Hey, a 10% Lowe’s discount.

Ok, I have blasted Lowe’s in the past, but that had to do with a rebate that wasn’t processed efficiently. The Lowe’s website won me back with some great information and articles. In fact, “Lowe’s creative ideas” is a free publication with some great projects and tips. Obviously, they are trying to sell you product, but the shopping list feature within the projects makes the process of purchasing all of your materials in one fell swoop pretty easy.

Lowe’s Creative Ideas Magazine (off site link)

Here is where the discount comes from. When I subscribed to the free Lowe’s creative ideas magazine they asked if I would be moving soon. Well, I just purchased a property, so I answered that I would. After subscribing, they e-mailed me a 10% off coupon (same day). Pretty nice discount, especailly if you are working on a good size project.

Very nice Lowe’s.

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Are you installing a granite tile countertop or considering this option? If so, you have probably come across many sites that are trying to sell you tile, or that are trying to get you to click on an ad for someone trying to sell you tile, but you might not have had much luck locating a thorough guide to installing a granite tile countertop. Well, you finally found the right place. I was in the same boat, trying to locate an article online that would walk me through each step and point out the things that I need to consider and/or look out for.

One of the main things that causes the do it yourselfer trouble is the edge detail. This article has a great option that gives you a very custom look.

As I started to write this article. I located the article from Family Handyman Magazine (October 2002). I was going to post the complete details since the back issue was not available for purchase. However, Family Handyman is owned by Reader’s Digest. The rd.com site has the article online. The funny thing is that it is very difficult to locate if you search through a search engine.

Here is the complete article about installing granite tile countertops. It is the best resource on the topic that I have found, and it is Free!

Granite Tile Countertop

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I had to post this message about getting the runaround from Lowe’s for a delivery rebate after purchasing a gas range (appliance) from the company.

Both Lowe’s and Home Depot seem to offer a rebate if you purchase an appliance that meets a certain value. In this case, the amount was $397. Lowe’s stated that they would rebate the delivery charge with a simple form. I didn’t feel like hauling the appliance home, so the rebate sounded fair. They would have my $65 for 6 to 8 weeks, but I was OK with that.

The appliance was delivered the next day as promised. Lowe’s asked for a copy of my receipt along with the “FREE local delivery” rebate form. I filled both out and mailed them the day after receiving my delivery. My item qualifiied, since it was priced at $397 or more, and I was charged a delivery fee of $65.

I received a declination of my rebate request for the following reason:

“Your sales receipt did not indicate purchase of qualifying products $397 or more.”

This was not the case. The range that I purchased was, in fact, $397. The requirement was met. I went to Lowes.com and filled out a customer service request. They responded a few days later and stated that:

“You were not charged for delivery”

Again, not the case. I was charged $65 for delivery. It was clearly stated on the receipt and I informed the rep of that. Another few days passed and I received the following reply.

“Thank you for contacting us about your submission. It sounds as though
you may have received your unqualified letter by mistake. Unfortunately,
human error can occur and a keying mistake can be made. It appears this
may have happened in your case. We would, however, like to assist you in
receiving the item. ”

Sound pretty canned, especially since they are now referring to ‘the item’ rather than a rebate. However, I am doing what they asked and scanning and replying with another copy of my receipt.

I’ll update this post when I receive a reply. At this point, the rebate might not be worth the time put into trying to recover the refund.

Have you had a similar experience? If so, please comment below.
———————————-

Well, after sending an e-mail to Lowes informing them that I would file a complaint with the BBB and with the FTC, they replied that my rebate was approved. It seems like it was a lot of work to process a rebate that was valid and sent within a couple of days of the purchase and delivery. I hope that isn’t the norm. Lowe’s is new to our town and I love the store.

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I was a little skeptical about using a tinted (or dyed) ceiling paint. It sounds like a good idea for a product, and it really is.

I purchased a tinted ceiling paint from Glidden. Using a 1/4″ nap roller for a smooth surface, the job went very well and the tinted paint left no doubt about where I left off. The coverage area was good. The product is billed as “reduced spatter” and it held up to that claim as well.

If you are a slow painter, you might run into issues where the dye in the paint is starting to fade to white before you are done. This might give you the impression that a certain area doesn’t have enough paint on it. The key to doing this ceiling painting job properly is to start in one area and work your way over, and out. Don’t do this job in a random fashion and you will be fine.

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If you do any amount of improvement or renovation work, you will wonder how you got by without this tool. The Stanley Super Wonder Pry Bar is simply awesome!! If you use a regular pry bar, you will be amazed by the difference. There is a bend in the pry bar that works as a fulcrum so that you can gain leverage. It is hard to explain why this tool is so good, but read some of the reviews that you will find at Amazon. This $9 tool will save your knuckles, your work surface, and most importantly, your time.

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The fastcap 3rd hand is a great tool. I can’t tell you how many times I have been able to use this item. If you work alone, I am sure that you have needed someone to “hold that other end”. You have probably also made your own braces out of a spare 2×4 (or two). The 3rd hand is great because it allows you to jack it up with a single hand. It is great for placing crown molding, or even drywall pieces. When hanging drwall alone you can use your regular t-brace (made from 2×4’s) and then snug the piece against the ceiling with your 3rd hand tool. This allows you to get your screws in nicely without worrying about your drywall shifting.

For about $40, this is a nice tool. You can find it at sites like Amazon or Coastal Tool. The price doesn’t vary too much from one retailer to the next, so check on the cost of shipping, handling, and sales tax.

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