I visited a couple of Lowe’s stores recently, looking to see if a particular batch of new tools came in yet (they haven’t), and was met with some Halloween decorations at each entrance.
There’s a giant scarecrow with a scythe, and an animatronic skeleton that plays a “I Love Halloween” to the tune of “I Love Rock and Roll” by the Arrows (and made popular by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts).
I must admit – I found this to be ridiculous at first. These Lowe’s stores were all still selling patio furniture and grills, and in front of all of that – Halloween decorations in July.
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But… I kind of like the idea.
Oh, I’m not buying Halloween decorations anytime soon, but it made me smile.
The skeleton was motion or proximity-activated, and it constantly attracted and held the attention of a lot of people as they walked into the store.
Because of where the display was positioned right in front of the store, the tune carried. I didn’t tire of hearing the song every time customers came in and walked up to the display, but I feel for the workers at the returns and customer service desk.
There’s a sound and video clip on the Lowe’s product page, although you can’t buy it there yet, if you want a quick chuckle (or eyeroll).
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Glenn
After more than four bad experiences I’ll never go back to Lowes in my area at least ever again. I’ve been in the trades for more than 30 years so I am very well adjusted to working with rough individuals. Believe me I’ve seen in a lot in 30 years and the language used often isn’t meant for ladies or children to hear. Seems that Lowes is only hiring young kids and some of these young people don’t understand customer service and respect.
Look I was once young and dumb; yet I kept my language clean around ladies, children and around my customers. Had this one kid as he certainly was no man use multiple profanities while I was shopping with my wife and grand daughter. Very politely I asked him to reframe from using words I am not going to print while my wife and granddaughter were around me. Being he was a supervisor I figured this was merely a frustrated individual that had a long day; his response was “What’s to you Pop’s?”
At that point instead of screaming at this kid I told my wife it’s time to go and left even though I was about to spend a considerable amount as I needed a brand new set of power tools. Let me tell you back in my day if you did that you’d not only likely be fired but chances most people wouldn’t have walked away. Thirty years ago I know I sure wouldn’t.
Not saying Home Depot is perfect (far, far from it) and I’ve had my issues with them; but amount of rude employees at Lowes is astounding. These young kids need discipline and leadership but I am way too old to getting into fights.
Stuart
I’m sorry that you’ve had such a bad experience at your local Lowe’s stores!
I’ve found that in-store experiences can vary wildly depending on the associates and store management.
Peter
This.
Robert
Glenn, I had a similar experience where I went to report rudeness at Home Depot, and come to find out it was the assistant store manager that nearly ran me over with a fork lift. Turns out their web site isn’t set up to take E-mails. Just too big for their britches. That’s why I try to shop as much as I can at Ace Hardware even though they cost more. Just better people in my experience. More knowledgeable, polite, and helpful. Unfortunately, their selection is not as good.
TomD
If you’re really angry, you send a letter to headquarters addressed to the CEO.
You may never get a response but I can almost guarantee someone somewhere will get yelled at.
Jimmy
Robert, I am likely a little older than Glenn but I recently retired after selling the business I created after more than 45 years. Created a lot of jobs over the decades and worked with a lot of great men and women in the construction industry. However in those 45 years unfortunately I had to do my fair share of yelling and moderating confrontations. After 45 years of dealing with hundreds, if not thousands of conflicts I completely see where Glenn is coming from. It’s not worth the headache often and just don’t want to scream anymore unless it’s a extremely serious matter.
There is a reason I’ve avoided big box stores as if they were a plague as bluntly put they don’t hire the best of the best. Let me tell you as a person that created my business from the ground up; I’ve fired people for what was said to Glenn and I told anyone I hired that tattoo’s that they must be covered up while at ANY client’s place of business.
Was told I was a square and behind the times; but I can tell you behind closed doors most high end clients I had over the years were relived I had such high standards for employment. No drugs, alcohol, noticeable tattoo’s, language was clean around clients and we were timely as much as possible.
Frankly I see kids these days and not all; but sadly far too many that lack focus, discipline and respect for others and themselves. For more than half a century I was a mentor and created jobs for those that in many cases didn’t have the best of opportunities. Bluntly speaking I did everything I could and some people such as the managers that were mentioned are beyond helping/saving.
Back in my day at least the people I was around were hard working, ambitious and wanted to make both our country and community proud. We used to take pride in hard work but now I see more people interested in social media and entertainment; it’s really a shame.
Steve
Halloween has become crazier than Christmas in some aspects. Home Depot has their Halloween decorations release day on 7/13. I like it because I lead up a large amateur garage based haunted house, and while we don’t use any of the cheapo animatronics, there are sometimes a few props that can be useful and I pick them up early. It’s actually the biggest project I use my tool collection for all year.
