Home Depot & Lowe’s
I’ve been needing some supplies, and have been running up lists for what I want/need from Home Depot and Lowe’s.
The last time I talked about ordering from a home center, I got yelled at by a couple of readers and visitors, but thanked from some Lowe’s workers.
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In my mind, I assume my order is picked and loaded at night, after stores close early to customers, and delivered the next day by a driver who has little interactions with others, adhering to social distancing practices. I’ve created a list of supplies, and it’s going to be expensive to pay delivery fees, if or when I do place those orders, but I’d think that’s safer than visiting the local stores.
I’ve been hearing about Black Friday-like crowds at stores. In my town’s Facebook page, someone asked how busy it was at the nearby Home Depot, and there were comments about how certain stores were very busy and to be avoided.
There are news reports of large family outings at Home Depot and Lowe’s stores, of people drinking coffee while lounging on lawn furniture displays, and of people strolling around the stores not buying anything and just “looking around.”
I’d like to visit the local stores to save money, and yes even look around, but I won’t.
I had wanted to report on how stores are adapting to COVID-19 social distancing guidelines, which requires firsthand observations, but I’d just get in the way and be one more person there for a non-essential purpose.
I really hope that online orders are fulfilled how I envision them, with workers safe and protected. There are no recommendations or guidelines regarding online orders yet, and so we’re left to our personal discretion.
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I know that there must be quite a few pros and consumers making essential supply runs to Home Depot and Lowe’s, but news reports about mulch and tulip bulbs not being essential suggest there are a lot of shoppers who shouldn’t be there.
The parking lot of my local garden center was crowded. Sure, I’d like to go, but I won’t, at least not right now.
I’d like to pick up my more pressing supplies from the local Home Depot, but refrained, even before we were put under “seriously, don’t go out if you don’t need to!!” advisement, with official saying even grocery store runs should be avoided right now if you have the option.
As you might know, ToolGuyd has affiliate relationships with Home Depot, Lowe’s, and other online retailers. Following is an excerpt of the guidelines one big box retailer sent to me:
The [redacted] team needs you to immediately make the following changes to our coverage on your site:
Remove any calls for BOPIS Buy online, pick up, in-store
Below are a few ideas we have:
Promote our 2-Day free shipping on orders over $45
Buy button inclusions on product review posts
Basically, they’re telling us to avoid any language that encourages in-store visits – even in-store pickup – and that such language could be replaced with language that focuses more on online ordering with home delivery.
That’s as close to a *thumbs up, we’re safely managing online orders* as I’ve seen.
I wish I had visited the local home centers before shelter-in-place guidelines went into effect, but even then I was conscious that every outing was an exposure risk. I really don’t know people still aren’t taking this seriously. Family outings at Home Depot and Lowe’s because the mall and other stores are closed??!
Unprecedented Garden Demands
I ordered vegetable seeds a couple of weeks, and still haven’t received 2 out of 4 orders. Burpee, a name you probably recognize if you’ve ever looked at the seed packets at Home Depot, is closing to new orders for a few days, thru 4/15/20 (at least?), as they work to catch up with order fulfillment in a safe manner.
Burpee cites unprecedented order volume and correspondence.
Territorial Seed has also temporarily suspended orders due to unprecedented demand. They expect to open to new orders again in 2 weeks.
Bank Call
I just received a call from a local bank. They called me a week ago to tell me they have shorter hours, and today they called to tell me the branch lobby is closed. Only the bank drive-thru will be open.
I was surprised, but honestly the calls were welcome, unlike the upselling calls I’ve received from two other local branches over the past two years.
They also asked if I needed to make a CARES Act small business forgivable loan application, and pointed me to the bank’s website for more information.
Supermarket Visit
I went to the supermarket a few days ago, 10 days after my last visit, and they had a line outdoors. An associate wiped down cart handles, and there were floor markings designating where you should stand to remain 6+ feet apart.
