When the local grocery store where my family lives closed down after the owner passed, Ace moved into it's old building. They converted part of the store into a small 4 aisle grocery store and even hung up the original sign from the store. That earned Ace a lot of my respect and business by showing that they acknowledged how important that original store was to that town and community.
@@sahasananth987 Totally! I'm amazed that any business would do that given it isn't their core competency. Although based on this video and that story, maybe their core competency isn't merely selling hardware.
Small world… I do believe I know what store you’re talking about and always loved that old grocery store. Still miss it even though it’s been gone a couple years. That neon grocery sign is not original - any good friend’s dad fabricated it for them.
Wow I really love that. I understand that store owners retire and usually their kids don't want to carry on the business, but it's always sad to see them go. How nice to keep an homage to the original and also to keep providing groceries, which I'm sure a lot of people relied on.
Yeah, there's always that one guy who's been around since the Mayflower and can find the exact piece when you say "you know - that THING on the bathtub!"
I go to ACE when I need advice or help finding something I go to HD when I know exactly what I need, exactly where it is, and I don’t want to talk to anyone (because it’s impossible to get help there anyway)
As someone who has worked at an Ace for almost 5 years (and still knows basically nothing about anything hardware related), I'd say the best way to compare us to the big brands is: Home Depot is where you go if you want to build a new shed or swimming pool in your backyard. Ace is where you go if you want to plug a draft or get some advice on how to fix a leaky faucet. We're not perfect, but we'll do our best to either find it in our store or point you in the right direction in town.
I have also found that my local ACE will order something for me if it is in their database, but not in the store. You wont get that at a big box unless you order it yourself online then pay the shipping (you don't pay the shipping at ACE but you do have to pick it up at the store which is no big deal for me)
The minute the guy at Ace said "oh...we don't have that, but the Harbor Freight on XYZ Street might...just make sure to ask them for ABC features" I became a committed Ace fanboi.
Ace is where you go if you just need a couple things quickly. Or you need Stihl products, since that company refuses to do business with Home Depot or Lowes.
@@dylanattix2765I’m glad Stihl doesn’t do business with the later two. Those big box stores have ruined a lot of good companies because of their greed.
After 25+ years of going to Home Depot I stopped into a local Ace Hardware one day. ( Shout out to Griffith Ace Hardware in the 92127 ) I could not believe how a smaller store had everything I needed, but the giant warehouse stores like Lowes and Home Depot did not. After a few trips I realized that each Ace stocks it's shelves based on it's community. They know their specific community. When I go to repair fixtures that came with the house I'm in, Ace has those parts, Home Depot just wants to sell me a new fixture. Also, the people are the best. I'm sure everyone at the warehouse hardware stores are doing their best but when you walk into Ace they make you feel welcomed. They actually know what the problem is and how to solve it. Prior to today's vid coming out I had already begun making a list of the things I needed to get at Ace today. I know Ace has the fasters I need in black, the warehouse places do not.
Amen brother. Ok they have 2 faucets to choose from instead of 40. If I need it now I'll take it, if not I'll order it. The big box stores are aiming for the contractor sales, the DIYers are just gravey to them. With their smaller footprint an Ace isn't going to win that game so they don't play.
I had a list of several items for some minor repairs. I was in and out of there with everything I needed in under 10 minutes. You can't do that at the big stores.
I was pulling a stranger out of a ditch, just after the freezing rain put about an inch of ice on the road. I tried and failed to use 3 ratchet straps to pull him out. I ran to ACE which was only a block away. I walked in and there was a ACE person right at the front door asking what I was looking for. He had a smile on his face and took me strait to the section I was looking for and helped me choose the right strap. I was in and out in only a few minutes and I don't feel like I over paid either. They were super helpful and super convenient! I got the guy pulled out and then gave his rig a jump. I looked down the road and there was another person in the ditch. I pulled them out too :)
I worked at my local Ace for 3 years, and I still help out there sometimes to get some extra income. I wholeheartedly believe that working at Ace is something that every young person should try. You end up learning a pretty decent amount about a lot of home improvement stuff. If you're willing to listen, the older folks that work there are generally happy to share their knowledge and experiences with you. Really comes in handy if you decide to buy a home someday.
I lived in the Philippines, confidently say that ACE hardware is very recognizable. The customer service is top-notch. The employees will go around with you and show you all the items that you are looking for and they will also push your cart or carry your basket for you. They will also give you great advice on their best ability. I love coming to ACE hardware. Anyways, great video sir! Thank you for making this video.
There's only one Ace Hardware in my area and it's actually a little bit of a hike to get to. However, I have noticed that 100/100 times I go there their staff is WAY more helpful than that of Lowes and HomeDepot. I can go to almost anyone in the store and say hey, " I'm looking for this brass thing, that looks kinda like this, one end is right angle and the other is straight with threads", they walk over 3 isles and say, " you mean this? ". Bam, that's exactly what I needed. I also noticed they carry a lot of obscure " I cant believe you actually have this in stock" items as well. I don't go there as often as I would like to since I pass 2 home depots and a lowes on my way to Ace, but every time I have have gone there, they have saved the day. It was very cool to learn more about them. Thank you for this video.
The best part about ACE is their selection of hardware (nuts and bolts). Anytime I need a specific type of fastener I know there is a much greater chance of finding it at ACE than anywhere else.
