Oak Harbor Ace Hardware — Local services in Oak Harbor

I love home town hardware stores and this one is no exception. When I first moved to O.H. I would go in this store and would feel out of place and didn't know why. But after a few months I figured it out, that wanted to help me and I just kept saying I was good. The team at this store is on top of it and they all do their part. You will be approached and offered service and I say let them help you because who knows their store better than them. I'm a contractor and I love going to a true hardware store that isn't trying to sell me a refrigerator and a line of credit. Just the things you need from good nice folks. Oh yeah their Stihl service department is the best around. I once hit every authorized dealer from Bellingham to oak harbor looking for an m10 bolt for a Stihl hedger attachment. It is the standard bolt for any piece of Stihl gas powered equipment since for ever. Every shop told me that it was a specialty bolt they had to order or that they didn't know what bolt I was looking for and I had to call a rep for assistance. The guys down here not only knew what I was talking about but just threw one at me no cost and I'll tell you what I have never had any of my Stihl equipment serviced anywhere else since. It's the little things that matter and these guys get it right more times than not. Thanks guys keep up...

Went to return a quart of minwax stain. I purchased from them in October and Jo was the one at the register, she asked for a receipt and i told her i had misplaced it. The can was obviously unopened and not tampered with. I explained that i just didn’t end up using it and would be totally okay with a store credit. Jo called for an associate in the paint department to confirm they sold this brand and the stain color. She checked and paint associate brought up the same brand but a different stain, and said sorry we don’t carry the one you’re trying to return. I informed them that she brought up a different color than the one I’m trying to return and she walked away. Jo a minute later then slides the stain can to me and said she can’t do the return since they don’t sell it. I pulled it up on aces website and to show otherwise and asked for a manager. It was very frustrating that from the beginning I felt like Jo was treating me like a thief. I get that retail theft is a thing, it’s a $13 can of stain and I was perfectly happy with just store credit. Tammy was the manager who helped me and I truly hope the next time i shop there that Jo is not on that shift or she has a...

I always try to shop local. So I always try to use Ace before the big box stores in Oak Harbor. However, the last four times I’ve gone in there, I got grouched at by several of the cranky older women who work there. They are not helpful, and they seem very annoyed that you interrupted them to ask for help. They say “hello” as soon as you walk in, then proceed to avoid any kind of warmth or helpfulness. This is a more recent problem as a year ago the store had a more helpful and warm tone in their employees. I am sure there are a few of them still working there, but I haven’t encountered any in the past 5 months. Home Depot may be a big box store, but their employees have been nothing but helpful and friendly EVERY TIME. Sorry Ace of Oak Harbor, reward points and trying to shop more local are not enough to bring me back to cranky encounters when asking for simple directions to an item I want to buy…after having to hunt down help in the...