With the abundance of tools, parts, materials, and resources available these days, more and more people are choosing the DIY route when it comes to making home improvements. You want to make sure you’re buying your supplies from a retailer you can trust because, when it comes to your home, you want to be able to have faith in your purchases, as well as the expertise and service of the people providing them. Today, we’re going to take a closer look at two of the biggest names in hardware, Lowe’s and Northern Tool, and see how they stack up against each other.
Range
Both companies offer a vast range of products; however, there are some differences between the two. Lowe’s is the bigger company and boasts a selection of over 400,000 items on hand every day, so it’s the best place to start when you’re looking for something slightly less specialized. This can include anything from tools and building supplies to plumbing, paint and home security. Northern Tool’s selection is still impressive, but it’s a tenth the size of Lowe’s. What it lacks in volume, it makes up for by offering a more specialist catalog. You’ll still find most of the same things that you would at Lowe’s, maybe with fewer options, but it’s also the best place to get items like food processing equipment, logging tools, and farming equipment. In short, Lowe’s is probably more suitable for the everyday DIYer and tradesperson, but Northern Tool is better for someone with more “commercial” requirements.
Deals & Value
Both companies offer customers incredible value on their products. While Lowe’s may appear cheaper for generic items, at the end of the day, they do have slightly different offerings, with Northern Tool having more high-ticket items in stock. They also both have daily deals on thousands of items, so you’ll be able to save money whichever one you choose.
Accessibility
How easy is to get the tool or part you need? Well, due to the scale of Lowe’s, it is going to be easier to find one of their 2,355 stores in the United States, Canada or Mexico. Northern Tool, on the other hand, opened its one-hundredth store on 2017. But these days, the number of branches isn’t always as significant when you have a website. At this time, Lowe’s only delivers to US addresses; however, this does include Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, Puerto Rico, Palau, American Samoa, the US Virgin Islands, APOs and FPOs. Despite having a smaller product range, Northern Tool actually ships to most of the countries in the world, so it’s the only option for non-US residents.
Shipping
Both Lowe’s and Northern Tool both offer free store pick up, so if you live near one of their branches and the item isn’t too bulky, this can be a great option. It is likely to be a bit more convenient for Lowe’s customers though, given their store count. They also both provide a number of delivery options, including standard, priority and express shipping. Lowe’s has slightly faster delivery times, and they are better on shipping rates, offering free shipping for most orders over $49, or free shipping on any order if you’re a “MyLowe’s” member. While Northern Tool may take a bit more time and cost a little more, it’s usually due to orders being more specialized, or including items that are harder to source.
Summary
In conclusion, both hardware companies can offer a lot to their customers, including the best quality items, excellent customer service, and great value for money. It’s hard to compare them with each other directly because they do have slightly different product offerings, and either one of them could be the best fit depending on the item you’re looking for. If you know the part you’re looking for, you can’t go wrong by visiting both sites to search for what you need. Lowe’s and Northern Tool both have intuitive web stores that make finding products a swift process, and they also have expert customer care teams you can contact for assistance by phone, email or live online chat. Visit Lowes.com or NorthernTool.com today to find the perfect part for your next job.
Free Standard Shipping on $49+ at NorthernTool.com
