Our recent experience at the Jim Corbet's Ace Hardware in Larkspur was so exceptional that I had to write a review. What began as a stressful situation -- a crucial screw falling out of my crutches, leaving me in a vulnerable and frustrating position -- quickly became a masterclass in what exemplary customer service looks like, thanks to Ace Hardware's staff member Ricardo. From the moment I walked in, Ricardo was kind, attentive, and completely unrushed. He took my situation seriously, listened carefully, and got straight to work finding a solution. He was patient and focused, methodically working through options until he found exactly the right fit. His resourcefulness was genuinely impressive -- this wasn't a simple fix, and yet he approached it as a seasoned problem-solver who takes real pride in his work. Most importantly, he succeeded. I walked out of that store on my crutches, fully functional and completely relieved, all because Ricardo refused to give up on what might have seemed like a small problem to some, but was a very big deal to me. This is the kind of employee who defines a store's reputation. Ricardo exemplifies everything you'd hope to find at a neighborhood hardware store -- expertise, warmth, and genuine care for the people he serves. My family and I will be coming to Jim Corbet's Ace Hardware exclusively from now on, and their stellar staff like Ricardo is the reason why. read more

New owners are not good with inventory, every time I go there they don't have what I need. Hope they improve.

Rotten customer service. Sadly what used to be a great locally owned store has turned sour - tired to return something that was recommended to me and it was 3 days over the 30 seat return and they would not make any accepting - claiming "we are understaffed and it's too difficult for us to deal with inventory" - does that even make sense to anyone? Pathetic. read more

A couple of weeks ago I decided it was time I learn to hang and mount my own TV. I ended up needing a torque wrench to finish the job, walked into Jim Corbetts and the associate at the desk was so helpful came out helped me find the most affordable option and even opened the box to check it was the right size! Thank you so much it was exactly what I needed and will return for the customer service! also bought a pie and I'd give it 7.5/10 as I like my pie on the sweeter side would still try another! read more

I love the staff here! And they have tons of products and seasonal decor. I go here whenever I am in Marin because it's the best Ace I have been to. If you live near this store, you are LUCKY! read more

Useless, - They'll take your order only to cancel it because they are not in stock of items that they tell you they have in store via the website- Don't waste your time go to Homedepot read more

Absolutely awful service! DO NOT go here!! You would think that a very small hardware store with high prices would pride itself in great service. Nope. I literally was in the store to purchase a $100 product they had in stock and they couldn't bother to get up and help me. The staff is incredibly lazy, obnoxious, and clueless. Literally go anywhere but here. Idiots. I hope you go bankrupt. read more

The best hardware store in the world! Helpful people amazing manager!! There is no better place for lights, gifts, hardware, tools. The best. read more

My family has been coming to Corbet's since before I was born. I just moved and have needed lots of random things and have been here a lot recently. Everyone has been so helpful and I never have to wait for service. read more

I live in SF and so do all my business in Marin! I love this store! They sell my perfect high powered drain cleaner! They are friendly and it is safe to come here! Not safe in San Francisco!! They have a wide selection of items and it has that old fashioned hardware store feeling like family when I was a kid! Your value goes a long way here!! read more

The staff are extremely helpful and take the time to bring big items to the car. They have a great selection of gardening tools.

I'm afraid that this review is a bit embarrassing for me to write. You see, I'm not exactly at home in a hardware store. It's one thing if I'm sent there on a mission or if I'm playing sidekick, but quite another matter if I'm trying to fix something myself, which I've needed to do more often lately. Today's mission: repair the leg on the dresser that I got off of LetGo, which broke before I could get it into the rental van. It felt like an uphill battle and the pitying expression on the first clerk's face when he saw the broken piece of particle board in my hand was a good indication that this was going to be a "make the best of it" situation, at best. All that being said, Kevin came to my rescue! He not only helped me find the proper adhesive (Liquid Nails), but he went the extra mile - or two! I explained that I didn't have a toolbox or skills and he didn't even blink. He asked what the dimensions of the dresser were and I explained that I wasn't sure, but that it was out front and I'd be right back, but he grabbed a tape measure and asked, "What are we waiting for?" Before I knew it, he had measured where the leg had broken off and was headed to the back of the store where he used some scrap wood to cut supports for the broken piece. He made sure that I had the agreed upon adhesive in hand before I walked out the door and showed me how I could layer the pieces to ensure that it held. And it has! Thank you so much. I'll be back soon and maybe I'll even learn to be a bit more brave and handy at this rate! read more

This place is not conscious of taking care of the enviroment. They sell batteries and don't bother recycling them. It's just plain wrong. I mentioned it and they just don't care, just spend your money that is all they care about... read more

