by Ryan Reid
Member since:
October 5, 2008

Random question for today! Home improvement stores

January 13, 2013 11:08 AM UTC
views: 0 | 11 people recommend this | comments: 35

If you own a home, or have ever done any sort of home related project, you have had to go to the hardware store.I spend a lot of my time in these places. buying things for work, home, and hobbies. So i have started to develop a preference for certain ones.

For a while I always liked Home Depot. But the more i shop at Lowes, the more i wonder why i go to home depot at all...almost every material i have priced out is cheaper at lowes, and they commonly have a better selection. However i still tend to tool shop at home depot. And then if i just need something small, i will head to the local hardware store in place of a big box store. But when you're buying a bunch of stuff its hard to justify all the extra money...

So overall i think I will have to say my choice is Lowes for my home improvement needs. Though i still shop around for most everything.


Where do you shop for your project needs?

Comments: 35

Beth J. Jan 13, 2013, 11:10am UTC
Thank you for sharing on Helping Out One Another
Amanda P. Jan 13, 2013, 11:17am UTC
Honestly I don't think we care either way. If it is something small we too will go to the small village hardware store.. and get bigger purchases at Home Depot or Lowe's. I think hubby prefers Home Depot just because he's more used to it. He knows the products and brands and knows how well they work. Lowe's doesn't carry the same brands. One time we were at Lowe's and I wanted to buy some spackle and he said to wait until we went to Home Depot because he knows their brands of spackle and knows how well they work, but couldn't guarantee Lowe's brands would work the same.
Ryan Reid Jan 13, 2013, 11:58am UTC
I still go to home depot out of habit sometimes. but half the time end up going to lowes lol. But i know my way around HD better so if i just need a couple things i will probably go there still.
Karen Irene B. Jan 13, 2013, 11:32am UTC
Give me Lowe's! I find everything I want there. Hubby shops tools and supplies while I shop plants and garden supplies. Got my blender there at a great price. We've bought 10 ft lengths of pvc and carried it home in our sedan, (has a pass though). You should have seen the stares as my husband started feeding it into the truck. Anyway, we shop Lowes. Plus our grandson's half brother works there.
Ryan Reid Jan 13, 2013, 11:58am UTC
I once saw a convertible carrying a sheet of drywall on its windshield. They were holding it down with their arms....yeah...
Ms Lee P. Jan 13, 2013, 11:32am UTC
LOL, I like you article. Believe it or not I can spend a lot of time in Lowe's and Home Depot just looking ..... to me it's a fascinating place (I'm a very amateur do-it-yourselfer) and if I need a board they will cut it for me to my measurement specs (yeah, they do). I used to shop Lowe's almost exclusively but since I've moved, Home Depot is the closest to me and Lowe's is a long drive so I shop Home Depot. In fact I was in there the other day buying the long-life fluorescent light bulbs .... Wal Mart doesn't carry the size I need. I always come out with more items than I go in for. I also bought a new tape measure, I think it's called a "Fat Max" ..... LOL. In the springtime I love their garden center for plants and related accessories.
Ryan Reid Jan 13, 2013, 11:56am UTC
Katie and I go and browse around probably once a week or so. Just getting ideas on what to do next. Most of the stuff never happens but hey. Its fun.
William M. Jan 13, 2013, 11:36am UTC
I prefer Lowe's.
Adelaide M. Jan 13, 2013, 12:03pm UTC
I shop at Lowes. Not only is it the closest store to me (I don't even have to go out onto the main street it's so close, just cut through a parking lot and I'm there). My fiance works for a company that sells electrical stuff (like faceplates, breakers, etc) to Lowes so we tend to prefer going there.
Tim T. Jan 13, 2013, 12:05pm UTC
When we have the need for a home improvement store, we prefer Lowe's by far! In our opinion, Lowes' quality and quantity of selection and service is far superior to Home Depot.
John S. (arizona) Jan 13, 2013, 12:25pm UTC
I prefer Lowe's myself, but will go to Home Depot too occasionally... like when I get a card from here for the place, LOL! For small or quick shopping I try to use the close-by Ace Hardware store when I can to help keep the "little guys" (private franchise owners) in business. The Ace store near me has been very helpful at times as well.
Adelaide M. Jan 13, 2013, 12:33pm UTC
Thanks for posting to Point Taken. Have a great day!
Kenneth B. Jan 13, 2013, 12:48pm UTC
Back in '05 we were looking for something to lay our beloved husky Sasha to rest. after checking out a few places we were at Lowe's in Lake In The Hills, IL. One of the employees asked if he could help. After I explained what we wanted, he got yhr needed dimensions and told us to come back at 6pm at which time they had built a coffin for us and only charged for the materials. So, even though it is a long drive passing Home Depot, Menards, and some others for the next few years we gave them first crack at our business. Having a Mom&Pop hardware a block from home I of course shop there first if they have what I need. They went out of business a couple years ago, so when it reopened I support them to avoid a repeat.
