Ace

[crokett]

A new store opened about 5 minutes from work. I finally got around to going in this week and I was surprised. The product lineup is really good, at least at this store. They don't stock everything the Borgs do, but they stock most of it. Their hardware aisle is better than the Borgs for that odd handle or fitting you might need.

[cabinetman]

There's a hardware and lumber store about 2 miles from me that is fairly large, and carries just about everything. It's a family owned store that's been there since 1953 with very knowledgeable help. They get to know their customers and treat you like human beings. They cater a lot to the trades and carry lines of products that aren't junk.

They have continuous "sales", and what surprised me was Polyseamseal caulk for less than HD. You would think that the BORGS could sell for less considering the volume. Weighing the hassle of a big parking lot, and all the walking I much prefer the smaller stores.

[cgallery]

I much prefer the smaller stores.

Yep. And my local Ace has guys working there that know something (at least more than I do) about what I'm trying to accomplish.

For example, I don't do a lot of plumbing. But when I do, they have a guy that knows what parts I'm going to need to install a drain in a new sink, for example. And he asks if it is a pedestal, so I'd like a chrome drain instead of plastic. That stuff DOES matter.

[jking]

If I need fasteners, I will typically go to the Ace hardware store. They have "open" bins; I can buy one or I can buy more. They have at least as good of a selection (if not better) than HD, Lowes, or Menards. I also like the fact that I don't have to look through a plastic bag to try to figure out if what I'm looking at is the right thing.

[Garasaki]

I buy bucketloads of fasteners from ACE too, for the reasons mentioned above.

I live in a small town which has an ACE in it (technically in the adjacent small town, which is 1 mile away). Their prices are higher then the borgs (there are like 6 borgs w/in a 30 mile radius) but the convieniance is huge for me.

I typically find things easier at the local ACE too.

If I plan to make major purchases I"ll plan a trip to the borg...but for an item or two it's ACE for me. They also have a rental program that carries everything you could possibly imagine!!

[Kristofor]

Around here the only big-box that has decent fastener prices and the other various doo-dads is Menards. Home Depot and Lowes are both pretty bad in that department.

The little hardware stores (Ace, Do-it-best, True-Value, Hardware Hank, etc.) all seem better than HD/Lowes too and with helpful staff to boot.

Despite the lament about big-boxes killing all of the small hardware stores that hasn't seemed to be an issue where I've lived. Maybe that's due to the fact that we're dealing with suburban land prices that are much lower than Southern California, or maybe they're all just barely making it but the stores both of my grandfathers frequented are still around (St. Louis Park, Hopkins), as is the one my dad uses (Minnetonka), and the 2 local ones by me (Chaska, Jordan).

Kristofor.

[Hellrazor]

There is an Ace we deal with for work. They have more employees in a store 1/8th the size of HD or Lowes. Well let me rephrase that. They have more employees that are alive, acknowledge you exist and ask if you need help then any HD or Lowes or a combination of stores. Plus they almost always know where the item you are looking for is.

[ironhat]

Our Ace sells fasteners by the piece - too expensive - but still great service. For fasteners I go to a small farm hardware store or to Farm & Tractor Supply where the fasteners are sold by the pound. In any case the little guys have better service because they have to to compete. It works for me.

[sparkeyjames]

I love my local True-Value store. The owners are always there and extremely helpful. They know what they sell and whether or not they have what you need.
Their prices are always just a few cents higher than the BORG for similar items so it's not like a shock to shop there. If they don't have what I need the BORG is just a few miles further down the road. It also does not hurt there there always seems to be a cute girl at the checkout.