Atlas True Value Hardware

I purchased a special order snow shovel online and had it shipped directly to the store for in store pick up. Its a bunch of punks who work here. I received an email that my order was ready for pick up and to show a government issued ID. I gave the kid my drivers license and he wrote it down, I browsed the isle and then asked if I would receive a receipt, said it would be emailed to me and I was all set and he forgot to give me back my ID. A few days latter I realized he never gave me back my ID. I called the store twice and they said they didn’t have it. I let them know that they stole my ID and that I would be filing a police report and letting their corporate office know. The kid said go ahead a filing a police report. I’m very disappointed with the customer service. I thought I might add that the snow shovel was not even assembled correctly!

I hate to say bad things about a local business, and this may be my first negative review. But these guys have let me down in so many ways. Their prices are very high, and they don’t have great hours, but these are things you sort of expect from an independently owned business (vs. the big box guys like Home Depot). That would all be something I could overlook if their service were good, but it is indifferent at best.
My most recent example (of many) was when I called at 5 minutes before 5pm (closing time on Sunday) saying that I could be there in 5 minutes to buy a tank of propane so my cookout could go on as planned last night. The guy at desk said they were closing at 5 but he’d check with the owner if they could wait an extra minute or two for me – I live about 3 minutes away, as I told him. He comes back on the phone and says the owner told him he is closing now and doesn’t want me to come. I recognize that it’s not a huge sale but if you are a neighborhood business surely you recognize that spending an extra 5 minutes is worth your time.
I have reached my breaking point with these guys and will never go back. Now I just need to stop feeling guilty about it.

I want to add my praises to the others. I just moved to Roslindale, and I have made several trips to True Value. You are greeted immediately when you enter, and someone asks if they can help you before you roam the aisles. This is the antithesis of Home Depot, and these guys (I think they are all guys) deserve your business.

Great place! They sell everything! Very knowledgable staff, very friendly service. Highly recommend!

I recently moved around the corner from these guys, and was content to drive to home depot several miles away for a lot of my needs. But whenever home depot didn’t have something, these guys did, and they were great about pointing me in the right direction for the tools I’d need for my home project. Terrific service and decently priced. They’ll be my first stop from now on.

The service here is excellent. I wanted a very specific lawnmower, an eco-​friendly rechargeable electric lawnmower. The nice guy here ordered it for me, and it came in two days. They assembled it for me, learned how to use it, and then when I finally arrived to pick it up, the very nice guy taught me how to use the lawnmower. He even explained the three settings of lawn clipping discharge, and set it up on mulch for me. And then he very kindly helped me load it up in my vehicle.
I returned again today for a Weber Grill. Again, great service. They showed me how to use it, explained the chimney accessory, gave me a rewards card, etc. They’re awesome here and even though I live closer to the stores in JP, this place is worth the trip.

About the only thing they don’t have in this store is the classic «If we don’t have it, you don’t need it» sign. And maybe they have one of those, but just can’t find a place to display it.
As neighborhood hardware stores go, this place is the genuine article. They have a wide range of fasteners (sold by the piece, not in poly-​bags!), plumbing and electrical items appropriate to the kinds of houses found in the neighborhood, lawn and garden supplies, cleaning supplies, paint and — most of all — a very friendly, helpful and knowledgeable staff.
(Ooops, I almost forgot to mention a handsome and somewhat aloof Maine coon cat named «Hershey» who protects the lawn and bird seed from mice and provides the store with senior management.)
I’ve been involved in construction and renovation work for many years, and this kind of hardware store is getting difficult to find. (I was working with a carpenter installing a huge Andersen bay window which is supported by internal wire cables. Atlas True Value had large turnbuckles, 10″ through bolts and wire rope clamps all in stock.)
As might be expected, they’re a little bit more expensive than the big-​box Lowes and Home Depot, but I frequently find they’re more economical because I can get first-​quality items in the quantity I need and I don’t have to spend the time and gas money to go miles when I need something.
My only complaint is that they shorten their business hours during the summer months and close a little earlier on Sundays.