The store had a one-in, one-out policy. The store wasn’t crowded inside, but it also wasn’t very empty.
There were a couple of pairs and trios of people, most of whom weren’t wearing masks. Most individual shoppers were wearing face masks.
I was wearing a low-profile woodworking mask sample, and I hated it because when it wasn’t hurting my nose it was sliding down a little. But, it was either that, a too-warm neck gaiter, or nothing. I ordered cloth masks from a small US maker, but they’ve been swamped with orders and it’ll be some time before they arrived.
I was also wearing disposable gloves because 1) it helps me avoid touching my face, and 2) my hands have been so dry and torn up that alcohol sanitizer really hurts.
Some of the people that were shopping together sometimes had two carts, and that really clogged up some shopping aisles. Others were together and with only one cart, but they still clogged up narrow walkways.
Perhaps having one-way policies for the aisles would really cut down on bottlenecks where people have to pass each other.
Last time I went to the store, they had a distancing policy at the checkout registers, where you stand behind a line while you load your groceries onto the belt, and step forward only when called to pay for the order. The clean the conveyor belt and all customer-interaction surfaces between each customer.
This time, they had plastic barrier sheets set up by the checkout pads. This wasn’t unexpected, as I read some stores were doing this. I hope it’s enough to protect cashiers and retail workers, as so far they haven’t been allowed to wear masks.
I have read that some cities (such as LA) have or are implementing rules where customers cannot enter stores without wearing a cloth face mask or covering of some kind.
Locally
Where we live, there are still more cases of positive COVID-19 cases each day. It’s a little confusing, since recent cases must have been transmitted after social distancing guidelines went into effect.
State and county parks are now closed, because people were still congregating in groups and not practicing social distancing.
Locally, “play dates” were once again discouraged.
My wife took our preschooler for a walk and some dingbat jackass screamed out the window “6 feeeeeet!” Are there really people who really think a 3 year old should be 6 feet away from their parents? How do they cross the street then?
Every day, people post photos to the local Facebook page, showing disposable gloves that have been littered across town.
If you take gloves off properly, you can just stick them in your back pocket until you get to a garbage can.
We picked up a pizza last week, at an unfamiliar restaurant the next town over since our favored local pizza shop closed after a week of curb-side pickup experiments and because we don’t like the others. It was chaos. This restaurant was also having pickups done outdoors, but people don’t know how to stand 6 feet apart. Our 30 min ETA was off and so I had to wait a few minutes. I don’t know how I’d run things at a pizzeria or take-out at a restaurant, but leaving a dozen customers to stand around aimlessly in a small parking lot is not a good idea. I stood way off to the side and waited for my number.
What Comes Next?
It’s frustrating for everyone to practice social distancing, but this is what we need to do to stay safe and healthy. Guidelines have been changing, and businesses have been adapting. We have to do what’s necessary to be safe, and to ensure the safety of others.
Thankfully, *knock on wood*, we’re safe and healthy, and trying to stay that way.
I’m saddened by the stories I read in the news each day, about the mounting deaths, healthcare workers that are being pushed and pushing themselves to exhaustion and unimaginable challenges. Statistics are climbing, and projections for illnesses and deaths are scary. I try to shut off that part of my mind.
Every outing is a potential risk exposure.
I’m sure we’ll conquer this – it’s just a matter of waiting for the medical field to work out effective therapies and/or a vaccine, as well as widespread rapid testing, and for civil leadership to work out rules for safe societal interactions.
It’s hard to know that there’s nothing we can do. How can we help those that are helping us? How can we show appreciation for the doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers who are enduring so much to keep their patients and the general public healthy and alive?
I try to narrow my focus for these posts, but it’s hard.
Earlier today I wrote about a deal on outdoor power tools. I struggled with that – how can I write about anything tool-related, with everyday life so disrupted as it is now? Thousands of people are sick and dying from COVID-19, and healthy people and survivors are isolated and scared. Yes, people die every day, and from a wide variety of causes, but there has never been such upheaval to our way of life in this generation.
