Where do you shop? HOME DEPOT vs MENARDS vs LOWES - Benefits?

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Where do you shop? HOME DEPOT vs MENARDS vs LOWES - Benefits?

Kyle Grimm
Investor · St. Louis Mo · Member since 2015 · 211 posts · 129 votes

Hi everyone I was just looking into signing up for the Home Depot credit card yesterday (which I found doesn't have that great of benefits) and I started wondering.. out of the three biggest box stores (Home Depot, Menards, Lowes) which one offeres the best programs and benefits for someone like me who is in there spending money every day on rehab projects.  For instance:  Yesterday I spent about 3k on material and it was stupid of me not to be taking advantage of special offers for members if they have any.  

I am really just looking for ideas on how to take advantage of any savings possible at any of those three stores.  Usually I never shop at Lowes but if someone suggests they have betters savings, I may have to consider.  Thanks!

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Andy Luick
Real Estate Investor · atlanta, GA · Member since 2013 · 456 posts · 237 votes
10y

I prefer Lowes to Home Depot but that's mostly because Lowes treats me like a mini celebrity.  Get with the commercial desk and you can probably get a 10% discount on most things by developing a relationship.  On larger purchases, price compare and then get one or the other to beat the price by 10%.  Depending on the size of your market, network online and track down who is dealing in pallets of lighting, plumbing or other "restocks" that home depot and lowes sell off by the trailer load.  I have a few great resources in atlanta that I am happy to share via PM.

I buy some of my lighting packages this way and typically save 50%....same with plumbing...appliances I usually do reconditioned or changeouts posted on craigslist.  Don't rule out CL for materials....it's a great place to pick up tile, carpet, cabinets and most everything you will need at a huge savings.  My lighting supplier will call me when they get near the end of their load for an added discount if I can use the stuff.

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  • Jeff Robert
    Real Estate Agent · Grand Rapids, MI · Member since 2016 · 127 posts · 56 votes
    10y

    I shop at Menards during their 11% rebate sales and for a more extensive array of materials that are in-stock.  Shop at home depot with the Lowes 10%  coupons (often already redeemed) that are available on ebay for $2-3 each.  Home Depot will match without blinking an eye.  

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  • Andy Luick
    Real Estate Investor · atlanta, GA · Member since 2013 · 456 posts · 237 votes
    10y

    I prefer Lowes to Home Depot but that's mostly because Lowes treats me like a mini celebrity.  Get with the commercial desk and you can probably get a 10% discount on most things by developing a relationship.  On larger purchases, price compare and then get one or the other to beat the price by 10%.  Depending on the size of your market, network online and track down who is dealing in pallets of lighting, plumbing or other "restocks" that home depot and lowes sell off by the trailer load.  I have a few great resources in atlanta that I am happy to share via PM.

    I buy some of my lighting packages this way and typically save 50%....same with plumbing...appliances I usually do reconditioned or changeouts posted on craigslist.  Don't rule out CL for materials....it's a great place to pick up tile, carpet, cabinets and most everything you will need at a huge savings.  My lighting supplier will call me when they get near the end of their load for an added discount if I can use the stuff.

    4Reply
  • Eric X.
    Real Estate Agent · Naperville, IL · Member since 2014 · 196 posts · 130 votes
    10y

    @Kyle Grimm

    First thing...get a good 2% cash back credit card.  We use capital one spark but we run another business and travel internationally a lot so we rack up the charges quite a bit. This one has an annual fee but there are others like double cash from citi and fidelity amex that are essentially 2% rebate cards.  

    Secondly...use raise.com cardcash zencards etc etc to buy cards at a discount.  I prefer raise since i get the cards usually within 2 to 60 minutes and they are digital so i can print them out, show them on phone, or use them online. there you can save usually another 6-8%..which gets you up to 8-10% after you take into account credit card savings... I use them right away to avoid any risks of buying gift cards. 

    Then buy things online if you can(most things you can buy online for instore pickup.( Yes i have bought lumber, siding, trim all online for instore pickup).  use ebates fatwallet or any other cash back affiliate site for additional few percent off.

    Lastly use discount codes. I usually go to lowes. The link below typically has the most up to date lowes codes. 

    http://renovopower.com/

    Homedepot and menards are more rare but they do exist. 

    Unless there is  a huge discount or price difference I will shop at Lowes since they have the best coupons but I shop at all 3.  