Betty S. Jan 13, 2013, 1:34pm UTC
I use Lowes. We have no home depot nearby.
Elizabeth S. Jan 13, 2013, 2:21pm UTC
Our Home Depot and Lowe's are across the street from each other. If I need to ask questions, I go to Lowe's. There tends to be no employees to be seen at Home Depot.
dee b. Jan 13, 2013, 2:54pm UTC
Neither store is nearby. Have to go to the city. I find the HD store's prices are cheaper. Although in the spring with plants I generally prefer Lowes, as they have a bigger selection with better quality plants. Like you we are in these stores quite a bit. Always some project going on. In the spring months we are in them quite often. Here on Gather before the point system came to a near crawl, I always cashed out for a HD gift card. It was such a help.
Karen E. Jan 13, 2013, 4:03pm UTC
I like Lowes...
Debbie W. Jan 13, 2013, 4:04pm UTC
I use HD because I had been getting gift cards from there. I wish there was a good independent hardware store near me, but the one that had been in town for over 50 years finally went out of business a few years ago.
Ryan Reid Jan 13, 2013, 6:50pm UTC
We have two small ones. one is right across the street from me. I have walked up there a couple times for little things. while they are helpful and have those hard to find items...they cost almost twice as much on some of the more run of the mill things...its hard to justify sometimes...
Carrie Marie P. Jan 13, 2013, 6:37pm UTC
We have found Home Depot is best for building projects and Lowes is best for little things like redecorating, appliances, painting, light fixtures b/c they have a larger selection.
Susan G. Jan 13, 2013, 9:15pm UTC
I use my local Ace Hardware shop. The people who work there are exceptionally helpful, know what they are talking about, and sell me only what I need for what I am doing. The big box stores have lots and lots of stuff but unless you already know what you are doing, they aren't very helpful even if you can find someone to wait on you. I may pay a bit more but it is so worth it.
Leah Christensen Jan 13, 2013, 9:50pm UTC
If I had the need for such a thing, I'd shop at Home Hardware, or Canadian Tire.
Nancy S. Jan 13, 2013, 10:22pm UTC
I shop at Lowe's and Menards. The nearest Home Depot is quite a bit farther away. I did save up over $600 in Home Depot cards and my son made the trip to get the shingles when we put the new roof on.
Ryan Reid Jan 14, 2013, 11:05am UTC
I wish i had a Menards close by...the closest one is 40 miles away.
Pamela Marks Jan 13, 2013, 11:34pm UTC
we shop lowes most of the time, you do notice that they are near walmart most of the time don't you with the same colors, wonder if somehow they are owned by the same company
Mooch -. Jan 14, 2013, 10:33am UTC
I think most of the time its due to zoning of an area, as you see a lot of stores like that lumped together, We have a Target Walmart, BJ, Lowes, and PetSmart all in the same area, with a movie theater there too......I don't think its as much as who owns the company as it is the zoning for the land area....
Ryan Reid Jan 14, 2013, 11:07am UTC
actually I had noticed that years ago Pamela. they are usually in the same plaza as each other and home depot will be off on its own. I think its just coincidence though. And like mooch said, they tend to keep retail stores of this size close together as well. and a shared parking lot means less money for road connections.
Pamela Marks Jan 14, 2013, 9:04pm UTC
that makes sense too
Bernard C. Jan 14, 2013, 5:01am UTC
The equivalent of the two are here also and I too prefer to shop at Lowes - the selection may be a little different the prices certainly show a difference too and that is the all important when doing such jobs..not that cheap is best, but tools that are used only once need not cost the earth. Good luck with your plans and projects.
Mooch -. Jan 14, 2013, 10:31am UTC
Hate going to home improvement stores with a passion, hate tool shopping even more. Go when I have to but its along the lines of shopping in general, in and out.....as quick as possible
Ryan Reid Jan 14, 2013, 11:08am UTC
These places are my toy stores so i make an exception. usually i hate to shop as well.
Len Maxwell Jan 14, 2013, 4:25pm UTC
The small, local hardware stores with which I grew up are now gone. My shopping, now, is based on location. Home Depot is only about five miles away and the closest Lowe's is about twelve miles.

Hmm, I don't drive and have to walk so you can figure out where I shop the most.
Sharla H. Jan 16, 2013, 9:37am UTC
I prefer Lowes
rmsjzaesargent m. Jan 18, 2013, 1:04am UTC
home depot is closer to my house than lowes
Katie R. Jan 20, 2013, 2:02pm UTC
Home Depot and Lowes are right across the street from each other here ... I usually go in Lowes because its right beside Walmart

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