I worry it makes me seem unsympathetic or insensitive, but I’ve been avoiding talking about the coronavirus pandemic in general terms, instead focusing on my direct observations and reportings about what’s happening at the big box home centers. It’s a lot to handle, but I’m also sure you’ve been reading or hearing enough from general news channels.
How have you guys been holding up?
For those readers and visitors that might work at Home Depot, Lowe’s, Ace Hardware, or other such hardware stores and home centers, what has the scene been like at your stores?
Related posts:
Coronavirus Pandemic Log: So, I went Shopping This Week, and Schools Here are Closed (3/15/20)
COVID-19 News: New Home Depot and Lowe’s Online Ordering Policies (4/10/2020)
COVID-19 News: Too Many Shoppers at Home Depot and Lowe’s Stores? (4/13/20)
COVID-19 News: Relaxed Retail Policies, USA Factory Closures (5/13/20)
Flotsam
That controlled entry policy was what i saw at my local Home Depot the other day
The panic buying of things like hoarded Toilet Paper seems to have alleviated a bit.
Everyone stay safe
John
I’ve been to my local Home Depot about every other day for work items and parts to fix a toilet at home. They have been controlling the number of people entering but there are still a lot of people in the store and many of the customers have no courtesy to keep their distance. I notice the overwhelming majority of HD customers here do not wear gloves or masks. Men, very few do. Female shoppers wear the safety items far more often.
One thing I notice is that far more people are speeding excessively while driving. More drivers are on cell phones regardless of hands free law. Watched someone get arrested in the middle of the street yesterday, 6 patrol cars in total. All in all, more damn crazy idiots are out daily and the normal and sane are hold up their houses.
Part of my time is being spend making 3D printed face shields and donating to non profits, friends I know at hospitals where many are needed and individuals who have asked. In the coming weeks I should have done about 400 and hope to get to 600 before the clear material depletes. I wish more people could this time beneficially.
Joe
Very commendable !
Jaycob P.
I ran to Menards and Home Depot this morning and both were pretty dead here. Only a few tradesman running around. Home Depot had a limit of 100 customers which feels like a ton since I think even Black Friday there were not that many people in the store. For the most part we all avoided each other except there was a gang of three contractors at Menards running right next to each other and other customers. I got out of the aisle until they left since they didn’t seem to care about keeping distance (they were practicality running me and someone else over).
Mike S
My local HD stores are doing Curbside Pickup – they have split the contract drive-thru area into 2 dedicated lanes: 1 for Pros, and 1 for Curbside Pickup. For Curbside Pickup – you just call the store number when you arrive, say “Curbside Pickup”, and then after telling them your order details they ask what vehicle you are in, and a few minutes later, they bring out the order and place it directly in your trunk. Works great.
Rick
I went to Home Depot and Lowe’s two weeks ago, neither store had all what I wanted. I went to their web sites, found the aisles the products were located, got to the store when it first opened, got what I needed, was the only person at the checkout counter, in and out in five minutes.
Jay
I go at 6:00 am and no one is there…just the way I like it, pandemic or not.
fred
I’m not sure what it is about shopping and the need to be out and about at this time that appeals to people. For some it may be a sense of invulnerability – or just playing the odds. For others its might be a way to try to preserve their sanity in a particularly trying time. For me and my wife who have not left our property in weeks – its getting old – but not enough to want to venture off to Lowes or HD.
As far as reckless driving goes – in may locales this is a really bad time to have an accident needing a trip to the ER – but I suspect that some of those who regularly speed also have that feeling of invincibility. Even though I’m approaching 80 – I can still remember some of my misspent youth – driving much too fast in a muscle car. Unfortunately while age may bring a modicum of wisdom for some – others may not get that opportunity because their lives might be cut short.
