Lowe's Tools

[kmealy]

Just wanted to make you all aware of this.

 

I needed a new router bit for a current project.   It's a bit unusual, so before heading out, I checked online to see which of the usual suspects might have it and compare costs.   I decided on a Bosch bit from Lowe's, primarily because they were offering 10% off sale Easter weekend, but also easier to get to one.

 

So I'm headed out across town Friday and stopped at one on the way.   Well, they had a bunch of Bosch ones, but apparently, not that particular one.   The BAG (blue apron guy) was particularly unhelpful, not even knowing what a beading bit was.    Many were on hooks, but there were about 8 just laying on the shelf.   After a few frustrating minutes, left and continued on for my appointment.   On the way home, passed one more,  stopped at a second Lowe's that did not carry Bosch bits at all, but a completely different brand. And they, too did not have the bit profile I wanted.

 

Got home and checked online again.   The first store was supposed to have two in stock.  But there was not a hook for them, so ???  But upon further investigation only a few stores, none nearby, carried them.

 

Over the weekend, the furniture bank was trying to order a Bosch Router from Amazon.   Order got cancelled, out of stock.   So checked again.   Lowe's carries them, but again, only in certain stores.   Of the 15 or so stores listed as "nearby" (i.e., 40 mile radius), only about  4 of them stocked the item, none convenient.  But all could get them shipped to store in 3-7 days or (because of $ amount) free ship to home.

 

Morale of story:  Not all Lowe's stores are the same.   Check before you drive to one.  Just because you see it online does not mean you're going to find it in your selected store -- drill down and look for availability.

 

Part of the problem is my stupid internet provider.   If a web site tries to determine my location from my IP address (?) it puts me anywhere from West Virginia across all of southern Ohio.   Some places remember your "favorite store,"   Lowe's does not.

 

Made a side trip to HD Saturday.   They had it.

End of rant

Edited April 2, 2018 by kmealy

[lew]

Thanks for the information. Where I live, Lowes is the only BORG. It is frustrating. There is a Home Depot 25 miles away close but not convenient.

 

I was watching PBS on Saturday and noticed that the Woodwright Shop is sponsored by the Furniture Bank Of Central Ohio. Is that where you volunteer? 

[steven newman]

Tried to find a 1/2" dovetail bit......NOT a set of useless bits that happen to have that bit with them...gave up on Lowes...even tried H-F....finally walked in to a local Menard's....found a few hanging on a hook...Orange CMT bits.    I even bypassed the Vermont American bits beside them.   I haven't looked  at a Sears store for what they sell....yes, we still have two Sears stores near here.....

 

It would seem that Menard's will get my business ( 11% rebates !) for more than just lumber.

[Gene Howe]

We're so far from either, I just order online. Saves gas and time. My foresight and memory have deserted me. So, even if we need to go to either store for something else, I'll not remember what else I needed. Amazon is my friend.

[Artie]

7 minutes ago, Gene Howe said:

We're so far from either, I just order online. Saves gas and time. My foresight and memory have deserted me. So, even if we need to go to either store for something else, I'll not remember what else I needed. Amazon is my friend.

I kinda have the opposite problem, I get there and remember lots of things I needed, er, wanted, and walk out with more than I intended to. I am getting better about it in my older years. 

[Gene Howe]

Lowes and HD, not so much. But, don't turn me loose in Woodcraft or Rockler.

Luckily, either of those stores are over 3 hrs away.

[Chips N Dust]

I have found that even when you check "your store" inventory at Lowe's, they still may not have it. I have had that happen to me once, the website said there we 6 at the Medford store, I go there and they had none. The BAG said that happens a lot.

