Barrington Ace Hardware — Local services in Palatine Township

So upset and disappointed at my last visit to the Ace Hardware in Barrington and it will be my last. I am a local merchant and have done business with the Ace in Barrington since it opened. I did not realize the business has changed owners but I was treated so rudely and sarcastically that I was in shock. I had a simple exchange and they would not exchange the item for the correct size even though it was untouched, in it's original package and un-opened. I explained that I did not have the receipt, but thought it wouldn't be a problem because we are local and it was just bags for my wet/dry vac. I told him I bought the wrong size and just wanted to get the correct size. I had an opened bag of the correct size of what I wanted to reference. He even questioned if I had bought the items there. He refused and I told him he just lost me as a customer and he put his hands to the side of his face and said," Oh no, not that" . I still shopped at the store after a young employee forgot to secure the lid properly on a gallon of black paint that then spilled all over the floor of my car, I kept shopping there even though staff had so much difficulty taking returns even with the receipt that I had to leave the store with the unwanted items, but this was the last straw. If someone had come into my store with a simple exchange, we would have been glad to have helped them out. And you know what? I was going to more stuff, but too late....

Ace is not the place with the helpful hardware man in Barrington Illinois. I was here Sunday afternoon and was sold the wrong part for my home repair. The store is scheduled to be open until 5 PM and I was at the door at 5 PM and came in and immediately three people behind the counter said we are closed. I explained that I was just there a couple hours earlier and was sold the wrong part and I could just go run and exchange it real quick. They said our registers are already closed, even though I saw other people in line paying. I offered to pay in cash, but they said no.

They were rude and had their front door and registers, if they were telling me the truth, shut off before 5 PM. Even if I got there 10 minutes later, if they were what they say they are, which they are definitely not at this store, they would’ve helped me instead of sending me on my way.

I will never shop here again, and I live in Barrington, so that’s really sad. Stay away from this place if you want to be treated with respect and concern and even close to their helpful...

I have had multiple issues in the past with faulty products, lack of knowledge with staff..etc. but today takes the cake and pushed me over the edge. I bought salt last night and it was definitely faulty - moisture in the bags, big chunks of salt. Wouldn’t go through a spreader etc…I returned two unopened bags but asked if they could do anything for the other 3 as I made it work but they were definitely defective. The two I brought back were too. If they would have told me hey you used it that’s on you I would have walked away just fine.

I was told instead that they know some bags on the pallet are faulty but it isn’t the responsibility of the store to check all the material so we will not do anything about refunding me. Incredibly rude...