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  • Joel Florek
    Rental Property Investor · Michigan City, IN · Member since 2015 · 530 posts · 741 votes
    10y

    @Kyle Grimm Also remember that its not just about the rebates and benefits. Each store has different brand products and different prices. Lowes will literally build your house from the ground up if you want them to. They have better brands and in my experience the overall best service. I don't usually see the best deals or benefits from their rewards program, but I save a lot of time shopping there and of course, time is money.

    Home Depot has a mixture of good brands and occasionally good service. I always get mixed experiences there. Deal wise I have gotten some great deals on tools at Home Depot for the brands I want to buy. There card doesn't give that great of benefits as well. However, if your using the card you get the 0% interest for 6 to 18 months depending on how much you purchase so that is a blessing to have available. I use that benefit a lot.

    Menards seems to offer the best discounts and rewards with their rebate program. You have to mail in your rebates though which is very annoying. If you take the extra step you can get a lot more back form Menards. They also have the price cuts all the time like the 11% deal so that is nice. They have the cheapest products in both price and quality in my opinion, which in many cases is totally fine.

    I use all 3 stores for different reasons.

    2Reply
  • Andrea Castor
    Investor · Dayton, OH · Member since 2015 · 73 posts · 25 votes
    10y

    I am looking into this as well so we will be prepared for the next rehab. I haven't really considered using any of the store cards as we haven't seen any benefit to them in the past. I'm actually considering one with no payments, no interest for 12-18months and/or the one with the best cash back rewards. Personally, we always have the cash on hand for the materials, but since there are no cash only deals (typically) might as well get a little rewards for the money via cc.

    Also, @Andy Luick mentioned, there are lots of other deals to be found besides Menards/HD/Lowes. We found a local auction site with Home Decorators Collection, Amazon, hardware store returns. We've been picking up lighting, faucets, sinks, vanities, etc for about 20% of retail value.

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  • Jake Thomas
    Residential Real Estate Agent · Grand Rapids, MI · Member since 2013 · 803 posts · 689 votes
    10y

    We prefer Lowes then Home Depot for general stuff. We use local wholesalers for drywall, steel studs, siding etc. I will only go to Menards if I absolutely have to. Returns at Menards are a nightmare and the rebates are a joke. The last three times I tried to send in rebates I never get them back. @Andy Luick is correct about Lowes commercial desk. Make friends and they will give you discounts. The guy I work with will usually ships the stuff to my job site for free and give me a discount on all them while saving me a trip all together to the store. Once you get busy having the bulk stuff delivered saves so much time, daily trips to the store is no fun. 

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  • Alex Franks
    Rock Hill, SC · Member since 2015 · 1k+ posts · 597 votes
    10y
    Originally posted by @Kyle Grimm:

    Hi everyone I was just looking into signing up for the Home Depot credit card yesterday (which I found doesn't have that great of benefits) and I started wondering.. out of the three biggest box stores (Home Depot, Menards, Lowes) which one offeres the best programs and benefits for someone like me who is in there spending money every day on rehab projects.  For instance:  Yesterday I spent about 3k on material and it was stupid of me not to be taking advantage of special offers for members if they have any.  

    I am really just looking for ideas on how to take advantage of any savings possible at any of those three stores.  Usually I never shop at Lowes but if someone suggests they have betters savings, I may have to consider.  Thanks!

    Lowes has gone down the tube . During the months of march 2013- Aug 2014 Our company was number one in small town of Rock Hill . Over 2 Million dollars  of materials ordered from them. We had 102 unit and 55 unit complete gut ,and rehab jobs.  No matter how many times they brought in the big guys to speak to us. Promises that things would be better. One truck , two drivers assinged  just to  us from that store. Still nothing could get delieverd on time. I don't even have the time to explain the head aches from them.

    Simple answer go any where but lowes.

    Alex

    1Reply
  • Account Closed
    Professional · Lake Mary, FL · Member since 2016 · 30 posts · 11 votes
    10y

    In our area we only have Lowes and Home Depot. I spend tens of thousands at both annually. I find that HD is more for contractors while Lowes tends to be more geared towards the general public. Depending on what I need I find the contractor packs at HD to be way cheaper than the individual pricing at both stores. Lowes lately has some contractor packs in things like base boards, electric outlets, switches and covers and such. I also know that they both price match and in fact lowes will match plus give an additional 10%. I'm not sure how permanent the discount is but at least they are doing it now. I also always get a discount at both stores on high ticket items such as appliances. I get it because I ask to speak to the store manager and ask them for the discount. If they say no I tell them I will just go to their competer and they always give in.

