Lowe's closing 50 stores !

[flusher]

Lowe's has been downsizing for a while--they bought Orchard Supply after it went bankrupt in 2013 only to close them all down by the end of this year. I only shopped for plants in Lowe's garden center. HD is my go to store for all my hardware needs.

 

[Big Barn]

Americans have no idea how good they have it. Shopping in Canada is like shopping in the former Soviet Union.

Amen.

 

[RNeumann]

Lowe’s bought out Rona . After the merger there is no use have two stores beside each other competing when they are now owned by the same company .

Oh- even more news! Sounds like the headline from the news source was provided by Home Depot!

 

[Big Barn]

When Home Depot came to Canada I loved the theory that the sales “associates” were mainly ex tradespeople and contractors themselves. What could be better for the DIY’er, right?

While I have found the odd helpful staff member the majority are loser former tradespeople who could not hold a job in the real world due to lack of skills, knowledge or both. And then there’s the socially inept ones who will simply say no rather than try to find you an answer.

If I wasn’t so busy being retired I’d fit right in.

JMHO of course......

 

[Industrial Toys]

In the Toronto area, HD bought Akinheads. A very good and unique hardware store with specialized small volume merchandise and expert sales help. That was a crime. Home Depot is garbage retailing at its finest. My lady friend was a manager there many years ago. She absolutely refuses to set foot in a HD ever again! If you ever Google HD employee complaints, it's quite the amazing and insightful read.

 

[Fuddy1952]

CNN...always believe everything they say...NOT

 

[TractorNH]

The Lowes in my area doesn't even keep their lumber aisle stocked with basic stuff. The last three times I stopped in for a few pieces they only had a few pieces to choos from and the ones they had were worse than bananas, so bad they couldn't even be cut up for scrap.

 

[ovrszd]

I prefer Lowes because they give me a 10% military discount.

Here Menard's is killing Lowes and HD. Menard's does not give military discount. Their mantra is rebates/credit line in the store. Their marketing people are genius. They'll break Lowes and HD anywhere they go.

Example. Building a shop. Went online to compare material costs between the three.

I'll be darned! Menard's has a "build it" program on their website. After an hour I had a material list with prices in my hand!!! A couple days later an associate from Menard's called me to remind me that their current 11% off sale would be ending in a few days. Also asked me if I needed any help finalizing? Knew my location by the data required to use the site. Said they would deliver the building package no charge. I'm 87 miles from the store!!!!

Neither Lowes or HD offer anything like that online. Few days later I was in the city. Stopped at HD and asked if they could spec me a building package. The man said "I used to do that for customers but the manager made me stop". Went to Lowes. Asked the same question. Got the not offered answer. Said if I had a material list they could price everything. No thanks......

I don't like Menard's marketing practices. But I sure like their stores. If you haven't been in one, give it a look. It's embarrassing how much better they are stocked. They fit the saying "If they don't have it, you don't need it".

 

[Wakey]

I love my Lowe's, like Eddie's store all their employees are super nice, small town locals. I go in the mornings and they always have more employees than customers.

But I try hard to support the local mom/pop outfits. We have a 3rd generation hardware store and an excellent Ace hardware the next town over. (they deliver lumber etc for $15 bucks :laughing: )

The big box stores have turned into Walmart. They sell pretty much nothing but junk. I was looking at work gloves at Lowe's and they had nothing worth buying, at any price. Everyone seems to wear those Mechanix (?) brand gloves. They ones I saw the other day at Lowe's looked like ladies gloves used for light pruning.

The old hardware store had a rack of sun bleached top quality gloves and at a better price point at that.

 

[Citydude]

Too bad about Lowes. We don't have one here as we have a home depot and Menards. Menards has forced our home depot to clean up their isles and have more assistance available. Before menards opened 2 years ago, home depot was dirty and most of the time you couldn't find an associate for assistance. Competition is good in the home improvement big box stores.