PROS

Menards carries almost everything you would need to construct a home from the ground up and their products are competitively priced. As a matter of fact, they are often less expensive than my traditional suppliers.

They deliver.

They have a good return policy.

They have an outdoor lumber yard which make it easy to pick up much of their material.

They gather material from the shelves for you and stock it in the pick up area located in the outdoor lumber yard. This is much easier than trying to carry all your material through the store.

They offer packages, suck as garage packages and housing packages. If you have a large project, go straight to the contractors desk. They have their best people working during the regular work week. They can help you pick the materials you will need and give you a price.

CONS

While some of their staff is very helpful and knowledgeable, some is not. If you are not sure which material you need to buy for a given project, you may want to do some research before hand. For example, you may want to know what you will need to install ceramic tile. They may sell you the wrong product for your particular installation, or they may tell you they don’t carry a certain product at all. I have often been told that they do not carry an item only to find it a couple of rows over from where we me and a Menards representitive were standing.

When having large orders delivered, it is not uncommon for the order to be missing some items. Make sure you inventory the material before you sign for it. Secondly, make sure delivery details are clear. If there are no instructions, they will simply leave your material in the front yard. This may not be a good idea in some areas or weather.

While they have a huge selection of different products, they don’t necessarily have a large selection of any one product line. For example, they have a lot of faucets and sinks, but they may not have as many choices as other suppliers in Lansing that specialize in faucets and sinks. Simply put, if you can’t find it at Menards, don’t assume that it can’t be found.

Over all, I like Menards. It is convenient, the prices are good, the selection is good and they offer moderate to above average materials. I usually get good service at the contractors desk during the week. They have many services that makes your shopping easier. If you have particular questions, go to the contractors desk or the service desk. Most of the time they will be able to help you.

If you are seeking installation information, do some research on the internet or consult a contractor such as Tanner-Phillips Properties before purchasing at Menards. As always, if you have a specific question, just contact me and we will try to get you some answers.