Yeah. Home depot and lowes are home centers, not hardware stores. Their hardware selection is shit compared to the Ace's I've been to. Different store for different purpose.
i like that theyre smaller locations. it makes it easier to find the things you most frequently need to get. plus, theyre able to fit locations into neighborhoods without leveling two city blocks and another two for the parking lot.
agreed. that's why I won't go to a walmart. I can go in for two things and won't come out for upwards of 20 minutes, just because of the size of the store
i have a huge example of an Ace Hardware being an active and supportive member of the community, a local Ace Hardware went out of their way to massively support my Trapshooting team and supply us with brand new nice popup canopies and if i remember right a couple ice chests and stuff so we can set up camp at tournaments and stuff and we proudly fly their name and logo on our banners. It is indeed where you find helpful Hardware folks
I'm a big "tool guy" and I like to DIY whenever I can, and you're right about Ace's convenience factor. "Shoot, I broke my drill bit. I'll just hop on over to Ace Hardware real quick." I walk in and immediately I'm asked if I need help and oh, by the way, how's your grandma? She hasn't been here in a while! Did she like that sprinkler she bought? Their customer service is top notch because they're just genuinely friendly people that are knowledgeable about the things they sell. I really only go to Home Depot or Lowe's if Ace doesn't have what I'm looking for.
This video has me respecting my local Ace Hardware a lot more. I always liked going to my local Ace and just thought of it as a typical hardware store, but now I think it’s more special than I used to think.
The thing I love about Ace Hardware is that they carry a lot of weird specialty items that you can never find at a big box store. I once needed brushes for the motor in my Dremmel and the big box store didn't have them but Ace did. Some of those stores are packed floor to ceiling with stuff, and the people that work there seem to know exactly where everything is. Sometimes it's just fun wandering around their stores just to see what's there.
Went to Ace to look for breakers, they didn't have the ones we needed and the lady we asked actually called other people /stores to see if they have it in stock. Was very impressed.
Service is one factor for sure (plus their glass cutting and screen repair is wonderful), but also that selection of specialty hardware isle for nuts and bolts is the reason i go there. As a hobby, i rebuild RVs and Boats and looking for those one-off stainless steel widgets is always a challenge at the big box stores. Lowes is pretty good, but ACE always will have what i need! And it's great to get right in and out and on with my day!
The Ace near me also repairs Honda lawn mowers and will sharpen any lawn mower blades you bring in at a very good price. I had them service a Honda roto-tiller for me.
There's a little hardware store a block from my house, and it's pretty fantastic. I'm not especially handy or into DIY and so when I did need something they were always extremely helpful in getting me exactly what I needed and corresponding advice. I remember five years ago or so I saw the Ace branding show up and felt a little sad they had been scooped up by one of the big brands. But I didn't really know that this was their business model and I heard the owners talk about how they basically still run the store as before on their own. And they're still just as good as before, so perhaps the Ace collaboration only benefited them and thats pretty cool.
I was told by an employee in Home Depot to go to a "Hardware Store" to find what I was looking for. I replied, I thought this was a hardware store, but it is not, it's a home improvement store.
I live in Alaska where many people have off grid off road cabins. The ACE hardwares up here always have a good selection of brass fittings for propane appliances and many sell propane lamps that mount on the wall.
I feel bad that Ace is 1 mile away from me but HD/Lowes is first on my mind for repairs. It's true when I walk into Ace I always get greeted and asked if I need help immediately. Never got that from the bigger box stores.
I do like Ace when you only need ONE small nut/bolt/washer/etc and you can buy just one from their bins. The bigger box stores make you buy a 5 or ten pack bags that you don't need that many and will probably spend more money.
It took a while but I’ve gotten in the habit of checking for a nearby ace first when I need to run to a hardware store. It really started on a work trip to Miami. The big stores can’t fit in the downtown areas so it was easier to find an Ace
We have something similar in Canada with our own long-standing chain called Home Hardware. It's also a co-op where the store owners are people from the actual community the store is based in. While the stores aren't as big, the service is light years beyond the crap the big box chains offer. We have one in the small town I'm in and I will always go there first before Home Depot.
@@laurabailey2092 Canada deserves all the praise because at hockey games if the PA goes out, in Canada they will sing the U.S. national anthem out of respect, but in the U.S., at best we know it starts with "Oh Canada" but then "dah dun dah duh dun dah duh duhhhhhnnn."
The owner of the Ace Hardware in my hometown recently retired and closed a couple stores. People were devastated. I’m not the handiest person, but man, they’ve always treated me well.
That’s what happened to the one in Henderson, KY. The owner retired and only one person tried purchase the franchise. He wasn’t able to get a loan, so they went out of business. All we have is bLowes.
That is something and with that this brand doesn't always seem what it appears to be. May want to question this author on where he's getting his information is what I can guess still good story.
I like that ACE has all kinds of screws for purchase. I don't have to buy a large pack of screws; I can just buy the few i need for some change. And if you don't know the name or size of them, they have a wall that has holes for you to screw in to so you can see what you have.
We have an ACE in Maricopa AZ... store owner lives here too. I would recommend it... the employees are a plus, and they provide a Veterans and Seniors discount.
This explains so much about the experiences I’ve had at ACE. I was always surprised at how helpful and knowledgeable the staff at ACE was compared to the other stores, I would literally walk in with the broken item in my hand and would be taken to the exact spot and showed the exact fit replacement item. It’s unfortunate that the 2 ACE in my area closed down, luckily one of them was turned into a ma and pa hardware store that seemed to have hired all the ACE staff.
I buy all my hardware at our local Ace Hardware store. There’s always a knowledgeable person to help me find exactly what I need and provide advice about the best option. I can either show them the broken thing I need to fix or a picture of it and no matter who I ask, they always seem to know exactly what I need. It may cost a little more than the big box stores but the helpful advice is worth it to me. I’m not particularly handy so their advice is very helpful for the limited DIY things I’m able to fix on my own. Plus they accept my burned out fluorescent and CFL bulbs for recycling which is nice.
I've shopped at Ace stores all over the South East for decades and they have always come through for me. I like a company that just does what it is supposed to do and that's my experience with Ace. Quick, friendly and helpful. Rare these days.
