How to Increase the Number of Purchases in Big Box Home Improvement Stores
Any aspiring home craftsman or homeowner will tell you that they spend a lot of time at places like Lowe’s and Home Depot. Shopping in large box stores can be frustrating, from trying to find a single item to finding someone who can answer a simple question. Here are some tips to help you get the most of your visit to these home improvement giants.
Explore the world of the earth
If you are a passionate home craftsman, you will no doubt find out how your local Lowe’s, Home Depot or Menards are set up. Rather than trying to find an aisle on every visit, take the time to walk down each aisle and simply check out the different sections of the store. This will help make your next visit a lot faster.
You will usually find lumber on one side of the store, and homes and gardens on the opposite side. The paint is in the middle, between the tools and equipment on the wood half and the lighting and plumbing on the home and garden half. (Remember, however, that you can often save on lumber and get more choices by shopping from your local distributor .)
The back rows are for home appliances, kitchens and storage areas and can be used as mini showrooms to sell cabinets, carpets and countertops.
Also: if you’re just going to buy one or two items, you can always order online and get free pick -up from the store , without having to look in the aisles.
Talk to the professionals
If you have a question about a tube fitting or how a particular light switch is connected, gently ask another buyer. Look for people wearing dirty shirts with the name of the contractor company. Don’t pester them for advice, but they will often be ready to answer a couple of questions. Just remember, they shop to fix a problem and usually rush back to work.
In each department of the store there will be an employee who is the leader of the group and can give qualified advice on finding a product. The hardest thing to find is this person. Sales representatives can help you track down these people, but don’t ask them for more, as their knowledge of home furnishing may be minimal.
Use their services
Big box sellers know that not all of their customers drive full-size trucks, so they have large track saws and cut-off saws that cut your wood to the length they need. This will save you time on your project and also make it easier to fit lumber to your vehicle. Also look out for the scraps pile to find discounted wooden items. You can often find smoking suggestions for non-standard size lumber.
Home Depot and Lowe’s can also cut pipes, rods, chains and make keys. Some shops also offer the option of matching paint colors (call in advance to confirm). Just bring a piece of carpet or fabric and they’ll match it to your color.
Finally, you can usually rent tools and trucks at most major home centers. There is no need to invest in a tool that you only need once.
Take Lessons (Kids Inc)
Home Depot and Lowe’s offer educational courses in gardening, plumbing, woodworking and more. Schedules and activities vary from store to store, so check with your local store manager for details. These classes are free and are a great way to learn new skills and gain hands-on experience. They are also taught by a local expert, so this is a great opportunity to choose the brain of a professional who is willing to teach.
This also applies to children. Skip the Saturday morning cartoons and bring the family to Lowe’s and Home Depot for weekly home activities for the kids, which include building a model car or painting a birdhouse. These classes are also free.
Track your purchases
As with most other stores, loyalty programs can be helpful. Lowe shoppers can open a MyLowe account , which helps streamline returns, track in-store purchases, and remind you to buy things like air filters. Home Depot as a Pro Xtra loyalty program that offers similar benefits but is only available to construction professionals.
These membership clubs are free to join and it will be much easier for you to return your belongings if you have lost your receipt.
Find great deals
Remember, if you ask, there are always great deals. As we discussed earlier , fear not:
- Look for scratched or damaged items and ask for a 20% discount. Expect to get 10-15% discount.
- Tie expensive things and ask for a deal.
- Find an item in a competitor’s store for a lower price and get that price or 10% less.
- Ask for the veteran discount for current or retired veterans and get 10% off.
Remember, Home Depot will also offer a refund if the product price drops and Lowe’s and Home Depot accept (and sometimes surpass) competitor coupons . You can also check their price codes to see if the item’s price drops.
Photos of Charles and Hudson , Raymond Schaube , Bennett , Doug Waldron , Perry Nelson , Mike Mozart , KomuNews .