Although they are quick to ask if you need help when you walk in, their listening skills aren't very good. They are quick to answer the question they think you are asking but aren't really listening to what you are asking and so you it takes a little longer before they understand what you want. E.g. today's question about potting mix, but guy thought I wanted potting soil. Communications skills are important in retail. At check out when I asked for potting mix I was rung out for peat moss, fortunately I caught it before leaving the counter. In the back loading area the guy (muscular, balding, 40s-50s) put the bale in the back of my wagon without letting me move things out of the way. He seemed unhappy that I wanted to take a closer look at the bag before letting him close the hatch on the trunk. I had to explain to him that there was not a bag up front for me to look at and so this was first time I was actually seeing what I was buying. I don't know if he was afraid I might change my mind or if he just wanted me out quickly (I think I might have taken 60 additional seconds of his time). I definitely felt like I was inconveniencing him. If you are management for this store and you are concerned about competition from big chain garden/hardware stores, you better give people a reason to come in because you won't be able to compete with price. To survive: friendliness, listening, smiling and don't give the impression that you just want to get the customer out the door. There are companies that can give training for customer service. read more

This place is very nice. People are knowledgeable and friendly. Everyone in the store makes eye contact and says hello. Lots of great plants and flowers and they have a great rental arm. This is old school but I totally recommend it. When was the last time you could get good advice a Home Depot of Loews. They hire much more knowledgeable People. Totally recommend it. read more

I was here in the spring with a client who wanted to purchase some items for her garden. I was very impressed with the selection of annuals including an entire section for water gardening. I keep meaning to go back to spend a bit more time browsing for my own purposes as I really try to contain my personal interests when acting as shopping assistant to my clients. read more

Everything you need in a general store kind of layout. They have alot of stuff that the big box stores don't have. They are, however, more expensive for a lot of stuff. Their best area is the nursery. They have a wide variety of plants and knowledgeable staff to help you figure out exactly what you need. Since I am a big supporter of local businesses I shop here regularly and would absolutely recommend them. read more

Never come here to get keys copied!! I came here to get my home keys copied and ended up paying a fortune for a bunch of keys that never even worked!! It was such a pain to even find a place that copied keys in this area. The fact that after all that trouble I found a place that cannot even perform this simple task is extremely disappointing. I had given a copy of my keys to my boyfriend to stay at my apt over the weekend while I was gone and he couldn't unlock any of the locks on the door. I will never return here for anything except to get my money back. read more

Just went to pick up an advertised air filter for my AC...price was listed on the shelf as $8.49...when I got to the register, it was $22.49...what? I say? Sorry, this isn't the one on sale, they tell me...but the entire shelf is marked $8.49, I say? Sorry, that's all we have, and the price is $22.49. They call the manager "Mike" over to talk to them, not to me, and he says loudly "It doesn't work like that", meaning because they put the wrong price on the shelf, they are not responsible for the price that comes up in the computer. I say "I could have gone to alot of other places, but I chose to come here. Is this what you call customer service?" Classic bait and switch...never again. Ace Hardware chain--these guys do NOTHING for your image and your brand. read more

Place is ok. We bought our Christmas tree there and probably got ripped off. Didn't really care since we were psyched on the holidays. Also I cant understand why theirs a 'turn style' to get in the place. That really needs to go. I don't think I'll go back till its gone. read more

That have a great variety of flowers and are very knowledgeable, but some of the workers are crabby and lack customer service.

Just bought a few herbs from the garden center. In particular French Tarragon. The price was double what I paid for the same plants at Rices market last week. Both of those plants, in the same pot, same soil, same conditions are thriving. The one I bought at Holod's has drooped and died within hours of planting it. How Ironic that i noticed the sign stating that they were not responsible for plants due to weather, watering, and soil conditions. Last year, I bought a few plants from Holods, and various nurseries in the area. The plants I purchased at Holods did not do well at all. Never again...Even the half dead forced plants from Home Depot did better and at half the cost. Holods is one of the last Mom and Pop hardware stores in the area, however their prices are too high and I've decided to just go against my belief of supporting local business and when something is needed for my home. just go to Home Depot or Lowes to get it, Returns with no questions asked. read more

They are total rip offs .read the horrible reviews on other sites because I didn't,as a result I don't have a snowblower !!!!they will take your deposit for a repair,at that moment they got you,will end up costing you one way or another,be aware!!! read more

Feel like they gauged us on generators 30% higher than home depot and lowes; You think they are a mom and pop shop; yet they act like a cut-throat operation; unwilling to even remotely be considerate or show any level of understanding. Wouldn't recommend them on any level read more

It looks like a high-end store... but it's staffed by low-end help. Presumably they don't think "courteous, kind, or cheerful" are necessary ingredients to sell to Mr. John Q Public. I had a screen repaired at Holod's. What a friggin' rip-off. They charged $32 to replace the screen in a half panel sized frame. I suggest that you avoid Holod's. Just drive a few miles up Ridge to Lowes or Home Depot. Or, go in the other direction to Stanleys Hardware. It'll be worth the extra few minutes. read more

Good local hardware shop. Usually have what I need. Can make returns w no problem. Good staff.

