Altoona Ace Hardware Store — Local services in Altoona

I have dealt with Ace stores in many states where “Ace is the place with the helpful hardware person”. This place is the place with the clueless hardware person. The staff has no idea as to basic items, when asked for something as simple as a storm window clip they have no idea to even look for such, ask for valve packing and their response is “what is that”, call and ask what size of plexiglass they have and you get put on hold, then after five minutes you get disconnected, so call back and ask for sizes of clear acrylic sheets on hand and get asked what it will be used for, then put on hold again and be disconnected. Go in and get a copy of a key made, when handed the key Zi am told that it probably eill not work as they do not have the correct module for their new key cutter, the key did not work, when compared with the key they were to have copied there was a significant difference. Next time I will just...

Cashier was friendly, manager was nice enough. I went to rent a boom lift, which was simple enough. But felt that because I was young and female, the male manager was showing concern for ME renting the lift, asking if I knew how to use it, explaining things I told him I already knew, and just showed a lot of concern for me being the one renting it, UP UNTIL my MALE business partner showed up with his pickup truck to tow the lift. As soon as the manager saw him, he immediately stopped fussing and showing concern, and basically helped drop the lift on the hitch and went back inside. Im in no way accusing anyone of ANYTHING, im just saying how my experience was, and how I perceived it, because I want people, especially female, to just have a heads up, so they know what to expect. But I digress, as I said, had no problems and staff was friendly, rental process super easy!...

Visited twice over the course of a weekend. First visit I came to get a new lawn mower blade. The store associate was sitting in a lawn chair when I arrived and seemed annoyed that I asked him where the item was. Picked what I thought it was (it wasn’t - my fault for not looking prior to purchasing), and then the associate had to cash me out which again, seemed like he didn’t want to. Just an overall bad attitude. I had never been to this Ace and it wasn’t a great experience. Ended up picking a different store to get the right item.

Now I needed to return said blade that didn’t fit. Was actually dreading it because I didn’t want to deal with the first guy again. But it was a different person who was pleasant and courteous - got my return processed quick!

Overall, seems like a nice but small Ace location. But there is better ones in...