, Lowes dominate. If
Lowes messes up, HD dominates. If they both mess up, then a third
charactor will show up.

Hechingers will rise again!


(They had 15 or 20 big stores around here.)

mm wrote:
On Mon, 19 Mar 2007 13:55:36 -0400, Just Joshin
wrote:


Guessing with the stories about a decline in moral in HD these were
teh smarter ones.

With everythign comes change. If HD messes up, Lowes dominate. If
Lowes messes up, HD dominates. If they both mess up, then a third
charactor will show up.


Hechingers will rise again!


(They had 15 or 20 big stores around here.)


Keyboard!

Thats funny. I was back in the suburban Virginia area, in Fairfax City,
last September for the first time in alost 25 years.

I remember when I lived in Reston in a townhouse area, where all the
houses had an unfinished basement. On Sunday's after reading the
Hecky's ad in the Post we'd gup up for the ride to Hecky's. And always
somepne couldn't go, but had a list "If you're going to Hechingers can
you get me....?

I still have an aluminum yardstick with the blue Hecky's lettering.