Joe H
And come the end of September Halloween stuff will be on clearance and hard to find and Christmas stuff will be rolling out.
TomD
This is the most annoying part of it. We’re in the hottest days of summer and all the summer stuff is on clearance or already gone.
I want gallons of bubble solution and it’s all gone unless I make my own. Swimsuits are down to a few left, nothing more.
Seasonality is getting way out of wack.
krashtd
Halloween decor is one of the biggest and fastest growing seasonal product classes for Home Depot, and seemingly every other retailer, even before COVID significantly shifted buying habits and trends. In past years, Christmas decor has been the biggest category and generally takes up the full space that was allotted for patio products during summer, while Halloween gets a smaller space elsewhere in the store, or a significantly reduced space where patio used to be. This year, I expect it to be bigger (and I don’t just mean the giant Jack Skellington that’s the new “thing” this year), possibly more than half the patio area..
Scotty.
Can’t believe people spend money on that crap.
Joe E.
My wife and I go all out decorating for Halloween and we’ve purchased stuff like this for our display. The kids love it.
I’m sure there’s crap you buy where others could say the same thing.
Clay
We saw these yesterday and my daughter was enamored.
Ours had a huge mummy-skeleton too.
I like the big plastic dudes but I would want to spend hundreds on something with animatronics that probably would not last.
eddie sky
And you have to store them somewhere, taking up space. Or someone will steal it from your porch. Or next year, the 2.0 version will be out, cooler looking, allow “Bluetooth” integration with an app to your phone, then next year 3.0 version will be out with camera in the eyes and better customization, languages, storage for custom music/voice….
Unless you are that cool neighbor that starts working now on turning your front yard and garage into a haunted treat. Otherwise, its all expensive crap.
John E
Some years ago, at my local Lowe’s (this was long before Halloween became the next big retail marketing wank fest), BBQ grills were beings rolled out in one direction and Christmas trees in in the other. This was the day after Labor day. Oddly, it did not make me smile.
Rick
Costco has had halloween stuff out for several weeks now. I was in Sam’s Club yesterday and they had Halloween stuff out. As others have pointed out, It won’t be long before Christmas stuff will be out if it isn’t already in some places. I realize retailers are trying to fleece the consumer for every dime that can but this Halloween/Christmas thing is getting out of hand.
Peter
Haha, they have a puppet Halloween Band working the customers at the cs desk for weeks now here too.
Scott Davis
We do a huge Halloween set up at a local campground. Search “Shenandoah Valley Campground Halloween 2022” to see a youtube video.
Tom
I work at Lowe’s here in Concord, NH.
We have a Great Team here.
I started back in November.
I have worked with the public in many different areas.
We all try our best to make shopping for our customers the best way we can. It has been said by customers that it is so nice to walk into a store where everyone is willing to help but also if they are not sure of the answer they get you to the person who can help.
Some have said we are like a small hardware store because we are willing to go with the customer to where the item may be and point out the differences and the customer leaves with a smile on their face.
I’ve worked for small family businesses.
Hardware and Grocery.
We went that extra mile so as to keep the customers coming back and that’s what it feels like to me now working for Lowe’s.
prior to Lowe’s I worked at Home Depot.
I can say that its a completely different experience.
when it came to getting a Manager to come to the front of the store for a customer it wouldn’t happen even if you made it perfectly clear over to PA system no one would come up.
I am not one to let this go so I would walk back to where the Manager was sitting I would walk the customer back to speak with them.
Later they would ask why I did this and I said you are a manager being requested by a customer that wishes to speak to you about an issue. I said if you do not wish to do so step aside and let someone else take your place.
With one customer who had a very legitimate problem I walked down and escorted the young manager up front to speak with the customer.
the store now has a different Manager who is clearing out the store of the people who had many years of experience and is replacing them with people from his old store creating a safety net if you will around him.
He also will pawn a customer off onto an employee so he may go back to sit in his office and not respond to any requests for him to go speak with a customer.
Those that are under him for assistant manager’s have either gone to different stores because of how he leads and also have become minions and don’t dare to say a word.
It is a shame that the Concord, NH Home Depot was looked at as top store in the District.
Now it’s a place where if you are able to find help you are lucky.
The surveys on the bottom of the receipts have really hurt the store because the Leadership has failed.
We are seeing more and more Home Depot shoppers in our store because of the lack of customer service there.
I ask those who have read this to give your local Lowe’s another chance.
I can not take away a bad experience that has happened but I ask if you would give us another chance.
Dan
If any of my local Lowe’s or any of the ones I worked at before I got into the trades I would’ve stayed.
Neighbor Joe
That’s Lowes. Christmas stuff will be out end of August. Then day after Christmas, its storage containers as if Christmas never happened.