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  • Andy Luick
    Real Estate Investor · atlanta, GA · Member since 2013 · 456 posts · 237 votes
    10y

    @Alex Franks- you probably just completely overwhelmed them with that volume for that store.  It's still all in the relationship. In atlanta, we've been with the manager at Lowes, in one form or another, for close to 20 years.  It's the personal relationship that helps us.  We used to run 140 guys and were atlanta's largest home repair group for quite a few years.  At that level of volume, we were usually the #1 or #2 customer at the stores we used.  I don't ever wish to be the big again.  We're nowhere near that level today and just running a dozen guys but we still get the same great level of service....really from both HD & Lowes...but that personal relationship with the Lowes folks has always been the key for us.  If you know you're going to be doing another large project, you can probably get them the materials list well in advance and have the orders pre-scheduled....just a thought.

    1Reply
  • JD MartinBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Rock Star Extraordinaire · Northeast, TN · Member since 2015 · 10k+ posts · 16k+ votes
    10y

    We don't have Menards so it's Lowes/HD here for most things outside of some contracting supply places. I use Lowes. I get a 10% veteran discount, and use a 2% cash back card (except times when Discover is doing the 5% home improvement thing), so I end up about 12% off retail. Once in a while they will send me some coupons that work out to about 20% off on $50 or more, and when I get those I aim to hit $50 as best as possible. 

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  • Kyle Grimm
    OP
    Investor · St. Louis Mo · Member since 2015 · 211 posts · 129 votes
    10y

    @Jeff Robert Interesting idea!

    Wow @Eric X. those are some great tips!  I will definitely have to look into some of your ideas.  But yes first things first: Get a new credit card.  Right now the one I'm using for business expenses gets zero cash back or reward points. 

    @Joel Florek I really love the Menards 11% sale.  Although it's a hassle to physically send in the rebate, it can be well worth it on the bigger purchases. 

    Thanks everyone else for all the advice and comments. I am looking forward to getting more feedback and trying some different options!

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  • Account Closed
    Investor · Princeton, TX · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    10y

    Suppliers are one of the biggest headaches while doing rehabs.

    Because I live in one of the fastest growing counties in the country and shop at multiple home depots and Loews.

    There is a huge variation from store to store as far as service goes.

    Real lumber yards are normally cheaper.  I also shop on craigslist and Restore.

    0Reply
  • Luke F.
    Littleton, CO · Member since 2015 · 59 posts · 14 votes
    10y

    Not answering the original question but Home Depot recently sent out a statement that they are no longer honoring competitors coupons (ie: 10% off from Lowes).  There was a date they set recently as the last day to do so.

    1Reply
  • Account Closed
    Investor · Princeton, TX · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    10y

    For example... I just looked at craiglist.  This could save someone $600+

    http://dallas.craigslist.org/ndf/zip/5422797740.html

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  • Jeff Robert
    Real Estate Agent · Grand Rapids, MI · Member since 2016 · 127 posts · 56 votes
    10y

    @Luke F. They've 'announced' that in the past, but I've always found that when the Home Depot manager/cashier sees $1000 worth of product sitting on your cart in one eye, and sees the Lowes parking lot across the street in their other eye, they give you 10% off.

    1Reply
  • Jason V.
    Investor · Rochester, NY · Member since 2016 · 477 posts · 426 votes
    10y

    @Kyle Grimm Not to hijack your thread, but have you tried pricing the big 3 against your local supply stores? 

    In my experience, I can buy locally from a lumber yard, plumbing/electric supply and even some local home improvement stores for almost the same price as HD/Lowe's, but the quality is significantly better. Like, makes the job go faster and means you don't have to re-do it in a year better. Also, in my experience, the "help" you receive at HD/Lowe's is fairly useless - and that's if you can find anyone to answer a question you have. God forbid you ask them about code, or something specific. Meanwhile, the guy who works behind the counter at my local HVAC supply tells me the easier way to do something, and just how tall that vent pipe needs to be to meet code in our village (has to clear the peak of the roof by a certain amount.) 

    I did a very extensive rehab on a house (could've built the stupid thing new for all the work I did) and had much better luck working locally, especially when factoring in the HD delivery costs/drive time versus using a contractor account around town. 

    Personally, I also believe in relationships with the people I do business with, and like to support local businesses whenever I can (and it makes financial sense.) 

    Just my two cents...and may God have mercy on the soul of anyone who buys a $20 faucet at Home Depot. 

