[FreedomPoster]

Personally, I love the concept of self-checkout. The problem is, Home Depot's readers stink. The ones at Kroger and Publix are much better.

I do prefer Lowes, and I'm here in the home of Home Depot. Home Depot is complacent.

[mystery-ak]

I use self-check all the time at Kroger, but I have noticed that the lines are longer because the clerk is helping all the customers with the computers/machines..it would be a lot faster to just check them out.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Home Depot is complacent.

Yes they are. When I complained at the customer desk, the checker looked embarrassed and told me I wouldn't believe how many compaints she takes about this. I asked her if anyone was listening? She just looked at me.

[Samizdat]

I have a relative who just started working at a Home Depot. This person says they do have help for self checkout but that person is in charge of 4 stations so if someone gets stuck and they start helping them, then the other people have to wait. This person is appalled at the procedures they use even at the in-person checkout. If they accumulate a certain amount at the register, they have to stop right there and send it up to a vault. The customers have to wait while they fill out the proper paperwork. It is very cumbersome and this person is wondering if they want to stay with this company at all.

[cupcakes]

I worked at Lowe's for a while. I think it is an interesting tidbit to know that Lowe's caters specifically to women. It is why they have the aisles set up how they are, the selection(which is great if you are designing a room, but poor, imo, if you need to find something kind of obscure--have better success at home depot with that kind of stuff), etc. They even stated this in training that their target was female customers. I am female and I can tell the difference based on where I want to go. If we are building something, I want to go to the non-frilly, nuts and bolts Home Depot, but if I just want to shop around for ideas or look at the nice things I can order, I will go to Lowe's. They both have their niche and actually the service, in this area--Ohio--has been better at HD in the past--don't know why.

[Bobby Chang]

Sounds like you're from Atlanta, and even Atlanta Motor Speedway advertises Lowe's instead of Home Depot, even though this is HD's hometown. Track owner Speedway Motorsports has a long-term deal with Lowe's to be the official home improvement store of TRK's circuits.

Wal-Mart Stores -- Hillary's fingerprints are still on the company -- she was a Director until Billous was elected. Target also has a Dem Senator in their hands.

"China Mart" -- good thinking -- they push for Red China. The problem locally is I don't want to shop at ANY supermarket which sells LOOTtery tickets. Only one supermarket other than WMT doesn't sell the "Al Qaeda". I opposed the state LOOTtery and still take my stand against these looney pieces of junk which clog traffic. You can't even be NEAR any supermarket or CONvenience store which is selling LOOTtery tickets when the SuperQaeda is near $100 million.

Someone on FR must be a Waaahhhhddddd fan.

Lowe's has been around since 1946 (and actually North Wilkesboro Hardware since the 1920's). Home Depot has only been around since 1978.


DISCLAIMER: I am an active shareholder in Lowe's Companies (NYSE : LOW).