Uncomfortable and Disappointing Experience I recently visited my local Ace Hardware for the first time to find a specific product. While walking through an aisle, a young employee asked if I needed help. I explained what I was looking for, and he took me to a section where he thought I'd find it. Despite trying to assist, he ultimately pointed me to a product he thought "might" do the trick, while casually mentioning that they didn't even carry the specific brand I had requested. As I made my way toward the front of the store to check out, I noticed a strange man wearing a ridiculous toupee staring at me with a blank face. His persistent gaze made me feel uneasy, so I decided to pass him and enter an aisle I thought would lead to the checkout. When I realized it didn't, I turned around--only to find him still standing there, staring at me. Since this strange-looking man refused to break his unsettling stare, I decided to approach him. Finally, he asked, with a blank stare, if I needed help. I asked him which way to the register, and he silently pointed, still wearing the same blank expression--which only further highlighted his guess what, kids? ridiculous a$$ TOUPEE!! The look he gave me felt so bizarre, as though I had asked his daughter to join me for a midnight showing of the movie Friday. To make it clearer: I felt like it was 1955, and my name was Emmett Till. Fortunately, another gentleman stepped in as I approached the register for a refund after I'd made the purchase and walked out, only to realize the product the younger employee suggested wouldn't work for my needs. He was kind, courteous, and knowledgeable, and he led me to the correct product while explaining its features. His professionalism saved the sale and bumped my initial one-star rating up to two stars, which I believe is fair. When I returned to the register, guess who was still standing at a distance, staring at me with a blank face? That same motherf*cker wearing a ridiculous A$$ TOUPE!!!! Oh, but wait--did you think it ended there? The younger man who had point-blank LIED TO ME earlier had now joined him. Together, they gave off a sudden vibe that was unmistakably reminiscent of fresh white sheets. To know that people like this still exist is mind-boggling, but fortunately, tools like Yelp now exist to assist you in pencil-whipping these MFs through honest reviews that can significantly impact such businesses. read more