Berkeley Ace Hardware

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2145 University Ave (at Cal Berkeley)
Berkeley, CA 94704

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(510) 845-0410
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Berkeley Ace Hardware - Berkeley, CA
Berkeley Ace Hardware - Berkeley, CA
Berkeley Ace Hardware - Berkeley, CA
Berkeley Ace Hardware - Berkeley, CA
Berkeley Ace Hardware - Berkeley, CA
Berkeley Ace Hardware - Berkeley, CA
Berkeley Ace Hardware - Berkeley, CA
Berkeley Ace Hardware - Berkeley, CA
Berkeley Ace Hardware - Berkeley, CA
Berkeley Ace Hardware - Berkeley, CA
Berkeley Ace Hardware - Berkeley, CA
Berkeley Ace Hardware - Berkeley, CA
Berkeley Ace Hardware - Berkeley, CA
Berkeley Ace Hardware - Berkeley, CA
Berkeley Ace Hardware - Berkeley, CA
Berkeley Ace Hardware - Berkeley, CA
Berkeley Ace Hardware - Berkeley, CA
Berkeley Ace Hardware - Berkeley, CA
Reviews
( 2 )
( 2 )
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( 2 )

Best

As the downtown area loses its petco, its auto parts store, its See chocolates, and its Radstons, I really hope we hang onto our Ace! (and our vacuum repair palce and our shoe rep...

Worst

When I think of a local hardware store, I think of friendly & knowledgeable staff. This is NOT the case with Berkeley Ace Hardware. I shop here quite a bit for work -- I work at...

Berkeley Ace Hardware is a pretty good store. 9/2/2009

I don't understand the criticism of Berkeley Ace. I've shopped there for years and have always been happy with the selection and satisfied with staff help. Having read a couple of reviews which ripped the staff, I tried three staff in different parts of the store today and all three directed me correctly to the aisle and part of the aisle for what I wanted. Most staff are not native-born Americans but ripping them for accented English is an attitude that speaks for itself. I think it's a good store with competent staff. more
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Rude and unhelpful staff 8/13/2009

Unfortunately, I can echo many of the preceding negative reviews for this store. Staff are generally unhelpful, do not escort me to an item I ask help in finding, and have actually denied that they have a part that I then find for myself. My worst experiences have been when returning unused merchandise. In two cases it was after the 30 day limit, but in perfect condition. I have spent hundreds of dollars at that store, and was treated with nastiness and disrespect when I asked for flexibility with my two returns. They were not expensive items, and it wouldn't have cost them anything to accept the returns. Because of their rudeness and disrespectful attitude, I will not shop there again, and will drive the extra 10 miutes to get to a different hardware store. Pros: Good selection of items Cons: Terrible customer service- I am boycotting them now more
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Find another place to shop... 6/30/2008

I notice that with the exception of the review prior to my own, the latest are from 2006 and earlier...\r \r I've been going to the Berkeley Ace for a over dozen years and for the most of those years it was a friendly, neighborhood store with helpful and knowledgeable workers. \r \r Today there is a problem which the management neither acknowledges nor is willing to address. The workers are lazy, (merely pointing to a part of the store without any help at all when asked about a product) they (almost collectively) have attitudes that are DEFINTELY NOT customer-service oriented, and are down-right RUDE when called on their behaviors. I went as far as talking to the OWNER and he told me, "Is someone having a bad day?" in the most condescending and rude manner that I have ever been treated at a business. \r \r I?ve told my friends, neighbors and co-workers that not only should we not do business there, but there should be a boycott of the place until the owner(s?) realize what is going on. more
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Unfriendly, bad customer service 3/7/2008