I've always loved Ace. I worked construction and any time I was in a pinch, they saved my butt. Now, after working at Ace for about a year, something that really impresses me is their training material. Every employee is given access to thousands of training courses so they can be as knowledgable as they want in as many topics as they'd like, which ultimately helps both the customer and the employee. Also, the co-op is awesome. Making every store feel like the unique neighborhood hardware store that it is, giving the owners a lot of freedom to cater to their community.
Absolutely love my local ACE. The same guy has been the manager since I was a child(over 40 years) and he remembers everyone and seems to know everything anyone would need to know.
Ace Hardware is one of the group internships at Springboard. Mr. Mike's class works at Ace Hardware every Tuesday with Mrs. Barbara. My grandparents, aunts, and uncles from Oradell/New Milford live close to Ace Hardware. Ace is the place for the helpful hardware folks.
I love that I don’t have to search for help, and when I ask anyone there for an obscure screw or bolt, etc they know exactly where it is. Helps never far away and everyone seems happy to be there
I used to work at a Ace Hardware and it was the best place. So many things you can learn not only from the older associates who were typically retired electrician or plumbers. If they sisnt close down I'd definitely be working there still.
You have a great talent of making any and every company you make a video about sooo interesting. I've only been to an Ace once but I definitely watched this whole video. LOL.
worked there in college as an 18-19 year old kid. Great job to have under your belt. I learned alot about the world from interactions with customers Lol! Filling propane was my favorite part, because it gave you 5 minutes to discover why a guy needed his tank refilled.
Ace rules, the service is second to none. I don’t even look at prices, the advice and genuine interest in helping you find the right product is amazing. I wind up at mine at least twice a weekend.
As someone that has spent far too many hours in different hardware stores for home renovation, I'm glad you mentioned the product mix. While home depot is great for 90% of my shopping, I'd go to ace to pick up odds and ends since they were almost always far closer to me and also they often had a more local selection of items in stock, like one small thing is that they had swamp cooler parts and accessories that I couldn't find at my local home depot
ACE truly is the place. They have everything I need and if I'm looking for something they practically take me by the hand and lead me to it. Friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful - it's a rare retail experience and am thankful a retailer is still maintaining a localized, service-oriented business where the customer truly is #1. I refuse to enter the gates of hell known as Home Dep and their miles of aisles of crap and no human interested in helping. HD is just not worth saving 25 cents here and there. Give me ACE.
Ace just opened in my small 2k population town and its been a life saver. 2 minutes away from my shop as opposed to 25 minutes to the closet big box store. Its also easy in and easy out which is also much appreciated.
Haha! Funny that you brought up "Do It Yourself" since I think I do remember DIY being an old brand of hardware stores that probably goes back to when I was a kid. I remember DIY took on Builder's Square and I believe there was a local chain of stores called Forest City Hardware, which would become Handy Andy. Wow, those bring back memories to me now, and all the fun I used to have every time my dad always brought me to a hardware store.
My grandparents started an independent hardware store before moving to a better location and joining Ace. My dad's been in hardware for over 55 years and my sister and I have been in hardware for over a decade. I do love helping people and appreciate the regulars that listen to "those kids that know everything".
Love ACE! In my job I'm always helping people to improve their homes and whether it's furnace filters, spray foam, caulking, or showerheads, so many customers will ask, "Can I get that at Home Depot?" And I'm just like, "Try ACE!"
I live five minutes from a Home Depot, but I'll wait to buy something I need until the weekeend when I go to a farmer's market 20 minutes from me. An ACE is right next to it. The employees are always so friendly and easy to find, they don't look annoyed that you need help, nothing is ever out of stock and the shelves are never barren. I love it there.
I love Ace Hardware. There is one close by. Yes, they ar the more expensive than the big box stores. Ace can't compete on price. But where they shine is in customer service. I can usually walk in to Ace and get the help I need and I am out the door within a few minutes with the right tools / parts. Good luck finding help at Lowes or Home D. My only complaint is that my local store is only about 1500 Sq ft and doesn't have everything.
I worked at ACE from 1996 till 2000 as a highschool job. I enjoyed it. You got to know a lot of people in an area, because they'd frequent the place. Learned a lot on how to fix my own stuff from them. We also had a glass & window department. Made glass, and screens for doors/windows. I mainly worked in paint. I don't know about now, but ACE paint was some of the best you could buy. I still go to ACE to this day.
I love the Ace Hardware that is only about 3/4 of a mile from my house. While they are smaller than the big box stores, they almost always have what I need and if they don't the employees are not afraid to tell you where the closest place to get a part is, even if it isn't another Ace location. My local Ace also carries plenty of small engine parts, which is very handy. I tend to make Ace runs a few times each month while working on projects of various types.
Ever since my local hardware store retired and closed I go to ACE in a town about 8 miles away. They have a ton of hardware, tools, plumbling, electrical, seasonal, and other assorted supplies. A great store.
I love Ace because of the quality of products I have gotten there and I also enjoy how less overwhelming it can be compared to Lowes or Home Depot. I also find the Ace hardware staff friendly! Fantastic job!
Woo-hoo! The hammer you appear to show at the 2:40 mark looks to be my primary hammer used for most things I need a hammer for. A Stanley I purchased maybe around the year 2002. I can feel it made contact but the impact force isn't passed to my hand and arm. I have 20 or more hammers but that one is generally my go to for most things.
