I am a high performing Home Depot Exteriors SC and you may have heard the rug was pulled from us this week. Before the day was over the local PSE sales manager called me to offer me what he said is his best store. The former rep who left to work for a manufacturer and a vendor I know confirmed the store does between 900k and 1.2m yearly in PSE. Moving to Lowes will be a pay cut for me but staying at Depot will definitely be a paycut too! Im concerned Lowes will be doing the same thing to thier exteriors program or cutting it all together. I think there are advantages especially selling fences, HVAC and Gens and your windows Are better quality and price then HDs at least the house brands. I just worry about Lowes, is it on the right track? Is the PSE program viable and important? Am I leaving one bad situation for a worse one? Prior to the HDE restructure I was happy but see the writing on the wall...
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PSE is still alive and kicking for now. Allot less problems with PSE. You just have to make sure you have a good contractor.
I would strongly suggest some of the many other outside sales positions available with building materials/installation companies. There are a ton of openings, especially in metro areas, on Indeed.com. Former DSM here, I've been on the job hunt lately, and there is a lot of money to be made elsewhere.
PSE gone at HD may now increase leads at Lowes, temporarily.
Ya know, Lowes follows HD's lead.
HDE rep weighing options:
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I don't know how HD did their jobs but I hear Lowes has strict scope of work and there are some jobs that are ok to do by the paperwork but district levels will make you return.
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If the store averages those kinds of sales, you would pobably do as well. Pay can change on a dime. A certain percent as long as you keep margin above certain percentages plus sal
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It could go away at anytime. Thats the harsh reality to it.
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Could be losing some categories, thats just good founded rumor up to this point.
If you can be okay with the idea that the PSE position could be similarly eliminated, and that you might be looking for a job again - take it. Understand that all Lowe’s cares about is what you put in their register. There will be serious pressure for your sales numbers from your management to help offset the loss of the PSI numbers. Luckily PSEs spend a lot more time out of the store than in the store.
But if you have a good job offer outside “the boxes”, it may offer you more money in the long run with the cuts that Lowe’s has been making left and right - no job security. Best of luck in whatever you choose!!!
I pray everyday that this company crumbles.... Lowe's s---s
PSE is base plus. They never really explain it correctly. Base is 30 or so. A $900,000 store would be about 63k in commissions. Is 93k ok with you? Take the fing job.
I believe that as long as it stays profitable they will keep it around. It is the best position in Lowe's and there is potential to make a lot of money especially in a million dollar PSE store which is what I am in. I have been a PSE for 8 years now.
My suggestion is to go into several Lowe’s as a customer, not just “window shopping” but needing knowledgeable help. Depending on your experience, you should be able to tell if you want to be a part of Lowe’s .
One would think that Lowe’s would see this as and opportunity to fill the void by streamlining and ramping up the PSE program. But based on corporate’s recent pattern of decision making, I expect them to eventually cut it out. The board of director’s mindset of competition is to follow what HD does and are afriad of forging their own path. They are trying to play it safe. And apparently, what they didn’t receive with thier Masters Degree, was the knowledge that in business... safe equals death.
Lowe’s Blows
Well Lowes just killed their interior program (PSI) on Jan 4. CEO says the PSE program is profitable but he does everything HD has done in the last 5-10 years. As long as it remains profitable he'll keep it around. My position was eliminated and I'm opting for the severance package over a 25k/year pay cut and a demotion. Good luck with your choice! I'm looking elsewhere but it may be an ok fit for you. If you were to sell 1 million in the store you would bring in over 100k for the year.