Ace Hardware Shopping Guide

Ace Hardware: An Informed Shopper’s Guide

Why You Should Visit

Exceptional Customer Service (Sometimes): You’ll find incredibly knowledgeable and friendly staff willing to go the extra mile. I’ve personally experienced their helpfulness with paint color selection and even complex issues like hot water heater troubleshooting. One employee even went above and beyond to assist with a problem.
Extensive Selection: This is a large store with a wide variety of merchandise. They carry lumber, fabric and sewing items, and even a surprisingly extensive selection considering they don’t carry faucet adapters. You’ll likely find what you need, I’d estimate about 90% of the time based on my experiences. They boast a surprisingly diverse inventory.
Community Involvement: Ace is deeply involved in supporting the local community in significant and unquantifiable ways.
Added Services: Beyond typical hardware, they offer services such as auto key copying.
Clean Store Environment: The store consistently maintains a clean and organized layout, making shopping a more pleasant experience.
Unique Features: You’ll be greeted by Bean and Sophie, two impressive security dogs.

Inconsistent Customer Service: Be aware that helpfulness can fluctuate. While some staff members provide exceptional assistance, others may be less attentive or prioritize certain customers over others. I’ve experienced situations where assistance was delayed or unhelpful, particularly when seeking out specific items.
High Prices: Prices are generally higher than competitors. This is a significant factor to consider, especially for larger purchases or when comparing prices for the same products across multiple stores.
Product Quality Concerns: On one occasion, I encountered rotten birdseed with a strong, unpleasant odor. I was forced to shop elsewhere for that specific product.
Limited Assistance with Large Purchases: I’ve had difficulty getting assistance when needing help with loading larger items, such as 80 lbs of concrete.
Stock Issues: There are some products that they consistently seem to be out of stock, specifically faucet adapters. For plumbing issues, I’d recommend checking other stores first.