Discount Builders Supply & Hardware — Attraction in San Francisco

Not happy today... I placed an order with Customer Service for 30 sheets of 1/2" fire treated plywood. It was to be paid by my company credit card, which my office had to authorize in writing. So I told the lady what the details of my order was, and it was verified by another employee there that there was plenty of stock. I even repeated "1/2", fire treated plywood" twice, and asked "are you sure?" to make sure we were talking about the same thing. They assured me they understood exactly what I meant, and had a full rack of it. Great, so I tell the customer service lady that my office would fill out the credit card authorization. (Which my office followed thru with, and the card was good) Then I got on my plane, thinking the deal was in place.

On Monday when I got back, come to find the order did not get placed. I called the customer service lady, and she explains why this way: "Oh, well, I talked to some guy who had to catch a plane! Hah hah!", not realizing it was me again. As if that fact alone was enough to suspend the order. I guess if a guy has to catch a plane, then his order isn't valid.

Then she says they probably don't have what I want, and sends me to some guy to check stock. (We did all this already...) So the guy now tells me "We don't even carry 1/2" fire treated plywood". I'm like "Really? I just checked stock last week, and was assured you not only carry it, but had a ton of it". He just repeats his report, "Nope, don't carry it".

What a colossal waste of my time. I won't expose myself to this frustration again, and won't risk my job scheduling again.

Dec, 2017 Can't give zero stars...

Well, I found myself in a pinch again, and thought I'd take a chance on this place again.

Certainly they couldnt fk up ALL the time, right? Once in a while they might accidentally get things right. So I'm hoping this is the day.

Called and asked for help, Was put on death hold. No one available in that department.

After this, a "manager" was put on the phone with me, to help me find what I was looking for. He walks back into the store while I'm on hold, and comes back and says they have exactly what I need, verified right size and everything, even gives me the price.

So I send an employee over to pick it up. Four different staff members tell him they don't have any in stock. Freeking unbelievable.

So I call back, and ask for that department. This time, I get thru to the guy who works in that department. The guy says not only do they not have any of that specific product in stock, but they also NEVER carry it in stock.

What dfk are they smoking here?

Tured of being burned by this bunch of fools.

Stay far...

My last review stated Best in Town, 5 stars but unfortunately things change and thus this updated review. I went in last month and purchased $40.88 worth of stuff. At the checkout there was a problem with the chip reader and I was charged $40.88 three separate times which we quickly ascertained. Being told they couldn't just refund me two of the three which I still don't know why that is, rather I was told I would receive a call the next day. No call. Nor was I called for the following two more days. I ended up needing more stuff so I stopped in and bought some, asking about my situation and was told when the bookkeeper would be there the next day, this is the same lady who promised and failed to call me in the first place. A few days later I call and ask for the store manager, get VM, leave message, never hear from him. Same thing two days later. Finally I'm told it can take up to 10 days to receive a refund of this sort by the bookkeeper, great we are already past 10 days I tell her. Finally I just take it up with my bank, problem solved I have a provisional credit to my account right then. Still waiting on that phone call from the store manager... Not holding my breath. My business has been shopping there for years spending over 6k last year alone, even with Covid running amok. Being said, I will never set foot in the place again until I receive that phone call. I hope their lack of customer service was worth the money...

My toilet started having a problem where it would not shut off, resulting in gallons of water flushing down the overflow valve. The temporary fix was to turn of the water supply valve behind the toilet, but then that 50 year old supply line faucet was leaking water meaning we had to keep a shallow pan under it even when off.

I already had the correct Kohler floater valve to fix the toilet but that supply line valve problem was more vexing. After taking it apart I realized all I needed was a simple rubber washer.

Went to Lowe's and the only help I could get was "here are all our washers". Nothing resembling what I needed.

I went to Discount Builder's Supply and as usual they were the best. I showed the washer to the lovely gentleman in the plumbing department on Sunday, March 26, 2023, and he took me on a personal scavenger hunt through the store for the next 10 minutes until we found exactly what I needed. And it worked. This is what customer service is about.

My total cost for the part I needed. $1.09 for a pack of two. I am good the next time this happens. It would have cost me $500 or more to have a plumber come out and fix this.

Every time I need something special or unique, this hardware store has always come...