Ace Hardware: A Shopper’s Guide
Why You Should Visit
- Exceptional Customer Service: You’ll find staff members consistently praised for their helpfulness and willingness to go above and beyond. Jared, Justin, Ruby, and Chuck are specifically mentioned for their outstanding service, including helping locate hard-to-find items (like aluminum sulfate), placing special orders, and providing friendly assistance. One shopper even received a free display cup!
- Extensive Product Selection: The store boasts a huge selection of grills and a great collection of fasteners, particularly M2 and M3 metric nuts and bolts – surpassing what I’ve found at larger chains like Lowe’s or Home Depot. They also carry a wide variety of small tools, making it a great place for quick fixes and small projects.
- Knowledgeable Staff: Employees are described as “professional,” “knowledgeable,” and well-versed in their products. Rubi, in particular, is highly recommended for her expertise in hardware and construction materials.
- Convenient Location: Its location is described as excellent and convenient, particularly appreciated by long-time customers (nearly 30 years!) as there are no other hardware stores nearby.
- Unique Ambiance: This Ace Hardware has a friendly store cat that even kids enjoy!
Why You Might Consider Alternatives
- Inconsistent Repair Services: Be aware that the Stihl saw repair service has received negative feedback. One shopper reported the repair person couldn’t even start the saw, suggesting a lack of expertise.
- Pricing Discrepancies and Difficult Returns: I’ve experienced some issues with online ordering and in-store pricing. Online prices didn’t match in-store prices, and advertised sale prices weren’t honored. The return process was also described as difficult and involved rude interactions with staff, and no attempts to remedy the pricing issues.
- Limited After-Hours Availability: While they advertise assistance, one shopper was turned away minutes before closing despite calling ahead.
