Home Depot vs Lowe's - What's the Difference?

Lowes and Home Depot are two of the largest retailers serving professionals not only across the United States but in Canada and Mexico as well. It's an age-old debate, which store is better? Home Depot or Lowes, where should I shop?

In this episode of PTR Punchlist, the guys show off some new products, and then discuss the low-down on the differences in brands, departments, and shopping experience when it comes to Lowes vs Home Depot.

0:00 New Products
5:00 Home Depot vs Lowes

#Tools #HomeDepot #Lowes

[larrycroft]

The Lowes has by far the best customer service. Especially in my area. They load up my purchases in the lawn and garden department. I was surprised to see Home Depot has more employees. I can never find anyone in HD to help me in any department except the lumber. I travel extensively on business in the Southeast US & am always needing supplies for my mechanical construction jobs. Lowes is by far the best place for me. I have go get in and out & quick & Lowes does that better for me.

[larrycroft]

Y'all do. a good job with integrity with your reviews - that is one reason your viewers are growing. Your channel does a wide variety of tools / equipment for pros & DIY viewers. The engaging personality of the staff makes the reviews entertaining.

[jefferylorance]

As a former worker at Lowe’s 9.5 years as a FSA…
In the beginning upper mangers visit each store once a year..you could talk to them.
When the new CEO took over those newer upper Mangers made it a point NOT to talk to us..anymore..
Things when from top down only…
Past mangers wanted a ice machine for years and years…Lowes upper management ..No ..No, No.
Home Depot alway have a ice machine…contractors love this…!
Lowes is and always remind behind ..because the people who work directly with customers are ignore to suggestions and ideas..
I vote Homedepot!!!

[cpantherz]

When I had my own business, I used HD mostly. Now I use Lowe's more. However I am very close to multiple of each and go to whichever had the better deal for what I need.

[jackschnabel]

I got to Lowes because it's 20 minutes away and home depot is almost an hour away. I also use Kobolt tools because that's what was on sale years ago when I needed my first decent impact driver and we all know how easy it is to stick with one battery platform

[felixf]

100K is huge for a tool channel. Congratulations!

Interesting that you mention the vibe in the stores. Even though HD may have a better selection, I always go to Lowes first, because of its vibe. It's a friendly place to be. HD, not so much. In fact, the few times that I had a problem, it was at Home Depot. Like getting change for a hundred in all fives, asking for larger bills and then being told to go F myself. Or asking where a given fastener may be located; I guess it was too much for her to turn around and answer a question. I can go on.

[crawfb]

I've worked for both. In my experience, HD was a much less pleasant work environment, due to both corporate and local management, with much higher staff turnover. Former tradespeople who didn't stay long at either left because of lower pay, management, and the general hassles of retail. Both companies had their issues, and it can differ from store to store and region to region even within the same company. I am happy to now be retired and only experience either as an occasional customer. For customers, as your review suggests, there may be valid reasons to prefer one over the other, but those will vary from person to person as well as purchase to purchase.

[kickyourfaceandlaugh]

It’s hard to decide. I grew up in lowes basically. My mom would always take us in there for constant remodeling to our houses, so lowes is lowes is nostalgic for me. I worked at Home Depot, love it. Now I went back to framing houses so I only go to Home Depot for tape measures, Diablo saw blades, and dewalt or Milwaukee stuff. Lowes for dewalt saw blades, dixon pencils/crayons.

[jeffpriest]

I think it depends what brand you use. I personally use Milwaukee, Ryobi, Skil and Flex. So it would depend what I need. HD has a great Rental Section Flatbeds, Van's, heavy equipment, box truck, generators etc. I think HD is more PRO focused, but lowes is starting to keep up with its rival big brother. HD has a better internal logistics warehouses that supply them. Lowes has ex HD VPs Marvin Ellison, Bill Boltz, Joe McFarland etc so I'm thinking they may use some of there ideas from Depot to Lowes. For Me I think HD is a better stock buy, plus if you like TTi products. Whereas lowes is branching out more getting Flex, Wiha etc to make it more appealing to the consumers. Both have great deals Ryobi Days, Craftsman Days etc it would just depend what your looking for EGO products lowes, latest M18 products HD makita HD, flex lowes. Power Detect DW lowes, flexvolt dw hd.

[aldeureaux]

I like Lowe’s website. It even tells you what aisle it’s in. For lumber I like McCoy’s. Better lumber and staff are available and helpful.

[S_and_S_Farms]

I choose Lowes over Home Depot.

Just a side note: Lowes has the yellow clearance stickers as well.

[glenarseneau]

Hands down one of the best pro tool review channels out there, you guys do a great job 👍

[rtgray]

Good show guys! But you didn't mention Kobalt is Lowe's exclusively. I primarily use Kobalt XTR so, I find my self in Lowe's a tad more.

[westmanjoel]

I know they're more regional, but I have a Menards in my town that gets most of my business except for large $ tool purchases.

[Beals]

I live at a small town in the mountains And we only have a Lowe's here but I do appreciate Lowe's because they give you a military discount of 10% and have a military parking area👍👍👍

[ericnichols]

HOME Depot last Saturday very crowded Lowe's right after 1/3 has many people

[HungLikeScrat]

I'm surprised at Lowe's hiring more veterans, considering how they treated me while I was on active duty. I'd just bought a house and went to Lowe's to get new appliances on my lunch break. I asked about a military discount and was all but laughed out of the store, even by the manager I asked to speak to after the cashier treated me like crap. This was by Ft Benning, GA, and I was in uniform at the time. I left, went to Home Depot, told the cashier there what happened at Lowe's, and she called her manager over. Not only did I get a military discount, but also a discretionary discount from the manager. He said he'd sadly heard Lowe's treated active duty and veterans like crap regularly, which brought him more business, so he was happy to hook me up. I'll never shop Lowe's again, even if it means spending more money or waiting longer for something I need that Home Depot doesn't have.

[jimmyobando]

Lowes so much better staff helping costumers

[armadillerff]

Lowe's definitely has a better selection for "fit and finish" of your home; more options for things like appliances, fixtures, blinds, and accessories. I've also experienced where Lowe's was more willing to stack discounts and rebates on appliances than Home Depot was. We were buying all three of the main appliances as our house was a foreclosure and didn't have anything. Our Lowe's was willing to stack a promotional percentage off, military discount, AND a rebate. I think Lowe's aren't laid out as well as Home Depots are. Lowe's are also willing to go in to a much smaller population market than Home Depot and so you're more likely to find them in a smaller town/city than a Home Depot.

Home Depot is definitely the better place for building materials, especially if you're buying a large quantity; like studs, sheet rock etc. I also think their garden section is slightly better (at least at my local ones) also I know that Home Depot has an IRONCLAD return policy on all live goods of a year. So you can dig up your annuals, bring in your receipt, and get your money back/replacements. I witnessed a lady that had been doing this for years at my Home Depot. On the matter of expertise, at least when I worked there in the late 00's they had programs to hire master plumbers and electricians. I've also found that the majority of the older employees at Home Depot were in the trades at some point.

Ace Hardware is my go to place though for random weird pieces you need to fix something. It's in the name but especially hardware, specialty finishes or materials or shapes/sizes are way more abundant and easier to purchase at Ace over the other "big box" stores.

[charonobol]

The customer service experience ruined Home Depot for me. Luckily for me, my local Lowes is only 1 mile difference from Home Depot. Lowes is where I shop now.