DanFromMass
For the past 4 weeks, every time I’ve driven past my local Home Depot that Peking lot looks like its Labor Day Weekend.
The store is crowded with couples walking in and out. Feels like most people are treating Stay-at-Home orders more like a home renovation vacation.
Leonard
I called my Home Depot because I heard that they had people in lines waiting to go in. I explained that I had ordered online and was there just to pick up. I asked if I would be able to pickup and not wait in the line. The answer was no. I had to wait with everyone. I explained that the reason I ordered online and was doing a pick up was to avoid as much contact as possible. They said I could call 20 minutes before so my order would be ready and ask if there was a line. I thanked the young lady for her time and added she might want to talk to her manager about pickups.
I will call before hand and if there is a line I won’t go. Unless they have changed their policy and are doing curbside pickup. I will update once my order comes in.
Leonard
I picked up my order this morning. I was there about 6:30 AM. They open at 6AM but I wanted to give them time to get settled in. There were no lines and very few people. They had set barriers to control entry.
The gentleman at the door noticed I had a print out of my order and asked if I was just picking up or had other items to shop for. I told him I needed paint. He suggested I go to paint get my order in and then go back to pickup.
It took about a half an hour in total.
Everyone was polite and helpful.
Joe Hanson
I went to harbor freight yesterday and it was about as busy as I’ve ever seen it on a normal day where they were not having a big sale.
Ben
Located in Seattle – we’ve known about community spread since late February, so we’ve been isolating for almost 6 weeks now. We’ve been doing good with grocery shopping once a week (down from almost daily – we live in the city and I can see our grocery store from my 2nd floor windows). We’re trying to support local restaurants by doing take out once or twice a week as well (and tipping well or donating to the employee funds places have setup).
I stocked up on materials for shop and house projects in Feb and have only needed to make 2 runs to ACE since, which is also only a few blocks away. Our local ACE is limiting customers, has plexiglass up and no-touch checkout setup. I made sure to go during a dead time (I can scope the place out on dog walks).
Unfortunately I’m running out of some supplies – some stuff that I really need to get at Home Depot & Lowes. Plywood is the big thing, but we’re also running out of cleaning supplies as well. Thankfully it seems like the panic buying really died out almost 2 weeks ago, but our grocery store still hasn’t had any sort of disinfecting cleaning stuff since the first week of March. I’m looking to make a complete list and go shopping early next week.
I’d say the lowest traffic was probably a week ago. Some metric in the news said we had 8% of normal traffic volumes for a few days. Just judging from road noise, I think it’s starting to slowly go back up. Makes sense, lots of people still need to work.
Ben V
I need some plywood as well! I’m on the east side and hope Dunn
Lumber is quieter and they are local, so I want to give them my support!
David A.
Toolguyd stuff is what I come here for. Is not disrespectful to keep doing what you are good at. I might have a slightly morbid take on that however. Working in Law Enforcement for over 40 years, we would have a line of duty death, mourn that night over bourbon or whiskey, then have to hit it the next day. Bandits don’t care what’s on your mind or heart, they gonna be bandits.
mattd
We had a jerk customer get mad at the paint desk associates because they barricaded 6 feet in front and just frisby a paint lid into the associates head. I have been cussed at/swore at every day for the past week by customers who refuse to follow our simple guidelines for entry and exit like it is ruining their life. I have had several contractors swear and make rude gestures when I asked them to park in the lot while they shop instead of right in front of the exit. on any given day at least 30% of my staff has called out and so I keep getting yelled and cursed at because load times for anything needing a forklift is at least 30 mins. sure some people are understanding, but many yell at you while spending 45 mins in the garden department browsing, only to leave with 1 bougainvillea plant. at this point I am just hoping I can get the sickness sooner rather than later so that I can call out without feeling like I am abandoning my team. I wish I was in Michigan where they have blocked off all non essential areas like paint/flooring/garden. Even better yet Quebec where customers can ONLY shop online and pickup curbside and are not allowed in the stores at all.
