trying to buy a screen door, lowes vs HD

[mpvue]

so we decided we needed a screen door (doors actually) on the french doors on the patio. went online to look at what is available, lowes does larson doors and HD does andersen/EMCO. both said 'you need to go to the store' basically.
so, the kid at lowes had NO IDEA about screen door kits for french doors; I'm thinking, don't you have a custom order screen there or something? he's like, 'you'd have to come back during the week, 'cause I can't call anyone now, they're closed'. whatever.
go over to home depot, older guy there who I've seen there for a long time, is helping a lady. he says if I don't mind waiting, he'll be right with me. he knew EXACTLY what I needed, pulled up the special order screen, showed me my options. so I ordered it. great service, great price. AND, my wife went back in w/ the receipt and a lowes $25 off coupon AND they took it! how cool is that?
some things I need to get at lowes, but overall, HD continues to get my business.

 

[ekpolk]

I wouldn't buy a bottle of cool water at Lowe's if I had just crawled out of the desert after two weeks with nothing to eat or drink. Go to Home Depot.

 

[saaber1]

Go for a collapsable "roll up" type screen door. Home depot has them on their website. They are 100% invisible when not in use. Only way to go IMO.

 

[mpvue]

Originally Posted By: saaber1
Go for a collapsable "roll up" type screen door. Home depot has them on their website. They are 100% invisible when not in use. Only way to go IMO.
I pretty much 'need' a convertable storm door, not just a screen. there isn't any overhang at the back of the house and the doors get pounded with rain and snow.

 

[Buffman]

I find sometimes it's a tie between service and products at Home Depot or Lowes. Lowes tends to give out more coupons though. I got new home doors, and I liked the doors I found at Lowes to be better. Granted these things were $2K french doors, but they certainly were better than 40 yr old hollow wood doors with copper weatherstripping

 

[labman]

We used to have both here. After a few years, I seldom was going to HD because Lowes seemed to have both a better selection and prices for about the same quality. Appearently many agreed with me because the HD is gone. Note, one of the GFCI outlets I bought in their going out of business sale went bad in less than a year.

I didn't buy much then. A lot of the stuff went at prices I could pay anytime at Lowes or Ace hardware when I needed it.

 

[XS650]

I think the biggest difference is the store management of the individual stores.

We have a poorly run HD that is often out of common things and is staffed by the clueless about 5 miles from my house and a well run, well stocked one about 10 miles away. Both under the same district management.

The nearby Lowes and the Lowes 10 miles away are both well run.

 

[opus1]

Originally Posted By: XS650
I think the biggest difference is the store management of the individual stores.

We have a poorly run HD that is often out of common things and is staffed by the clueless about 5 miles from my house and a well run, well stocked one about 10 miles away. Both under the same district management.

The nearby Lowes and the Lowes 10 miles away are both well run.

Ding-ding-ding-ding! We have a winner here!

I avoid HD whenever I can because the ones in my area have been poorly run. Staff was almost non-existent and when you did find someone, they had no clue and made it obvious that they didn't want to be there.

The Menard's stores in my area are mostly well-run. In fact, when I was looking for something to tide me over until I got a job in my skill-area, I went to Menard's specifically because I respected the store as a customer. Management at the store I worked at made sure the store was very well-run.

Lowe's, to be honest, I don't shop there much since I prefer Menard's. However, Mom bought new kitchen appliances there last week and as much as it pains me to say it, I have to admit that the store staff and delivery people were very impressive.

 

[Pop_Rivit]

Originally Posted By: opus1
Originally Posted By: XS650
I think the biggest difference is the store management of the individual stores.

We have a poorly run HD that is often out of common things and is staffed by the clueless about 5 miles from my house and a well run, well stocked one about 10 miles away. Both under the same district management.

The nearby Lowes and the Lowes 10 miles away are both well run.

Ding-ding-ding-ding! We have a winner here!

I avoid HD whenever I can because the ones in my area have been poorly run. Staff was almost non-existent and when you did find someone, they had no clue and made it obvious that they didn't want to be there.

The Menard's stores in my area are mostly well-run. In fact, when I was looking for something to tide me over until I got a job in my skill-area, I went to Menard's specifically because I respected the store as a customer. Management at the store I worked at made sure the store was very well-run.

Lowe's, to be honest, I don't shop there much since I prefer Menard's. However, Mom bought new kitchen appliances there last week and as much as it pains me to say it, I have to admit that the store staff and delivery people were very impressive.


My experience with Menards is just the opposite. The staff is surly and have a clear distain for helping customers. The Home Depot in the area is the same. The Menards in the area redesigned their checkouts-the cashiers actually have their back to the customer. Whoever thought that one up should be fired.

I pass by a Menards whenever I go to Lowes-far better service at Lowes.

 

[mpvue]

no Menard's here in PA. but, we have an excellent ACE affiliated hardware, and an excellent millwork/lumber shop as well. I've gotten some custom doors and Marvin windows at the millwork shop, but when it comes to more basic stuff (where 'cheap' is what's most important), like what I'm doing in the rear of the house, HD usually wins. I have at least 3 or 4 to choose from, and true, each one has a different 'feel'. fortunately, the closest one is very good; it's a smaller one, but has what I need.