Harrell’s Supply & Service Center Inc.

Even if they don’t have the part, they don’t treat me like an idiot because I’m female. When they do have the part, I’m in and out in 10 minutes tops. Boom, customer service!

I clearly looked a bit puzzled as I searched for the right toilet bowl handle and then was approached by one of the men working there. He was extremely helpful, knowledgeable and nice. Definitely my new hardware store.

I’m mourning the passing of an Austin institution. I’ve shopped at Harrell’s loyally for probably 30 years or more. I always found their staff (including the brothers who worked the counter) to be over-​the-​top friendly and helpful. I haven’t seen the old faces in awhile, so I’m not sure if ownership has changed from the old days or not.
Today I went in to return some defective merchandise. The fellow at the counter was so intent on moving the discussion from friendly to ripping me a new one as quickly as he could that I was simply shocked. It was such a horrible interaction with another human being that I considered it a bargain to forfeit my $ 17 just to get away from there as fast as I could.
I’m never going back.
Sad to see another Austin institution go bad.

There is a music rental place across the street which was completely clueless and unhelpful (the four staff members and business will remain unnamed), but at least they did point me to Harrell’s for what I needed, which was: Someone to take 2 minutes to drill out a plastic coupling for a worn-​out elastic shock mount so I can replace the old with new elastic (sounds more complicated that it was)
So Noah behind the desk quickly did the deed, we had some laughs at the expense of the clueless characters across the street, and we agreed on one thing: No way this could have happened at a Home Depot or Lowe’s — this is the sort of neighborhood business that offers something the big box stores never could. THANK YOU!

So there I was. .. travelling around S. Austin. .. looking for an electrical supply store open in the afternoon of July 3^rd.
Backstory:
My home’s air conditioner compressor stopped working on Wednesday, and I called a reputable service company out. The responding technician found a burnt wire, replaced it, and the unit fired up. It was two pounds low on R-​22 coolant, so I told him to fill’er up. The next day, just over 24 hours after the technician left with $ 220 of my hard-​earned money, the unit stopped working again. I called and left a message Thursday evening, and was informed via recorded voice that my call would be returned by 10 a.m. the next business day. Well, 10 a.m. Friday came, and I hadn’t received a call. I called them back to hear a recording that the office was closed, so I pushed the button for the emergency line, and I left another message. I was supposed to receive a call back in an hour. I never received that call. Now, for almost 24 hours with an internal home temperature of 85 degrees Fahrenheit, I couldn’t let my wife, toddler, and baby sweat in the «comfort» of their own home any longer.
After the first electrical supply shop I went to was closed in observance of America’s Independence Day, I prayed to Jesus, asking Him to guide me to the place I need to be, to put me in touch with the right person to help me get the job done and provide my family comfort on the eve of Independence Day, a day on which visiting family members were scheduled to visit.
Then, I remembered walking into an «old school» hardware store somewhere along Mary St. or Oltorf a few years earlier, so I swerved down somewhat familiar roads until I found it, Harrell’s Supply on Oltorf near S. Lamar.
Upon walking in, I was instantly greeted by a fellow vaguely familiar from my first experience. He was busy stocking shelves, but he stopped what he was doing to listen to my problem and inspect the burnt out parts I brought with me.
Instantly, Jeff knew that I either had one of two different A/​C compressor units back at home just by looking at the fried capacitor, starter, and switch I laid on the counter. The first thing he told me was that I’d have to check my compressor to determine if it was grounded, meaning it was shot and in need of replacement. Then, Jeff did what you wouldn’t expect most folks to do these days – he provided me full service hospitality and know how.
Jeff taught me how to check my compressor first. Then, he taught me how to properly replace my ruined parts and wire everything up tight. He even went so far as to draw me a diagram so I wouldn’t forget what color wires were supposed to connect to which terminals and on which parts. Jeff felt so bad about my situation (family in despair and company on the way) that he provided me his mobile phone number and told me to send him a picture of my wiring job prior to powering the unit on so that he could double-​check my handy work. I left Harrell’s with confidence, not only in myself, but also in my fellow man.
I did just what Jeff instructed me to do: the compressor checked out OK, so I sent him a text message letting him know I would be sending him photos of my wire work in a bit. I wired up the new switch and capacitor just like the diagram he drew. For what it’s worth, his artwork wasn’t half bad, too. I sent Jeff the pictures I promised, and he called me back within a couple of minutes.
We had to make a few adjustments before restoring power to the compressor. Jeff would tell me what to do, and I would call him back after completing the tasks. Within 10 minutes or less, we had the compressor working, and the A/​C blowing cold in the house. I didn’t tell Jeff this, but if he were within arm’s distance at that time, I’d have hugged him like a father just back from deployment.
Some folks will inevitably try to find fault with my reference to the Lord in this post. I haven’t always been a «believer,» but I’ll leave my readers with the truth as I’ve experienced it. Jesus Christ has done things for me that just didn’t happen before I accepted Him as my Lord and Savior. I’m still a sinner, as well all are, but accepting Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior has done more good for me in my life and the lives of my wife and children than all of my years of college education, life experiences, and contacts I’ve developed in the business world.
God led me to Harrell’s today, and God laid his love upon Jeff’s heart to help a brother out.
Thank you, Jeff, and thank you, Jesus.

