09-13-2009, 01:33 PM
well, they opened one in Kona shortly after the HD opened there.
Lowe's Kona doesn't deliver to East Hawai'i, so they know full well they are losing a whole customer base to HD for items that a consumer can't throw on the truck.
I did lots of shopping for my addition in the Kona Lowe's, most of my lighting and I bought most all my lumber there (not very straight, sadly). Because I had to shop on Sundays (that was when I could get over there), I learned that both Home Depot and Lowe's have this weird staffing system where they put their knowledgeable people on during contractors' hours, not tailored to the weekend consumer shopper.
Try shopping in Lowe's on Sunday for building materials. Beyond frustrating, and I called the manager on it after it happened twice, and he told me about the staffing.
There actually are knowledgeable people who work at Hilo Home depot, but same as with Lowe's you have to shop during the right hours and it is not all of them by any means.
I always thought of these stores as consumer, do it yourselfer, owner builder oriented stores, but apparently the contractors use them plenty and are the number one client, so try shopping weekdays early but after the contractors have done their morning business, and you might see a difference. I like to shop late so I have had plenty of chances to see how no one knows squat after 4-5 pm and on Sundays.
Lowe's Kona doesn't deliver to East Hawai'i, so they know full well they are losing a whole customer base to HD for items that a consumer can't throw on the truck.
I did lots of shopping for my addition in the Kona Lowe's, most of my lighting and I bought most all my lumber there (not very straight, sadly). Because I had to shop on Sundays (that was when I could get over there), I learned that both Home Depot and Lowe's have this weird staffing system where they put their knowledgeable people on during contractors' hours, not tailored to the weekend consumer shopper.
Try shopping in Lowe's on Sunday for building materials. Beyond frustrating, and I called the manager on it after it happened twice, and he told me about the staffing.
There actually are knowledgeable people who work at Hilo Home depot, but same as with Lowe's you have to shop during the right hours and it is not all of them by any means.
I always thought of these stores as consumer, do it yourselfer, owner builder oriented stores, but apparently the contractors use them plenty and are the number one client, so try shopping weekdays early but after the contractors have done their morning business, and you might see a difference. I like to shop late so I have had plenty of chances to see how no one knows squat after 4-5 pm and on Sundays.