Beyond customer service is simply convenience. There is no question that their prices are higher than the Big Box stores, but it is SO much faster to drive up the street, get what I need, and drive home.
im surprised they were still successful, thought they were slowly going out of business. used to go all the time, but they closed like all 3 in my city
It probably also helped in the mid 90s to about 2003 ace was one of the sponsors of what was and still is the leading home improvement tv series this old house on pbs
My first job was at Ace Hardware. Like you mentioned, they really emphasized customer service. We were always taught to go up to any customer that came in and say “What can I help you find today?”. It was a very friendly atmosphere. I also learned a ton about tools, screws, paint, grills, and a whole bunch more. Really useful knowledge. Thanks for the video. It brings back fond memories
The biggest thing Ace has going for them? Notice the average age of the Ace employee in the video. They're not a big-box retailer desperate to cut wages to shore up their stock price, engaging in age discrimination to hire younger people for a lower wage. Independent stores means each store can decide their own hiring policies, and as far as I have seen, that usually means paying higher wages for older and more experienced employees. And *that* means, you are far more likely to walk into an Ace and get help from older employees, who not only know where every single thing in the store is located and knows where to send you to get something they don't carry, but *also* have done a lot of their own DIY in their lives, and can offer solid advice and practical knowledge to the customer as well coming from their own experience. That offer of knowledge, that sharing of *how* to do something alongside the hardware to do it, is something you just don't get at Lowes or Home Depot.
There is an Ace Hardware about a mile from where I grew up. Thornridge Ace Hardware in Levittown, PA. As a young kid who loved to tinker with just about anything I remember riding my bike there sometimes 2 or 3 times a week! They had the best selection of hardware, electrical bits and pieces, pipe fittings and brass fittings even small engine parts! They would even set up an O gauge train platform in the middle of the store and have trains running around at Christmas time!
I live in Seoul, South Korea and recently went to the ACE hardware here. The chice of products was very odd, especially considering your comment about local store owners making inventory choices. There were a number of things like rural mailboxes, lawn decorations, and those "Beware of Dog" "We don't call 911" yard signs in English. Things that are all useless in Seoul. It was like stepping into a portal to small town USA. They even had the the little cups of popcorn!
Got an ace right down the street from me. Everything with my house I’ve fixed up, needed to replace or if I just genuinely needed a certain tool… I head to the helpful place. Love Ace
I never thought about it before, but I always go to Ace because it's the only hardware store on my end of town! Other top two reasons is there's always enough staff and there always really helpful, and that they've got a whole aisle for individual screws with a guide for screw sizing and type right there. Great for DIY and quick fixes!
In small cities (less than 30K population) Ace is the ONLY place to get most of what people need. Our local ACE has stuff specific to our region you can't find even at Home Depot/Lowes. I always knew I liked ACE more, now you've helped me to quantify that into 5 reasons. Great video!
We have a company with pretty much the same model here in Australia, except its for groceries, called IGA. They're really good stores, and its so fun checking them out in different areas because they're each so different.
When the local grocery store where my family lives closed down after the owner passed, Ace moved into it's old building. They converted part of the store into a small 4 aisle grocery store and even hung up the original sign from the store.
That earned Ace a lot of my respect and business by showing that they acknowledged how important that original store was to that town and community.
Damn that’s super cool tbh. Like respect++
@@sahasananth987 Totally! I'm amazed that any business would do that given it isn't their core competency. Although based on this video and that story, maybe their core competency isn't merely selling hardware.
We had an ACE move into an old plant nursery, & they kept the outdoor nursery part pretty much the same.
Small world… I do believe I know what store you’re talking about and always loved that old grocery store. Still miss it even though it’s been gone a couple years. That neon grocery sign is not original - any good friend’s dad fabricated it for them.
Wow I really love that. I understand that store owners retire and usually their kids don't want to carry on the business, but it's always sad to see them go. How nice to keep an homage to the original and also to keep providing groceries, which I'm sure a lot of people relied on.
The coolest thing about Ace is that it's run by Grandpas who know every screw's size and threading just by looking at it.
Yeah, there's always that one guy who's been around since the Mayflower and can find the exact piece when you say "you know - that THING on the bathtub!"
And if they don't know it, they will walk with you to each and every corner of the store to make sure if they have something like it
Hell yea
I go to ACE when I need advice or help finding something
I go to HD when I know exactly what I need, exactly where it is, and I don’t want to talk to anyone (because it’s impossible to get help there anyway)
Nah man, every single time those grandpas walk over to the standard section when I told them a metric size 💀
As someone who has worked at an Ace for almost 5 years (and still knows basically nothing about anything hardware related), I'd say the best way to compare us to the big brands is:
Home Depot is where you go if you want to build a new shed or swimming pool in your backyard.
Ace is where you go if you want to plug a draft or get some advice on how to fix a leaky faucet. We're not perfect, but we'll do our best to either find it in our store or point you in the right direction in town.
I have also found that my local ACE will order something for me if it is in their database, but not in the store. You wont get that at a big box unless you order it yourself online then pay the shipping (you don't pay the shipping at ACE but you do have to pick it up at the store which is no big deal for me)
The minute the guy at Ace said "oh...we don't have that, but the Harbor Freight on XYZ Street might...just make sure to ask them for ABC features" I became a committed Ace fanboi.
Ace is where you go if you just need a couple things quickly. Or you need Stihl products, since that company refuses to do business with Home Depot or Lowes.
@@dylanattix2765I’m glad Stihl doesn’t do business with the later two. Those big box stores have ruined a lot of good companies because of their greed.
Home Depot will order stuff for you in store with free shipping to your house@@scpatl4now
When the ACE came to our town, it took over for a store with a good reputation for outdoor sports. They kept the outdoor sports department.
That's amazing!
Going by other comments that sort of thing seems to be a common occurrence for when they take over a location that was owned by a beloved local store.
