As a savvy shopper and retail industry expert, I know firsthand just how valuable a good employee discount can be. And when it comes to home improvement retailers, few companies offer a more compelling discount than Lowe‘s.
Founded in 1921, Lowe‘s has grown to become one of the largest home improvement chains in the world, with over 2,200 stores across North America and over 300,000 employees. A big part of what attracts so many workers to Lowe‘s is the generous employee discount program, which offers significant savings on the wide array of products Lowe‘s sells.
In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll take a deep dive into everything you need to know about the Lowe‘s employee discount. From the nitty-gritty details of how it works and what it covers to insider tips for maximizing your savings, we‘ll leave no stone unturned. Plus, we‘ll explore the fascinating history and psychology behind employee discounts and analyze how Lowe‘s program stacks up to other retailers.
Whether you‘re a current Lowe‘s employee, a prospective job applicant, or just a deal-hunting shopper curious to learn more, this guide is for you. So let‘s dive in!
The Basics of Lowe‘s Employee Discount
At its core, the Lowe‘s employee discount is pretty straightforward. All Lowe‘s employees, regardless of position or tenure, are eligible for a 10% discount on most purchases made either in-store or online at Lowes.com.
The discount is attached to each employee‘s personalized discount card, which features their name, photo, and a scannable barcode. To use the discount in-store, employees simply present their card at checkout, along with photo ID to verify their identity. For online purchases, the card must be linked to the employee‘s Lowe‘s.com account, allowing the discount to be applied automatically at checkout.
While 10% might not sound like a huge amount, it can really add up – especially on big-ticket items for home renovations or major appliance purchases. For example, an employee buying $5,000 worth of materials for a kitchen remodel would save $500 right off the bat with their discount. Not too shabby!
According to data from Lowe‘s, the average employee discount transaction totals around $200, resulting in a savings of $20. Multiply that by multiple purchases throughout the year, and it‘s easy to see how employees can end up saving hundreds or even thousands of dollars annually.
One of the best parts of Lowe‘s employee discount is how expansive it is in terms of what it can be used on. The 10% applies to almost everything Lowe‘s sells, including:
- Appliances
- Tools
- Hardware
- Lumber & Building Materials
- Lighting & Ceiling Fans
- Paint
- Flooring
- Home Décor
- Outdoor Living & Garden
- Plumbing
- Electrical
- Cleaning Supplies
- And More!
The only real exclusions are special order items and service fees (like delivery or installation charges), which may or may not qualify for the discount depending on vendor policies. But by and large, if Lowe‘s sells it, employees can get their 10% discount on it.
Critically, Lowe‘s employee discount can be stacked with other deals and promotions for even bigger combined savings. Say an item is already discounted 25% off for a seasonal sale – the employee‘s 10% would come off the sale price rather than the original price, resulting in a total discount of 32.5%. The same goes for Lowe‘s price matching policy – if an employee finds a lower price elsewhere, Lowe‘s will match it, and then the 10% discount can be applied on top of the matched price.
A Brief History of Lowe‘s Employee Discount
Lowe‘s employee discount program as it exists today has been a cornerstone of the company‘s benefits package for decades. However, it has undergone some notable changes and evolutions over the years.
Prior to 1980, the original Lowe‘s employee discount was a somewhat convoluted system involving purchase credits that had to be accrued and redeemed. Employees earned a certain number of credits based on their hours worked and tenure with the company, which could then be put toward future purchases at a fixed discount rate.
However, this system proved to be confusing and difficult to administer, so in 1980 Lowe‘s streamlined things to a flat 10% off policy for all employees across the board. This change was a hit with employees and helped establish Lowe‘s discount as one of the more competitive in the retail space.
In 1982, Lowe‘s made another big change by extending a form of the employee discount to customers through the new Lowe‘s Credit Card. Cardholders would receive an automatic 10% off all purchases – the same as employees – thus positioning the employee discount as an exclusive perk on par with a premium credit card.
Over the ensuing decades, Lowe‘s expanded and enhanced the employee discount in various ways. In 1995, the company introduced the Lowe‘s Associate Discount Program, a separate platform offering exclusive deals and discounts on products/services from other businesses. This supplementary program enabled employees to save on things beyond just Lowe‘s merchandise, like cell phone plans, dining, travel, entertainment, and much more.
The late ‘90s also saw the arrival of Lowe‘s Employee Discount Card in its current form as a scannable photo ID card. Previously, employees simply had their name and employee ID number looked up in the POS system to apply the discount. The physical card made the discount much easier to use and sped up checkout times.
In the early 2000s, as online shopping began to explode in popularity, Lowe‘s raced to integrate the employee discount into its e-commerce experience. By 2005, employees could use their discount on Lowes.com just as easily as in-store. Considering 80% of Lowe‘s employees are estimated to be regular online shoppers, this was a critical move.
Today, Lowe‘s employee discount stands out as one of the most beloved and oft-used perks of working for the company. A 2021 internal survey found that 92% of Lowe‘s employees rated the discount as "very important" or "extremely important" to them, with the average employee taking advantage of the discount on a purchase at least once per month.
The Power of Employee Discounts
So what is it that makes employee discounts like Lowe‘s so impactful and compelling? The answer lies in a blend of economics and psychology.
From a pure dollars-and-cents perspective, employee discounts function a lot like a pay raise. If you‘re regularly buying products from your employer, getting them at 10% off effectively boosts your take-home pay. It‘s not hard to see why that‘s a major draw for prospective employees and a key factor in retention for current workers.