 

Just Remember - LOWES = Less Of What Eagle Sold

[p_toad]

23 minutes ago, Chips N Dust said:

LOWES = Less Of What Eagle Sold

"The Lowe's Companies, a home-improvement store chain, will purchase Eagle Hardware and Garden Inc. in a $1 billion stock swap. Lowe's, the nation's second-largest do-it-yourself warehouse chain behind Home Depot, said late on Sunday that buying the 32-store chain in nine Western states would help it realize its expansion plans."    No wonder i never heard of them.   I've had similar experiences here with Lowes and HD where the online says an item is in stock and you get to the store and they don't have it, the help (less) person (if available) has no idea and you end up going to a different store miles away.

[Fred W. Hargis Jr]

It gets worse with Lowes if your local store is one of the newer "small format" stores. That's what we wound up with a few years back when they built in my small town, and I quickly learned that "small format" means they dropped a lot of stuff from the floor to make it small. Interestingly enough, they defended the small store format by saying "these stores are still larger than most of the HD stores". But speaking of store size, all the Menards I have near me are the latest mega stores (200K+ square feet) and I had only started to figure out all they carry, and where it's located. These Menards were all cookie cutter-ed, every one had items in the same spot in the floor plan, so I was getting in and out fairly quickly. However, a few months ago 2 of them started major renovations....I mean they added more footage to the mezzanine (all these stores had a mezzanine with stuff stored and displayed there) and bricked in doors and made major moves of departments. So now if I go into those stores it's back to hunting a lot for what I need, or asking Skippy Stockboy where it's at (which actually isn't a traumatic experience in Menards).

[HandyDan]

Lowes is closest to me but Home Depot, which is a half mile further, has better inventory.

[Grandpadave52]

Seldom in a Lowes anymore...Our county seat (14 miles) has what I'd call medium size HD. I use it for one-offs and something I need quick if I can't buy it at Big R. If I can wait I buy from Menards. I can be in/out of Menards headed home versus time wasted trying to find something at the other two. The last time at Lowes I bought a Kwik-Set Exterior knob set since in they have always been able to re-key. An hour & 45 minutes later and four BAG's I was able to leave.

 

I tried to buy 1/8" kerf, flat ground, 10" last summer...none of them carried that in store. Two Menards, Lowes and a HD are all 45 minutes away in Lafayette. Another Menards East about 45 minutes. Next closest Lowes is ~50 min East. Also one 45+ minutes West but that's in IL...more expensive factoring in taxes.  Rockler and Woodcraft are both about 1:15 +/- away on the East side of Indy.

 

Menards on-line inventory has been right on every time I've used it. Local HD about 1/3 of the time.

[Al B]

I have a Lowes and a HD almost across the street from each other about 1 mile from here. Each seems to have it's advantages with certain items. That said, when I need a router bit I go to a local hardware store about 2 miles from home. It is an industrial supply hardware store, so they generally have a better inventory of router bits than the big box stores, and items like brass screws, small  SS, nuts & bolts etc, and they can always direct me right to the item I want.

Clerks at HD do seem to know more about the products in their departments than at Lowes and they generally can direct you to the right lane for items you are looking for.

[kmealy]

23 hours ago, It Was Al B said:

I have a Lowes and a HD almost across the street from each other about 1 mile from here. Each seems to have it's advantages with certain items. That said, when I need a router bit I go to a local hardware store about 2 miles from home. It is an industrial supply hardware store, so they generally have a better inventory of router bits than the big box stores, and items like brass screws, small  SS, nuts & bolts etc, and they can always direct me right to the item I want.

Clerks at HD do seem to know more about the products in their departments than at Lowes and they generally can direct you to the right lane for items you are looking for.

I find this varies over time.  15 years ago, I was convinced you could walk into a HD with an AK47 and never hit anyone with an orange apron.  I preferred Lowe's.   Then the CEO of HD got canned, Menards opened 4 or 5 local stores, and HD improved dramatically, and Lowe's seemed to suffer.  When Menards first opened about 4 years ago, if you stopped somewhere, there would be someone there asking if they could help.   A few months ago, I was trying to find some Kreg screws in the hardware department.

"Do you have Kreg screws?"

Puzzled look.

"Pocket hole screws?"

