Nova Scotia Building Supply Shopping Guide

Nova Scotia Building Supply: A Shopper’s Perspective

Why You Should Visit

Exceptional Staff Assistance: You’ll find knowledgeable and friendly staff in various departments. For example, one shopper received excellent help choosing wood for a wine rack, another received friendly and helpful assistance selecting kitchen faucet fixtures, and others praised the paint department staff’s expertise. A staff member named Jamie was specifically singled out for praise.
High-Quality Products: The selection, while perhaps limited in some areas (like kitchen cabinets, which had quality issues for one shopper), is considered higher quality than what’s found at competitors like Canadian Tire or Gow’s. This was noted particularly regarding bathroom accessories and kitchen and bath fixtures.
Good Selection of Home Supplies: You’ll find a variety of home supplies, including bathroom accessories, paint (with a well-displayed color selection), and even shower doors (though check carefully for missing parts).
Positive Overall Experiences: Many shoppers report positive experiences, highlighting “great experience all around” and “easy to say, the wife & I love it.” One shopper even considered it the “best LBM store in the province.”

Inconsistent Customer Service: Be aware that responsiveness varies greatly. While some shoppers received prompt and helpful service, others experienced significant delays in communication after measurements, estimates, and repairs, with calls and emails going unanswered. One shopper’s experience with missing parts on shower doors and the lack of store assistance was extremely negative.
Product Quality Concerns: I’ve noticed reports of poor quality in certain products. Kitchen cabinets, in particular, seem to have some serious issues, requiring full replacements and causing significant delays in receiving ordered replacements. Additionally, inexpensive caulking guns were found to be defective with a strict return policy that didn’t account for immediate product failure.
Assembly Issues: Expect potential delays and extra charges for assembling items like wheelbarrows. The store policy on assembling pre-assembled floor models seems inconsistent and inconvenient.
Contractors’ Focus: The store may cater more towards contractors, making the experience less ideal for smaller home improvement projects. This is evidenced by the comments regarding the suitability for contractor projects, while cautioning that it may be insufficient for “home FYI projects.”
Unreliable Estimates and Follow Up: Don’t expect prompt follow-up on estimates. In one case, an estimate for a $6000 countertop was never received after a promised email.