Larsen Ace Hardware: A Shopper’s Guide
Why You Should Visit
- Extensive Inventory: You’ll find an incredibly wide selection of items, from everyday hardware like screwdrivers and wrenches to specialized equipment like grills (Weber, Little Green Egg, Gozney, Ooni), pizza ovens, snowblowers, and even greeting cards. The selection extends to outdoor seasonal needs, lawn maintenance supplies, paint (including custom mixing), plumbing items, power tools, and much more. They even carry over 80,000 items through their Ace Hardware warehouse affiliation and will order what they don’t have in stock.
- Exceptional Customer Service: Expect a warm welcome and proactive assistance. Staff members frequently approach shoppers to offer help and are knowledgeable about products. I’ve personally experienced several instances of friendly and helpful staff guiding me to the right items and providing detailed information. This personalized attention is a refreshing change.
- Convenient Location and Amenities: The Canton Village Plaza location boasts ample parking. Seasonal displays, like outdoor grills and patio furniture in the spring, add to the shopping experience. In-house services such as key cutting and propane fills provide added convenience.
- Community Focus: This family-owned business is a valuable community asset, offering paint recycling services and an Ace Rewards program for earning points on purchases.
- Open Seven Days a Week: Enjoy convenient open hours from 8 AM to 7 PM, seven days a week.
Why You Might Consider Alternatives
- Pricing: Be aware that prices may be higher than at larger big-box stores.
- Inconsistent Key Cutting Service: I experienced a frustrating key cutting incident where a new key blank was damaged, and the subsequent resolution lacked professionalism. The manager showed little care for the mistake, and incorrect charges were applied. While one employee’s apology was sincere, the overall experience was highly negative.
- Limited Coupon Policy: Coupon usage appears restricted, especially for higher-priced items like screen replacements and certain brands like Stihl.
- Warranty Issues (Stihl Products): Based on one report, warranty claims for Stihl products may not be honored; consider alternative retailers for this brand.
- Occasional Unhelpful Staff: While mostly positive, some shoppers report encountering rude or unhelpful staff who were dismissive of customer needs or inaccurate about product availability.
- Return Policy Concerns: One customer reported difficulty receiving a full refund for a recently purchased, unopened item, despite the receipt stating a 30-day refund policy. The manager offered only store credit.
