n Total cost of products sold, including: - Purchase costs, net of vendor funds; - Freight expenses associated with moving merchandise inventories from vendors to selling locations; - Costs associated with operating the Company’s distribution network, including employee compensation and benefit costs and occupancy costs; - Depreciation of assets associated with the Company’s distribution network; n Costs associated with operating FBM and ADG branch locations; n Costs of installation services provided; n Costs associated with shipping and handling to customers, as well as directly from vendors to customers by third parties; n Depreciation of assets used in delivering product to customers; n Costs associated with inventory shrinkage and markdown; n Costs of services performed under the Lowe’s protection plan. | |
n Generally, payroll and benefit costs for retail and corporate employees; n Occupancy costs of retail and corporate facilities; n Advertising; n Store environment costs; n Tender costs, including bank charges, costs associated with credit card interchange fees; n Costs associated with self-insured plans, and premium costs for stop-loss coverage and fully insured plans; n Long-lived asset impairment losses, gains/losses on disposal of assets, and exit costs; n Other administrative costs, such as supplies, and travel and entertainment. |