I went into Holod's the other day with a jammed paper shredder. I took the equipment with me to see what size screw driver I needed to take the thing apart. I did not expect for a sales associate (at one point, three of them were involved!) to help me un-jam the thing, but that's exactly what they did. They spent about 20 minutes working on it and were able to fix it for me. Thanks Holod's for going above and beyond! In a world full of Home Depots, there aren't nearly enough neighborhood places like this that know the true meaning of customer service. read more

Too bad Stanley's doesn't have plants. Everytime I go to Holod's, I promise myself not to go back. I will not break that promise again. When you walk into Stanley's you have at least 5 people asking if you need help. Not at Holod's. I was wandering around the isles looking for a particular item and I couldn't get an employee's attention. they all put their head down as they walk by. I finally found my item and went to the register. I had to interrupt the cashier's personal phone call on her cell phone. The other cashier was doing the same thing! This place is terribly run. read more

Price gouging post winter storms and ice. Called to see if they have rock salt...they said they did but would not give price over the phone. When I got there, I found out why. $31.99 for a 40 lb bag. I understand supply and demand, but I think these guys are breaking the law. BOOOOOOOOOO Holods! read more

Im only reviewing the small engine repair shop of holods not the hardware store in front.I had a brand new generator under full warranty that needed repair. Called the customer service number and they only have two shops i could take it to for repair, one 50 miles away and the other was holods. Well i needed to ask a buddy with a truck to take me so i didnt want to go a long distance so we went to holods. Big mistake!! First i had to leave a deposit down just to have it looked at even though its under warranty. A week later i called to see the status on it and was told it wasnt even looked at yet. A few days later i get a call telling me what was wrong and the repairs needed, and he would call the generator company and see what to do. Two weeks later i get a call from him asking for a copy of the receipt which i faxed right away. So im thinking great im finally getting my generator back, WRONG.a week and a half went by so icalled to find out whats going on and he said he tried but couldnt get a hold of the generator company. So i went home and in the matter of 5 mins im talking to a manager of the same people he said he coulndt reach. I explained to them the situation and they said they had no knowledge of holods even contacting them the whole time since i left the generator there.so thankfully the manager called holods to find out about the hold up and 2 days later they just sent me a brand new one instead of making me wait anymore.if you all time time in the world maybe they are right for you but if you want it done in a resonanle amoint of time go somewhere else if possible. Oh yeah and they wouldnt even give me my deposit back saying its the mechanics fee.i didnt care i just wanted to be done with them. read more

Do not rent anything from them. After my recent equipment rental I returned the unit in perfect condition. A week later they must have gone over the unit with a magnifying glass and then charged me an additional $110 for repairs. I later learned that this is standard procedure with them. read more

The only reason I would go to Holod's is if I can't find what I want elsewhere. Yeah they have nice plants, but so does everybody else. I just called to ask a simple question. The girl that answered sounded like she was on death row, was unhelpful and just plain miserable (as I find most of the employees there). They've been there a LONG TIME; but I think it's time for them to close up. They are all clearly burned out!! Plus their prices are ridiculous!! I agree with most other posters here. I hope the Holod's people read these reviews. read more

On Oct 9th 2014, After listening to the most discriminating, racist & crude jokes from one of the staff helping me while shopping for a pool cover pump & purchasing one I find that they have Terrible business practice. Bought a pool cover pump $160 25 days ago. It is defective. The automatic pump never shutoff, blew it's internal gfi & the dedicated circuit outlet GFI as well. Call company (2year warranty) & they tell me return to store & they will ship back as defective & refund my money. Am told at store no returns of any kind on pumps. Don't care that's it's defective! Call warranty company to find out Holod's isn't an authorized distributor or seller. They most likely buy from Home Depot, mark up & resell that's why they won't take back & refund! How can a company allow this with there products I ask? No way to stop them I'm told unless people like me stop buying from smaller mom & pop stores... I've been a true Holod's shopper for years & refer many people there, but never again. I will use social media over & over to make sure everyone knows of my experience & that it could happen to them! read more

Extremely rude customer service! I was talked about as I walked past two employees as if I couldn't here their explicit comments. It wasn't like I was dressed inappropriately or anything, wearing a pair of jeans and a long sleeve tshirt. After I confronted them the one apologized, but it was a definitely too late! I don't need to be sexually harassed as I shop for plants. you can bet we will never be shopping there ever again! read more

Christmas Central! If you want christmas spirit the lights, decorations and trees are perfect. Super friendly staff and I love that the entire family still works here. Who can say that for any store in their town? I also purchased some Christmas presents in the gift shop. read more

