Incredibly sexist and hostile workers. It's a cute local business, so I expected the atmosphere to be good. The cashier was unnecessarily rude, contradicted himself again and again, and felt the need to "push me around" while making fun of me. They have treated me and other female friends especially badly. I can't help but feel as though I would have been treated differently as a male customer. Save your money and your time! read more

The few actual hardware products they sell are junk. Mostly cheap household tchotchkes. All-around poor selection, and everything is overpriced. Rude staff. If you want to support a real locally owned hardware store, visit Ace instead who will actually have what you're looking for. read more

It's very important that we support local hardware stores like this one - they are a dying breed in the shadow of big box stores. This store carries a wide range of specialty hardware and tools which that other big box hardware store does not have. These stores are also part of the fabric of the community, providing jobs and critical resources for maintaining your apartment/condo etc. read more

We love this hardware store. It seemingly has everything with other stores nearby as well, including a Whole Foods and also a post office. Every time we go in, it seems like they have what we need. Located on a busy street; parking may be a challenge but worth it to get essentials. read more

Very rude man with red hair working the front. Scoffs when asked for a bag. Weird encounter, especially for a nice local store.

Usually helpful and efficient except for when you want keys copied on a Sunday, in which case neither applies. A touch of an apologetic tone would have been appreciated, instead of a curt "No can do" dismissal. Weak. read more

Had everything we needed to set up college apartment, along with some fun unique items.

Not sure what's going on at this store. It may be under new management but there is absolutely no need for the rudeness from the people who work here. I asked a question and was met with a scowl, and look of hatred from the woman at the register, so I left. Who answered me snidely, yeah there over there. I used to shop here all the time. I thought it was because they disliked people of color and I've been reading a lot of reviews elsewhere they're treating customers unequally. That's too bad as the neighborhood is culturally and racially diverse. read more

The worst customer service I have ever experienced in my life. On Sunday march 26th I went to the Mass Ave location in Boston at 11am. The store was closed and the employees were hanging out outside. They told me that their manager Franklin was not there to unlock the store and was not returning their calls. A group of customers formed. After waiting outside for 45 mins I left. I returned the next day to file a complaint and the clerk gave me a phone number to the headquarters. I called about a dozen times over the next 5 days, varying my call times. No one ever awnsered. I returned to the store to purchase some the pods and to ask if the number was correct. A larger unkept man with a beard who works there laughed in my face and told me to just leave and that no one was interested in my complaint. Both myself and the girl working the counter were very uncomfortable. After completing the transaction I left. The employee I encountered was so disrespectful and dismissive. The environment very toxic, threatening, and unwelcoming. There is a reason the company is not registered with the Better Business Bureau and the company Facebook page has disabled reviews. I will never return. I have multiple degrees in economics, and one thing I have learned is I will let my dollars speak for me. read more

The manager was the rudest person I've ever come in contact with in a retail store. Totally unprofessional starting with "what do you want" when I asked him a question. I would not recommend anyone to go to the store. read more

You'd think all the hardware stores are the same. "Not so!" says this Yelper. We're completely replacing the heating system in our brownstone, which is a total first time round for me. In the dead of December winter, this means the buildilng will be without heat for 2 weeks as they gut the old asbestos-cased system and bring in a fancy-schmancy new one that resembles Optimus Prime's truck morph. Enter Economy True Value, and a young guy named 'Ted' who was extremely knowledgeable and quite possibly the friendliest associate I've ever met. He educated us on the different heating options, including an eco-friendly, watt-saving option, which I REALLY wanted, but just couldn't suit our needs. We went with 5 of the more expensive Vornado brand, and 1 other brand that I just can't remember. I've never left a hardware store thinking "gee, that was pleasant..." I have to say, it really felt like a neighborhood store you'd find on Sesame Street when you were a kid. Awesome! read more

I love this place! Whenever I am in the area I stop by just because they have such nice, inexpensive furniture and so many cool home goods. Not that I really usually need anything, but just in case I ever do! The staff is very helpful and there are always plenty of people there to help you. I think their unfinished furniture selection is really great. I got two leaning bookshelves there and finished them myself. They look like Pottery Barn's leaning bookshelves only they cost about half as much. read more

