A few years ago, we shared the news that a company had placed do-it-yourself key duplication kiosks in some 7-Eleven stores in New York City. Since then, key kiosks (keyosks?) have expanded across the country, and the company that we wrote about back in 2013 has announced a deal with home-improvement megastore Lowe’s. [More]
lowe’s
The Best & Worst Store-Brand Deals At Lowe’s, Home Depot & Sears
By 2.26.15
Need to buy a snowblower, light bulbs, and some paint? You might figure, “Oh, I’ll just head to Home Depot (or Lowe’s, or Sears) and get it all done in the same trip.” But just because these stores all offer one-stop shopping for most home goods, price and quality of store-brand and private label products can vary greatly depending on the retailer. [More]
Scammers Manipulate Lowe’s Receipt-Checking Policy To Steal $80,000 In Tools
By 1.26.15
Many consumers don’t like it when stores check their receipts on the way out of the building, claiming it treats all shoppers like shoplifting suspects. But a trio of scammers had no problem showing their receipt at Lowe’s, running a multi-state shoplifting/return scheme for several months. [More]
Snake Pops Out Of A Cabinet At Lowe’s, Bites Customer On The Head
By 1.20.15
Imagine you’re hanging out in a nice, dry, safe room away from all the worries of the world. Suddenly, someone throws a door open to the big, scary world. Wouldn’t you want to bite that interloper right on the head? If you were a snake, totally, as one surprised Lowe’s customer found out after accidentally intruding on a snake’s privacy in the store. [More]
Is In-Store Pickup Any Faster Than Just Shopping At The Store?
By 12.30.14
For years, an increasing number of retailers have been pushing their “buy online, pickup in store” (BOPIS, for all you acronym lovers) option as a expedient option that offers the convenience of online shopping without the hassle of having to search the aisles. But is it really any faster than traditional bricks-and-mortar shopping? [More]
Where Do People Buy The Stuff They Used To Buy At Sears?
By 11.26.14
Many American consumers have sworn off shopping at Sears and Kmart, their local stores have closed, or they have just forgotten that the chains exist. Business that once went to Kmart now goes to discount store competitors Target and Walmart, logically enough, but where do Americans go for the things that they once bought at Sears? [More]
Quiz Results: Most People Confused How To Write Names Of Walmart, Popeyes, Lowe’s
By 11.11.14
Last week, we quizzed readers on the correct way to write the names of several retail businesses that abuse or play with punctuation. An awful lot of you gave it a shot and some of you did very well, but the results show that there is a lot of confusion out there for some of the country’s biggest retail brands. [More]
John Oliver: Lowe’s Robot Won’t Keep Couples From Killing Each Other At Hardware Store
By 11.3.14
Last week, Lowe’s unveiled the test of a customer service robot at one of its Orchard Supply stores and we pointed out that it’s really just doing the job Lowe’s should be asking of its employees. What we were remiss in mentioning is the other important aspect of home-improvement store customer service — preventing married couples from murdering each other while shopping. [More]
Lowe’s New Customer Service Robot Just Sounds Like A Really Good Employee
By 10.28.14
Not so long ago, before the rise of the mega-hardware chains, you could walk into your local home improvement store and find a helpful employee who knew exactly what you needed and where to find it on the shelves. We’ve now reached a point in customer service where Lowe’s has chosen to create a robot to replicate this experience. [More]
Lowe’s Workers Fix Veteran’s Wheelchair After It Breaks In N.Y. Store
By 7.16.14
If you’ve got equipment that’s in the midst of breaking down, there’s perhaps nowhere more convenient to be than a huge warehouse filled with tools. So when a veteran’s wheelchair gave way during a shopping trip with his wife at Lowe’s, he didn’t panic. And neither did workers nearby, who put their fix-it expertise to use right there in the store. [More]
This Flood Sensor Will Fly Off The Shelf Now That It’s Marked Down 3¢
By 1.15.14
Jon snapped this photo of what he called an “amazing Lowe’s sale” and sent it along. Indeed, it’s pretty amazing, if by “amazing” he actually meant “pointless” and “stupid.” [More]
This Fireplace Appears To Be Totally Lame
By 10.21.13
Reader Cynthia spotted this error at a Lowe’s store while looking at fake fireplaces. “Mesh grill produces a realistic lame effect,” reads the last line of the tag. Well, which is it, fireplace tag? Is it realistic or is it lame, in the colloquial sense where “lame” means “crappy”? [More]
Lowe’s Idea Of Fall Essentials: Christmas Trees
By 9.25.13
“All for Fall,” say the signs on the seasonal displays at Dave’s local Lowe’s. Well, he lives in Florida, so it’s not like he needs fireplaces or leaf blowers. But last weekend he was horrified to see…in mid-September…Christmas trees. [More]
August Is A Great Time To Buy A Snowblower
By 8.23.13
While some of us are still blasting our air conditioners, you can start to get ready for winter at Jeff’s local Lowe’s store in the Midwest. You can get a head start on buying a snowblower, which will then sit in your garage for the next three months or so. [More]
Lowe’s Cashier Can’t Read Coupons, Yells At My Dad
By 7.25.13
Once upon a time, Lowe’s matched coupons from their competitors. Back in the day, Brandon’s dad used to do this all of the time. By “back in the day,” we mean “a couple of weeks ago.” But now Lowe’s can’t handle something so complicated. At least, not at the store where Brandon’s dad lives. Instead of a discount, he just got yelled at. [More]
June Recall Roundup: Not Even Buff Baby Can Save Us Now
By 6.28.13 — Updated: 12.18.13
In this month’s recall roundup, we bring you a chicken dance that will hurt your ears, buff babies, toppling bath seats, and machetes so sharp that they slice through their own sheaths. [More]
Lowe’s Assumes Everyone Owns Pickup Trucks, Still Pre-Assembling Most Grills
By 4.15.13 — Updated: 9.18.14
Daryl left his grill behind the last time he moved, which was very sad. Now he’s a homeowner and wanted a new one as the grilling season kicks off in the Northeast, where he lives. Still in the box. To assemble himself. If you’re a longtime Consumerist reader, you see where this is going. [More]
Lowe’s Installs Wrong Door, Wants Customer To Pay For Installation Of Replacement
By 2.7.13
A Sacramento woman ordered a beautiful new front door for her house: shiny white with brass fittings and a window up top. It was a very nice-looking door, and that’s what was on the estimate she received. It wasn’t the door the installers actually brought to her house and installed in the front of her house, though. That part’s no problem: they just need to come by and replace it with the correct door, right? None of this would be a big deal at all if they didn’t want her to pay for the second installation herself. [More]
