Niemann Ace Hardware — Local services in Inver Grove Heights

Not a very great experience at this Ace Hardware store. I ordered a grill table online about a week ago for pickup at this location. I arrived there to be told that the only table they had in store was the display model and I couldn't take it. The staff told me that he meant to cancel my order. He tells me he will cancel my order now. I wait around for a couple minutes to see if the email comes through and it never does so they sign a sheet of paper telling me it's cancelled. I still haven't received a refund for that purchase so I call the store today and a guy answers the phone and tells me he doesn't know how to help me. He puts me on hold and tells me that refunds take 2-5 business days. I tell him it's been past 5 days so what I should do now. He tells me "I don't know." I say can I talk to someone who does know? He tells me everyone is busy and so I'll probably have to come to the store for help. I've already driven to this store to not get what I need and now they are asking me to come in again. I asked if there was any other way and he says no. I called the Corporate office and they tell me the order was never cancelled. They put me on hold while THEY call this location and they are able to get it cancelled and resolved. Seems a little ridiculous you have to call the Corporate office to have the staff here do what...

The first time I went there I saw more employees than customers, but no one offered any help while I searching around the store. There was even one standing near me when I was looking for a matching nut to the bolt I brought in and he didn't even acknowledge me, let alone offer to help. The last item I needed was a couple feet of tubing that staff needed to cut. I walked to the back window counter where a few employees were talking to each other. They took turns glancing at me without otherwise acknowledging me before one finally came over. Then at checkout I had to point out an error as one of my items was scanned twice, but at least this worker was polite. I really wouldn't have thought anything about the experience in this store if only two people were working, but it's the fact that about 6 employees in a small store were less help than a self-checkout and a pair of scissors would have been. I've been to home depot about 100 times and never thought anything negative about their customer service.

Edit: I went back to the store for a really good black friday deal and the staff member at the front counter (middle aged male, short dark hair) was very helpful and funny. Maybe I just had a unusual experiance...

My experience at this location has been highly variable. The employees at the paint counter have been awesome. They’ve helped me with recommendations and color matching many times. I’m working my daughter to remodel her house and we have been in this store hundreds of times with overwhelmingly positive experiences. Today I came in to ask about renting a leaf blower. I asked the man who came back to the service counter if they had backpack leaf blowers for rent. He said No in a sneering, irritated way. It was a weird way to respond. In the past when I’ve asked for something they didn’t carry or a service they didn’t offer the employee would often offer a suggestion, that didn’t happen today. So I then asked if they had any leaf blowers, it didn’t need to be a backpack one. To which he said yes but I noticed that he glanced towards the leaf blowers on the sales floor so I added “to rent”. To which he almost shouted No. The employee was rude and dismissive from the start. I’m tempted to go back and get the rude old man’s name but I need to head over to Home Depot so I can rent the equipment I need. On the whole it’s been a good store but this guy was so overtly hostile from the onset that I don’t feel welcome...