Rocky's Ace Hardware — Local services in Washington Township

Ace is a respectable hardware type store that's hanging on despite the behemoth Lowes & Home Depot. You'd think they'd make a little extra effort.

I've been in Ace stores where they helped you the way old hardware stores once did. Made suggestions. Gave advise. Showed you things, alternatives.

Not this one.

I gave the store 2 stars for reasonable inventory. No stars for personnel or assistance.

I was looking for something recently (in the last 2 months). No one helped me.

After looking for 10 minutes alone, I sought help. Got a suggestion what aisle to look down, & he pointed. Check there, or maybe there.

I asked 3 associates total. No one walked with me. Too busy talking to other associates, or texting. I come from a marketing background -- no one wanted to make a sale obviously. No one cared, preoccupied.

But it doesn't end there.

Every question I asked these immovable human objects was answered with "I don't know, not sure, could be, maybe."

No one said let me get the manager, someone who might know, check the computer inventory, or take a physical look themselves. No one made an effort. No one said they'd check back with me if I didnt find it. The cash register associate was useless & it wasn't a busy day.

I left after 20 minutes. Should've left sooner. No sale. I don't think they even noticed I left.

That weekend I found the item on a flea market hardware enthusiast's table -- a $10 item for a dollar, brand new.

Sometimes fate is kind. But it's not to be found on Ace's shelves.

Ace needs to be more strict in their hiring practices, store procedures -- if they want to make their sales competitive with the bigger houses.

No one should ever walk in but leave with nothing.

The custoner must be satisfied to a degree or it's a business failure. Especially for the brand...and Ace...

I'm surprised this place is still in business. First of all, everything here is overpriced. Secondly, nothing is ever in stock. They have everything except what I'm looking for. They usually tell me to go to Lowes, Home Depot, or Wal-Mart. For example, today. I went looking for a light bulb socket. The shelf was mostly empty, so the worker told me to go to The Home Depot.

Update: I went today to get a package of Feit 75 and 100 watt LED bulbs. Obviously, the 75 watts were out of stock. I ended up buying the 100 watts since I was already there, but they're way more expensive than the GE...

If you want to go to a place where they're typically pleasant enough but literally you have to pay twice as much for anything in the store that you would at a home Depot or Lowe's, then this is the place for you. But do yourself a favor, don't show up 5 minutes before they close and expect to get treated appropriately. They're apparently in shutdown mode, turn the open sign off and give you dirty looks like why the hell are you walking into our...