Holod's--- you lost a loyal neighborhood customer today! And its especially too bad because the customer service by your front line employees is still good but your management is operating contrary to your mission and reputation. I've been ok with paying Holod's higher prices for years because I've really appreciated their customer service. They were true to their brand in operating like a neighborhood hardware store although owned by giant, True Value. Today, as in past, I was well aware that I could easily go to Lowe's to get my lightbulbs, ice melt and landscape stone and walk out paying significantly less. I also knew if I did go to Lowe's, I'd wander around a lot looking for the right stuff and haul things around myself. True to my past many good experiences, I was greeted immediately at Holdod's and apologetically helped by the same person who sold me the wrong lightbulb last time for my stove hood. I had opened it today and it didn't fit. He very carefully made sure I got the right one & told me they'd exchange me at the check out. I didn't fault him for the original mistake-- it was indeed hard to tell, I was glad to have help. Because he took time to carefully check given it didn't work, I bought out the whole supply of correct ones. However, when I got to the checkout, the manger who was cashiering informed me he is the manager over the customer service guy who helped me and he will not exchange my old lightbulb without a receipt even though it clearly had a Holod's tag on it, was in my Holods' frequent buyer account and I explained that I hadn't personally picked the erroneous bulb, I had brought in the correct one removed from the hood and trusted the customer service person had given me the right one. I've fared better at Lowe's customer service: He arrogantly pointed out that there are signs saying you need your receipt. Really, you want to lose my lifetime visits of paying your inflated prices to get your good customer care because I don't have the receipt when it is clearly tagged by you and you have the record in my frequent buyer account? Yup , and when I suggested it seemed out of character for Holod's, he assured me his boss would back him up and that this is Holod's philosophy. All this-- with several new lightbulbs on the counter for purchase at Holod's inflated prices plus picking up my other needs (ice melt and stones). Its a sad parting for me, I'll still miss their great front line guys-- the lightbulb helper who made an honest mistake once and was eager to fix it, the guy who loaded the ice melt and when it spilled in the back of my car went to get a shop vac to clean it up. These are hard working folks who have been serving their neighborhood customers very well. And, I've been a very happy neighborhood customer. But, clearly management at Holod's no longer supports strong customer service and I won't be back. I'm sure I can use those saved dollars well. I'll make up for the lightbulb they wouldn't exchange on the savings from my very next Lowe's purchase but I will miss the OLD Holod's and those great front line guys whenever I"m shopping at Lowes trying to figure out what the right part is or wanting a little advice! read more

Incompetence. We brought some window screens in to be fixed. We were emphatic that we needed to pick up the screens within a certain time period for a house closing. We were assured by the check out girl and at least two other staff that the screens would be ready before our deadline because "our screen guy is here this weekend". I called on a Monday to check on the status, assuming that they might be ready, and was told that "our screen guy is here on Wednesday". So I call on Thursday and was told "we get to things based on when they are brought in". I reminded them that we were assured that the screens would be ready to which the person replied, "well our screen guy is here on Friday." I said Friday is not going to help me because this the day we need to pick them up to which they had no response. We picked up the unfinished screens and had to drive them out of state to get them repaired at a location closer to our house. Bottomline, there is no communication among the staff and there was no sense of urgency or concern when I called multiple times. Their incompetence will prevent me from ever going back for anything. read more

I had arguably the worst customer service experience of my life here. I try to use local businesses whenever I can, and the day in question, I left a shopping center with a Lowe's so I could come to Holod's. I purchased an industrial cleaning chemical for my driveway whose container ended up rupturing in the bag an spilling all over me, my kitchen, and thank God, not on my 18-month old daughter who I was holding at the time. After calling the number on the Material Safety Data Sheet, I was advised to spend the next hour in the shower cleaning it off of my skin, which I did. The next day I returned to Holod's to let them know that they might want to check the remaining bottles on their shelves and also to ask for a refund ($7). I was accused of attempting theft (of $7), yelled at, and physically escorted out of the store. It was insane. Their gate setup expresses an abnormal paranoia about theft, but this was unbelievable. I left a message with Lewis Holod to register my discontent and never heard back from him. I will sooner do without than ever spend another dollar here, and I recommend you do the same. read more

If I could give zero stars I would. I have gone to Holods over the years because of convienence usually for garden plants. Over the years there has been the same grouch working there except for today! So I thought wow this might be a better experience. My husband and I were ready to check out with some shrubs and garden plants when the staff member said you know the shrubs are buy one get one free. So we went to the back to get a third of the same type and value, there were none. The staff would not offer us any type of compromise and continued to yell, yes yell and scream as well as gesticulate. Trying to tell my husband he was trying to get something for free. The owner was a rather youngish 30 year old man with absolutely no manners and continued to yell at me. Earlier in our visit we heard the managers life story, how he used to be a welder and worked in hardware for years but has recently made the switch to the garden area. I'm not sure why these people behaved so horribly to us, but we will not go back there again. My husband went to home depot after and bought better looking shrubs for half the price. We prefer to support mom and pop type of businesses but seriously don't waste your time here. Keep driving to lowes or home depot. read more