Lowe’s Home Improvement

I prefer Lowe’s over HD and ABT for appliances and the Appliance Dept. at the VH store is fantastic. In the past 3 – 4 years, I’ve bought 10 appliances and a water heater from them. Everyone I’ve talked to there has been very helpful, but I’ve dealt mostly with James and he is the best — very patient and knowledgeable and always helps me get the best available deal. Mary is also very helpful and a pleasure to deal with. My latest purchase was a Kitchen Aid fridge and it was delivered quickly by two very nice delivery guys who took care not to bump the walls or scratch the fridge. They also leveled the fridge for me. I’ve had a lot of deliveries lately and no one has been more careful than the Lowe’s delivery team. From purchase through delivery, a very positive experience!

This review is specifically for the Blinds department. We’ve bought blinds here a year ago for most of the 1^st floor of our home and just a few weeks ago bought some vertical blinds for our patio door.
Both times we had Keith come out for our measurements and installation. The measurements were perfect and installation was smooth. Keith was always professional and communicated clearly about scheduling, arriving during estimated windows of time and making sure everything went smooth during take down of old blinds and installation of the new ones.
What was nice with our most recent order, we got 50% off of Levolor during a Black Friday weekend sale for a big savings.
For everyone who bashes «big box stores»… I’m not sure where the hate comes from. If you have a basic sense of what style of blinds/​drapes you are looking for and spend some time browsing the options, you can end up saving a ton and spending a fraction of what you’d spend at a speciality store where they have similar products anyway (trust me, my wife and I checked estimates at a few places).
Thank you again Keith.

Purchased new washing machine today. James was very knowledgeable and helpful. He helped my wife and I pick out a new Samsung machine. 12 month interest free financing with free delivery and haul away.

A few years ago we thought Lowe’s was much better in customer service than Lowe’s. There was always someone to help you at Lowe’s. I am not sure what happened to Lowe’s in Vernon Hills in the past year or so. Every time we go there we have to push a help button to call someone to help us. The person comes after a few minutes but really cannot help us because he or she is unfamiliar with the department. It seems that they have cut staff and it really shows in their customer service. We are starting to get really irratated with their service and will start going elsewhere.

I Just like how every Lowes is laid out the same. It makes it easy to find things. The staff here are always helpful. We almost never shop at Home Depot mainly because of the crap layout and the fact that you can never find anyone to help you. Keep it up Lowes.

Why Home Depot is always better than Lowes…
Today I went in to buy a quart of Minwax stain and they were out of the shade I needed. I asked an employee in the area if they had any more. He replied «no» and quickly walked away to the paint counter. I asked him if they could give me two 8oz jars and charge me for the price of a quart (I’m still getting a bad deal on price per ounce!). «Why would we do that,» he responded. He then looked it up on the computer and said I could drive to Gurnee to get some! Frustrated, I left and went to the Home Depot three miles away.
They had what I needed and it was cheaper.

Last week I purchased a dishwasher — a higher end dishwasher — from Lowes. I am still waiting to get it. Today after 4 phone calls I got a commitment for tomorrow. We’ll see… I was lied to so many times, no one returned my phone calls etc. The reason I gave the second star was for Mary, the associate who sold me the dishwasher. She couldn’t have been nicer, well informed and a good follow-​through employee. Can I just move her over to Home Depot or HHGreg or ABT?
Anyhow, Lowes has my money and I’m washing dishes. Patience is not a virtue! Come on, Lowes. Fire the store and manager and get someone in there who cares.

