Ace Hardware

I’ve been patronizing this store for over 6 years and from my first visit the staff was attentive and helpful no matter my request. Some folks find their staff gruff but despite the burrs they’ve always given me top service. They’re just as happy to show you precisely where an item is as they are to let you peruse on your own. Since the prices can really fluctuate you can use that space to scan barcodes and use your price-​finding apps to see if an item is found nearby for less, it’s 2015, after all. I’m OK with paying a little more for this location because the staff always treats me well. Shout out to Orlando for always having a positive and laid back attitude that make my all too frequent emergency trips less stressful.

Beware of high prices. They recently charged me $ 27.99 for a bucket of calcium chloride disks for removing snow from the roof. The same (exactly same) item costs $ 17.99 at Loews. They took advantage of Bostonians who were afraid of their roofs collapsing under the weight of snow.

It can be intimidating as a young female walking into a hardware store, probably looking like she has no clue what she’s doing, but these guys make you feel welcome. I went in there looking for a lightbulb and an associate very promptly asked to help me. Not only did he help me find the right size lightbulb I was looking for, but he was welcoming and even complimented my shoes! I went in there close to their closing time, and instead of being in the «I’m almost out of here» mentality, they were very helpful. I will definitely be coming here for all my hardware needs.

These guys have helped me out in several self-​inflicted do it your self jams since moving to JP three years ago. I always go here first. I’m confused by the 3.5 stars. I love this place. I almost actually like spending money here!

i think these guys are cool. As soon as you walk in, they ask what you need/​what help you might need. I don’t what people are talking about when they say service is lacking.
You don’t get «hi, how can i help you» when you walk into Home Depot!

They are really helpful here and will help you find anything you need.

On the one hand, this store offers a lot of products that other hardware stores, even other Ace locations, never carry in the city. At the same time…
The service is lacking, to say the least.
The store is staffed by a bunch of gruff guys who prefer their regular crowd. Any outsiders usually get weird looks or the cold shoulder, but as I’ve been there a few times in the past two years, they were a little bit receptive to my questions.
As anticipated, they were out of the fuel I need for fire spinning and fire breathing, but they were nice enough to offer to order it for me. They also had the turnbuckle I needed, so that was a positive.
I guess I’ll have to suffer through the same ineptitude in the future to keep my fire fueled, but hey, it’s the least of my worries if I can have a reliable resource in the city.

They have a wide variety of parts, nails and accessories. They were friendly and helpful both times I visited as well.
I prefer to go to the hardware store 1 block/​10 second walk down the street simply because it is a local store and had a slightly larger variety of options.

The staff here is usually really helpful here. Maybe they have new staff? They have a ton of random supplies, including garden supplies, snow removal stuff, tools, hardware, cleaners, the works.

The staff at this place is really great. They are extremely helpful, knowledgable and eager to assist you. They’re also very friendly and funny with each other and its actually kind of entertaining when you’re in there. My first time there i was looking for parts and tools to rig up my fishing kayak and they probably spent 20 solid minutes guiding me around the store and had good advice on what would work best. Fantastic service.

I have been coming to the store for years, and find them to be helpful, knowledgeable, and respectful. Generally a good bunch of guys who know their stuff. The selection is standard for a small hardware store, meaning that they have about 90% of what I need.
Once, they let me try several bulbs in a test socket to find one with the color light that I liked. I don’t often ask for things like that, but it’s great to know I can get that kind of service from them when I need. No way a big box store would do that for you.

Before a year ago, I only went into Ace Hardware City once or twice a year– just didn’t have any need beyond that. And they were perfectly fine. However, for the past year we have been involved in a renovation project that puts us in much more often, and they have often gone above and beyond by special ordering products for us, assisting us in the store (and answering lots of questions), and holding products when we call ahead.
The staff has always been pleasant with me, even before we became regulars. At Yumont up the street, it was more of a crap shoot– some employees were nice and accommodating, others acted like every question was a burden they could barely take. So we naturally leaned more towards using Ace as our project got going and we’ve been happy. They are a solid neighborhood hardware store.

