Ace Hardware

[paulsharvey]

So, at times we have far more complaints threads than positive, so I wanted to post something positive. Ace Hardware, atleast local 3 or 4 aces, all owned by same folks, is awesome. Need a well pressure switch, 410 shot shells, feed, quikcrete, a bearded dragon, lumber, they got you.

Yes, you will pay maybe 5% more, but it's 10 minutes vs 30 minutes away, and anymore Lowes/HD don't often have well parts.

This morning, i needed a piece of window glass, 27.5"×47.5". 5 minutes they have it cut and wrapped. I hinted high and low for glass, and figures I'd have to cut myself. No up charge or cut and wrap, and at $47, it sure beats replacing the whole window.

 

[deserteagle71]

Lucky you. Several years ago the local Ace Hardware got bought out by a small grocery store chain. So the hardware store is just one end of the grocery store, next to all the grocery items. Good luck on getting someone knowledgeable to help you with anything. If what you need is on the shelf then you grab it and go through checkout with all the other grocery shoppers. No one is going to cut you a piece of pipe or glass or help with any technical questions. As far as I can tell they don't carry bags of cement or grout. Surprisingly, they do carry some firearms!

 

[paulsharvey]

Lucky you. Several years ago the local Ace Hardware got bought out by a small grocery store chain. So the hardware store is just one end of the grocery store, next to all the grocery items. Good luck on getting someone knowledgeable to help you with anything. If what you need is on the shelf then you grab it and go through checkout with all the other grocery shoppers. No one is going to cut you a piece of pipe or glass or help with any technical questions. As far as I can tell they don't carry bags of cement or grout. Surprisingly, they do carry some firearms!

The Ace group over near St Augustine are basically outdoor patio furniture, wind chimes, and "live laugh love" or "life's a beach" decorations, and fancy candles.

 

[Racer4]

Our local Ace just came into town around 2020. They bought out the Trustworthy hardware which was also a lumber yard. Ace kept the lumber yard part to some degree. They vastly increased their hardware selection over what TW used to carry and added Husky power equipment to the location. I can usually find what I need there, instead of having to go 20 mins to Lowe’s or 35 to HD.

 

[Runner]

I like Ace for hard to find nuts, bolts and hardware items. I also find repair parts for older faucet sets there. Finally, I like their "Pugs" ANSI approved protective eyewear/sunglasses which are cheap and stylish.

 

[sandman2234]

Bennetts Ace Hardware on Beaver Street was my go-to store until a young lady made a left turn in front of a loaded tractor trailer and the truck entered the building and destroyed the building. The truck entered the store right at the cash register area, so needless to say, it wasn't pretty. Several people were injured including at least one of the owners whom I knew personally. This happened in early 2022 and the store has remained closed since that time because the building was damaged significantly and insurance by the car at fault was in no way able to cover the damages. The truck stayed in the building for quite a while, since it was supporting the roof of the building, which would collapse if the truck was removed.

Bennett's Ace Hardware brothers are recovering after truck slams into long-time Jacksonville business

David from jax

 

[Oaktree]

I like Ace for hard to find nuts, bolts and hardware items. I also find repair parts for older faucet sets there.

That's what I use them for...those oddball parts that HD or Lowes may or may not have. The nearest one is further away than either HD or Lowes and not really on my way anywhere so I don't go there unless I need to.

Maybe a slightly higher chance of finding an employee who knows anything.

 

[grsthegreat]

Our ace is part of the local food store. But the people are knowledgeable and friendly. I shop there and the local tractor supply. Beats the long roundtrip into town

 

[ultrarunner]

ACE is my first business account and the store was an entire city block and really did have everything…

They did quite a business but family issues arose when the founder died after 65 years of running the store.

Now it’s just another vacant leveled weed patch with grand plans to build multi level mixed space retail and housing..

Several much smaller ACE hardware stores also folded but there are 2 small urban in business since 1920’s I still use…

My truck has been broken in at Home Depot and others… but never at ACE…

 

[DarkBlack]

My truck has been broken in at Home Depot and others… but never at ACE…

Where the heck do you live??

 

[lman]

Our local Ace just closed up. The closest Ace is now about 30 miles away. Lowes is about 15 miles away.

 

[Runner]

Our local Ace just closed up. The closest Ace is now about 30 miles away. Lowes is about 15 miles away.

I have four within a 15 minute drive, and they are all in between HD, Lowes and TSC, so pretty handy for me. I also like to buy flowers there to plant in the spring.

