Lowe's in my area have really give downhill in a number of areas. But the sorry state of affairs in the succulents is pretty horrible. I've been noticing for months but today I decided to take a photo. I could have taken a dozen more. I should note that this isn't even in the clearance area. Pathetic. Much of the stock looks worse than the ones I brought up from the unheated dungeon this year.

I am sure that Lowe's did not buy them that way.
I would think that each Lowe's is only as good as it's Nursery manager and Store manager. If they do not water and take care of the plants, then this is what can happen.
I would also hazard a guess to say that most people working in the nursery section have limited experience with plant care. Maybe none at all.
I buy only so often from either Lowe's or Home Depot and it is when new nursery stock arrives.

And it isn't just the Lowe's I was at a short time ago. I'm within striking distance of I think 8 of them. They're typically stuck in poor light and they either are starved for moisture or they water them like swamp plants.

Look at it this way. If you knew anything at all about growing plants, including succulents, where will you expect to get better wages and better working conditions. Lowe's or a independent Nursery?
Like I said, if you don't know much, you can't grow much.
I would suggest having some fun, test their knowledge or lack there of. I do it all the time with orchids. I ask a very simple, basic culture question. If the clerk " starts tap dancing" around an answer, then that confirms they know nothing.

I bought a Swiss Army knife. I said to the clerk, what is this. He told me it is an awl. As it turns out it was the wrong AWL !!! I said what is it good for ?? He replied, "All sorts of things"!!!!!

I am lucky we have 3 Lowe's in the area and they all have a good set up. Two Lowe's location will put beautiful potted plants on clearance when new shipments arrive. The other one will not put anything until they are almost halfway decent.
Here are a few of my half off winter succulent rescue. Basically I bought these for the price of the pots and succulents were free:






These were half off last winter, they are full price now.

None of ours looks like that. Where's that envy emoji?

the only downside is, I know the price of my succulents and desert roses and I have a tendency to buy a lot. So I have to "avoid" going to Lowe's so I don't buy anything.

I go to Home Depot, because they do not discount anything. They do have a section of no ID healthy succulents that are half the price of the ones that have IDs.

Plants don't have a shelf life @ a BBS. Succulent or otherwise. They're kind oflike produce, they just hope most of it sells before it goes bad. Going to one to check the plants is mysterious, there may or may not be some healthy plants that you want that day. You could go often to find the good stuff before it has a chance to become unhealthy, or go rarely and select from what looks good. Or go to an owner-operated store, if there are any left in your area, where they care whether you show up or not.

I don't see any point in complaining (beyond a post like on these discussions) for several reasons. First, if there were more knowledgeable people there &/or enough people to care for plants, the prices would be higher. Second, when someone has to field a bunch of complaints about something, it could be decided that the category is more trouble than it is worth. If that happens, there could be no plants. Third, what if someone who is already stressed and overworked gets some kind of demerit, or worse?

Best time to go is when they open on Friday morning or Saturday morning. I go straight to the clearance section.

New shipments come Thurs night and Friday night and they have to put items on clearance to make room for new shipments.

Also, since I am a regular, If there are sad looking desert roses, that have been on the shelf for sometime and losing leaves, I would ask if they can give me a discount and 99% of the time they would sometimes give it to me half off.