When I think of a local hardware store, I think of friendly & knowledgeable staff. This is NOT the case with Berkeley Ace Hardware. I shop here quite a bit for work -- I work at a UC Berkeley lab and we're constantly needing miscellaneous hardware. \r \r Half of the time I can just find what I need, buy it, and get out. But when I have trouble finding something, or have a question about something, it's frustrating and painful to deal with the staff. Most of the time they are either rude, unconcerned, can't speak english, or just aren't knowledgeable. My favorite experience was when I asked where C-clamp spring clips are, and the lady just pointed to the front-right of the store and said "up there" and just walked away. I couldn't find the clamps and had to asked another employee -- they ended up being on the opposite side of the store. I've also had difficulty returning a defective product because I was missing part of the non-essential packaging. Of course there's been some exc more
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We love it's because it's cramped and NOT a stupid big box store. 6/22/2006

As the downtown area loses its petco, its auto parts store, its See chocolates, and its Radstons, I really hope we hang onto our Ace! (and our vacuum repair palce and our shoe repair).\r \r Of course it's cramped. Because if it had less stuff, no one would come; they would all whine about how it doesnt' carry everything they see online and on TV.\r \r And they would need a bigger property and hence NOT be in downtown. Thenw e would all have to get in our cars and drive to the edge of some suburban sprawl to shop, and we would get fatter and pollute the atmosphere more.\r \r It has an amazing selection for a downtown store,\r and it needs us to check our bags, because unfortunately some people steal. And they need to protect themselves from that. Fine by me since I dont' need my bag while i am shopping.\r \r Hang onto the downtown stores Berkeley.\r We love you Ace!! PROS: Downtown! Near transportation hub! Lots of stuff!! Helpful staff! CONS: None... more
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Worldclass Selection 3/1/2006

I have never a more covenient store with such a large selection: three floors featuring hardware, housewares, gardening, knife sharpening, key cutting, glass cutting, electrical, plumbing, paint, and automotive. And they have a huge hobby section downstairs: model trains, plastic models, dowels, balsa wood, etc. Amazing!! more
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Tools and parts for apartment dwellers 7/9/2005

This is a hardware store for apartment dwellers within walking distance. The aisles are narrow and high, but they seem to pack a lot of stuff into a pretty small storefront. This store had always been able to fill my basic tool needs, though the variety of similar tools is often sparse (how many different hammers do you really need?). I've found the staff to be courteous and knowledgeable (but when the store is busy, it's sometimes difficult to find an available staff member). PROS: they've got most items needed CONS: cramp store more
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Fun mess of a hardware store 6/6/2005

Ace has a pretty good selection of home-repair, remodeling, decorating, and craft needs in a smallish space - making it difficult to find particular items. When entering the store, one is apt to be overwhelmed by the high shelves, narrow aisles, and three floors. However, there is almost always a friendly customer service rep to help you find what it is you need. If you are looking for more than one item, though, I would recommend somewhere more organized with better signs. PROS: good selection CONS: hard to find things more
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People seem to love it... 5/22/2005

I don't understand why, but this seems to be a very popular place with people in Berkeley. Everyone thinks it's one of the best hardware stores in town, but I disagree. Everytime I go, they've been very uncourteous to me, just plain rude. They also make you leave your backback or bag at the door, which is just stupid, as no other hardware store does this. The people working there either are busy doing something else, simply don't know anything, or don't speak English, so don't expect to get any help. I also hate the way the store is set up, as it seems really crowded. One time a dog took a poop on the carpet at the entrance, and instead of quickly removing the carpet and replacing it, they just tried to wash the poop away with a mop. I'm never going there again. more
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ACE THE HELPFUL PLACE

Owner Message

  • Ace Hardware is committed to being the Helpful Place for hardware, plumbing, tools, grills, garden and more by offering our customers knowledgeable advice, helpful service and quality products. * Railroad
    * Crafts
    * Hobbies
    * Slot Cars
    * Die Cast Collectors Cars
    * Architectural Modeling Wood
    * Large Selection of Plastic Models

Additional information
  • Hours: Monday 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM;Tuesday 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM;Wednesday 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM;Thursday 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM;Friday 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM;Saturday 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM;Sunday 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  • Payments: Visa, Master Card
  • Neighborhoods: North Berkeley
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