A Vote for Ace Hardware
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They are still shopped but it's a "Secret" for about $15.
And yes, they do provide much better customer service than the big box stores. And you can buy 1 nut or screw you need instead of a package of 4.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 06/08/2024 06:03PM by wrosie.
And yes, they do provide much better customer service than the big box stores. And you can buy 1 nut or screw you need instead of a package of 4.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 06/08/2024 06:03PM by wrosie.
Not all are shopped, though. One an hour away has been consistently shopped for 20 years, over several rebrands. The one up the street has been all of the same brands, at the same times, and has never been shopped. So maybe it's that franchise difference.
You are right: not all ACE shopped. They are all locally owned and not each one has agreement to be shopped.
Shopping Eastern Pennsylvania since 2009
Service, that sounds like the ACE that was 2 blocks away from me in CA. They went out of business and a dress shop took their spot in the strip mall.
ACE Hardware stores that are giving good service are few and far between, or maybe they just aren't in SoCal or AL? I know the problem here (AL) is that no one remembers what good service is. I've never seen "service industry" folks less willing to do their jobs ever in my life. That's part of the reason I was so shocked at the level of service we got at Mellow Mushroom, that was the best service I've ever got at any restaurant except the steak house we went to at Treasure Island.
ACE Hardware stores that are giving good service are few and far between, or maybe they just aren't in SoCal or AL? I know the problem here (AL) is that no one remembers what good service is. I've never seen "service industry" folks less willing to do their jobs ever in my life. That's part of the reason I was so shocked at the level of service we got at Mellow Mushroom, that was the best service I've ever got at any restaurant except the steak house we went to at Treasure Island.
All three of the Ace stores convenient to me have had excellent service to 30+ years. They train and retain their employees, so service is consistent. Because they carry things like "odd" light bulbs" and amazingly wide variety of small parts, etc., the knowledge that their employees have is really quite remarkable. And, I have never had less than cheerful service in all 3 store.
Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
And when I lived in Dallas the Ace carried some things I needed but the big boxes didn't.
Shopping Ace is very reasonable for the $15fee.
Shopping Ace is very reasonable for the $15fee.
Service, are you seriously going to leave us hanging like that?
-crosses my arms and taps my foot-
What happened with Mr. Squirrel?!?
I'm on the edge of my seat over here!
(Bet you thought I was going to ask who your famous lady-friend was.
)
-crosses my arms and taps my foot-
What happened with Mr. Squirrel?!?
I'm on the edge of my seat over here!
(Bet you thought I was going to ask who your famous lady-friend was.
)If your path dictates you walk through hell, do it as though you own the place. -unknown
I've been to Ace Hardware here in Podunk once, and I don't have an opinion about the service. I prefer going to the one that's about 40 miles away because - holy cow! - the girlie section is expansive and takes up about a third of the store. Purses, jewelry, clothing, shoes, decorative items...I'm easily distracted by shiny things, and I'm sure the editor looked twice when my time in the store was over two hours. -lol- $20 towards a new watch made me a happy lass.
If your path dictates you walk through hell, do it as though you own the place. -unknown
Yes! I stripped a screw. I went to Ace with the screw and they found the replacement. That one was a shop.
@wrosie wrote:
They are still shopped but it's a "Secret" for about $15.
And yes, they do provide much better customer service than the big box stores. And you can buy 1 nut or screw you need instead of a package of 4.
"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
The Aces by me are pretty friendly. We needed to get some new car keys cut, that have a programmable fob, the employee that helped went out to my car, made sure we programmed it correctly before we made another copy.
We also dealt with a really clogged sink this past week, my husband went to our local Ace and the experts there gave him some good advice.
The Ace in our town doesn't get shopped but there are a few that are a bit further away that do, I just haven't felt the urge to make the drive for the $15 fee.
We also dealt with a really clogged sink this past week, my husband went to our local Ace and the experts there gave him some good advice.
The Ace in our town doesn't get shopped but there are a few that are a bit further away that do, I just haven't felt the urge to make the drive for the $15 fee.
I had never visited an ACE until I did a shop. I like them. I have received good service each time I visited one. However, I still go to Home Depot first, Lowes if I am already passing by, and ACE never enters my mind. I know Home Depot will probably have what I want and the only ACE that was near me went out of business. They were kind of sandwiched between a Home Depot and a Lowes. It's a wonder they were in business for as long as they had been.
No more ACE shops for me. I just fired the MSC because they changed my status to probation because I told a scheduler what I think of their practices. So I ended our relationship, as Bob would say.
Bob Jr., what are the practices you don't like?
@Morledzep wrote:
No more ACE shops for me. I just fired the MSC because they changed my status to probation because I told a scheduler what I think of their practices. So I ended our relationship, as Bob would say.
"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
Have never seen an Ace mystery shop but my nearby Ace hardware had vacuum belts on hand vs the big box stores where I had to order them and wait for shipping. The place was a pack rats wonderland. Just like the old fashioned candy stores there were buckets full of one item only oddities that I have not seen for sale anywhere else for years. The two employees seemed to be above 70 years old and were sooo friendly and helpful. I felt like I was back in the 50;s or 60;s when these types of stores were everywhere.
@HonnyBrown wrote:
Bob Jr., what are the practices you don't like?
@Morledzep wrote:
No more ACE shops for me. I just fired the MSC because they changed my status to probation because I told a scheduler what I think of their practices. So I ended our relationship, as Bob would say.
Their stupid rating system, and not being able to adjust the dates. I have run out of time once doing shops for them, and stayed home ONE time because of severe weather.. I just got my rating back to "basic" when I refused an assignment from a scheduler and told them why.
I live in a very rural area, and sometimes you just can't get where you need to go fast enough. There are farmers who typically don't give a damn if you're in a hurry and will go steadily 30 mph below the speed limit because they can, even if you keep your distance and give them a wide berth. And stop signs that get backed up because of folks that don't understand how to keep it flowing and folks taking other folks turns. Not to mention the idiot tailgaters and folks who think it's their turn to pull out of a side street or a parking lot because they let a car pass, causing accidents that block up entire roads and cause you to drive 50 miles out of the way to get around the accident.
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