I actually just joined Unilocal to counter all the less than favorable reviews on Ace in JP. If you want some no-​nothing trainee to massage your ego while you pick out paint colors, go kill off a few hours in the cavernous wasteland of Orange and Blue Big Box stores. You want no-​nonsense staff who are knowledgeable and kind who can get you what you want /​need in record time (or order it for 1 – 2 day delivery if they don’t have it), come to Ace. The store is clean. The employees do not talk down to customers. That said, they’re not going to greet you with a fake smile and salutation. It’s Boston, people. If you demand that level of fake hospitality, go buy your hardware in Savannah.

Super friendly staff helped me find what I needed. And not a big-​box orange or blue logo hardware store. That’s what it takes to make me say «Yay, I’m a fan» when it comes to hardware stores.

I’ve never experienced rudeness from the staff of Ace. Maybe i’m not as self-​conscious as some of the other Ace Unilocal reviewers when it comes to buying gardening tools or home repair materials so I don’t think the staff is talking down to me. (?!)
Quite the contrary actually! I think the staff here are really nice and they have senses of humor… something that may be mistaken as rudeness by some of the negative reviewers on this page. I bought 5 huge bags of potting soil and the guy behind the counter carried them to my car without me even asking. As soon as you walk in, the sales people address you and ask if you need help… is that rude? No, that is awesome. I love being asked if I need help as soon as I walk into a store, and it dosnt make me feel like they are sizing me up and suspecting me of shoplifting… what a bizarre comment from another reviewer… sounds like you are shop lifting!
And some of the comments about the store being dirty? It’s a FREAKING hardware store!!! it’s supposed to be dirty!!! I like that this Ace hardware is like the hardware stores of my youth with tons of stuff crammed in; tangible items that you can pick up and inspect, real things that people need, not frou frou crap from ikea or whatever.
Wow so I guess if you like shopping at stores where salespeople ignore you and you want to be able to eat off the floor of your local hardware store, this place might not be for you. Oh yeah and their prices are cheaper than yumont too. They were the only store in all of Boston that had christmas lights for sale in July when I wanted some for my deck,. and I checked the big boys like home depot. You go ACE! don’t let the negative reviews get you down, you are still tops in my book!

Surly? No. Gruff? Absolutely. I don’t get the feeling that the Ace workers are condescending, just put upon. It’s one of those rare establishments that feels an ideal day is one in which no customers come in. That said, their selection is much bigger than Yumont’s down the street and their staff knows exactly where everything is and what they’re talking about. I went in looking for a 13-​watt florescent bulb for my hallway and, when none surfaced on first glance, the shopkeeper produced one from amid a stack of stepstools.
That said, I’ve been treated like a fourth-​grader in a Catholic school just for not taking a return directly to the counter. I understand the concern about shoplifting, but come on. I’m in there enough that they could draw a description of me down to the last pimple for a police report. No need for the hostility.
I can’t say they aren’t a bit gender biased, but I will say that they seem to have enough terseness for everyone. Good shop, poor customer relations.

I’m a bit confused by the negative reviews. I’m both not super knowledgeable about home improvement and a woman, yet I’ve never been talked down to by any of the staff. On every visit I’ve found them very helpful. It’s a rare occasion when I’m not greeted at the door and asked if I need any help finding anything.
Yes, the layout is a bit packed, so casually browsing through the aisles isn’t as easy as at some big box store, but they squeeze a Lot into this little store – including a solid paint selection.

I avoid this store.
Just walking in makes me feel like I should be stealing from them. Every person who works there regards me suspiciously and somehow makes the question, «Can I help you?» or «Need any help?» sound condescending.
The store feels dirty. The selection is about average for a local hardware store. The customer service is abysmal.

Jenna C. is completely right. These guys are condescending jerks who talk down to people at every opportunity, especially women. They’re Boston’s version of good ol’ boys. So don’t ask for help unless you want to feel like an idiot.
Apart from the crappy service, it’s actually a decent little local hardware store. Need a key made? Some potting soil? Perhaps a paintbrush? Great, look around and find it. They also have Benjamin Moore paint, so you can avoid that Home Depot nightmare and pick up your paint chips and gallons here. Although it might not be worth it to those who value customer service.

Me: «Hello! I need blinds»
Employee: «What kind?»
Me: «The kind that go on windows?!»
So I know nothing about this stuff… but I did have measurements so I guess I did something right. The guy working was somewhat helpful and only really laughed at me when my back was turned. I most likely won’t go back because I hate being talked down to like I’m an idiot.
The only good thing that came out of my visit was a new pair of leopard print keys :)