We were first time home owners, doing a whole house remodeling. We frequently visited Lowes, Homedepot, Menard’s, HOBO and many other local stores for months. Our house remodeling lasted for a year to complete. This review score goes to the tile, appliance, and paint departments of this Lowes store, while the checkout cashiers should get a 4 – 5 stars.
Once we asked a staff questions about stoves. He said he was about to leave (in 10 minutes), that we should wait for the next shift staff to come. He disappeared right away, we waited another 30 minutes in the store, no one showed up at this department.
Another time we asked a staff the reason of the big price difference between two kinds of wall tiles which looked similar to us as newbies. He barely bothered to answer, stated «because It’s glass», indicating, as i assumed, the glass one is of course priced higher. But when i pointed that another glass sample placed not far away was labelled the lower price, this staff appeared annoyed and almost angry, and didn’t give further explanation. He wasn’t busy serving anyone, or appeared being busy on anything.
The last time that permanently drove us away from the store is when we need to pick up paint. I took a sample card our contractor left us and walked to this Lowe’s paint department, couldn’t find «Behr» paint — first time home owner, didn’t know that it was only carried at Homedepot. When I asked a staff on duty there, this middle aged man immediately said «Behr? Let me tell you. Go out and down the street» then ignored me — I didn’t even understand what that meant, another customer told me why. I didn’t say anything, left the store for good. I rarely saw a civilized person treats others this way, and he dared and actually did on a customer! I had no preference on paints, and would have gone with any suggestion as a new home owner. The staff just made me stick with Behr paint ever since.
Each time I walked into a Homedepot (down the street from this Lowes) and was greeted and helped by their staff, I couldn’t help thinking, was it that Lowe’s simply hired the wrong people? (a bunch of them?) I did meet a few cashiers at this Lowes who were polite and helpful — they may shine in any store. My experience from this Vernon Hills Lowes made me avoid any Lowes in general, which may be unfair to other hard working people.

I wish I could give less than one star. I bought a grill for Father’s Day that didn’t work, when lowes said they would deliver a new one I was very pleased until they didn’t show up 2 times and the 3^rd they were over an hour late. I eventually just canceled the order and went to Home Depot. The service and prices were much better.

This review is just for the gardening section of the store. I’d say this place has more variety than home depot, however, depending on where in vernon hills you live, if you end up driving further out to come here.
Impossible trying to get someone to help you here.
Do your research before hand I’d say.
Finally flagged down someone to give me some tips on growing herbs from seeds, she was quick to answer, not super helpful, wasn’t sure if I should trust her advice, ended up coming home to watch youtube videos which were much more helpful.

For starters let me state that I have had reasonably good experiences at other Lowe’s so this review should not be a complete indictment on on the entire array of Lowe’s locations. For example, my experiences at Lowes in Northbrook I would say has been good.
However, my experience in Lowe’s in Vernon Hills, was a stark contrast and was completely disappointing. I had been researching sheds for a few weeks and found my way to Lowes in Vernon Hills to check out the Rubbermaid Roughneck series of sheds. I saw a few of the displays and decided it was time to buy. Unfortunately, I ran into a clerk in the Garden area that was completely disinterested in helping and valued carrying on his conversation with his coworker than in helping me. I was essentially dismissed with a quick «you’ll have to talk to the manager about the shed and he’s out to lunch» nothing more and right back into his conversation. I had never really ever been dismissed like that before in a retail setting. No sorry, no problem solving, just basically leave me alone, can’t you see I’m talking to the girl clerk over here kind of attitude.
Well, since I had decided that this shed was what I wanted to buy, I was not going to give up that easily. I found the item on the shelf. However, the item was too big and bulky and was located on a upper shelf (fork lift operator needed). I found another associate, who was much more willing to help. He called for the forklift operator. I waited another 10 minutes or so to unfortunately find-​out the only person who could operate the forklift was out to lunch and would be back for at least another 30 minutes. Here I was ready, willing, and able to buy the shed only to be thwarted once again. I did not have the time to wait around for their team to figure it out and left. Overall, not a great experience. I think I will try Home Deport or the Lowe’s in Northbrook.

