Pros
For just a cashier position, the pay is outstanding as a new hire compared to Target (slightly over minimum), Kroger (minimum), and other major retail chains. I started out when they were opening a new store, so things were slow but they always gave the number of hours I was looking for. Although I work part-time because of college, I am regularly asked if I want to become full-time. Seasonal hires are treated the same as regular employees when it comes to hours and compensation, and most of the seasonals are offered or hired on for the fall/winter season. At least in my store, and the others I have visited, it is quite easy to get a fairly steady schedule unless your availability is open. Being a college student it is crucial to have a fairly set schedule and HR is very good at honouring my availability and time off requests. The uniform requirements are very relaxed, which is good because it doesn't mean going and buying a new wardrobe like I had to do for Target or all of my waiter jobs. I can go to school or do my daily activities without having to rush home to change into a uniform. There are several different positions for Front End Cashiers. You're not just stuck behind the same register every day. A cashier is generally trained to do all the front end positions such as the customer service desk, lumber cashier, lawn and garden cashier, returns, self-check, and phone operator. This makes a varied work environment. You're not always at the same place for 6-8 hours straight, which to me is very attractive. Or, if you prefer, you can request to only be in one area, such as solely a returns cashier. Although I've only been a front end cashier, and don't particularly want to change, I see cashiers come in and then get moved to different departments per their own requests after a few months. This happens a lot during the early spring especially. Lowe's favours moving their cashiers to other departments because they expect every employee to be able to run the registers as well.
Cons
Weather is a big factor for Lowe's and it's sales. Places like Target and Walmart don't vary like Lowe's. It can get very slow around November through early February, as houses generally aren't being built, or are just beginning. I've never had a problem with cut hours during this time, but it does make for a rather boring work environment. From a loader's viewpoint, Lowe's can be a very demanding job on them. Between juggling carts in the lot, and loading heavy cabinents, lumber, dishwashers, and riding lawn mowers, the work is extremely high paced and physically demanding. Cashiers are required to lift heavy objects onto the counter, or shift through carts with potentially sharp metal and splintery wood. Most Lowe's stores have just a basic concrete floor and can be tiresome to the feet. Sales go from boring and low to drastically frantic and sometimes overwhelming at a moment's notice. One week in February can bring in $30,000 while the very next week in March can pull $50 or $60,000. It can be a very loud work environment between machines that cut wood, metal, pipes, blind, forklifts, order pickers, assistance announcements over the pa, and other such static noise. Plus, the EAS door alarm is very annoying but that could be just because the one at my store is faulty and goes off if you breathe on it.