I've been going to Home Depot a LOT over the past... 8 years now. I'm also a shareholder. It's pretty much been between three Home Depots. I would say, the first two Home Depots, I really like... they're organized, almost always have what I need, and I can get in and out really quick.
This most recent Home Depot, one located in Tampa, is a total dump. The people were nice, but the Home Depot looks like it was just recently used as a refugee camp. They have rows and rows of weird desks set up near the entrance which are very similar to the Self Check-Out kiosks. The ones furthest are actually just the Self-Check-Out kiosks, which are usually down. The ones in the middle appear to be personal work desks and it looks like they're cordoned off, but if you're in a rush, you would go over there not realizing and... I don't know what they were thinking. The others are for Customer Service... and I sat there for almost an hour while 3 people were being helped simultaneously, and not a one of them moved. One guy kept signing things on the pin-pad... another lady kept asking questions, and some other guy was on the phone while the lady was waiting. AN HOUR I waited. I got up there to do a return and exchange and was out within 1 minute. I was pretty furious by that point...
I dunno, very frustrated.
I've always liked Lowes better, but find myself going to Home Depot more often.
Home Depot is better for the contractor that needs materials.
Lowes is better for the consumer who wants to upgrade / renovate their home.
Since I do everything myself, I generally just want to go to Home Depot and get straight materials.
I go to Lowes when I want better finishing products.
This most recent Home Depot, one located in Tampa, is a total dump. The people were nice, but the Home Depot looks like it was just recently used as a refugee camp. They have rows and rows of weird desks set up near the entrance which are very similar to the Self Check-Out kiosks. The ones furthest are actually just the Self-Check-Out kiosks, which are usually down. The ones in the middle appear to be personal work desks and it looks like they're cordoned off, but if you're in a rush, you would go over there not realizing and... I don't know what they were thinking. The others are for Customer Service... and I sat there for almost an hour while 3 people were being helped simultaneously, and not a one of them moved. One guy kept signing things on the pin-pad... another lady kept asking questions, and some other guy was on the phone while the lady was waiting. AN HOUR I waited. I got up there to do a return and exchange and was out within 1 minute. I was pretty furious by that point...
I dunno, very frustrated.
I've always liked Lowes better, but find myself going to Home Depot more often.
Home Depot is better for the contractor that needs materials.
Lowes is better for the consumer who wants to upgrade / renovate their home.
Since I do everything myself, I generally just want to go to Home Depot and get straight materials.
I go to Lowes when I want better finishing products.