When Lowe’s first came around, I was so stoked about them. I thought they were way cooler than Home Depot. Turns out, after a few years and a couple of negative experiences in a row, that I was wrong. I’m gonna stick with Home Depot.
My first bad experience was buying an «as-​is» floor model washing machine (March 2013??). Once it got delivered, it didn’t work. The store Manager was nice enough to help me out, and work out a deal on getting a newer machine with a grew discount, close to what i was gonna pay for the «as is» due to their error/​issue. So from the customer service standpoint, i was happy. But the machine was crappy, and the folks who came to install it were questionable. The machine didn’t work while he was there to deliver it, and he just said, «oh it’s because it’s been on the cold truck all day. They put water in it to test it at the warehouse and now it’s frozen. You should wait an hour or two until it warms up and then try it again». Yeah, that should’ve been my first warning sign.
Fast forward a few months (November 2013) — I have miscellaneous debits to my checking account to pay a Lowe’s credit account. I don’t HAVE a low’s credit account. Long story short — the call center was useless and horrible to deal with. i eventually ended up having to dispute thru my bank because the call center claimed they had no way to track debits/​payments from my account (which is bull). But I digress, this has nothing to do with this particular location. Just wanted to provide another example of how Lowe’s is not as great as they seem to be.
Fast forward another few months (January 2014) — my water heater blew up, dumping water all over my 2^nd floor laundry room. Yay! Headed to this Lowe’s to get a quote. We got a quote — but they didn’t have the unit at this store, so we were gonna have to drive to Northbrook to get it. They were nice bough to offer to let us do the paperwork at home and fax it over, which would’ve been great. The problem is, once i started talking to the guy he said my water heater had to be a specific number of inches high. If it wasn’t (which it wasn’t) then the new heater wouldn’t work because they’d have to move the piping??? Uhhhh ok, doesn’t that kinda come with the territory? I mean, they’re all supposedly plumbers. i don’t get it. On top of it, the guy had a total attitude. Basically what it came down to was this: We can bring the water heater, and quote you for $x.xx, but if we get there and have to move anything, then that quote isn’t valid and we’ll have to charge you more, but we don’t know how much more. WHAT A JOKE.
Cancel. Cancel right now. Thank you. Called Home Depot, ordered on the phone, they came the next morning, moved some pipes and DIDNT charge extra and we were done. With a smile.
So, basically all my «big» experiences with Lowe’s have been negative. So I give up. I’m done. I have lost my faith in their ability to do things right. Home Depot has proven themselves over and over again in their abilities, and I TRUST them. Sorry Lowe’s. You had your chance. Several actually.
The good: their store is beautiful! it’s huge and bright and is fun to walk around shop.

I would like to like Lowes but every time I shop there it seems to be way behind Home Depot. This one succeeded in living up to very low expectations.
I ordered a coffee machine on line Wednesday morning. The online process was good and the price at $ 80 plus tax was keen. At about 12:30am I got a call from Jessica saying my item was ready for pickup nice touch. This was going to be a great shopping experience I waited for my son to get home and then we would pick it up before going to gym. We arrived at the store at about 4:10 My young son waited in the car which has a remote start so he could stay cozy it was cold out. On entering the store I went to returns I asked the associate if I could pick up my item after checking my name telephone number, order number etc Chai could not find my order. I could see the coffee machine on the shelf Hey that’s it he looked at the tag then said no its for someone else. Oh he said I just gave one out looked in the garbage and out came a note with my name and details. The associate whose name was Chai adamantly told me it had already been picked it up then proceeded to tell me my wife had picked it up.
My wife had no idea I even bought a coffee machine I said no my wife had not I am sure you gave mine to the lady and mine was the one on the shelf… more arguments. He actually expected me to leave without a coffee machine and just say no its fine no problem thank you for ripping me off.
My son is still outside waiting 20 minutes later. I ask to speak to the manager.
Along comes the manager I am sorry no problem let me get you another one off the shelf. Hey I say why don’t you just call the lady whose one is on the shelf she most probably has mine this fell on deaf ears. Manager and assistant manager disappear for 15 minutes.
Me getting really steamed after 35 minutes expressing my disgust Chai chortles and giggles really nice.
Manager appears after a long wait summons me to security room shows me some unknown person picking up machine do you know her… No I don’t me getting really peeved. Now the manager starts really reaching maybe she hacked your email so she could come in and steal this $ 80 coffee machine me getting really annoyed. Shows me some nondescript signature and asks do you recognize this.
Says she came in with my email I ask to see it he cannot find it…
Eventually sales associate gets another coffee machine after over 40 minutes I leave my day ruined. I have never in my life been so humiliated and insulted I have never met a more incompetent bunch. I called Lowes head office who have opened a investigation we shall see. They have a video of the lady who picked up the coffee machine who is absolutely not my wife. I am convinced it is the lady whose machine was on the shelf. Or maybe there is some fiendish internet plot to hack my email account and get to Lowes before me so this fiendish Dr. Fu Munchu type can rip off my $ 80 coffee machine.
Well Customer service promised a call back within 24 hours once again Lowes Failed…
Just got a call from the manager Brendon. Apologised and said they had messed up when I asked what had happened yes they gave the one intended for me to the other lady and and hers was on the shelf. So after asking them at least 5 times to call the lady and being ignored and given BS stories about my wife picking it up my email being hacked etc etc etc. All they had to do was call that lady confirm she had mine and give me hers… Brendon was polite and apologetic and I got a $ 25 gift card… Lets see if customer service has it. More to follow…
Went into Lowes new person at customer service civil but I think she was not impressed with me oh well maybe they all got a good talking to on how to interact with customers. I will give Lowes another chance we will see if it improves I will change my rating.

