Lowe’s Camden, DE: A Shopper’s Guide

Why You Should Visit

• Exceptional Plumbing Department Staff: You’ll find incredibly helpful and friendly associates, especially Ray in Plumbing. He goes above and beyond, offering detailed explanations of products and even assisting with loading heavy items into your vehicle. This goes beyond typical customer service.
• Wide Selection of Home Improvement Products: The location offers a broad range of items, including toilets, PVC pipes, household appliances, stone blocks, lumber, bricks, and even wood pellets (though stock location may be inconsistent). I’ve also seen a large selection of countertops and backsplash materials available.
• Affordable Prices: I’ve found competitive pricing on certain items, such as PVC pipes. Keep in mind, some prices may be higher than other retailers.
• Helpful Staff Across Departments: While inconsistent, many employees demonstrate a strong work ethic and helpful demeanor. I’ve built a rapport with a staff member over a product sourcing issue, and the paint department staff are known for their color-matching skills and general assistance.
• Excellent Countertop and Backsplash Service: The process, from selection to installation, is highly professional and efficient. The team is knowledgeable, respectful, and provides quick response times to questions.

Why You Might Consider Alternatives

• Inconsistent Curbside Pickup: Be aware that curbside pickup experiences can be extremely unreliable. Orders are frequently not ready, items may be out of stock, and significant delays are common. The process lacks clear communication and often requires multiple trips to different areas of the store. It is suggested you either go inside or consider ordering from another location.
• Appliance Issues: The store’s appliance return policy is very restrictive, limited to only 48 hours. There were reported issues with damaged appliance deliveries, delayed deliveries, and difficulties resolving problems with the credit department. In one case, a fraudulent delivery claim was made.
• Unreliable Special Orders: There have been multiple reports of significant delays and unexpected fees associated with special orders, like doors. These issues involve extensive customer service efforts with little to no success.
• Inconsistent Customer Service: While many staff members are incredibly helpful, customer service can be extremely poor in several departments and with management. There were reports of incidents where staff members displayed a lack of care for customers’ injuries, and unhelpful interactions at the pro desk. Even simple requests like lumber cutting can result in long waits and unhelpful employees. The availability of staff and their understanding of product location is inconsistent.
• Inventory Management Problems: Finding specific items, even those listed as in stock (e.g., wood pellets), can be very challenging due to poor inventory management and inconsistent information between the online store and the physical store.