Ditto here in the Carolinas. I switched to Lowe's years ago and - short of a few specific purchases that I couldn't find elsewhere - I've never gone back.
I can't ever find a dammed thing in the THD stores, for starters. What's the point of going there, if I need to wander around for an hour just to find one part, or another? And, invariably, they didn't have what I was looking for, or it was in the wrong size, or quantity. And God help me if I grab the wrong salesperson to ask where something is. I'd rather hear "Geez, I dunno. That's not my dept. You need to talk to Joe", rather than get led on a merry chase all around the store looking for one thing or another.
And actually, I've started hitting my local hw store more and more. Prices are maybe a little higher, but it saves me a long drive to the big box places. If I ask for help, the owner does the ordering, and more likely than not, the stocking too, so he knows if he has it, and where it is. And, I'll trade paying $2.50 for a $2 part, if it saves me (a potentially wasted) trip across town.....
I hear you. The Lowe’s here is a good one. The employees very helpful and WANT to work at this store. Nice area. I can find everything I need. I use Ferguson and other Commercial distributors for big items or expensive copper or insulation because I have commercial accounts with them and they deliver but for everyday items like lawn and garden, pvc, small fixtures or lawn mower parts Lowe’s is great and only about a mile from home.
Home Depot with the exception of a few newer stores is not working out for a lot of people around here.