After 25+ years of going to Home Depot I stopped into a local Ace Hardware one day. ( Shout out to Griffith Ace Hardware in the 92127 ) I could not believe how a smaller store had everything I needed, but the giant warehouse stores like Lowes and Home Depot did not. After a few trips I realized that each Ace stocks it's shelves based on it's community. They know their specific community. When I go to repair fixtures that came with the house I'm in, Ace has those parts, Home Depot just wants to sell me a new fixture. Also, the people are the best. I'm sure everyone at the warehouse hardware stores are doing their best but when you walk into Ace they make you feel welcomed. They actually know what the problem is and how to solve it. Prior to today's vid coming out I had already begun making a list of the things I needed to get at Ace today. I know Ace has the fasters I need in black, the warehouse places do not.
Amen brother. Ok they have 2 faucets to choose from instead of 40. If I need it now I'll take it, if not I'll order it. The big box stores are aiming for the contractor sales, the DIYers are just gravey to them. With their smaller footprint an Ace isn't going to win that game so they don't play.
If you can go into a Menards, it is the best of ACE, HD, Lowes and even Walmart combined.
Yep, my Ace has lamp & screen repair services. The other stores would just sell you new fixtures and windows.
This.
I had a list of several items for some minor repairs. I was in and out of there with everything I needed in under 10 minutes. You can't do that at the big stores.
I was pulling a stranger out of a ditch, just after the freezing rain put about an inch of ice on the road. I tried and failed to use 3 ratchet straps to pull him out. I ran to ACE which was only a block away. I walked in and there was a ACE person right at the front door asking what I was looking for. He had a smile on his face and took me strait to the section I was looking for and helped me choose the right strap. I was in and out in only a few minutes and I don't feel like I over paid either. They were super helpful and super convenient! I got the guy pulled out and then gave his rig a jump. I looked down the road and there was another person in the ditch. I pulled them out too :)
Hero 🎉
I worked at my local Ace for 3 years, and I still help out there sometimes to get some extra income. I wholeheartedly believe that working at Ace is something that every young person should try. You end up learning a pretty decent amount about a lot of home improvement stuff. If you're willing to listen, the older folks that work there are generally happy to share their knowledge and experiences with you. Really comes in handy if you decide to buy a home someday.
I lived in the Philippines, confidently say that ACE hardware is very recognizable. The customer service is top-notch. The employees will go around with you and show you all the items that you are looking for and they will also push your cart or carry your basket for you. They will also give you great advice on their best ability. I love coming to ACE hardware.
Anyways, great video sir! Thank you for making this video.
There's only one Ace Hardware in my area and it's actually a little bit of a hike to get to. However, I have noticed that 100/100 times I go there their staff is WAY more helpful than that of Lowes and HomeDepot. I can go to almost anyone in the store and say hey, " I'm looking for this brass thing, that looks kinda like this, one end is right angle and the other is straight with threads", they walk over 3 isles and say, " you mean this? ". Bam, that's exactly what I needed. I also noticed they carry a lot of obscure " I cant believe you actually have this in stock" items as well. I don't go there as often as I would like to since I pass 2 home depots and a lowes on my way to Ace, but every time I have have gone there, they have saved the day. It was very cool to learn more about them. Thank you for this video.
The best part about ACE is their selection of hardware (nuts and bolts). Anytime I need a specific type of fastener I know there is a much greater chance of finding it at ACE than anywhere else.
Yeah. Home depot and lowes are home centers, not hardware stores. Their hardware selection is shit compared to the Ace's I've been to. Different store for different purpose.
I agree with that, it’s just better price and better organized, nothing like lowes or Home Depot whose parts drawers are always a total mess
We have an Ace in Paulding Ohio that Carry's firearm specific fasteners, I'm sure many others do also
i like that theyre smaller locations. it makes it easier to find the things you most frequently need to get. plus, theyre able to fit locations into neighborhoods without leveling two city blocks and another two for the parking lot.
agreed. that's why I won't go to a walmart. I can go in for two things and won't come out for upwards of 20 minutes, just because of the size of the store
One of the Ace stores in my area set up shop at a lumber yard that closed down.
i have a huge example of an Ace Hardware being an active and supportive member of the community, a local Ace Hardware went out of their way to massively support my Trapshooting team and supply us with brand new nice popup canopies and if i remember right a couple ice chests and stuff so we can set up camp at tournaments and stuff and we proudly fly their name and logo on our banners. It is indeed where you find helpful Hardware folks
I'm a big "tool guy" and I like to DIY whenever I can, and you're right about Ace's convenience factor. "Shoot, I broke my drill bit. I'll just hop on over to Ace Hardware real quick." I walk in and immediately I'm asked if I need help and oh, by the way, how's your grandma? She hasn't been here in a while! Did she like that sprinkler she bought?
Their customer service is top notch because they're just genuinely friendly people that are knowledgeable about the things they sell. I really only go to Home Depot or Lowe's if Ace doesn't have what I'm looking for.
This video has me respecting my local Ace Hardware a lot more. I always liked going to my local Ace and just thought of it as a typical hardware store, but now I think it’s more special than I used to think.
The thing I love about Ace Hardware is that they carry a lot of weird specialty items that you can never find at a big box store. I once needed brushes for the motor in my Dremmel and the big box store didn't have them but Ace did. Some of those stores are packed floor to ceiling with stuff, and the people that work there seem to know exactly where everything is. Sometimes it's just fun wandering around their stores just to see what's there.
idk how they memorize all that stuff perfectly its insane
I feel like Ace just treats their people better than the other stores do.
Kind of like the Radio Shack of hardware. RIP Radio Shack..
@@shonuff5297 I used to love going to Radio Shack back in the day
I'm also guilty of sometimes being an Ace wanderer.
Went to Ace to look for breakers, they didn't have the ones we needed and the lady we asked actually called other people /stores to see if they have it in stock. Was very impressed.
