Elder's Ace Hardware - Cleveland — Local services in Cleveland

As I recount my misadventure at Elders Ace Hardware on a fateful St. Patrick's Day afternoon, I can't help but feel a mixture of frustration and disbelief at the lack of assistance I encountered. It's a tale of dashed hopes, unmet expectations, and a lesson learned the hard way: Ace may claim to be the helpful place, but my experience begs to differ.

With the excitement of newfound gardening ambitions, courtesy of birthday gifts, I set out on a mission to procure soil at Elders Ace Hardware in Cleveland, TN. Little did I know, this innocent pursuit would turn into a harrowing ordeal of ignorance and neglect.

Navigating the maze of soil pallets outside, I found myself drowning in options, each bag devoid of pricing clarity. Desperate for guidance, I ventured indoors, seeking assistance from the supposed purveyors of helpfulness. Alas, my pleas fell on deaf ears as I was directed to wait outside for assistance.

Minutes stretched into eternity as I stood amidst the silent bags of soil, my patience waning with each passing moment. Twice did I return indoors, only to be met with empty promises and indifferent shrugs from disinterested staff.

My hopes flickered when I spotted a yellow-shirted employee, seemingly lost in reverie amidst the foliage. Determined to garner assistance, I approached him with a glimmer of hope in my eyes, ready to finally unravel the mysteries of soil selection.

"Excuse me, sir," I began, my voice laced with a tinge of desperation. "Could you please help me with the soil selection? I'm quite new to gardening and could use some guidance."

The man's gaze shifted from the distant horizon to meet mine, though his expression remained impassive. "Exactly what about the soil do you need help with?" he inquired, his tone tinged with a hint of impatience.

Encouraged by the prospect of assistance, I launched into an explanation of my gardening aspirations, hoping to glean insights into the nuances of soil types and their respective uses. Yet, before I could even finish my plea, he interjected with a dismissive directive.

"You'll need to go back inside and talk to a cashier," he declared, his words falling like a lead weight upon my hopes. "They have laminated sheets with all the information and pricing on it."

Struggling to comprehend his refusal, I implored him once more, my frustration bubbling to the surface. "But sir, I was hoping you could assist me directly. I'm at a loss with the options out here, and your expertise would be invaluable."

With a curt shake of his head, he reiterated his stance, his resolve unyielding. "Sorry, you'll have to go inside and speak to a cashier," he reiterated, his attention already drifting back to the foliage.

Defeated and disillusioned, I trudged back indoors, my hopes dashed against the rocky shores of indifference. In the aftermath of this disheartening encounter, one question lingers: Why? Why would a purported bastion of assistance turn a blind eye to a customer in need?

But my hopes were soon dashed once more when I discovered that these alleged sheets held no answers, serving merely as a facade of assistance. With over an hour wasted in fruitless pursuit, my faith in Ace's proclaimed helpfulness lay shattered, replaced by a resolve to seek refuge in the welcoming embrace of larger stores with a proven track record of customer care.

As I reflect on my ordeal, I can only hope that my tale serves as a cautionary reminder to fellow seekers of aid: beware the façade of helpfulness, for it may crumble when you need it most.

So, farewell, Elders Ace Hardware. You may have lost a customer today, but your legacy of indifference shall not be forgotten. As for me, I'll take my business elsewhere, where the promise of genuine assistance rings true, and the soil of customer...

Had a great third experience there. Such welcoming folks!

Update: I hope my first experience at Elder's is more indicative of their usual service than my second experience. Visiting mid-day Friday, this place was a nightmare, & I didn't even go inside. The new locations parking lot was quite difficult in which to maneuver, and just getting to the curbside pickup spot (they have only one) was much more of an ordeal than it should have been. I had to call three times to let them know I was ready for pickup. The first two calls were answered with "hello", & then as I began speaking, the call was disconnected. It was then that I realized Elder's called me twice the day before (maybe about my order?), but did not leave a message; I find that quite unprofessional. The phone thing really angers me, so I'm removing a couple stars. I will return there, whenever my delayed order arrives (two days late as of now, with no update). I hope to have a better experience the next time.

Absolutely amazing! They have the kind of customer service I expect from everywhere, but usually, I am left disappointed. Not here! As soon as I walked into the store, two employees greeted me, and another asked if he could help me find anything. I chatted with both cashiers while checking-out, because they were not busy. It was wonderful, and has been made even better after getting ignored by a couple dozen employees at the blue-trimmed...

Amazing inventory, clean store and clutter-free isles which means Everything to someone like myself who has to use a walker to get around. Other stores may abide by handicap regulations and/or modifications in their parking lot but the buck stops there because once I actually enter the business I feel like I'm dodging land mines. Elder's Ace Hardware cares about ALL of their customers because they go out of their way to ensure a safe and positive experience. What also impressed me about Elder's Ace Hardware is how knowledgeable their staff is about inventory and the ability to answer questions about a particular home improvement job, not to mention great attitudes and exceptionally polite. Today Dane was extremely helpful and patient with me as I looked for a bracket to hang an antique chandelier. He explained to me that I would need more than just the bracket so I purchased the whole kit and sure enough when I got home I realized he was absolutely right and saved me a 2nd trip to Elder's ACE Hardware...Thanks so much Dane! Kuddos to the management for excellent training of their staff and their...