I'm not sure why this place doesn't have a 5 star rating, I mean I get that they don't have an endless warehouse like Home Depot with every imaginable tool/material, but they're a small local hardware shop, so yes, they don't have every item you could ask for, but they have a fantastic shop with terrific customer service! I was in there last Wednesday for a duct, and I had a very pleasant experience, employees are super friendly always helpful and always point me in the right direction. Additionally, if you are a dog owner like I am, this place is pet friendly and they have treats behind the cashier that they offer to pups! read more

Rating is for the genuinely nice service. I was in search for a sturdy umbrella and the one I bought next door from CVS did not look like it was going to last (it cost $10). I returned that and went to this store and found nice wooden-handle umbrellas that have bigger arcs. Though they cost $24, which is pretty reasonable for that kind of umbrella, they were cuter and looked sturdier. I dragged that umbrella around with my stuff around Harvard med, thinking, "yeah I'm prepared for the rain." It ended up not raining today. This trip has been a crapload of curveballs--leaving my wallet on the plane, my bed falling apart, my jacked up interview schedule... and not raining when I expected it to. Ahhh well... the staff are super chill and let me return the umbrella. They have a lot of housewares here. A lot. ( | ) read more

Coming from someone who owns a woodworking shop I can say, I have lived in back bay for twenty years, and this store is awesome! It has everything you'd ever need for an apartment, and it's great for when I do t feel like getting in my car to drive to one of the big stores. They even have quality kitchenware. Even their little furniture they keep in stock is fantastic for smaller spaces and it's all modern designed stuff, and their floral section is cool too. All top brand tools and equipment, and the staff is super friendly and the whole convenience part of it makes it the best hardware store in the entire city in my opinion. Two thumbs up from me for sure. read more

This hardware store saved my sanity by providing me with an affordable window fan and other necessary items for staying in a new barely furnished apartment in the middle of summer. Well, the other "necessary" items were a Swiffer, a tea pot and a sewing kit. Random but this little hardware store had it all. It's more like Bed, Bath and Beyond Lite with nuts and bolts in the back. The prices aren't Target but for the geographic convenience close to student housing, it's a fair alternative. And if wasn't for that $20 window fan, I would have been a very crabby woman on vacation. An excellent investment! read more

I was fooled by the name. I figured it would be just a regular hardware store with hammers and nails and paint and whatnot. Then I went inside to buy some mouse traps, and WOW. This is so much more than a hardware store. Along with nuts and bolts they have every kitchen implement imaginable, shelves and bookcases, linens, gardening tools, a million little organizational gizmos, electric fans, irons, light fixtures...and yeah, it's not the cheapest, but it's convenient. It's hard to find a place in Back Bay that's essentially a tiny Container Store crossed with a tiny Target, and they could probably get away with charging higher and still do good business. It's a lifesaver if you live around here and don't have a car. They have everything for you to decorate and furnish an apartment, have a bunch of people over for dinner, clean up afterward, and fix the damage your drunk friend of a friend caused. Perfect. read more

Anything that is convenient is usually over priced..... The four stars above are not for the pricing but for the convenience....for quick fix home disaster solutions who really wants to drive out to HQ? Not me..... read more

I went here last night for coaxial cable stays and a rubber concealment strip. They had the stays, but not the strip. The dude who tried to help me out, however, was wicked nice, and everyone there seemed totally helpful and cool. I was able to walk here from my place, and considered stopping at Betty's Wok and Noodle on the way back and reading a little Hocus Pocus, but instead went home and finished running cat-5 and coax around my place. If I need haahdwayah in the fyootcha, I will definitely come back. read more

I was a loyal customer here, spending hundred dollars for my crafts class. Normally when asking for opinions while purchasing, the staffs are very friendly and helpful. But the management is intolerably rude and unprofessional. A week ago I started to pack my package, and I purchased two package ties from here. The shop assistant told me with such package ties can help to tie the box tightly and lift it, but when I go back to home and tried one of those, it didn't work at all, too short, too loose. I went to the store for the refund with my original receipt, the bald manager said he can't help me with it, he can only give me the refund of one tie, not two. And with my insistence, he offered the credit refund for another. And he said this is because he "doesn't know where the other one is from their store or not." I told him: I understand him but feel free to check their monitor if you doubt this is not from your store, as I came here last Friday at 5:45 and talked with two staffs about which one to choose. And he started to staring and yelling non-stop: you don't understand me, I am telling you, move on! You don't understand the business! You are not! And I don't have the time to check the camera. Seriously, dude. You tell me you can't tell the product is from your store or not, I provide you with evidence and solution. And then you start to yell at your loyal customer and accuse they don't understand your business, if your business is to yell and insult your customer, then yes, I don't understand your business at all. I said thank you and left, I won't come back again or use this store credit. Unfortunately, this is why the chained store is replacing local business: because the latter one treats their customers like shit. read more