 

[ultrarunner]

Where the heck do you live??

California SF Bay Area… it’s happened several times at Home Depot and Supply Houses plus on the job while relighting a pilot light or plunging a toilet…

Shatter a window and go.

Replacing the broken glass costs more than what is taken… except when they got my sawzall and blades… the box was chained with padlock so only got the tool and 2 blade packs…

Nothing is visible but I do have a rack so it looks like a contractor truck.

My friend is a one man electrician and his dog is his security… best trained I have ever seen… people can walk by all day but the moment someone stops with feet pointed towards the truck the Doberman goes to alert and comes out from under the truck… just an amazing dog.

 

[Runner]

California SF Bay Area… it’s happened several times at Home Depot and Supply Houses plus on the job while relighting a pilot light or plunging a toilet…

Shatter a window and go.

Replacing the broken glass costs more than what is taken… except when they got my sawzall and blades… the box was chained with padlock so only got the tool and 2 blade packs…

Nothing is visible but I do have a rack so it looks like a contractor truck.

My friend is a one man electrician and his dog is his security… best trained I have ever seen… people can walk by all day but the moment someone stops with feet pointed towards the truck the Doberman goes to alert and comes out from under the truck… just an amazing dog.

Unfortunately, this is not particular to California. I had the catalytic converter stolen from my truck in a busy Lowe's parking lot in Independence, MO (suburb east of KC) in the middle of the morning.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

Yep I have 2 Ace's equidistance from the house. One is a nice 10 minute drive into the country the other is into the city (I live right on the outskirts). I normally go to the the one into the country . They are owned by 2 different outfits. The country store has bulk gravel, feed, screws by the pound, etc. I just like the feel of that one a little better. It feels more old school to me. Also, if you join the Ace App they send you coupons for $5 off all the time. That helps with the slight price increase over HD and Lowes. You are right they have a WAY better fastener selection than the big stores.

 

[Hay Dude]

Our local ACE is also our local Stihl dealer. Good people. They give me 10% off on Stihl saws and I have a separate non taxable account for farm related purchases.
Nice place to stop in and talk to neighbors.

 

[Panik]

I'm lucky that in our relatively rural area we have 2 separately owned Ace Hardwares, a Tru-Value and both flavors of Borg (Home Depot/Lowes) within 35 minutes of my house. It's actually a really nice change from living in Tampa in that I am on a first name or better basis with staff at all of the stores except for Lowes. Both of the Ace's are what I think of as "true" hardware stores & power equipment dealers, while the Tru-Value has a business model that is closer to hardware store & outdoor home goods. All of them have pretty excellent selections of fasteners.

A couple years after we moved up here I decided to go "all in" on putting in a bougie barrel stove in my shop.... firebrick & mortar lining the bottom half and entire back wall of the barrel, as well as buying double wall pipe for portion of the piping transiting the shop rafter area. After the owner of the closest Ace saw me in buying supplies twice he inquired about what I was doing and cut me a significant deal on the double wall piping I needed.

Our local ACE is also our local Stihl dealer. Good people. They give me 10% off on Stihl saws and I have a separate non taxable account for farm related purchases.
Nice place to stop in and talk to neighbors.

Up until this year one of our Aces was a Stihl dealer and the one closest to home was Husky - with both having decent small engine repair/service shops. While I'm not particularly brand loyal most of my stuff is husky so when the closer store went over to Stihl I inquired about the change. Apparently they've been having parts and equipment supply problems from Husky corporate and it was more cost effective to become a Sthil dealer.

 

[Jstpssng]

^^^^
I have been told that Husky dealers are expected to sell a certain amount of saws or they will lose their franchise. The person who told me that had given his up or lost it, so there may be some truth to what he says.


Unfortunately more volume for them doesn't necessarily mean better quality and service for us.

 

[masscity]

We have a Ace Hardware 20 miles from here. Not huge, prices are high, but handy to have when you need something.

Best part is they give 15% discount for Veterans.

 

[dadohead]

The local Ace hardware (town of 4k) had been a Hardware Hank for 50 years. They carry building materials, full equipment rental, green house, Stihl... The owner went Ace this year because he said the support from Ace is unmatched. They have sales/margin data on every item in the store. Hank offered nothing. I was in there yesterday wanting a #00 Phillip's screwdriver to change the battery in my phone. The young gal walked me right to them. Yup, knowledge there.