Handyman True Value: A Shopper’s Perspective
Why You Should Visit
- Exceptional Customer Service: You’ll consistently encounter friendly and knowledgeable staff. I even had a conversation about the old St. Louis Cardinals football team with one employee! Many shoppers praise the helpfulness and willingness to go the extra mile, including assistance with loading heavy items (like Joe’s help loading a truck and securing a product).
- Superior Product Selection: This isn’t your average big-box hardware store. They often stock items unavailable at Home Depot or Lowe’s, particularly in the residential repair spectrum. Their selection of nuts and bolts is extensive, even including chrome plated socket head screws. You’ll find a wider range than at competing stores.
- Convenient Services: Beyond hardware, they offer key making services (super quick, according to one review) and propane tank refills.
- Community Gem: This is a local favorite and a go-to for many St. Louis residents, even those living outside the immediate South Country area. Shoppers frequently choose this store over larger chains, even for projects in other areas like Creve Coeur or Town & Country.
- Reasonably Priced: The store is described as having reasonable prices, a positive contrast to large chain stores.
Why You Might Consider Alternatives
- Inconsistent Staff Behavior: While many praise the staff, one review details a negative experience with an employee named Jenna who was reportedly rude and unhelpful. This suggests the quality of service can be inconsistent.
- Inventory Discrepancies: The store’s website inventory isn’t always accurate; you might find the store lacks items listed as available online. This could lead to wasted trips.
- Tool Repair Issues: One shopper had a negative experience with tool repair and the manager’s response, describing it as disrespectful and unhelpful. Consider carefully before purchasing expensive tools here and check return policies.
- Service Desk Wait Times: Be prepared for potential delays at the service and key desk, as one review reported waiting 10 minutes without acknowledgement and encountering a harsh response from an employee.
- Plant Return Policy: Note that they do not accept returns on live plants. Ensure you only buy what you need.