Don Julio
“but news reports about mulch and tulip bulbs not being essential suggest there are a lot of shoppers who shouldn’t be there.”
Well, good luck keeping the doors open for essential shopping without the purchases deemed not essential. It takes a cash flow to keep the supply lines open.
I work in big box. Haven’t missed a day during all of this. It ain’t business as usual. It’s a long way from some theoretical pandemic ideal. It’s triage commerce.
My store has many high risk associates on leave, more than the usual number of sick calls, as well as no shows from new hires. We’re on strict customer counts in-store and abiding by new hygiene and social distancing requirements. There’s a new one every day. We’re doing this on the fly.
We’re stretched thin and corporate has been very supportive. Most of our customers understand and we appreciate them.
From some of the comments here and from some of my experiences over the last few weeks, however, we do have customers that don’t understand that having extra expectations from a depleted staff is not a great recipe.
Curbside pickup? I’d love to be able to provide that service while explaining over the phone to someone how the website works when they have their own computer, as I work my way over to an understaffed department to help the customer that took the time and effort to walk through the front door. Might happen, maybe, in a more perfect world, but it’s triage, not ideal.
I’m definitely being snarkier than I should be and I apologize, but I thought this thread needed a small peek behind the curtain. I suspect my store isn’t the only one with these challenges.
You have a great website, Stuart. I hope you and everyone here stays healthy and financially sound. Take care.
Stuart
Thank you, I appreciate your insights and hearing about your experiences!
It’s good to hear that your store and corporate have been supportive.
I hope you’re well and for things to get easier at your store.
Toolfreak
The experience at Lowe’s/HD or any store is likely dependent on what state you live in and what the state and local officals have decided in terms of rules and regulations about store capacity. Some places it’s more of a free-for-all with predictable results, others it’s long lines and fairly strict policies.
Really, it seems like allowing any shopping for non-essentials, even at stores that have essentials, is leading to people just going out to those stores because they’re bored and have nothing else to do, and don’t want to stay home.
The_Bob
My neighbor decided it was time to rebuild the fence that divided our yards and posted the old one on Craigslist. Someone came and hauled the old one away in the middle of the day while I was working. After it was gone, they decided they were too busy to build a new one, but had no issue with their dog pooping in my yard or their kids coming and playing with my kids toys so I had to sanitize everything before my kid could play with them.
I felt bad having to go to HomeDepot to buy fence supplies and wore a respirator and gloves when I went. But felt I had no other chance but to build a new fence between our yards.
I was floored by how many people were in the store and how few had any type of face mask, or even remotely cared about keeping their distance. A majority of the people there were getting random supplies, paint, things that at least felt like non essential purchases. Who knows what their actual needs were, I can’t say. But I had a a cough previously and had not left the house in 4 weeks. I couldn’t believe how many people were out seemingly just proceeding with life as if nothing was different than any other day.
I’m trying to stay home, but it seems like as others do the same, and it helps reduce the spread of covid, that others just think it’s a hoax and that they can go out because it’s not worse than it is. I can’t say what the reality is, but I was really surprised by how many people in my city seemed to be acting as if nothing was abnormal. It was definitely as full as an early start of improvements and yard work Saturday would be this time of year.
Heck if I know, and what can I say since I went out, but I wish the people in my city were taking this more seriously. I live in Washington, FYI, so I feel like it should be more top of mind considering the level of sickness and awe was in our state.
Jim Felt
I deleted a snarky post about how dismally obvious some people are regards medical science denial.
But I won’t.
Be safe. And please look out for those less skilled in that area.
Robert
So, I’m in Texas, in an area that has 1 Covid case reported in the county. People still think it’s a government conspiracy around here.
That being said, the traffic is identical to Saturday traffic, both on the road and in Lowe’s and HD. The Homedepot manager said they made $25,000 more this month than the same month last year.
