Mutual Ace Hardware — Local services in Wheeling Township

I thought the draw of a locally owned hardware store franchise was that the people were a little nicer and more helpful. Instead, I waited around for 10 minutes at the paint counter, ignored, until an employee pointed to someone walking by with a coffee and said "he'll help you." I told him what I needed and he told me that I still needed a mask to be inside (I guess he doesn't believe in science, especially because he was wearing a cheap polyester gaiter, which the cdc does not and has never recommended). I went to my car to get my mask. When I came in, he had walked away. He didn't start making the paint I told him I was there for. Nope. He heard me say what I needed, then asked me to get a mask, and did something else. He waited for me to come back with a mask to start the thing I needed him to make. I mean, I had already waited 15 minutes to be acknowledged and spoken to, so what's another few minutes of making me wait?

I told him why I needed the paint, and unlike a local hardware store person might consider doing, he offered no suggestions, no tips, no pointers, no products. We didn't discuss it any further. Dude wanted me to take my paint and run.

I even had to ask for stir sticks.

Not sure I'll be going back. Paid more for the other stuff I needed to buy than I would elsewhere and got nothing for the experience, other than the paint I came in for. I'm pretty sure the big box stores can treat me exactly the same way. The difference is that I'll pay a little less and my expectations...

Went in to get a piece of wood cut to specific dimensions to use as a wood stop for my desk. Employee told me "we don't use centimeters for measurements in this country, we use the metric system". The employee added several comments like "I don't think we have any measuring tapes that go down to centimeters". He did his best to cut the wood which was pretty off of the needed dimensions. But I just found it a bit weird, that one of the most common measurements in the United States was denied at a hardware store. There were some other customers who seemed to back me up silently. But the experience was awkward and it was also upsetting knowing I couldn't get a piece of wood cut to the dimensions I needed ( I paid half price which was a nice touch) I've been sanding this piece down for days trying to get it to the proper dimensions now. Besides that dude seemed nice but he harped on the fact that this wasn't a normal measurement which it is and this just caused things to take longer and again, and I still don't have the piece of wood I need even...

I am so happy I decided to stop in to buy some sidewalk salt a few weeks ago! I was greeted with such a warm welcome from all of your employees, and then Tom noticed that I was eyeing the Weber grills for my husband. He came over to see if I had any questions, and was patient in telling me about the perks of each grill. He told me the sale price, and I left with a quote for the make and model I liked best in my hand. Once I convinced my husband that we needed the grill, I went back to purchase it, and Tom and Cheryl both went above and beyond to make sure I got the grill we wanted and I was happy with my purchase! It was delivered SO quickly (Thank you to John "Krez" who did such an amazing job getting it onto our back deck!) We are super excited to be able to make New Year's steaks on our new Weber! I had given up on the past ownership of this store-- never felt like they were helpful. TOTALLY different experience now. We'll be back for sure! Thank you Tom and Cheryl, and everyone else who is so helpful at Len's Ace Hardware!!...