This location is a bit of a trip from where we live, but after several visits over the years I can tell you the extra gas is worth it. We typically come here when we want one more option… and every time this place delivers.
Tonight was one of those moments. With insurance money in hand, we’re looking for a dishwasher. We did our research online and narrowed it down to the model (and a special sale on that model). However, when we got there to take a look at it, we ended up not being so convinced. Hmmm… perhaps something a step up would be better. We found another model by the same maker, and we remembered it on sale at Abt, and I think Home Depot. But we were there onsite and the guy assisting us went to the computer and looked up all the reviews on on the upgraded model, looked up the other websites and agreed to price match and even found another special deal for us on a different brand. Because we needed to go home and see what our hookup is like before a purchase, we put the search on hold for the evening. However, without a doubt we’ll drive the extra distance because this place in particular deserves our money. They really went the extra mile. Thanks for your beyond amazing customer service.

I needed some MDF boards cut over at the lumber department. Kerry, a Lowe’s rep, helped me cut the boards. He was a HUGE help with my requirements on the sizes of the boards. Very professional and helpful. This was a great shopping experience.

IT’S LIKE WALKING ON SUNSHINE
I have to admit that they have pretty good quality stuff here.
So you say, Steve what kind of stuff do they have that is pretty good quality?
Stuff:
Lawnmowers, chainsaws, grills, smokers, shovels, rakes, hoes, post hole diggers, edgers, pruners, bird feeders, bird baths, bird seed (many varieties), plants, flowers, planters, bags of soil, bags of mulch, indoor and outdoor lighting, ceiling fans, washing machines, dishwashers, microwaves, garbage disposals, screw drivers, hammers, wrenches, squares, miter saws, drills, welders, sanders, sandpaper, grinders, clamps, vises, 2×4’s, 4×4’s, plywood, siding and on and on and on.
I also have to say that they have pretty good prices.
Example: I found some clamps cheaper here then at the wood working store I usually buy from.
So this is the weird thing that I have discovered at this Lowe’s and I’m sure that it’s the same at all of their stores. Every time that I come here, they are playing music that makes you move around, almost like you are dancing or doing aerobics through the isles. Just the other day I caught myself walking fast and keeping pace to WALKING ON SUNSHINE and I don’t even like that song. Damn you Lowe’s
So next time that you are in one of these stores, pay attention because next thing you know you’ll be walking to the music.

I shopped at Lowe’s quite a bit when I bought my first house in June 2011. I recall the staff to be pretty friendly and helpful when I bought paint from them. Other than that, I didn’t really needs the associate’s help finding what I needed. The location is huge and it’s good to know what you need so you can expedite the shopping experience. It didn’t seem like there were that many associates walking around. It’s not a bad location and I would come back

FAIL FAIL FAIL! The customer service is the worst I’ve ever dealt with. They will take their sweet time getting back to you, and when they do, they’ll give you the WRONG information! I worked with Margena and Mike and they were extremely RUDE and incompetent. No wonder Lowe’s is always 2^nd to Home Depot.

We have had two installations done by Lowes. The first was blown-​in insulation and their estimate was about half what others were. We don’t usually go with the lowest estimate, but in this case, it seemed worth it. No doubt it was a loss leader for them so we’d remember them the next time we had a big job… in this case, our roof. They weren’t the lowest roof bid, but Joe Bendix in install sales did a great job combing through the details, skylight replacement, colors, timing, etc and making sure we got what we wanted. Having received eight quotes, we had MANY questions by the time we brought Lowes in to bid, because they were last. Also Lowes had good financing, was well insured and had a smooth lien waiver process.
The job went off without a hitch, and the subcontractor, EMA Builders, I can’t recommend enough. Their owner, Marek, was often on site before and after, and very responsive. The foreman, Sylvester, was great to work with and extremely conscientious. I’m kinda hands-​on, and so I ask alot of questions while the job was under way. They even did a few extras that came up after the job was under way, as needed to do a great job, on a big, steep roof. We’re very pleased.