You really can't go too wrong at this store. It's very spacious and has most anything you could want. The workers were very helpful and friendly right when I came in and I was able to find what I needed immediately. I was very excited to find that the perlite I needed for my container garden on my deck was there. I had looked in other places and almost given up hope. It was also reasonably priced! They had lots of other potting and gardening stuff there as well which I shall have to peruse again. I wish I had come here before I got other stuff at a different local hardware stop. Live and learn. read more

Convenient location if you need something quick. However, most of their stuff is pretty overpriced. You can find better deals on household stuff at Filene's Basement, Marshalls and TJ Maxx. Even more expensive department store's sales (think Macy's and Lord and Taylor) will have kitchen things cheaper, especially dishes and the like. If you can get there, you might also want to check out IKEA for the household items and furniture. I like the selection in this place and they are pretty sure to have whatever you need, but I tend to only go there when I need something right away. You can get better deals by using the coupons someone else mentioned on the back of the receipts at Shaws or in the collegiate coupon books. They are usually $5 off purchase of $25 or more and $10 off purchase of $50 or more. Not bad. read more

Clean, spacious store. Youthful staff (lots of hotties too). Nice selection of kitchen essentials, bathroom essentials, and living room/lighting needs. Keys cut for cheap in the back. Nice unfinished shelving available. I like this location! read more

My hardware needs are minimal but they also carry housewares and it's great to have these guys steps away in case I need something related. You pay a little extra for the convenience of having them right in the city but it's worth not having to drive out to a big box store in the burbs. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable. They know their inventory and how to treat customers. read more

A neighborhood staple. From housewares to hardware they have it, and the kind staff will help you find it. Prices can be higher than Amazon (to be expected), but it's well worth it for the service this store has brought to the community for many years. I'll always go here first. Plus popcorn on the weekends! read more

Everyone at this location has been helpful to me and does a great job at answering my stupid questions without making me seem stupid. It's a small footprint for a hardware store but what do you expect being smack dab in the middle of the city. Also great is that the prices seem to be on par with non- city locations. read more

During my 9 months in Boston, I left a lot of my money here at Economy Hardware. Not your Grandpa's hardware store, Economy is more like a hardware-art store hybrid. The store is bright and cheery with a good flow. They have great stuff for every room in your house from art and furniture, kitchen do-dads and shower curtains, to all the little bits and pieces that hold modern life together. The staff is friendly, if not always helpful. The prices for some things, like furniture, are often higher than what you would expect to pay. read more

This is no longer True Value hardware. The return policy is awful and their selection is horrible, especially for a hardware store near so many campuses. Save your money and time and aggravation. Go to a real hardware store. Within 2 miles. Worth the cost of an Uber ride to Home Depot. read more

Convenient place to spice up your apartment or dorm. Lots of small furniture items, kitchenware, basic hardware, paint, etc to be found here. All the essentials of Home Depot in a much smaller area. Not the place to go if you're a homeowner. Prices aren't so good, otherwise I'd rate them another star higher. read more