Service is one factor for sure (plus their glass cutting and screen repair is wonderful), but also that selection of specialty hardware isle for nuts and bolts is the reason i go there. As a hobby, i rebuild RVs and Boats and looking for those one-off stainless steel widgets is always a challenge at the big box stores. Lowes is pretty good, but ACE always will have what i need! And it's great to get right in and out and on with my day!
The Ace near me also repairs Honda lawn mowers and will sharpen any lawn mower blades you bring in at a very good price. I had them service a Honda roto-tiller for me.
I worked at one that cut glass, made window screens, built storm windows, cut n threaded pipe. Sharpened any blade you brought in.
As an ace employee whose family and parents have had ace franchises since 1977 I was happy to see this video
Your whole life history
There's a little hardware store a block from my house, and it's pretty fantastic. I'm not especially handy or into DIY and so when I did need something they were always extremely helpful in getting me exactly what I needed and corresponding advice. I remember five years ago or so I saw the Ace branding show up and felt a little sad they had been scooped up by one of the big brands. But I didn't really know that this was their business model and I heard the owners talk about how they basically still run the store as before on their own. And they're still just as good as before, so perhaps the Ace collaboration only benefited them and thats pretty cool.
I was told by an employee in Home Depot to go to a "Hardware Store" to find what I was looking for. I replied, I thought this was a hardware store, but it is not, it's a home improvement store.
I live in Alaska where many people have off grid off road cabins. The ACE hardwares up here always have a good selection of brass fittings for propane appliances and many sell propane lamps that mount on the wall.
I feel bad that Ace is 1 mile away from me but HD/Lowes is first on my mind for repairs. It's true when I walk into Ace I always get greeted and asked if I need help immediately. Never got that from the bigger box stores.
Yep. I have an Ace nearby and they are helpful. Their prices just aren't worth it though especially when you need a lot of tools or materials.
with that said ... quality is there
I do like Ace when you only need ONE small nut/bolt/washer/etc and you can buy just one from their bins. The bigger box stores make you buy a 5 or ten pack bags that you don't need that many and will probably spend more money.
I would rather not be disturbed and go ask staff for help when i needed it. Do you need to tip them too??
It took a while but I’ve gotten in the habit of checking for a nearby ace first when I need to run to a hardware store. It really started on a work trip to Miami. The big stores can’t fit in the downtown areas so it was easier to find an Ace
We have something similar in Canada with our own long-standing chain called Home Hardware. It's also a co-op where the store owners are people from the actual community the store is based in. While the stores aren't as big, the service is light years beyond the crap the big box chains offer. We have one in the small town I'm in and I will always go there first before Home Depot.
Nice
Silly person. Canada isnt real
@@CheeseMiser ikr we are the hat for the US
@@laurabailey2092 rightsided aus
@@laurabailey2092 Canada deserves all the praise because at hockey games if the PA goes out, in Canada they will sing the U.S. national anthem out of respect, but in the U.S., at best we know it starts with "Oh Canada" but then "dah dun dah duh dun dah duh duhhhhhnnn."
The owner of the Ace Hardware in my hometown recently retired and closed a couple stores. People were devastated. I’m not the handiest person, but man, they’ve always treated me well.
That’s what happened to the one in Henderson, KY. The owner retired and only one person tried purchase the franchise. He wasn’t able to get a loan, so they went out of business. All we have is bLowes.
That is something and with that this brand doesn't always seem what it appears to be. May want to question this author on where he's getting his information is what I can guess still good story.
I like that ACE has all kinds of screws for purchase. I don't have to buy a large pack of screws; I can just buy the few i need for some change. And if you don't know the name or size of them, they have a wall that has holes for you to screw in to so you can see what you have.
We have an ACE in Maricopa AZ... store owner lives here too. I would recommend it... the employees are a plus, and they provide a Veterans and Seniors discount.
This explains so much about the experiences I’ve had at ACE. I was always surprised at how helpful and knowledgeable the staff at ACE was compared to the other stores, I would literally walk in with the broken item in my hand and would be taken to the exact spot and showed the exact fit replacement item. It’s unfortunate that the 2 ACE in my area closed down, luckily one of them was turned into a ma and pa hardware store that seemed to have hired all the ACE staff.
I buy all my hardware at our local Ace Hardware store. There’s always a knowledgeable person to help me find exactly what I need and provide advice about the best option. I can either show them the broken thing I need to fix or a picture of it and no matter who I ask, they always seem to know exactly what I need. It may cost a little more than the big box stores but the helpful advice is worth it to me. I’m not particularly handy so their advice is very helpful for the limited DIY things I’m able to fix on my own. Plus they accept my burned out fluorescent and CFL bulbs for recycling which is nice.
I've shopped at Ace stores all over the South East for decades and they have always come through for me. I like a company that just does what it is supposed to do and that's my experience with Ace. Quick, friendly and helpful. Rare these days.
I've always loved Ace. I worked construction and any time I was in a pinch, they saved my butt.
Now, after working at Ace for about a year, something that really impresses me is their training material. Every employee is given access to thousands of training courses so they can be as knowledgable as they want in as many topics as they'd like, which ultimately helps both the customer and the employee.
Also, the co-op is awesome. Making every store feel like the unique neighborhood hardware store that it is, giving the owners a lot of freedom to cater to their community.
I used to work for Lowe’s, and their training was nearly non-existent. They just did basic computer stuff where you had the take a test.
I love our local Ace! It's so comfortable and welcoming.... and staff is always so friendly and helpful.
Absolutely love my local ACE. The same guy has been the manager since I was a child(over 40 years) and he remembers everyone and seems to know everything anyone would need to know.
Every ACE I've been to has had an awesome selection of obscure sodas I have never seen anywhere else. That's why I like them so much.
