DC - Lowes or Home Depot? (Scranton, Wilkes-Barre: hardwood floors, sale, transfer)

[poconosmama]

Anyone have a preference? I've found Lowe's to have better prices on some things, yet I keep going back to the Depot. This week we had hardwood floors installed throughout our first floor so now the hunt is on for some area rugs, and I'm not sure where to start my looking.

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by poconosmama

Anyone have a preference? I've found Lowe's to have better prices on some things, yet I keep going back to the Depot. This week we had hardwood floors installed throughout our first floor so now the hunt is on for some area rugs, and I'm not sure where to start my looking.

It's truly an enigma to me. When I worked for several years at the Lowe's in Wilkes-Barre Township I'd often help customers from the Scranton Area who said they'd drive all the way down to our store because they hated the Dickson City Lowe's customer service (or lackthereof) but liked the selection that our company offered better than "the orange guys." From what I've gathered the Wilkes-Barre Home Depot stinks and the Dickson City Home Depot is great. The Wilkes-Barre Township Lowe's is pretty good and the Dickson City Lowe's stinks.

Happy New Year!!

[karen_s]

For rugs, my preference would be Craft Rug Mills, with locations in Easton and Tannersville. I have purchased many rugs there over the years, both wall-to-wall and area rugs. Absolutely exceptional service and competitive prices.

http://craftrugmills.biz/storelocations.asp

As far as lumber/home improvement projects, I go to smaller lumber yards such as Saylorsburg Lumber or Hecktown Building Supply down in the Lehigh Valley. The staff at those places are so much more knowledgeable and it is worth it to me.

For plumbing, I use East Lawn Supply in Nazareth, PA. I buy lots and lots of home improvement items each year, as I live in a 100+-yr-old home.

The last time I was at Lowe's, I wanted new shades for the baby's room. My friend who was with me had to tell the staff how to cut the shades using the machine - they simply did not know how.

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by karen_s

The last time I was at Lowe's, I wanted new shades for the baby's room. My friend who was with me had to tell the staff how to cut the shades using the machine - they simply did not know how.

To be fair though these big-box stores are often times understaffed and ask far too much of the employees who remain. For example, I worked in electrical alone at times and was asked to cut blinds, make keys, cut pipes, cut conduit (which was technically my department but nevertheless time-consuming when you're alone), mix paint, cut flooring tile, etc. because customers couldn't find associates in those aforementioned areas. The best times were when I would be asked to help load something outside by one manager and then come inside to be berated by another manager for not being in my department. The stress involved really wasn't worth it for $9/hr.

[poconosmama]

See, that's the difference between Home Depot/Lowes here as to where we used to live in NY. Out in NY they only employed people in the department if it was their life specialty. So usually you'd get a retired plumber/painter/handyman helping you rather than just a regular worker. I dont like that sometimes when you go and ask questions you dont get the answers you should!
I guess I'll do some online shopping first.
Happy New Year

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by poconosmama

See, that's the difference between Home Depot/Lowes here as to where we used to live in NY. Out in NY they only employed people in the department if it was their life specialty. So usually you'd get a retired plumber/painter/handyman helping you rather than just a regular worker. I dont like that sometimes when you go and ask questions you dont get the answers you should!
I guess I'll do some online shopping first.
Happy New Year

Happy New Year to you as well. You're absolutely right. A lot of our customers treated us as if we acutally WERE professional trade specialists in those fields, when in reality maybe 10% of my store's workforce represented that demographic with the other 90% (including myself) just being more or less "space fillers." In my department there was only one guy with any actual electrical experience, and when he wasn't around and we got a very technical installation/wiring question it was very stressful. I actually wanted to stay working as a loader, where I was happily employed for nearly two years. I received the employee of the month award in the position (one of only three employees to earn that title during that brief program) and had dozens of customers telling me that my cheerfulness and happiness alone is what brightened an otherwise dreary experience inside. Instead they shoved me into electrical with only a few days' notice---not nearly enough time to become trained. I ended up having countless customers leaving in frustration because I had to tell them "I don't know" all the time. It was a very unpleasant experience, and I wouldn't have quit if they just left me where I was happy. Many others quit due to these unwanted transfers as well.