They’re backed up on deliveries and everyone is working on a project.
The manager was also telling me that they will go to “natural disaster mode” if needed, which is when no one can enter the store and you hand off your list at the curb and associates get it for you.
They are determined to stay open regardless.
The_Bob
I also don’t mean this as a political post in any way, I appreciate reading posts on tool reviews and new tools from this site. It’s a great distraction and feeling of normalcy during an otherwise abnormal time. Stores do need to remain open to keep the world turning. I will say running into someone at the end of an isle was way more awkward. But my friends, neighbors and wife are not able to work during this time due to state restrictions. For me at least, I feel like I owe those who’s jobs are lost or restricted the respect of not carrying on with life as normal when others are enduring such significant sacrifices.
Stuart
I can appreciate your standpoint.
With this post, I’m motivated by a desire to watch, understand, and share about what’s happening with home centers as they adapt to the changing situation, and hope for additional readers’ observations and experiences to help fill in the blanks and add to the story.
It seems to me that home centers are being hit hard by high and low priority customer needs in-store, and that the same is happening with online orders. News outlets and readers have reported about in-store settings, and the error messages and alerts I saw on the websites today seem to describe what’s happening with online orders and local deliver fulfillment.
I think it’s important to look for a sense of normalcy if and where possible, but with discretion. It’s a tough question – what exactly is appropriate right not, and what’s disrespectful? Personally, I’ve taken the guidance to heart and if it’s not essential, I don’t go out.
Boggsy
Wonder how Cali is doing… If they’re still letting 70+ people hang out and try to jump in front of your car all day.
With half the population homeless, mostly due to inconceivably small one bedroom apartments going for $2,500/month… Every restaraunt (or basically any of the few places that allow you to take a piss) has…well, unofficial residents. It has to be hell on earth anywhere that still has their doors open. =/
Kizzle
Are you really that surprised that people aren’t taking this seriously? Weeks before it hit the US there were some pretty obvious signs that a subset of the population wasn’t going to take this seriously. I work in retail and have seen the gamut of attitudes as to why. I am asthmatic and had an older gentleman come right up close to me for service today. I asked him if we could maintain a distance while I helped him. His response was to purposefully cough at me and start saying, “it’s all a hoax.” Some people I’ve seen in the store are there with their kids talking about how they need to get out of the house and “do something.” I’m shocked at the number of elderly I see coming in for 1 or 2 items since they’re the ones at the greatest risk. It’s been eye opening as to the disregard for others that I’ve seen. Even if someone is young and healthy, the cavalier attitudes they exhibit about the risk they are putting others in is totally demoralizing. I know that many people are following guidelines and taking precautions to protect others, for which I am glad. Maybe I’m just seeing a large percentage of the irresponsible people since the responsible ones are all at home? Stay safe everyone.
Judy
I really thinks that’s it-the irresponsible/bored/conspiracy theorists are the ones that are going out now while the responsible and sensible people who understand how serious this situation is are staying home as much as possible. I took a leave of absence from a big box store. The last day I worked was 3/15 and that weekend was a nightmare. I’m sure it’s only gotten worse since then.
JML
Went into a local Lowe’s yesterday. Not one single employee had on masks and gloves. And this is despite the Lowe’s statements online about providing masks and gloves to their employees.
Just disgusting disregard of their employees and customers. And it’s impossible to reach corporate or the local manager to complain.
Matt
At our Lowe’s the employees have masks and gloves. There’s also large plastic screens at the check out aisles to keep you from coming into contact with the cashier. They wipe down the counter and bank card reader with sanitizer after each customer before the next one is allowed to set their stuff down. I was actually very impressed when I had to go there in the last couple weeks. I had a mask and gloves on and actually most customers in the store had masks on at least as well. It was actually very reassuring.