I bought a couple of shutoff valves and they were not the correct ones for the job and tried to return them and they would not accept them because one of the packages was open (it was open when the clerk sold it to me). so 1 star for customer service

nice to have a ma’ and pop local hardware store in the neighborhood FOR SURE, but they didn’t have some basic stuff I needed in stock, and definitely not the friendliest or get r’ dun attitude. would come back if i needed odds n’ ends in a hurry but that’s about it.

Always helpful and they always seem to have the random Items I go in there for. Plus I really like supporting a local business instead of the big chains — which are a huge hassle to get in and out of.

This place is great! A real hardware store with stuff for fixing things instead of trying to sell you cheaply made replacements like the big boys stores.

OLD SCHOOL COOL. Great hardware store with one of the friendliest guys I’ve ever met. He knows everything about everything and the advice is free.
I hope they stay in business, will definitely go back.

Called ahead first to make sure they had what I needed and they were very professional and nice on the phone, and when I went to the store it was no different! Makes you feel like you time warped back years ago into that mom and pop store! I am so into supporting hard working, middle class Americans! Way to go 3^rd generation!

Sub-​par cheapo stuff in the hand tool aisles. Honest folks, though. Depending on who is there they are either too lazy yet knowledgeable or a bit less lazy and knowledgeable. I trust these dudes for sure when it comes to plumbing repair.

yay Jeff!
with your patient guidance I just replaced an HVAC capacitor in my home system for 35.00, saving myself the typical 200.00 service charge.
These guys are truly knowledgeable and overwhelmingly eager to help. what more could you want?

Another «hidden gem» in 78 704. Plenty of parking and just east of North Lamar on the South side of Oltorf –who knew-​.
NO ONE had replacement covers for my oven hood light bulbs. The kind of thing that only drives a homeowner nut’s found them, ordered and I pick them up in less than a week. Wound up ordering two to get em while I could. This place reminds me of the «old hardware» stores where they seem to have what you are looking for. Let’s keep the good guys in business, A bounty of products made in the USA. Appreciate them being here-​Linda

«Together we can do it yourself.» Hilarious, and true. We are new homeowners. It’s August, and our AC goes out. Internet helps us figure out that we need a new motor for the compressor fan. We bring the old one into harrell’s and with a couple of questions, Jeff figures out what we need (despite the specs being burnt off the old one.) He and Mike then help us remove the fan from the old motor. Jeff sets the wires up so all we need to do is plug them in. Finally, he draws us a picture of where to plug in each of the wires, and gives us some guidance on what to try in a few hypotheticals. Before sending us on our way, he gives us his card and tells us to text him a picture if we have any problems, or even if we just wanna make sure we did it right before turning it on. All in all, the guys could not have been more knowledgable, helpful, or friendly!