Most of the time, I can't get enough of DIY projects. I built my own lofted bed and frame this past summer, built a new desk, wired up a custom sound system for my room and even built a miniature trebuchet from 2"x2"s during winter break. I know what I need for my hardware needs; the ironically named Economy Hardware doesn't provide it. Economy proudly displays a sticker on its door that names it a top local business. I suspect that the only reason it's survived this long is that it's within easy range of MIT and a lot of affordable student housing, and is on Mass Ave and thus doesn't require half a brain to find. Otherwise, how would its prices and poor variety and quality have stayed around so long? First off, Economy tries to be a lot of things at once that it just is not - and that other stores in the area do better. It tries to be a craft store, but Pearl Arts and Crafts is just down the street and has about 10 times the selection. It tries to be a furniture store, but I can count about three different dedicated furniture and lightings stores between MIT and Harvard. And finally, it tries to be a hardware store, but only has the back section devoted to it and can't even offer a decent selection. Let me elaborate: as a DIY junkie I'm looking for quality and variety. My standards aren't that high; I don't, for example, expect a local establishment to carry much in the way of building quality wood, and correspondingly, the needed joist hangers and such. But if I need 1.5" #10 nails, I expect to find them in any establishment purporting to sell nails. Instead, the only thing I can find in the way of nails at Economy are 3" #16 nails, that not only are expensive, are also cheap, poorly made Chinese crap that bend as easily as wire when hammered. Unh-huh. I'm looking for contact paper to cover a rough particleboard surface. I don't even care about the pattern, I just want something that won't give me splinters. Economy has nothing. If they dedicated themselves to having a decent selection of hardware, they might actually carry something as useful as contact paper, but instead I had to chance upon a tiny hardware store while on the way to buy cake in Haymarket that carried it instead. Yep. I'm looking for some plexiglass and they don't carry it. Pill's down the street does. I'm looking for rubber spray-paint and they don't carry it. Pill's down the street does. And since this place seems to be a home furnishing store as well, I figure I might as well look for some decent desk lighting. They don't carry it. See a theme here? Economy is quite simply a case of a store trying to be too many things at once, finding out they absolutely suck on ice because of it, and then deciding that they'll try and survive by other means. By other means, I think they probably thought of atmosphere. The store itself is a chic modern affair, with good music in the background, high ceilings and excellent lighting. I don't care. Why do you think that utilitarian places like Home Depot or (more pertinently) Pill's hardware just down the street have survived? People who walk into a hardware store are not looking for a new home, they're looking for something to build. The overabundance of help at the front desk couldn't even tell me where to find a basic chalk line (which, by the way, ended up being one of the worst I've worked with, even though it was the only one Economy offered). Finally, I have to talk about pricing, which brings me to the supreme irony of Economy Hardware's name. I'm sorry, but economy is the least of Economy's characteristics. Economy is hardly something you'd expect from a place that has splurged on its appearance and far too many helpers so obviously, and it shows. No other place I know will charge you $70 for 6 rolls of silver duct tape and a few small colored rolls. Hell, I could have ordered the stuff online and saved over $20 even with shipping. The prices for the crappy nails I mentioned before was ridiculous. Economy, you might appeal to the naive students and the yuppies pleased with such a clean store, but I really, really don't want to pay $1 extra on everything that would be over $7 at a normal place just because you play Led Zeppelin on the PA. I suspect the only reason I will ever, and I mean EVER go here again is if I need something small or if someone else is footing the bill. My advice? Go up the street to Pill's, or if you really need something specific take the time to go to Andrew on the T or Somerville and go to the Home Depot. If you were looking for something else Economy sells, try any one of the other places I've mentioned above. This place is not, I repeat not worth your money. read more

Something didn't settle quite right with me today. First, my item did not have a price sticker underneath the item on the shelf or on the box. Then, I continued to shop while in line (items-for-sale do line the checkout area with multiple displays). Even though I was a good 4 feet away from the only other person in line (a couple checking out at the register), I was quickly reprimanded and told to step back because I was posing a hazard. As it turns out, the checkout line begins 15 feet away from the register. The only sign indicating this rule faces in the direction opposite to where people checking out face. No one checking out could see it unless they turned around and looked down. It was not even at eye-level but posted low on a bin that contained items for sale. That's not a place for crowd-control signage. However, the women at the register felt that this rule was clearly posted. This is the problem with customer service today. They apply blanket rules without enforcing them in a rational context. The purpose is for crowd-control. However, I was only 1 of 3 shoppers in the entire store on a quiet Sunday. I decided that to follow their rigid rules, I would do no more shopping at their check-out line displays. Doing so would violate their rules. As a younger-looking, small women, I can't help feel that the checkout person showed too much confidence in enforcing rules and redirecting me. I can't help but wonder if I were a man, she might have applied the rules with logic (to meet the need of the customer). The customer service person's manners were otherwise appropriate but I think the ability to think abstractly (as a company) is missing here. You are a number in the check-out isle and they will miss out on sales. read more

This is a pretty solid shop. As everyone mentioned, the place has a surprising amount of "nontraditional" items in addition to a full suite of hardware. Perhaps the best way to describe it is a regular hardware store + a mini Target housewares section. The prices seem OK, though they definitely vary and try to catch you on some of the smaller stuff (way overpriced picture hooks, for instance). Where this place unexpectedly stands out is in the customer service. I'll admit that I was very skeptical the first time I needed assistance, given that most of the staff seemed to be just college kids hanging around. Their "do you need anything?" seemed somewhat halfhearted, and I expected to just be thrown an aisle number when I asked for suggestions on repainting part of my furniture / hanging a large mirror / catching the pesky mouse in my apartment. But each time, they would immediately spring to life and help me sort through the various options, offering pros-and-cons and suggestions for completing whatever little job I was working on. They knew their stuff and it was always easy to find a staff member. Overall: convenient location, good service, and has everything you'll need (and more). read more