I was appalled that people thought we actually WERE electricians. I don't know about you, but if I were able to choose between working as a licensed electrical contractor making $30-$40/hr. or a retail associate making $10/hr., which one do you think I'd pick? It is foolish to assume that people working in these home improvement stores ARE tradespeople when they could easily make oodles more money in their specific fields of study outside of retail. I routinely had people say "Oh look. There's the electrician," and all I could do was grimace as they began to ask me about zoning codes in their municipalities and how to splice this into that and whatnot without overloading their electrical systems---all of which should be addressed by a licensed professional, not a dorky 20-year-old college student.

[karen_s]

Originally Posted by SWB

To be fair though these big-box stores are often times understaffed and ask far too much of the employees who remain. For example, I worked in electrical alone at times and was asked to cut blinds, make keys, cut pipes, cut conduit (which was technically my department but nevertheless time-consuming when you're alone), mix paint, cut flooring tile, etc. because customers couldn't find associates in those aforementioned areas. The best times were when I would be asked to help load something outside by one manager and then come inside to be berated by another manager for not being in my department. The stress involved really wasn't worth it for $9/hr.

I realize that Lowe's/Home Depot can't hire/maintain their staffing at those wages. I am also guessing that you are a very helpful employee who goes beyond the call of duty

This is why I do enjoy many of the smaller local stores because they usually have staff who are seasoned and experienced and can do the lion's share of the paint mixing, tile cutting, window measuring, etc. The staff at our local Lowe's/Home Depot are always courteous but just not properly trained IMO.

[Chefkey]

I like Lowe's better because it just seems easier to find stuff. The prices seem a little better and their products seem tailored more for the common person. Home Depot seems more for the independent contractor.

[irishLASSIE333]

Not to diss Lowe's or Home Depot, but I happen to think that Pottery Barn has an exceptional selection of beautiful, high-quality rugs.
I love that store in general, so maybe I am biased. I would one day love to own a home that I can outfit with hand-hewn furniture made by artisans (call it a pipe dream, hehe), and of all the home stores, I think PB's items actually look very much like they were designed and built by real craftspeople.
I know their prices are off the wall, but they have great sales, I will give them that. Right now their winter sale is going on; here's a link to the rugs on sale:
http://www.potterybarn.com/shop/sal/...x.cfm?page=all
What I appreciate is the selection more than anything; they have ornate Persian rugs, deep Aubusson-style carpets which feel amazing underfoot, minimalistic and durable jute rugs, botanical-inspired prints...you get the picture, and I will stop my ranting now.

Good luck, and congrats about your new floors! Hardwood is the way to go.

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by irishLASSIE333

Not to diss Lowe's or Home Depot, but I happen to think that Pottery Barn has an exceptional selection of beautiful, high-quality rugs.
I love that store in general, so maybe I am biased. I would one day love to own a home that I can outfit with hand-hewn furniture made by artisans (call it a pipe dream, hehe), and of all the home stores, I think PB's items actually look very much like they were designed and built by real craftspeople.
I know their prices are off the wall, but they have great sales, I will give them that. Right now their winter sale is going on; here's a link to the rugs on sale:
http://www.potterybarn.com/shop/sal/...x.cfm?page=all
What I appreciate is the selection more than anything; they have ornate Persian rugs, deep Aubusson-style carpets which feel amazing underfoot, minimalistic and durable jute rugs, botanical-inspired prints...you get the picture, and I will stop my ranting now.

Good luck, and congrats about your new floors! Hardwood is the way to go.

That would be nice, but alas NEPA does not have a Pottery Barn (yet). We also don't have a Cheesecake Factory, Bucca di Beppo, IKEA, Benihana, Hooters, Dave & Buster's, Crate & Barrel, Linens-N-Things, Williams-Sonoma, Apple Store, or a slew of other national chains. However, we are going to be the first region north of the Mason-Dixon line to get a Greene Turtle (near the airport). There's always online shopping at various retailers, especially for me since I was one of the random winners from yesterday's City-Data contest!)