Ace Hardware is one of the group internships at Springboard. Mr. Mike's class works at Ace Hardware every Tuesday with Mrs. Barbara. My grandparents, aunts, and uncles from Oradell/New Milford live close to Ace Hardware. Ace is the place for the helpful hardware folks.
I love that I don’t have to search for help, and when I ask anyone there for an obscure screw or bolt, etc they know exactly where it is. Helps never far away and everyone seems happy to be there
It’s so nice to receive the personal attention from someone who knows how to find a particular screw, nut, bolt or washer.
Company Man videos have the most wholesome comment sections!
I used to work at a Ace Hardware and it was the best place. So many things you can learn not only from the older associates who were typically retired electrician or plumbers. If they sisnt close down I'd definitely be working there still.
You have a great talent of making any and every company you make a video about sooo interesting. I've only been to an Ace once but I definitely watched this whole video. LOL.
worked there in college as an 18-19 year old kid. Great job to have under your belt. I learned alot about the world from interactions with customers Lol! Filling propane was my favorite part, because it gave you 5 minutes to discover why a guy needed his tank refilled.
I’ve never been to Ace, but now, I feel like I will visit and see for myself how amazing they are. I can’t wait to go exploring:)
I always find what I need at Ace. With their discount, the prices aren't crazy and the convenience of the location makes it a favorite for me.
Cool to see this one! I didn't expect it, glad to finally see it.
Same there jingle makes them pretty successful.
Ace rules, the service is second to none. I don’t even look at prices, the advice and genuine interest in helping you find the right product is amazing.
I wind up at mine at least twice a weekend.
As someone that has spent far too many hours in different hardware stores for home renovation, I'm glad you mentioned the product mix. While home depot is great for 90% of my shopping, I'd go to ace to pick up odds and ends since they were almost always far closer to me and also they often had a more local selection of items in stock, like one small thing is that they had swamp cooler parts and accessories that I couldn't find at my local home depot
When your inevitably 1 plumbing part short. Ace is the place..
I watched all the way through the ad at the end, Company Man. Keep kicking ass with these videos!
The reason I first started going to my local ace was due to its location. The customer service is why I keep coming back.
ACE truly is the place. They have everything I need and if I'm looking for something they practically take me by the hand and lead me to it. Friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful - it's a rare retail experience and am thankful a retailer is still maintaining a localized, service-oriented business where the customer truly is #1. I refuse to enter the gates of hell known as Home Dep and their miles of aisles of crap and no human interested in helping. HD is just not worth saving 25 cents here and there. Give me ACE.
Ace is always about customer service and that family feel. Workers are always friendly and they have a great selection of stuff.
Ace just opened in my small 2k population town and its been a life saver. 2 minutes away from my shop as opposed to 25 minutes to the closet big box store. Its also easy in and easy out which is also much appreciated.
Haha! Funny that you brought up "Do It Yourself" since I think I do remember DIY being an old brand of hardware stores that probably goes back to when I was a kid. I remember DIY took on Builder's Square and I believe there was a local chain of stores called Forest City Hardware, which would become Handy Andy. Wow, those bring back memories to me now, and all the fun I used to have every time my dad always brought me to a hardware store.
I live in south Louisiana and my local Ace sells shrimp boots and 40 gallon jambalaya pots, goes to show they really do cater to local tastes
What are the chances of a new upload 26 seconds after I check the channel for something to watch 😂
Type of comment that's only popular for the first few minutes of a video releasing😂
First time?
Odds are 10 000/1
In this case, believe it or not, 100%
My grandparents started an independent hardware store before moving to a better location and joining Ace. My dad's been in hardware for over 55 years and my sister and I have been in hardware for over a decade. I do love helping people and appreciate the regulars that listen to "those kids that know everything".
I always appreciated their stock and assortment of metric, stainless steel, and specialty hardware.
Love ACE! In my job I'm always helping people to improve their homes and whether it's furnace filters, spray foam, caulking, or showerheads, so many customers will ask, "Can I get that at Home Depot?" And I'm just like, "Try ACE!"
All of my local ACE stores sell frozen pies from a local bakery. I can't say I've ever bought a frozen pie from Home Depot or Lowes!
I just came here to mention that! I love the Dutch apple one! I need to see what brand again though since I have never actually looked.
Ace Hardware rules. One of the best, most reliable and helpful companies in America.
Ace is twice as expensive as big box stores, I don’t go there unless I absolutely have to
I live five minutes from a Home Depot, but I'll wait to buy something I need until the weekeend when I go to a farmer's market 20 minutes from me. An ACE is right next to it. The employees are always so friendly and easy to find, they don't look annoyed that you need help, nothing is ever out of stock and the shelves are never barren. I love it there.
I love Ace Hardware. There is one close by. Yes, they ar the more expensive than the big box stores.
Ace can't compete on price. But where they shine is in customer service. I can usually walk in to Ace and get the help I need and I am out the door within a few minutes with the right tools / parts. Good luck finding help at Lowes or Home D.
My only complaint is that my local store is only about 1500 Sq ft and doesn't have everything.
That was really good. For a company with no scandals and no major mistakes, you did a great job. Thanks.
--True Value Hardware has LEFT the chat.....
I worked at ACE from 1996 till 2000 as a highschool job. I enjoyed it. You got to know a lot of people in an area, because they'd frequent the place. Learned a lot on how to fix my own stuff from them. We also had a glass & window department. Made glass, and screens for doors/windows. I mainly worked in paint. I don't know about now, but ACE paint was some of the best you could buy. I still go to ACE to this day.
ACE is now known for their grilling and grilling/smoking accessories. That’s probably the biggest contributor to their recent success
Agree, that helps. I bought my Weber at Ace and fill all my propane there as well. 5 tanks at a time.
bought my Weber and get propane from ACE...any smaller items
I have very fond memories of going to ace with my father growing up.
