Hardware Hawaii: An Informed Shopper’s Guide
Why You Should Visit
- Exceptional Customer Service from Select Employees: You’ll find incredibly helpful and friendly staff members. Caite Sweeney in lumber sales receives high praise, as do Liza, Eddie, Eddie M, Rosa, Myrna, Tracy, and Earl. These individuals consistently go above and beyond to assist customers, even offering quick fixes like Earl’s tire assistance. Liza, for example, immediately helped a customer with a clogged sink issue.
- Quick and Responsive Service: The phone is answered promptly, and orders are fulfilled with reasonable pricing.
- Lumber Expertise: The lumber department, specifically with Caite Sweeney’s assistance, is a strong point. They can fulfill lumber orders efficiently.
- Convenient Location: The Mapunapuna location offers easy access.
- Support Local Businesses: By shopping at Hardware Hawaii, you are supporting the local economy.
- Problem-Solving Expertise: The store excels at assisting with repairs. One shopper successfully addressed a clogged kitchen sink issue with the store’s help.
Why You Might Consider Alternatives
- Inconsistent Customer Service: Be aware that some employees demonstrate poor customer service skills, ranging from unhelpful interactions to outright rudeness, particularly with “old dudes” and those perceived as lacking knowledge about building supplies. One shopper mentioned a negative experience with a grey-haired Asian salesperson.
- Special Order Delays: Significant delays can occur with special orders. One shopper waited three months for a specific tool, encountering difficulties with tracking its status due to a lack of organized record-keeping. The store seems to rely heavily on employee memory rather than a digital system.
- Veterans Discount Inconsistency: The advertised 10% veterans discount isn’t consistently applied. Several attempts to utilize the discount were unsuccessful, with conflicting information from staff regarding eligible items.
- Inventory Condition: Some materials are stored semi-outdoors, resulting in dust and dirt on the products.
- Limited Selection: They may not carry every tool or equipment you need.
