Rocky's Ace Hardware — Local services in Gloucester

A really bad experience for me will have quit a ripple effect. I am self employed, my credibility in the financial world is my life line. Hometown Ace Hardware, essentially called me a liar. I bought a garden hose in early May, it was as stiff as a board. My thinking was it will soften up in warm weather, it never happened. After 40 days I returned it with sales slip in hand for an upgrade. Hometown Ace refused on the grounds that the hose had excessive ware and tare and could not have been purchased in May. That was a poor argument, 1) On May 3rd I arrived back in Gloucester after spending 6 months in Fl.. 2) I washed my 3 cars, maybe 2 times each in 40 days. Needless to say, I was in shock, if any thing they could have said I owned it more than 30 days, I could have bought that. I have really tried to keep my business local, that being said there is a lot to be said for the return policies of the Home Depot type stores. I'll be heading over to Home Depot later today to purchase a soft garden hose. Basic math on how Hometown shot themselves in the foot. The hose was on sale for $20. Hometown problly paid $10.. I am ready to spend $40. on an upgrade. Retailers cost $20.. Hometown could have eaten the $10. for the stiff hose, made $20. on an upgrade, net profit $10. and retain a loyal customer. Pretty dumb if...

I used to go to this store for both business and personal needs. I gave this store a considerable amount of business every year. I tried to return an $18 axe I had bought as a gift that I did not end up giving. I had the receipt and the axe in the exact condition I had purchased it. The manager at the store refused to accept the return because she said a certain sticker was missing that was vital to its resalability. The receipt said "receipt required for returns," I had the receipt and the product in perfect condition, and they made up an excuse not to accept the return. They must have sold me the axe without the sticker, because it had been sitting in my trunk since I purchased it, untouched.

The staff is not very knowledgeable and always has an attitude. Prices are about the same as every other hardware store in town, but the other stores accept returns as agreed upon before purchase. If you have an option, I would recommend looking elsewhere for your hardware and home improvement needs, in case you need to return something that doesn't quite fit/work/match/whatever.

The Building Center in downtown Gloucester is a great alternative...

We've done a lot of shopping here as we live nearby, and we've had them order products for us which has gone well. Unfortunately, I feel that I've been targeted as a woman and mother by a number of their employees, men and women alike. One said out-loud of my daughter, who I was standing several paces from, "Is she even attended?" as she sat quietly with the bunnies. When I complained of his rudeness to the female manager, I was told that behavior seemed unlikely since the person in question "Has a granddaughter." I've also been told I couldn't return something without a receipt, only to have another employee give me store credit, without a receipt. I think they treat men better than women, especially women with children in tow. I will be buying my garden supplies...