I've been going to this location off and on for almost as long as I've lived in the Boston area. The location in an interesting mix between college furniture store and proper little hardware store. The location is really staffed by a random assortment of college kids but they normally know their stuff and they tend to be friendly and willing to help out if there is something that you need. Unlike some other smaller hardware stores they have a decent paint section and also have a well stocked section of screws and basic building products. I'm still not sure how but even though it isn't anywhere near as large I've never felt like the giant hardware stores have much over this location. Perhaps it's because I don't shop for windows and carpeting. read more

I can't believe I haven't reviewed this place yet! Basically, Economy Hardware is a hardware store crossed with Bed, Bath, and Beyond. They sell hardware, paint, and the usual hardware-store things, but they also cleaning supplies, garden supplies, kitchen & bathroom stuff, pet things, pest things, and some furniture and room organizers. Their website is named "City Living Online," which best describes what they carry. It's not an ideal hardware store for doing involved projects, but it carries all of the things you would need living in an apartment or dorm room. Price-wise, they're pretty evenly matched with the competitors on most items, and I've gotten good deals there on stuff like a mop, a bucket, potting soil, measuring cups, etc. I also got these nice wooden cubby-cubes there, which make an excellent narrow TV stand/shelving unit without looking like they belong in some boy's dorm room. They also have featured deals of the month, where they put certain items on ridiculous sales just to get you in the store. I got a $10 tape measure for $.70 that way! The thing about this store, though, that most recently excited me was when I discovered they sell a wide variety of the replacement backing for 3M Command hooks! I have a giant bag of those hooks from college, but until today I've never been able to find the replacement backings for them. They have backings for every size hook you could possibly need, so now I can put those hooks to good use. read more

true value hardware store is a perfect especially for the local commmunity. perfect prices and price points every single time. a range of products that are adequate for college students, and local individuals and small families. many of the products are adequate, but antiques are in brookline, as far as I know. I bought a table and two chairs that are of coasters furniture company. the price was perfect for that quality of a product. there were some imperfections of that product though. but the table and two chairs were all well balanced. I can sit on it and eat. perfectly still. for 199.99 plus tax. in united states dollars. read more

The store is clean and bright and has okay offerings but man they do jack the price up here! When I was a student I'd be forced to come here for pretty basic stuff and pay the price- of course, location is everything and they make you pay for it, for sure. I don't really feel like they offer anything unique- you could go to Target or Ikea and it would be cheaper. I think it's funny it's called Economy...hmmm... read more

The Hardware store saves my life! It has everything. I got a dog harness here, curtain rods, screws, hooks, and everything else. Without my curtain rods I couldn't sleep during the day! It is a very large store for it's location. And the staff is usually very friendly to me. I never have had to ask them questions because I usually know what I need, but they offer to help. It's much better than some of the other smaller Hardware stores in the city. read more

So I got these file cabinets for $50 which I am currently and successfully using as dressers from here and I LOVE them. Sadly, other than the woodworks, everything else here is kinda blah. They're kind of like an everything store, but the everything they have is pretty pricey and narrow in selection. If you want Tupperware, or any other household item for that matter, you're forced to settle for the mid-level quality brand they carry and it's ALWAYS cheaper on Amazon. The people there are pretty nice and they do allow you to hold stuff at their store for up to a week before picking up. That comes in handy when you dont have a car and have to strategically plan a move date. read more

It's a hardware store, but there's still a lot other than tools to look it. It's obviously catered somewhat to Northeastern, which is quite close, and has some basics for college living (basic furniture, cookware, even mousetraps). Plus, they have gardening materials and plants, which makes me happy. Anyways, I'm bothering to leave a review only because they've always been nice to me here. Every time I've been there they ask me if I need help, even if usually I don't. Thanks anyways though! read more

If I could do zero stars I would. Every time I go into this store the staff is rude, unhelpful, and not knowledgeable. I have to pry information out of employees in regards to where things are located or alternative solutions to their extremely lacking selection. Spend your money elsewhere! read more