Menard’s on the other hand wasn’t on the ball yet and I usually praise Menard’s for being such a great store. Perhaps they are now as I did go there earlier in this whole saga. They also have far more foot traffic than Lowe’s or HD so maybe things weren’t as easy to implement. I need to go to HD for some concrete supplies but I’m putting that off until this dies down. Not worth it for anyone…
Don Julio
“Disgusting disregard?”
How do you know that?
Stores that are deemed “essential businesses’ are trying to hit moving targets with regard to the safety of employees and customers. The WHO didn’t declare this a pandemic until March 11. A few weeks ago the CDC was advising that healthy people shouldn’t be using masks. Most of the incoming shipments of masks are being reserved for local hospitals and first responders.
At my store those who can function with nitrile gloves, such as cashiers, are doing so. I tried, but I’ve got my work gloves on and off dozens of times a day. At the rate I’d burn through nitrile gloves, it would be irresponsible for me to wear them. So I wash my hands even more than I usually do and use hand sanitizers whenever I can. The same is true of my coworkers on the floor.
We’re doing many hours of disinfecting while the store is open and even more after we close. We can’t eliminate risk but we’re doing what we can to mitigate it. We’re also making mistakes. We learn something new every day and do our best to respond.
We’re not hospitals. We aren’t preparing for patients. We’re hardware stores doing our best in a crazy circumstance.
You might consider these facts on the ground before you tie up an already overloaded phone line.
JML
I’m glad your store takes this seriously. The one near me doesn’t, apparently. I guess it all depends upon the manager. It freaked me out that an old guy working in the tool section was coughing and talking, without wearing a mask. The cashiers didn’t have any gloves or masks. I didn’t see anyone with masks.
Much may depend upon how seriously the people near you take this whole thing. I’m in Western PA, outside of Pittsburgh, and the closer you get to the city, with a denser population, the more seriously people take the precautions, whether in a grocery store or a home supply store. In the denser suburbs and in the city, at the grocery stores and Target stores, the employees are masked and wear gloves, and monitor the number of people accessing the store. Further out from the city, that isn’t happening.
If you Google “Lowes Coronavirus” you’ll find plenty of webpages reporting on employees being upset at the lack of protection in their local stores, despite national PR efforts from the main office.
David A.
Had to go out to our local Ace for a heat lamp for the small animals. Checked on line, was in stock, rolled in, everybody masked and gloved, tape on floor for distance and in and out. Only 3 cars in the lot. They are doing it right. (WA)
Paul
OK so if a cashier stands there with gloves on touching various things and never changes gloves, then they are cross contaminating EVERYONE. You cannot absorb a coronavirus through the skin. And you have some natural defenses on your skin. Washing hands is the best defense against virus contamination, PERIOD. Why do you think doctors and nurses wash their hands between every patient? They put on gloves in some cases but it’s a fresh pair per patient. What the HD, Lowes, and food service workers are doing is actually worse than no gloves at all. I mean would you want a doctor going from patient to patient wearing the same pair of gloves the whole time? Then why is it a good thing for a cashier?
John804
Gloves can be an excellent reminder not to touch your face, and touching your face with contaminated hands is a great way to get sick.
I hope everyone is staying healthy and doing well.
Dekbo
I don’t know about HD, but very few wear gloves at my local Lowe’s. Social distancing… rarely practiced. As soon as the pandemic hit, and all the malls had to close, the local WalMarts, Home Depots, Lowe’s, and others were bombed. People were buying the essentials… paint, plants, appliances, etc… and making a nuisance of themselves. The stores had traffic cops for a bit but the stores limited the number of people at one time, then rescinded it when customers complained to their corporate offices. Yep, it is still the same way, however many customers are rude and arrogant to store associates. It is horrible!
Boggsy
Hopefully this will usher in the destruction of the terribly useless 2 second trickle faucets that never trigger…in Lowes bathrooms. No point being green if it results in mass death.
aerodawg
cashier at Lowes last weekend said my store had already met it’s sales targets for end of summer….