How Lowe's earned Home Depot a customer yesterday. How is Customer Service where you live?

@TheHorse (235170)
Walnut Creek, California
February 23, 2026 10:37am CST
I just finished up another pair of coasters. I have been on a bit of an "arts and crafts" roll lately. I also finished up a can of red mahogany stain, my default stain for making dark coasters out of light spruce sound hole cutouts. One of my guitar students brought me a $25 Lowe's gift card as a Christmas present. Lowe's and Home depot are the two big "home improvement/hardware" stores around here. I decided to use the gift card to purchase some red mahogany stain. A small tin should cost around $9.00. I usually use Home Depot, as there is one near my house. But a penny saved is a penny earned. I called the nearest Lowe's to get directions. The bot "AI Helper" did not give me the options I needed to get directions to the store, which is located near a complicated and confusing intersection of several freeways and surface streets. After about three minutes, I was able to get through to "speak to a live representative." The phone rang. And rang. After another three minutes, I heard that fast busy signal that means "You've been hung up on, Sucker." I will get my red mahogany stain after breakfast. At Home Depot. Is Customer Service better than this where you live?
9 people like this
7 responses
DE
@DaddyEvil (168517)
• United States
3h
Nope. Most stores use AI to answer their phones now so you either get a confusing answer or it hangs up as soon as it answers the phone.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (235170)
• Walnut Creek, California
3h
Is this fair? I have been put on hold by 911.
1 person likes this
DE
@DaddyEvil (168517)
• United States
3h
@TheHorse What? They aren't supposed to use "hold" when you call 911! I hope everything is okay with you.
Anne Marie Guyer
@LeaPea2417 (39548)
• Toccoa, Georgia
4h
I have had good and bad customer service through the years with different stores.
1 person likes this
Anne Marie Guyer
@LeaPea2417 (39548)
• Toccoa, Georgia
25m
@TheHorse Thats not good at all.
The Horse
@TheHorse (235170)
• Walnut Creek, California
3h
My medical provider NEVER returned my call today. I am glad I was not having a "mild heart attack" or an exploding appendix.I do not see this as fair.
1 person likes this
Anna
@LadyDuck (493886)
• Italy
6h
I would have dropped the idea to go to Lowe and renounce to save a penny. I liked Home Depot, it's a good store.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (235170)
• Walnut Creek, California
5h
I may try Lowe's one more time. Or go to my familiar Home Depot. Heh. I could re-gift the card.
Eva James
@wolfgirl569 (130050)
• Marion, Ohio
51m
I hate those automated answering things.
Marie Coyle
@MarieCoyle (55099)
•
5h
Honestly, customer service is pretty much non-existent in the big box stores like this one. And if you decide to call, good luck! Do you ever use an app on your phone for directions? Not hard to do, and if you don't have a navigation system in your truck, you can look it up, make sure it talks you through it as you drive, totally hands off. I hope you got the stain you wanted.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (235170)
• Walnut Creek, California
5h
I have been in vehicles with friends trying to follow those directions. We always wind up in weird places.
LooeyVille
@LooeyVille (46)
• United States
5h
I have an excellent Office Max customer service story to tell - I'll write a post about it.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (235170)
• Walnut Creek, California
5h
I look forward to it. I am currently on hold with my medical provider.and have been for the last fifteen minutes. I am glad it is a knee issue and not a heart tissue.
1 person likes this
RasmaSandra
@RasmaSandra (94554)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
1h
Very nice coasters, That was a great gift card. Save it till you really need something,