Placerville Hardware — Attraction in Placerville

I have never been so disgusted, disappointed, and infuriated, I’ve come to this shop every time since I was a lil girl and now I was trying to get away from my stressful life with my boyfriend and to be treated the way we were was is to say so incredibly ill-mannered.

And after what happened I would give this a ZERO STAR if google would allow it!

What happened: Walked into this shop because I know this shop has excellent knives to sell as well as cast iron skillets. Next thing a woman screams for someone to make a key for a customer loud I might add. Ignored it because it’s none of my business what so ever and I was busy admiring the knives behind the casing. Walking around and browsing since it has been some time since I’ve been in this shop. See some interesting items and grab them, I was grabbing quite a few trinkets I haven’t seen where I live and I wanted to get stuff for my sick mother and a surprise gift for my boyfriend while he was looking at something else, so I put them in the reusable bag I had so then I could pay for them after. Kept browsing and looking and saw that they had candles and obviously wanted to smell them, so I go to do that once done as I was stepping down from the step when this older lady (who was screaming for another worker to make a key) approached me, thinking she might want to look I said excuse me and moved to the side. That’s when she started yelling at me Older Woman: “I saw you put that in your bag!” (Woah ok back track) me: “yes I did I have a couple thing and I can’t hold them” Older woman: “I have you on camera putting it in your bag so you can give them to me and leave” me: “but I want to purchase these items and something behind the case” Older woman: “I don’t care you need to give them to me now or else” At this point I’m not looking to fight and I shouldn’t have been put in this situation when I was only browsing. (I’m a retail worker myself and I know the struggle of thieves and criminals coming and going practically deal with them everyday.)

I handed the items to her and walked out waited for my boyfriend to have his time to look at stuff in there since it was his first time at this historical town.

That’s when I found out that she had approached him as well and started yelling:

Older woman: “Aren’t you with her!?” BF: “huh??” Older woman: “ya’ll are together I saw you!” BF: “hmm” (while he is trying to make a purchase) Older woman: stood and stared very judging

I have never been so displeased with my visit to this family establishment not to mention how my boyfriend was treated when he did nothing let alone knew what had happened with me:

The screaming from the woman as a worker is so unsettling, unethical, and bitter. Someone with authority in that shop needs to speak with her about how she approaches her customers let alone be in a business where it will lose its name, business and piece of a historical landmark. Attitude like that is not appropriate not the way she did at least. Disgusting and definitely disappointing that my favorite shop in placerville has shit on...

I went into this store with my 72yr old mom. I made a purchase then went to find her & picked up another item to buy on my way out when a sales lady told me they had a larger item of what I was buying & walked me over to see it. On the way back to the register to check out I was walking in back of the other associate a woman came from nowhere & told me I put something in my purse. I kindly told her I had just made a purchase & she told me NO YOU DID’NT I watch the camera! I was in SHOCK yall!! I went to the register & opened my bag to shower her my purchase & receipt but she suddenly didn’t want to see it. I showed her anyways because if you’re going to accuse me of stealing I’m going to prove you wrong. No one at the actual register heard her tell me I didn’t make a purchase which is literally accusing me of theft. She confronted me & was breathing really hard. I’m a well put together 47yr old woman. My sunglasses cost more than 90% of their store when I mentioned I’m not excatly the type to steal she said in front of everyone that doesn’t matter. She tried to embarrass and shame me after she wrongfully accused me of stealing when she said she was watching the cameras the whole time. I will never give them another cent of mine. DO NOT GIVE THEM YOUR BUSINESS either you will likely be treated the same should you try to check the time or grab a mint since everyone is a thief apparently at their store! No apology. Nothing. I reiterate she still tried to shame me at the register in front of my elderly mother after already embarrassing me in front of the whole store! When she was in the wrong! I would have accepted a genuine apology but didn’t get one and if your watching the cameras TRY WATCHING THE REGISTER AS WELL. Absolute trash. Used to be wonderful I’ve shopped there since early 90’s as a teen when I lived in town and now when I visit but they have changed. You lost at least one good customer for life. Hopefully others will see this and choose to shop elsewhere also. If your driving through just skip this store when you go to Main street. You will be profiled for zero reason....

This hardware store is one of a kind. This is the oldest hardware store west of the Mississippi River. The building was built in 1850 and the hardware store has been around since 1852. Around since the days of the Gold Rush. The place is a historic landmark and a modern functioning hardware store. It is located right on Main Street in Placerville, CA.

The hardwood floors, wooden counter, wooden cabinets, and wall ladder are original. The staff do not mind folks coming in to take a look around. If you look hard enough, you might see a gold miner’s leg sticking out of the ceiling. Speaking about gold mining, they have supplies for that as well. They carry kids kits, novice equipment and more advanced tools. Just up the road, not very far, is Sutter’s Mill. Gold was discovered there in 1848 sparking the Gold Rush.

The shop is packed from ceiling to floor with inventory. They have tools ( hammers, screwdrivers, saws, etc); individual washer, nuts, bolts, nails; furnace filters; mops and brooms; cleaning supplies; plumbing supplies; gardening items…just like your regular average hardware store. The kind before big box shops. No lumber or nursery though. They even have knowledgeable staff that can assist you on your home improvement issues (plumbing, drywall, etc). The left side of the shop has household items, kitchen items, and gift shop kitsch. Even though I have been here tons of times throughout the years, I can still lose track of time just looking at all the...