dromike15

Just wondering if anyone here is a Lowes or HD installer. I am considering it. It seems like good steady work in a slow economy. Any info would be great.

Thanks,
Mike

Celtic

What is your definition of "good steady work"?

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Framer53

You had better get a good system in place before you do it. I have read the horror stories, and know that some people have made it work. The ones that make it work, from my recollection is that they follow a sytem for everything!
I had some granite installed by them, they had, the installers had a superior system for doing the work.

oldfrt

I stopped by Lowes last week to fill out an application as an installer in case the economy takes another nosedive.
Got to be ready for anything when you got a family to support.

Anyways,the applications are done online,the store will only give you a packet containing their propaganda.

While I was there,one of the managers informed me that it takes about 9 months to get a response.
Something about doing thorough background checks.
Also he said they require that you have at least 2 employees.
They would keep you within a 25-30 mile radius of the store.
Other than that,that's all I got.

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dromike15

Hrm...at least 2 employees? Wonder if it varies by area. I dont have two full time employees. I'm a firefighter and was doing fire awareness at a Lowes this past weekend. Met with the Commercial Services manager as well as the operations manager. I applied online roughly 2 weeks ago.

They told me someone would be giving me a call on Monday, which they did. Only thing is they would want me to work out of the Danbury, CT store and thats roughly about an hour away from me.

oldfrt

Which store did you go to?
I stopped in the new store in Torrington.
I'm about an hour from Danbury too.

Maybe this guy saw I was an old fart and figured I needed at least two guys to help me in and out of my truck.

.

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dromike15

Haha. I went to the new Southington store.

oldfrt

[quoteThey told me someone would be giving me a call on Monday, which they did. Only thing is they would want me to work out of the Danbury, CT store and thats roughly about an hour away from me.[/quote]


So, did you fill out an application at the store?
And they have work for you now?
No background check?
No waiting 9 months?
No need for having employees?

I must be uglier than I thought.

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dromike15

Also, I read through that packet you were talking about back when they first were opening the Southington store. Never saw anything about having at least 2 employees. I meet all of their insurance requirements. Its just having Full time employees would kill a small guy like me at the moment.

dromike15

So, did you fill out an application at the store?
And they have work for you now?
No background check?
No waiting 9 months?
No need for having employees?

I must be uglier than I thought.[/quote]

Filled out the application online
Just happened to talk to the right guy I guess.
I am supposed to have a meeting with someone at Lowes Danbury Friday afternoon or Monday. No set time yet.
I guess I haven't got to the backround check yet.
Not sure about the 9 month waiting period.
Nothing about having employees was ever mentioned in my conversations with personnel there.

If I were you I would get in touch with the operations manager or the area installs manager.

oldfrt

Dromike15,
Come back and tell us how you make out.

I just need to keep work lined up steady so I don't crumble up into a artharitic,lazy,sleep late,get fat older fart this winter if things don't start coming in faster.

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Bill Z

Sounds like the local guy might have been putting up some hurdles to discourage you from applying and maybe protecting someone already in his system?

What'ya got to lose by going on line and applying?

Been that route, wasn't all that tough, maybe a few bucks for a background check. Never did the first job though.

oldfrt

That thoughy crossed my mind.
I just don't want to sit around too much this winter,my wife got her hours cut,in the school system,budget cuts........

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DavidC

We did it for a few years. It wasn't that bad and the money being good depends on having your own system as Framer53 said. Once your in the system and working the pay is mostly dependable, we could count on a check each week. After a while we had one employee that did all of the measuring and did most of the installations. We could schedule a crew or team for bigger jobs.

One thing we noticed is the customers that bought their services were a different breed than the ones we normally sold to. Not all, but it sure seemed like a lot. They know the store will give them a refund or a discount if they scream loud enough. The store will try to lay it on you whenever they can. If your systematized yourself and learn their system you will have a good defense. You should know going in that you will not win them all.

They do provide good factory training on some products. I had a knee jerk reaction at one such seminar and proceeded to correct the window rep. Everyone moved quietly away from me. (He was telling the installers to beat the window weight pulley with their hammer until it flattens out.)

We left because our own sales were going up, which outweigh the stupid politics you had to play.

For a brief time we also installed for their orange competitor. That was a nightmare. It was interesting though when we got a call from both stores to contact the same customer for measuring.

Good Luck
Dave

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Teetorbilt

Scroll down to <archive>, click and search. There is a ton of info there including my own. (Didn't even think about it).

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not_right

i know alot of success stories working for HD and quite a few nightmares as well. havent jumped into that arena yet but i do know quite a bit about how they operate their roofing-siding installations as i know a cpl of guys that do work for them.

money can be made depending on how your business is setup. If you can deal with their processes and guidelines (which can be challenging) you will do allright.

every time i hear someone go into Lowes though, they never end up installing for them as someone said earlier the time it takes for them to get back to you is forever.

HomerJ

What do you want to know?

I have experience with the blue and orange install programs from both sides.

PM me if you like.

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BCConstruction

I just took my buisness cards into lowes the other day and they hand them out to customers that want work done. Handy thing is i know a lot of them who work their and i also know the guy in the bathroom sales area and he recommends me to all the customers. Will let you know who it pans out in a few months.

Celtic

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Thewoodman

I would keep it on the down low about them passing your name out.

Technically lowes and the depot are not supposed to give out names of contractors. It is great that they are wiling to but they could lose their jobs over it.

That does say a lot about you that they are passing you name out. Good job. Buy them doughnuts once in awhile.

Mark

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