AutoZone vs O’Reilly vs Advance Auto
I love the Ace Hardware that is only about 3/4 of a mile from my house. While they are smaller than the big box stores, they almost always have what I need and if they don't the employees are not afraid to tell you where the closest place to get a part is, even if it isn't another Ace location.
My local Ace also carries plenty of small engine parts, which is very handy. I tend to make Ace runs a few times each month while working on projects of various types.
It used to be known as Ace & Gary's Hardware but Ace & Gary wondered what everyone was looking at
NOTHING!!!!
Ever since my local hardware store retired and closed I go to ACE in a town about 8 miles away. They have a ton of hardware, tools, plumbling, electrical, seasonal, and other assorted supplies. A great store.
Make a video about Dyson next please
I love Ace because of the quality of products I have gotten there and I also enjoy how less overwhelming it can be compared to Lowes or Home Depot. I also find the Ace hardware staff friendly! Fantastic job!
I’m wondering if he’ll ever do a video about Spin Master toy company and Walmart
Woo-hoo! The hammer you appear to show at the 2:40 mark looks to be my primary hammer used for most things I need a hammer for. A Stanley I purchased maybe around the year 2002. I can feel it made contact but the impact force isn't passed to my hand and arm. I have 20 or more hammers but that one is generally my go to for most things.
Interesting. I heard of Ace despite never being in one.
I have seen Ace commercials but still never been to one.
Beyond customer service is simply convenience. There is no question that their prices are higher than the Big Box stores, but it is SO much faster to drive up the street, get what I need, and drive home.
im surprised they were still successful, thought they were slowly going out of business. used to go all the time, but they closed like all 3 in my city
They may have been owned by the same person, who just retired. Lots of the stores by me are run by one family.
I love their jingle!
Ace feels like going into a mom and pop shop even though they’re a massive chain.
You nailed it. My particular reason is the service. Blows away the big big box stores every time.
JD Power is a joke. It's all pay to play, the more you pay, the more rewards they'll whip up outta nowhere.
It probably also helped in the mid 90s to about 2003 ace was one of the sponsors of what was and still is the leading home improvement tv series this old house on pbs
Ace is always more expensive and has a much smaller selection
When it comes to hardware I’d say they have a much better selection
@@slow_S60 Without question.
worked at an ACE for a few years. Marvelous! Every store is different driven by the neighborhood.
My first job was at Ace Hardware. Like you mentioned, they really emphasized customer service. We were always taught to go up to any customer that came in and say “What can I help you find today?”. It was a very friendly atmosphere. I also learned a ton about tools, screws, paint, grills, and a whole bunch more. Really useful knowledge.
Thanks for the video. It brings back fond memories
The biggest thing Ace has going for them? Notice the average age of the Ace employee in the video. They're not a big-box retailer desperate to cut wages to shore up their stock price, engaging in age discrimination to hire younger people for a lower wage. Independent stores means each store can decide their own hiring policies, and as far as I have seen, that usually means paying higher wages for older and more experienced employees. And *that* means, you are far more likely to walk into an Ace and get help from older employees, who not only know where every single thing in the store is located and knows where to send you to get something they don't carry, but *also* have done a lot of their own DIY in their lives, and can offer solid advice and practical knowledge to the customer as well coming from their own experience. That offer of knowledge, that sharing of *how* to do something alongside the hardware to do it, is something you just don't get at Lowes or Home Depot.
I love also the free freshly popped popcorn you get when you visit them.
There is an Ace Hardware about a mile from where I grew up. Thornridge Ace Hardware in Levittown, PA. As a young kid who loved to tinker with just about anything I remember riding my bike there sometimes 2 or 3 times a week! They had the best selection of hardware, electrical bits and pieces, pipe fittings and brass fittings even small engine parts!
They would even set up an O gauge train platform in the middle of the store and have trains running around at Christmas time!
ACE's hardware selection is second to NONE
I hope u having good start of your year company man !
Your videos are a welcome treat. I Enjoy learning from this channel and for the wholesome narrative😊. Keep up the great work 💪
I live in Seoul, South Korea and recently went to the ACE hardware here. The chice of products was very odd, especially considering your comment about local store owners making inventory choices. There were a number of things like rural mailboxes, lawn decorations, and those "Beware of Dog" "We don't call 911" yard signs in English. Things that are all useless in Seoul. It was like stepping into a portal to small town USA. They even had the the little cups of popcorn!
Love ACE hardware, been coast to coast, and there is always an old friendly guy that knows what I'm talking about and can help too.
Ive never heard that jingle! I remember the old John Madden ads where the catchphrase was "Ace, the helpful place!"
Considering the thing I instinctively thought when I saw the thumbnail was "Ace, the helpful place" shows how effective their branding is.
Got an ace right down the street from me. Everything with my house I’ve fixed up, needed to replace or if I just genuinely needed a certain tool… I head to the helpful place. Love Ace
I never thought about it before, but I always go to Ace because it's the only hardware store on my end of town! Other top two reasons is there's always enough staff and there always really helpful, and that they've got a whole aisle for individual screws with a guide for screw sizing and type right there. Great for DIY and quick fixes!
I shop ACE for convenience and they offer national brands. Great vid, thanks.
In small cities (less than 30K population) Ace is the ONLY place to get most of what people need. Our local ACE has stuff specific to our region you can't find even at Home Depot/Lowes. I always knew I liked ACE more, now you've helped me to quantify that into 5 reasons. Great video!
We have a company with pretty much the same model here in Australia, except its for groceries, called IGA. They're really good stores, and its so fun checking them out in different areas because they're each so different.