LumberJocks Woodworking Forum banner

My rant about the Lowes box store

4K views 51 replies 33 participants last post by  pottz 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Well I decided that it is time to make my small shop the best space I possibly can. I added a 100 amp service and plenty of outlets to get me off the old drop cord across the yard. Next is to fill the open studs with insulation. I plan to cover that with 1/2" plywood and then add 3/4" plywood cleats every 6" from top to about 18" off the floor. Due to limited shop space i can only do one and 1/2 walls at a time. I have to move stuff so I can work and then must create 2x the storage capability to clear the next 4' x 8' space for the upgrade.
I get the following onto my lumber cart:
(2) rolls of insulation
(4) 1/2" 4' X 8' sheets for the wall panels
(2) 3/4" 4' X 8' sheets to make french cleats
(5) studs to fill in gaps at corner etc.

I grunt all of these into my cart by myself. I then roll around to the panel saw so I can save time cutting panels to 88" and the heavy 3/4' sheets into 2' X 4' pieces. This will also save me from killing myself loading and unloading the truck at both ends. Well I get to the saw and it has a well made sign "Out Of Order" This is the second time they have done this. I know there is very little that can go wrong with a panel saw. This is the sign they use when they are understaffed and just don't want to deal with the saw or don't have a qualified person on the floor. So here I sit with a sore back and to hours wasted unloading, breaking down sheet goods. Henceforth I will by going to Home Depot for plywood from no on and will alway go to the panel saw first to check the status before loading the cart. Next time the saw can't be run it is they that will unload the cart too.
 
See less See more
#4 ·
I understand where you are coming from, I have had similar experiences. That said, I have given up on buying plywood from either HD or Lowes. Over the years the quality of their plywood has diminished…voids and delamination. I pay more money, and have to travel a littler farther, but I have been buying from quality lumber suppliers.
 
#5 · (Edited by Moderator)
A few years ago I went to lowes to get hose for a pond. When I ask for twenty five feet the employee look at it grab a tape measure put it down and said I will be back. He never came back my only assumption was he couldn't measure. I pulled out what l thought was at least 25' ( a strong 25') took it to checkout and was ask where my slip was. I told them my experience and they just checked me out without measuring it. I got home measured it and was of 18" to the good. I thought that was good for estimating it. Needless to say they should at least make sure the employee should be able to measure.
 
#8 ·
On a post near the Lowes panel saw…there is a box with a nice large RED button. press that, and keep pressing it, someone WILL show up…most times, the "operator" is working either in the back room, or all the way down in Plumbing….covering other people's breaks. They will show up, and remove that "Out of Order" sign, make your cuts….then, when you leave the area, sign goes back up, and they will go back to where they were..
 
#12 ·
Big box stores seem to have dull blades in their saws. I only use them if I know I will recut the edges. Even then they store wood on racks that cause waves in the plywood.

I recently bought several sheets of oak plywood from Owl Hardwood in Chicago. I had sketches of the cuts I needed. All were done accurately with perfect edges. High quality oak plywood, great cuts, friendly service and reasonable prices. They have tremendous stock of domestic and exotic wood and plywood.
 
#14 ·
Needless to say they should at least make sure the employee should be able to measure.

- Woodmaster1
I went to an auto parts store for 3/8" rubber hose I would use for oil lines on a Harley I was building.

I asked for 15 feet. He came back with 5 pieces, each 3 feet long. I went somewhere else.
 
#15 ·
Needless to say they should at least make sure the employee should be able to measure.

- Woodmaster1

Hey, at least they know how to divide to get the correct lengths. That's something!

I went to an auto parts store for 3/8" rubber hose I would use for oil lines on a Harley I was building.

I asked for 15 feet. He came back with 5 pieces, each 3 feet long. I went somewhere else.

- hairy
 
#16 ·
Needless to say they should at least make sure the employee should be able to measure.

- Woodmaster1

I had an employee that would get his kicks asking for a 6/16ths drill bit. After the clerk would scan the display for it he would grab a 3/8ths bit and say "I think I can make this work".

I went to an auto parts store for 3/8" rubber hose I would use for oil lines on a Harley I was building.