I write a lot of long reviews, but this one doesn’t need to be (AS long, at least).
Harrell’s is the BEST place to go for appliance parts, from coffee makers to blenders to, well, ANY appliance.
GREAT selections of parts, which is what they DO. Moderate selection of tools, but again, PARTS is what these guys do best, along with being very KNOWLEDGEABLE about what they do and don’t have, as well as a little repair advice for those who need it.
My last experience was trying to get a Thermostat for my Kenmore (mfg by LG) Convection /​Microwave Oven. TIP: They don’t carry LG parts for Microwaves, so in this particular case it was either order the part via Sears and wait probably two weeks (would’ve been CHEAPER), which I wasn’t willing to do, OR opt for spending close to $ 300 on NEW Kenmore equivalent, rather than wait for what was probably no more than a $ 40 part (probably less).
I’m a BIG proponent of FIXING what you have, rather than throwing it away and «buying a new one». But this time, I was the same HELPLESS IDIOT I frequently accuse others of being, when they make no attempt to REPAIR, and just go «buy a new one».
Yep, I «bought a new one».
«Hello, my name is Larry, and I’m an IDIOT.»
«Hello, Larry…»
Still, I give myself credit for takin’ the thing apart, DIAGNOSING the problem, knowing what I needed, and considering the options…
TWO WEEKS WITHOUT A MICROWAVE?! What are we; ANIMALS?!
No, we’re just IDIOTS, that’s all. We are a WASTEFUL Society, but Unilocal is NOT the forum for that discussion…
BOTTOM LINE: The instances where Harrell’s HAS made it possible for me to save an item I already have, and NOT have to go out and buy a new one, far outweigh the times when they couldn’t help me. I’d MUCH rather spend my hard-​earned money on something I DON’T have, instead of replacing something I already have, that just needs a $ 5 part and a screwdriver. ESPECIALLY when the part is AVAILABLE LOCALLY, which is where Harrell’s has saved the day more times than I can count, or remember.
That’s how I could afford that new BLOW-​UP DOLL!
I guess I need a girlfriend…
So next time something breaks, DON’T be afraid to get out of your «comfort zone»: Go to Harrell’s, get the part, pick up a screwdriver, get your HANDS DIRTY, and…
FIX IT YOURSELF!
It’ll do ya GOOD.
Afterwards, take yourself and your «significant other» out to a VERY nice restaurant; you’ve earned it. And whatever money you spend is BOUND to be less than you’d have spent calling a REPAIRMAN to do the job, let alone REPLACING the item in question.
«WHEN SOMETHING BREAKS, CALL HARRELL’S FIRST!»
larrythediner
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One of the only local hardware stores left. So I’m going there no matter what, but they are really helpful and know what they are talking about way better than the big box stores. They also have quite a bit of stuff made in the USA, so that cool as well.

No matter what you are in need of, you will find it here. Coffee makers, clothes lines, mason jars, screws, etc! Good old family business from days gone by. Great location on Oltorf and Lamar.

Do-​it-​yourself repairs of increasingly complicated appliances is not necessarily for the faint of heart. Some jobs are just best left to the professionals.
That said, if you have a problem with an appliance and the have a strong educated guess as to what may be causing the problem, take down the specific model number and call Harrell’s. Be sure to do this before you get hit for a non-​refundable $ 70 — $ 100 «Diagnostic Fee» from one of the more unscrupulous ripoff outfits here in Austin that will tell you what you already know. The staff is knowledgeable and will have an intelligent discussion with you on the DIY diagnosis. If you’re honest with them about your abilities, they might tell you to call the pros even if it costs them a part sale.
«The drum on the dryer won’t spin, yet is sounds like the motor is running?» Don’t be surprised if they suggest the problem is a broken drive belt, just like you thought. If you’re unsure how to change the belt in this example, they may offer some tips or even pull up an on-​line video in the store to show you.
I’ll definitely go back. Good company and staff.

This is an old style hardware store with stuff everywhere. If you are looking for something specific, do yourself a favor and just ask one of the guys at the counter. You may otherwise spend hours looking around for what you need (which is fine with me). I enjoy going in for something and just looking around for a while because you never know what you will find hidden away in there. The prices are OK on some items and pretty high on others. I will continue to shop here for small hardware runs because it’s so close to home and it reminds me of little hardware stores I used to visit with my dad as a kid.
I believe that there is a minimum charge for credit/​debit purchases of $ 5.