"Something for drilling screw holes?"

"No, the screws go into a hole drilled at an angle to hold pieces together."

Another dumb look, "Hey, Charlie, do we have hole screws"

Second dumb look.  "Whole screws?"

"No."

Asked a third person

A third dumb look.   Everyone then wandered off.

I found a whole bay of the Kreg products two aisles over.    These were all people who "worked" in the 8 aisle hardware department.

 

A few months back I was trying to find a bag of QuickCrete and not sure where to find it.   The HD guy not only walked me over to exactly where it was, but then loaded it on my cart.

[Al B]

I guess Menards hasn't made it to the East coast yet . 

I needed a pin to attach my utility trailer to my JD lawn tractor today. Went to HD, Lowes and even went to a local Simplicity tractor supply store and wasn't able to get one. I Finally smartened up and went to the local Industrial supply hardware store. Found all sizes and located exactly what I needed. The pin with the locking key attached to a chain so that the key never gets separated from the pin.

[Grandpadave52]

32 minutes ago, It Was Al B said:

went to the local Industrial supply hardware store.

Not sure if you have Farm Supply Stores like Tractor Supply or Rural King in your area or not Al. They're always good outlets for items like you needed too.

 

I think you have a True Value Hardware close by too if I recall. Depending on the store most carry hitch pins & lynch pins. Another if you have them in your area are Ace Hardware's. Our area Ace's carry a pretty broad line of L&G items including selling equipment. Anyways maybe future options.

 

Glad you found what you needed anyway.

[Al B]

Dave , We do have both Ace Hardware and True Values stores in the area, but they are a bit further away from me. Thanks for the tip .I could have gone to the JD dealer but that's further away.

[schnewj]

There's an old saying, "...I know just enough to be dangerous"! The BORGs are like that. They never have all of a component system (example; vinyl gutter systems) in stock, can't/won't order parts and pieces, or have the wrong color to complete the project. Then they stop carrying the item and replacement parts are unobtainable. Good luck with that lifetime warranty! I find that selection, quality, and availability are non-existent.

 

Most people don't know that the BORGs don't control some of their inventory. The fasteners, as an example, for HD and Lowe's is an independent contractor that restocks and decides what is to be stocked. Forget specialty items like hitch pins, there just isn't enough of a market to stock them. I find, that, my first stop for odd ball stuff is the local Ace hardware, failing that my local Tractor Supply store, or for really specialized things the area industrial suppliers, like Fastenal.

 

I'm fortunate, that, although aggravating trying to find a particular item sometimes, I have such sources close by to me. I feel for some of you folks that are in more rural areas with nothing nearby. My worst aggravation is that I have no real plumbing, electrical, lumber, et. al. suppliers in the area. Sometimes you just have to settle for the junk that the BORGs carry.

 

I hear you folks "up North" brag on Menards...well, I'm jealous. If they are as good as you say, I would really like to see them put HD and Lowes out of business here.

 

 

[Gene Howe]

6 minutes ago, schnewj said:

I hear you folks "up North" brag on Menards...well, I'm jealous. If they are as good as you say, I would really like to see them put HD and Lowes out of business here.

In trips to the midwest, I've had a few occasions to visit a Menards and Rural King. I too, am very jealous. True enough, TS and Ace carries a lot of often needed items but not in the variety of Menards. Nor, do either sell plywood or lumber in any quantity. Menards would kill HD, out here.

[Fred W. Hargis Jr]

Having Menards open up really introduced to me things I didn't know existed (like 1/4" drywall) and the joy of actually being able to find some things (not all things) I'm usually looking for. Unless I'm in a hurry, they will be my go-to place. The Lowes is only 5 miles (all 3 of my Menards are a little over 20 miles) but I can be more assured of finding what I want at Menards. HD left our area when they went through their meltdown. I have one, but it's 35 miles, seldom get there.

[Al B]

Fred, you can get 1/4" drywall at Lowes, at least in this area.