Anawalt Lumber Company — Local services in Los Angeles

As a "Modern Man" and part of "Generation X", I have had little need for lumberyards or hardware stores. People of my generation never paid attention when their dads tried to teach them basic mechanics, carpentry or how to fix a toilet that won't stop running. In my dad's day, every guy knew how to do these things, but the males of my generation were too busy intellectualizing over how better to attract girls, what are the best British rock bands and how many hits of acid we could take without deciding that trying to fly off a tall building was a good idea. Still, even mechanically ignorant people like me occasionally take it upon themselves at least to try to do something to improve their homes without having to call a handyman.

For me, it was assembling new bookcases. Naturally, we got the cases from IKEA, so assembling them required little more than chimp-level intelligence. But as they were from IKEA, they did not have enough adjustable shelves, so I needed more shelves. And as the bookcases came from IKEA, the shelves were non-standard size, because let's face it, IKEA sucks.

Predictably, our local OSH Hardware didn't have shelves that would fit, and fortunately I was able to determine online that Home Depot didn't, either, saving me a trip there where I would no doubt have blown up at the first incompetent employee that pissed me off--if I could find an employee to help me--which happens every time I go in there.

Luckily, I found this Anawalt Lumberyard, not necessarily in my area, but close enough. They happily cut me shelves exactly the size I needed that looked terrific in a few minutes, charged me next to nothing, and everyone I dealt with there was polite, helpful and professional. I was particularly taken with the nursery and the guy running it, who demanded a quarter before giving us a tour (my wife actually dug a quarter out of her purse and handed it to the guy, which made him stand gape-jawed and staring at us in disbelief for a few seconds before he hurriedly explained that it was a joke).

Never again will I bother with Home Depot. I like our local OSH store just fine; they have good folks working there, too. And our local nursery is terrific, staffed by friendly, knowledgeable people and right up the street. But Anawalt's nursery charges about a third what our local one does, so no more OSH or local nursery, either. For me, it's Anawalt, or...

Desperate for a space heater I could walk into the store, purchase, and drive home with, I'd visited and called about 20 stores near me. Home Depots×2 Targets×2, Best Buy×2, CVS×3, Rite Aidx3, independent mom and pop appliance storesx3, and all list equally daunting with sme negative results. Finally, visiting Best Buy, the last sales attendant told tell me, "Just sold their last remaining heater in stock, then quietly added, "but I was at Anawlt Lumber and Hardware, Santa Monica and Highland earlier today and they had several different styles, types, with diversity in price tags as well. I immediately called them, got an live, very pleasant and personable lady sales rep..Her sunny voice, however, was quick to say thst she just may havery just sold the last heater. I let out abandoned moan of disappointment and told her that the cold weather was killing. Not one joint in this 80 year old body wasn'ton fire or hurting, "Could you maybe have just one, remaining, perhaps abandoned floor display model?" "Excuse me one moment while I check the back again." Within 2 MINUTES SHE WAS bacK on the phone. "Only one left that's it." : "My name is Sandra Todd, please, hold that heater. "I'll give you my card number."I am on blood thinners and get cold easily along with my 6lb. pound blonde Malchi mix snd we've have been freezing these past weeks." "Thank you, thank you, thank you." "I don't need your card # and I'll it for hold it for you tonight with a good price." She didn't disappoint. Traveling at breakneck speed through 5:30 Hollywood traffic. I arrived to find the tower heater sacked and awaiting pickup. 5 minutes, no kidding, in and out, with my packaged space heater! Five minutes of smiling, efficient professional service, AND excellent price. They have my business from now on AND that of any other person or family member willing to listen. Great buy and worth the travel for a scarce but much needed heater. A+ in all categories....

Very disappointed! I’ve been a Customer here at the Highland Store for over 10 years. I purchased a plant for $8.99 and it died 3 days after I put it into the ground. I’ve got a green thumb and a half and if it’s my fault ‘No Problem’ I never would have returned it! But this plant just wasn’t going to live! I bought the plant about 2 weeks ago and decided to finally return it/exchange it after giving it my best shot at revival! This would have been the first time I had ever returned a plant/over 10 years. Customer Service couldn’t find the receipt or transaction. I said ‘I don’t know why you can’t find it. I bought it here less than 2 weeks ago and the plant is defective...I just want an exchange ‘No that’s not possible, it’s not Store Policy’ says Alma/Store Manager...I responded ‘so it’s my fault if the sales person possibly put in the wrong Code or I happened to have paid cash that day or your system isn’t flawless’?’ This is why we left our goods we were going to purchase and made our purchase elsewhere...not only were they polite and friendly but offered me a 10% discount on all purchases made that day! Good-bye Anawalt on Highland! The Guys who work there are great, but when Management on HIGHLAND BLVD basically tells you your not worth $8.99 OR your word...Good-bye! Now the Anawalts on Robertson is GREAT and friendly and the AMAZING Customer Service is very much...