Don’t Shop at Lowe’s on This Day of the Week

Lowe’s is a must-visit for everyone who works on homes — whether their own or others. While DIYing your next home improvement project can help you save money , visiting Lowe’s at the wrong time can be a real headache. Crowded parking lots, long lines and limited employees to help can turn a fun visit into a nightmare.

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GOBankingRates spoke to a consumer expert to get the skinny on when not to shop at Lowe’s — and when to head over for your next project.

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The Worst Day: Saturdays

In the wise words of Julie Ramhold, consumer analyst at DealNews.com , “Saturdays are probably the busiest day of the week to shop at Lowe’s, particularly mid-day.”

She explained, “Because most people tackle special projects on the weekend, there’s a good chance they’ll be shopping for items on Saturdays to give themselves the most time to get work done before having to go back to work on Monday. This may vary based on your area, but typically Saturdays are hands down the worst day to shop at Lowe’s given the fact that so much of the population tends to be off at that time and free to shop for project supplies.”

And if you’re there at 12 p.m. on a Saturday? Forget it. “If you’re shopping around noon, it may be particularly bad.” This, she says, is because more people have realized they need additional supplies, so the crowds may be worse.

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Avoiding the Crowds

So when is the optimal time to hit up Lowe’s and steer clear of crowds, long lines and potential stock issues? Ramhold shared:

“The best time to shop at Lowe’s is actually Sundays and Mondays, especially early in the day. These seem to be less busy because people aren’t starting new projects at this time, at least not to a large degree. This means this should be an ideal time to do your shopping because you won’t have to battle crowds of other shoppers to get to what you need.”

She adds that shopping on Sunday or Monday could also increase your chances of getting more personalized assistance. “It could also mean that associates are more available to provide you with help and answer any questions you may have, whereas on Saturdays you could be fighting to find someone who can help because of the volume of shoppers.”

Other Shopping Strategies

If you’re looking to make shopping at Lowe’s even smoother, follow these tips:

• Take Advantage of Online Orders and Pickup: Before you trek out to a brick-and-mortar store, it’s always a good idea to look online to check on inventory and sales and maybe even buy directly from the website and arrange in-store pickup. That way you don’t have to worry about the crowds at all!
• Check for Discounted Open Box Items: Like many major retailers, Lowe’s heavily discounts open-box or slightly damaged merchandise to clear it out quickly. Scouring the open-box sections can lead to steep savings on big-ticket items like appliances, tools and patio furniture. Just be sure to thoroughly inspect any open-box purchases before leaving the store.
• Look for Seasonal Clearance: At the end of each season, Lowe’s is motivated to clear out remaining seasonal inventory like live goods, grills and outdoor furniture. Timing your purchases right can mean scoring patio sets, grills and other summer items for 50% to 75% off in late summer/early fall.
• Sign Up for Discounts: The Lowe’s credit card provides 5% off every purchase, and you can often find additional promotional discounts like 20% off select items for new cardholders. Military, government employees and seniors may also qualify for added savings. Check Lowe’s weekly ad and sign up for email promos to stay in the loop.

Whether you’re a seasoned home improver or simply need to pick up a few supplies, avoiding peak traffic periods at Lowe’s can save you valuable time, frustration and maybe even some money. So next time your to-do list is calling, time your Lowe’s run for a Sunday or Monday morning while the crowds are smaller. Your wallet — and your sanity — will thank you.

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com : Don’t Shop at Lowe’s on This Day of the Week