I asked for 15 feet. He came back with 5 pieces, each 3 feet long. I went somewhere else.

- hairy
 
#17 ·
I guess I wasn't paying attention and buried my comment in the middle of quoted text.

I had an employee that would get his kicks asking for a 6/16ths drill bit. After the clerk would scan the display for it he would grab a 3/8ths bit and say "I think I can make this work".

I would love to patronize my local lumber yard for sheet goods but I often don't start a project until Saturday or Sunday so my options are limited. I think the big box stores get a lot of rejected lots of goods so they can meet their margin goals. I can't tell you how many times I have bought meal back boxes that have the screws not threaded correctly or had a bad die cut the threads. I always have to move several sheets off the top to get to something that doesn't look like it was left out in the rain with a truck parked on it.
 
#18 ·
If I was getting a bunch of sheet goods I knew I needed cut down to size I would have checked first to see if someone was available to do the cutting it before loading it on a cart. I never take things for granted at the big box stores. I've needed concrete block loaded before but they (HD) didn't have a certified forklift operator on duty at the time, so I had to go to Lowe's.
 
#20 ·
Sometimes my response to lack of customer service has been to leave everything on the cart and just leave.

That said, I do think that cutting the wood for you is a courtesy service and generally should not be expected.

Cutting hose, wire or cable off a roll when it's priced by the foot is not, and should be expected.

Just my take.

I prefer Lowes over Home Depot because they don't have self-checkout at Lowes.

-Paul
 
#21 ·
After allowing myself to fall for the cut it in the store bit, I realized they don't have the same vested interest in my projects as I do. So, any cuts most of the saw operators do are so rough, not measured accurately, etc.

That was why, when I needed a new circular saw, I purchased one of the new Dewalt cordless ones. When I am going to the store and think I need ot cut something down, the saw goes with me.

I don't trust hardware store employees to cut anything for me, other than chain, rope or, sometimes, pieces of glass. (and even then, I tend to watch them like hawks).
 
#22 ·
After allowing myself to fall for the cut it in the store bit, I realized they don t have the same vested interest in my projects as I do. So, any cuts most of the saw operators do are so rough, not measured accurately, etc.

That was why, when I needed a new circular saw, I purchased one of the new Dewalt cordless ones. When I am going to the store and think I need ot cut something down, the saw goes with me.

I don t trust hardware store employees to cut anything for me, other than chain, rope or, sometimes, pieces of glass. (and even then, I tend to watch them like hawks).

- Axis39
When it comes to sheet goods, always plan on cutting clean, square edges. It doesn't matter if it's the factory edge or one that was cut on a big box store panel saw with a dull blade. Never trust factory edges to be square.

One of my distributors doesn't cut sheet goods at all. When I'm buying 5×5 ply, which won't fit in my SUV, I take my cordless saw and cut it there. Even then, I don't get within an inch of my final dimension so I have plenty of material to put clean edges on back at the shop.
 
#23 ·
Sometimes my response to lack of customer service has been to leave everything on the cart and just leave.

That said, I do think that cutting the wood for you is a courtesy service and generally should not be expected.

Cutting hose, wire or cable off a roll when it s priced by the foot is not, and should be expected.

Just my take.

I prefer Lowes over Home Depot because they don t have self-checkout at Lowes.

-Paul

- Ocelot
it's comin paul the ones near me have had it for a while but it's optional and i opt to not use it.
 
#25 ·
Why would anyone who cares about their wood buy plywood at big box stores? I learned that lesson the hard way one time and that s all it took. Their plywood is utter trash.

- jonah
Another generalization…but you need to know what you are buying. I have bought Aruaco Ply at Menards and it is excellent plywood. You need to know what you are buying and the price to make go choices.
 
#26 ·
Why would anyone who cares about their wood buy plywood at big box stores? I learned that lesson the hard way one time and that s all it took. Their plywood is utter trash.

- jonah
Because it's the same brand and grade plywood that the private lumber yard sells for a higher price. I don't believe Georgia Pacific makes plywood specifically for Lowe's or HD, do they?
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top