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  • Jimmy MoncriefPro Member
    Chattanooga, TN · Member since 2010 · 319 posts · 100 votes
    10y

    Home Depot credit card all the way!  

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  • Luke F.
    Littleton, CO · Member since 2015 · 59 posts · 14 votes
    10y
    Originally posted by @Jeff Robert:

    @Luke F. They've 'announced' that in the past, but I've always found that when the Home Depot manager/cashier sees $1000 worth of product sitting on your cart in one eye, and sees the Lowes parking lot across the street in their other eye, they give you 10% off.

     From what I have seen, this appears to be the first real press push that I've seen.  Maybe I'm wrong,  

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  • Jeff Robert
    Real Estate Agent · Grand Rapids, MI · Member since 2016 · 127 posts · 56 votes
    10y

    I guess I've never seen an official 'press release', by 'announced', I meant that I've heard it from shoppers on forums, the occasional cashier, etc.   I remember alot of chatter about it back in probably 2012-13 when Lowes was providing those coupons in the 'change address' packets at the post office that you could grab by the handful.  Things seem to have died down lately, so hopefully, this new press push isn't a corporate-wide movement.

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  • Adam Bontrager
    Investor Relations Manager · Cleveland, OH · Member since 2015 · 117 posts · 50 votes
    10y

    We use Home Depot for the most of our material purchases.  Get a Pro account started if you have the volume to do that.  The Pro Desk is very comfortable working with investors and they are always very helpful.  We have our contractors pick up materials directly from Home Depot.  Anytime a contractor wants to purchase something on our pro account they simply give the Pro Desk our phone number and we get a call for approval of the purchase and payment.  It's very handy.

    All Pro accounts receive a discount on materials but probably the best thing is their ProXtra online dashboard.  With ProXtra you can log in online and view all of the transactions you've made on your account.  You can search based on property address (to see how much you've paid for materials on a specific property), a specific date range, and various other options.  A very nice tool that saves us a lot of time and headache.

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  • Andy WebbPro Member
    Rental Property Investor · Carrollton, TX · Member since 2013 · 750 posts · 538 votes
    10y

    Not sure if anyone mentioned this:  get together with some other investors in your area to form a buyers' group and use this to leverage the Pro desk at Home Depot.  You should be able to get some additional discounts and also get special pricing/bids from Home Depot for some orders.  

    2Reply
  • Andy WebbPro Member
    Rental Property Investor · Carrollton, TX · Member since 2013 · 750 posts · 538 votes
    10y

    And one for the Lowe's fans:  you can go to the USPS website and submit a change of address form for $1.05 on your credit card.  As part of the transaction you get access to coupons for a number of suppliers, including a 10% one for Lowe's (which Home Depot will also accept) that you can print out and use immediately.

    In the past, a few weeks later we would also get a package in the mail that had a 10% Lowe's coupon.  For some reason it was not included the last time we did this a few weeks ago.  When we did get this mailer before, we found we could pull the coupon off of the printed page, use the coupon at Home Depot, and take the printed page that also has the same barcode/coupon code to Lowe's and use there.

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  • Mindy JensenPro Member
    BiggerPockets Money Podcast Host · Longmont, CO · Member since 2014 · 7k+ posts · 10k+ votes
    10y

    I like Menards for electrical, won't spend a dime there for plumbing fixtures. I've never had a problem with their rebates, but it is kind of a pain to mail them in and the rebate always comes in the form of an in-store check rather than cash in your pocket. Conveniently, I always need more stuff...

    Home Depot is closer to me, so I go there more frequently. I love their store credit card, where you can get no interest for 6, 12 or 24 months depending on how much you spend. Lowe's does the same thing, but I've never gotten a card from them.

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  • Darren Budahn
    Investor · Milwaukee, WI · Member since 2014 · 811 posts · 420 votes
    10y

    I agree that the no interest on payments for up to 24 months at Home Depot  is definitely a great perk.  However, it's very hard to find someone at Home Depot who has any real knowledge about the products that they sell.  

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  • Michael Leung
    Investor · Tucson, AZ · Member since 2015 · 54 posts · 27 votes
    10y

    Surprised one has mentioned the Lowes QSB program.  We buy all of flip materials from Lowes...from drywall to appliances.  When you have order larger then $2500, go to the PRO Desk and ask them to run the order thru QSB.  The order gets run thru Corporate and you get a total order discount.  We just ordered $8500 worth today and QSB came back with a 15% overall discount.

    Also when need just stuff under $2500...the PRO accounts payable gives you a automatic 10% discount

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