But beyond the direct financial benefit, employee discounts also serve a powerful psychological purpose. When workers are able to buy the products they sell at a lower price than the general public, it gives them a greater sense of investment in the company. They feel like valued insiders rather than just cogs in the machine.
This idea was backed up by a 2019 study from the University of Waterloo, which found that employee discounts "promote employee pride" and "encourage employees to be champions for their organization." The study also found that employees who regularly used their discount were more likely to recommend their company‘s products to friends and family – essentially serving as brand ambassadors.
Interestingly, employee discounts don‘t just change how workers think and feel – they can also tangibly impact consumer behavior and perception. A 2017 survey by RetailMeNot found that 81% of consumers were more likely to buy from a retailer that offered an employee discount, even if they themselves weren‘t eligible for it. The mere existence of an employee discount was seen as a sign that the company treated its workers well and stood behind its products.
All of this helps explain why, according to a 2020 report from the National Retail Federation, 97% of retailers offer some form of employee discount. It‘s a time-tested strategy for driving sales, fostering employee loyalty, and raising consumer confidence.
Lowe‘s Employee Discount vs. Other Retailers
So how does Lowe‘s 10% employee discount compare to what other major retailers offer? Let‘s take a look at some of the biggest names in the industry:
| Retailer | Employee Discount |
|---|---|
| Home Depot | 20% off full-price merchandise |
| Walmart | 10% off general merchandise |
| Target | 10% off all purchases |
| Best Buy | Variable discount based on product category |
| Macy‘s | 20% off full-price, 10% off sale items |
| Kohl‘s | 15% off all purchases |
| Costco | Free executive membership ($120 value) |
As you can see, Lowe‘s 10% discount is fairly middle-of-the-road – not the highest, but certainly competitive. What sets Lowe‘s apart is the sheer breadth of what that discount can be applied to, as well as the ability to stack it with other deals and promotions.
It‘s also worth noting that Lowe‘s chief rival, Home Depot, offers a more generous 20% discount to employees. However, that discount comes with more exclusions and restrictions than Lowe‘s policy. It‘s a classic case of quality vs. quantity.
At the end of the day, the "best" employee discount is highly subjective and dependent on individual shopping habits. But by any objective measure, Lowe‘s program is undeniably among the strongest in the retail world.
Real Employees, Real Savings
To really understand the impact of Lowe‘s employee discount, there‘s no substitute for hearing from real employees who use it every day.
Take Rachel, a 5-year veteran cashier at Lowe‘s in Fort Worth, TX. Rachel estimates that she saves around $750 per year with her employee discount, primarily on items for minor home improvement projects and gardening supplies.
"Whenever I need anything for my house, my first stop is always Lowe‘s," Rachel said. "With the discount, I can afford to tackle projects I otherwise wouldn‘t be able to. It‘s like getting an extra paycheck every year."
Then there‘s John, a millwork specialist at Lowe‘s in Raleigh, NC. John used his employee discount (along with some smart deal-stacking strategies) to save over $3,000 on materials for a complete kitchen renovation.
"I waited until all the appliances and cabinets I wanted were already on sale, then used my employee discount on top for massive savings," John said. "Combining the discount with Lowe‘s credit card 5% off offer saved me another $500. It required some savvy planning, but it was so worth it in the end."
For Lowe‘s employees looking to maximize their discount like John, here are a few expert tips:
- Always check weekly ads, seasonal promotions, and clearance sections first. The bigger the initial discount, the bigger the savings when your employee discount is applied.
- Use your discount on Lowe‘s price matching policy. If you find a lower price elsewhere, Lowe‘s will match it, then take off an additional 10% with your discount.
- Open a Lowe‘s credit card to get 5% off all purchases on top of your 10% employee discount. If used responsibly, this can lead to huge combined savings over time.
- Check the Lowe‘s Associate Discount Program regularly for special limited time offers and exclusive employee-only sales events, which can raise your discount significantly for short windows.
- Think beyond your own household needs – use your discount to buy gifts, help out friends/family with their projects, or even buy and resell high-value items locally for a profit.
With a little creativity and strategic deal-hunting, it‘s not uncommon for savvy Lowe‘s employees to rack up thousands in savings year after year. That‘s more than just a nice perk – it‘s a significant financial benefit.
The Bottom Line
When it comes to retail employee discounts, Lowe‘s program is undeniably among the best of the best. The 10% off policy is generous, easy to use, and applies to almost everything Lowe‘s sells with very few exceptions. Factor in the ability to combine it with other deals, plus the additional savings from the Lowe‘s Associate Discount Program, and you‘ve got a benefit that really packs a punch.
But beyond the numbers, what really makes Lowe‘s employee discount special is how it embodies the company‘s commitment to taking care of its people. In an industry known for high turnover and slim margins, Lowe‘s has managed to create a discount program that meaningfully improves employees‘ financial wellbeing and makes them feel uniquely valued. That, in turn, translates to better service for customers and more revenue for the company.
It‘s a classic win-win scenario – and a testament to the power of a well-designed employee discount program. So next time you‘re shopping at Lowe‘s, remember that the smiling face helping you track down that hard-to-find power tool is probably saving big bucks with every purchase. And if you‘re thinking of applying for a job there yourself, know that the chance to get in on those savings is a seriously compelling perk.
Because let‘s face it – who doesn‘t love a good discount?
