POLL: Favorite Hardware Store?

[whirlcool]

Our local Ace is a pretty large store and I love just browsing the store to see what they have. If you look closely enough you'll find a lot of strange items that I never knew existed.

When I was growing up we had two large independent hardware stores not too far away from our house. One of them was so close you could walk to it. One of them closed in the late 60's and the other one closed in the 90's as the owner passed away and nobody from the family wanted to continue in the business. Both offered the kind of service we see in Ace these days.

As for paint, we use Pratt & Lambert Accolade for inside and outside surfaces. You can't find it in big box stores. It seems to be only available in independent paint stores. But we love the durability.

 

[wayupnorth]

Aubuchon Hardware here

In New England we have alot of Aubuchon Hardware stores. They always have everything you need and their service is top shelf. There is no more Ace Hardware or True Value near me. Lowe's is 8 miles but for something I have a question on or want quick in and out, I go 1 more mile to Aubuchon.

 

[danemodsandy]

Behr Paint:

The one thing I'll go to HD for is Behr Paint - I like it very much for durability.

TIP: If you're painting bathroom trim, use Behr's semi-gloss latex exterior paint. Huge difference in how long it lasts.

 

[hydralique]

Lowe's and Home Depot

In the last couple of years I've spent a lot of time and money at both Home Depot and Lowe's while renovating my parent's house and don't have much bad to say about either. The past two Saturdays I've had plumbers there doing a number of tasks including adding two new cleanouts on the main line, relocating a water softener from one side of the garage to the other, installing new p-traps at sinks, etc.

 

Last Saturday I had procured the required 100' of copper line for the water softener relocation at Home Depot but wasn't sure about some other items until the plumbers arrived. We quickly made a list and I went to Lowe's. As an architect I'm moderately knowledgeable about plumbing but no expert and was in a hurry so as not to keep the plumbers waiting. In the plumbing department a nice young guy asked if I needed help so I went through the entire list that included both copper and ABS pipe, various connectors, a new tailpiece, etc. He know where everything was and really reduced the time it took.

 

The Saturday before we needed a specific cast-iron to ABS hubless connector. Lowe's didn't have it so I went to Home Depot. They didn't have it either but an employee had an alternative using items they did have. As it turned out that didn't work due to space constraints so the proper connector was sourced at an independent plumbing supply store across town, but the HD employee did know what he carried and took some time to try and solve the problem.

 

I do notice that some stores are better maintained than others, but overall I've been quite pleased with Lowe's and HD. I tend to go to Lowe's first as they are closer, 1/2 mile away versus 2 miles and several stoplights for Home Depot.  However, I pass another HD on the way from my house to my parent's house so if traffic on the Ventura Freeway gets bad I've been known to stop in and shop at that HD in Camarillo and then take back roads through the strawberry fields to Oxnard. The Camarillo HD also has a very nice and nearly new Ford flatbed available quite reasonably for large loads. It came in handy when I'd bought a bunch of finish grade oak in lengths too long to fit in a Mazda pickup, plus a bunch of drywall. In theory the Oxnard HD has a flatbed truck too, but it's always gone or needing repair since that's a much busier store than Camarillo.

 

[rp2813]

back roads through the strawberry fields

Taking that route must be quite a trip.

 

[tolivac]

Out my way there are two Lowes stores here.The Home Depot closed down-gone.Nearest HD store would be outside of Raleigh.There is a Harbor Freight store here with all kinds of tools.Gives Lowes and Sears competition.I don't know where the Ace hardware place is here.there is supposed to be one-If so would use them.There used to be a ReTool place here-but the Harbor Freight place killed them off-loved the ReTool place.Was good for the tool collection.

 

[polkanut]

Rex,

Your closest Ace Hardware is located 19 miles away in Washington, NC.

 

[franksdad]

Ace Hardware

When I'm in the market for actual hardware I know my Ace Hawdware Store will have what I want.  The folks at Ace Hardware are also very knowledgable and always ready to help and answer any question I may have.  I've ended up following suggestions given to me by my friendly hardware folk at Ace which I had never considered.  We used to have some True Value Hardware stores nearby but they are getting harder to find.  Another hardware chain in our area back when I was a kid was Blue Grass Hardware.  My Mama bought all her Corning Wear, Pyrex Wear, and Revere Wear at our local Blue Grass Hardware.  For lumber and large items I go to Lowe's and next Home Depot.   If I want some really "nice" wood or some trim I go to Dixie Hardware and Building Supply in Easley, SC.  They carry the nicest lumber and trim as well as building supplies you will find anywhere.  Of course, their stuff in very expensive.   For paint and paint information it's Sherwin-Williams only!    

 

[twintubdexter]

We are very lucky...

...here in the Palm Springs area to have a wonderful and fairly unique hardware store, Palm Springs True Value Hardware. This store is not your run-of-the-mill True Value. Since relocating to the old Long's location in the Smoketree Village Center they have even more room for their high-end outdoor furniture, garden accessories and trendy/fun stuff. They are a major retailer of top-of-the-line Weber Summit BBQ's. Customer service is excellent due to a very dedicated staff. The store is a big supporter of the community including LGBT folks.

 

[tolivac]

Tim:-thanks for the info on the Ace Hardware-that is not real convenient-too bad there isn't an ACE place in Greenville.

 

[norgeway]

OTHER!!

Laniers in Lexington NC, it covers nearly a city block and if they dont have it...it just dosent exist.

 

[kqkenmore]

Lowes Better customer service than the Home Depot.
Coles Do It Center but they have closed.
Hubbards Hardware because they are close to the house.

 

[chuffle]

Independent hardware...

...affiliated with True Value. They are close (7 miles, in town), sales folk know me and I know them. They almost always have what I want and everyone knows their merchandise. Happy to have a store that still has bins of screws, nuts, bolts, corks (I know this, as I was in need of one last year), and nails.

Once in a while, I will walk through Lowe's (18 miles away in one town, 32 miles away in another), to browse. No Home Depot near here, have to head to Pittsburgh, Altoona, or Johnstown.

Joe