Sunshine Ace Hardware — Local services in Naples

This store really needs to do a better job at hiring people who work for them! My 84 year old father has shopped at this location for many years as he was a condominum manager on Gulf Shore blvd for 25+ years. We walked into the store & he was looking up at the signs to locate the aisle with the items we needed. I faintly heard someone say something around the next aisle but I didn't see anyone because I wasn't to that aisle yet. I thought perhaps there were people talking down that aisle. Another employee approached my father & was asking him if he needed help finding anything & my father proceeded to speak to that employee. I then saw an employee putting some thing up about 4 feet down the aisle & look directly at my father who was still in conversation with the friendly & helpful employee. The employee down the aisle then said something again in a low, monotone voice while looking at my father. I do not have issues with my hearing but really did not understand what he was saying. Then louder with almost an angry voice & continuing to glare at my father he said, "ARE YOU DEAF?" He the huffed & walked behind the employee talking to my father & moved down another aisle to hang something. As we walked by he glared with a scowl on his face staring at us. I am not one to confront people but in my mind I was thinking that with the amount of elderly people that shop there, I am sure my father is not the only one who is very hard of hearing. I am a retired RN & Administrator in Public Health, in my opinion, this rude & inconsiderate employee should NOT be working with the public! I later asked my father if he heard or saw the rude employee & thankfully, he did not. Now, as I do the shopping for my father, I will chose another store to purchase what we need to avoid this very rude employee & also,where the selection of items on the shelves are...

Although I had never been to your Golden Gate store, I was in need of a few items and my wife and I decided to take a short drive. At the top of my list was some stainless steel license plate screws. When I arrived in the nuts-and-bolts aisle, I was quickly greeted by an employee (Frank L.) who was eager to help. I told him what I was looking for, and Frank snapped into action.

Soon, his questioning turned to what kind of car the license plate screws were for. Lexus - I explained. He suggested that a Lexus would probably require a 6mm screw. I asked Frank if I could borrow a screwdriver so I could run out to my car, remove one of the screws, and bring it back for verification. Instead, Frank offered to go to my car, get the screw, and do the verification himself. Next thing I knew, Frank and I were in the parking lot removing a license plate screw.

Frank was not only being helpful, but his dialog was fantastic. As we walked back to the store, Frank proclaimed while holding the screw in his hand - "Yep - I think this is a 6mm. In fact, if it's not a 6mm, the two screws you need are on the house and I will install them for you." I explained that I wouldn’t be taking anything on the house, but Frank then stated that if he was correct in choice of size, I would have to pay for the screws although he would still install them. All in fun, but when we returned to the nuts-and-bolts aisle and verified the screw size, Frank was proved correct and the screws were in fact 6mm. While my wife paid for the screws, Frank and I walked back out to the car - so he could reinstall the new screws for me. (See attached Photo)

For a sale of approximately two-dollars, Frank spent at least 15 minutes with me - taking care of everything. While it’s well know that Sunshine Ace always goes the extra step, Franks efforts on this particular day were...

I had to install a TV on my Lanai. When we bought the house the previous owners had left a bracket but the mounting bolts for a Samsung 50" TV were very specific. I tried the normal Lowes\Home Depot route but they either didn't have the type of bolts that I needed or, as is typical, there wasn't anyone there that had a clue as to what I was talking about. I had ridden past Sunshine Ace Hardware several times but had not stopped in to check it out. I decided to see if they had what I needed thinking that it was an outside shot at best. I could not have been more wrong. They not only had the exact hardware, the staff their knew exactly what I was trying to do so I got the hardware and some cursory instructions on how to fit the TV to the existing bracket. Are they sometimes more expensive than the big box stores? Maybe, but what is that kind of knowledge and service worth in terms of your time and effort. It's certainly worth a 5-10% price premium to me.

While I was in the store, I also happened to notice all of the fishing gear and tackle. In talking to the guys that run that part of the shop, they set me up with great fishing gear to get started as learning to fish was one of my primary goals in moving to this area. These guys are great. They fixed one of my old rods, with a new tip, for $3 and set me up with the right kind of lures and line and gave me some tips on where to fish. Sunshine Ace is my go to hardware store. Having a hardware shop that can help you get it done right the first time is well worth the small premium and I like supporting local businesses...