"Time makes fools of us all." Perspectives sure change a lot as you move along. Years ago Corbet's was the last resort for the odd bit of hardware needed, if you were among the 60s hippy-trippy remodelers of falling down redwood shingle cottages in Marin. That's at least the perspective of this reviewer and review. Corbet's was fine for buying garden supplies by the swells who had been around long before 1967 and lived in real houses. But that wasn't most of us newcomers back then, at all. "Guess you'll have to get it at Jolly Jim's" This last was a most unflattering moniker some of us used for the place, in event we needed on short notice something, maybe a metric Allen wrench or whatever. This derived from the notion we had for the store that assumed it was a fabulous cash cow generating tons of wealth for its crass and callous capitalist owner. What did we know about business, or anything... except of course our vices and cheap thrills of choice. Truth be told we were the crass and callous ones back then, air-conditioned gypsies to be sure however we may have been ennobled nee benighted ourselves by the great god of hip. This was a time when certain city halls were virtually invisible to us when planning a bit of the old "home improvement", as in "wtf do you need a permit for anyway?" No wonder the old babe widows back in the canyons who were selling their homes to escape the cultural maelstrom coming down on the area held us in such disdain. My nextdoor neighbor ingratiously called me a bum to one of her blue-hair pals, can you imagine? A bum... and I been to college, too! Well what of it, if you had bought one of those small summer cottages back when they cost maybe $20k, you could've had a diy project for life. But better yet just do the paint'n putty synchromeshed number and hope the place didn't fall down in the process of selling it to the city Boogs (urban bougeoisie getting "back to the land"). Sorry if this little depiction sullies your notion of myself, your faithful narrator, or the days that went down following Death of Hippie in the city. But relax, trust me I'm not like that no more. ("Look ma, I'm an elite yelper now. So, are you a real writer? What does that mean? Well, darling, does anyone pay for what you write? Uhh, not lately.") So this review, written some half-century later, sees major differences in the neighborhoods around central Marin. Gone is the fabulous got-it-all-under-one-roof Corte Madera Hardware, the Lumber Yard on Paradise Drive, Yardbirds, even the so-called Rainbow Market which served as one of the few places to buy, if not hardware then the ubiquitous ZigZag brand of rolling papers (for after work yeah) and later under new management came various and significantly more bioactive analgesics. (And after, after hours some assembled in the now-disappeared Rose Bowl Chateau, being as it was the Larkspur dive bar of choice back then, enhanced not a little by Janis' favoring its shuffle board over one across the street....) Today, after a few sturm and drang decades with resultant and total gentrification in the area, Corbet's is actually a breath of fresh air when you need anything from hardware to household items. Local is not only better, it seems positively quaint. Unless perhaps you prefer the corporate big-box landfill world. This invasion has taken over this and other categories of consumables, requiring at minimum a trip out to E. Francisco Blvd where the real estate is cheap, at best a 45 minute round-trip even if you just turn around in its crowded parking lot. If you go that way, you can at least turn off your daily walking step-counter as you traipsing up and down looking for aisle 37. And be careful whom you ask for help: just make sure they're uniformed in that orange apron else you insult some guy from Richmond or the Canal by assuming he's only there because he's paid to help direct you to the impact wrenches, whatever they are. He may be one of the crew working on your foundation tomorrow, after all. Fact is: Corbets today offers what are very competitive prices, equal or better quality, and an informal way that allows you to sort through the nuts and bolts when you need to put together some odd construction of your own incompetent DIY design. (Just please put the stuff you don't want back in the right drawer, OK?) There's nothing to compare with Corbets anywhere west of the freeway in a good bit of the Ross Valley. Hell, with gas at nearly $6 the store qualifies as good for the environment. And for those who think the service persons are a bit brusque, you just need to be a bit more polite. These folks are real people, live in your neighborhood, they'll be around next week, and they will remember you. Corbet's is my go-to now for anything hardware including metric Allen wrenches, if there is such a thing anyway. Thank you, Corbet family, for hanging in with your business over the years. read more

I've shopped at Corbet's for over fifty years and always found the people to be knowledgeable, helpful and kind. Glad I have an excuse to take a minute and say thank you: I was taken by surprise when, because of an unusual gust of high wind, my new patio umbrella fell over with a crash. I'd purchased it at Corbet's, so I called them to ask what to do. The woman I spoke with suggested weighing down the base with sandbags. So I went back this morning to pick up the sandbags and the hundred pounds of sand needed for best stability. The young man who helped me could see that I would have a great deal of difficulty transferring the hundred pounds of sand into the sandbags by myself, so he offered to do the job for me before I left the store. It was a difficult job, and I was truly grateful for his kindness. Little things make a big difference. And Anthony made a big difference in my day. read more

For a full service Ace hardware store where they usually go out of their way to help, I find it strange and frustrating that they have a "no public restroom" policy. They told me this even after I purchased over $100 of supplies. I won't go here again and will purposely drive further to avoid them. read more

Boo. They don't allow customers to use rest room facilities. What is it about these places? Are they afraid someone will per on their floor and they won't have someone to mop it up? read more

Okay, it might have been love at first shop, but my second experience was the polar opposite. No one was available to help me or the other 5-6 people who clogged the aisles trying to distant themselves from the very long line of people waiting to check out of the one open register. Two employees were on the floor, both of which seemed to be content to chat at length with their respective customers for 15 minutes (at that time I left) oblivious to the lines of people seeking help. read more

We've always had amazing experiences at Ace, regardless of the location... until Jim Corbet's Ace in Larkspur. The only reason I even try to do business here is that it's down the block. Every touchpoint over the last 3 years has been frustrating. Unlike many Ace stores that hire current or former construction folks, carpenters, plumbers, or people that are just great at DIY, many of the Jim Corbet Ace employees are high school age. Nothing wrong with that, but it always seems to be the person's first day and they are not able to help you. They are very nice though! The more disappointing part are the employees that seem to be tenured. I called them today to see if they had an air filter for our AC. Me: Hi, do you have AC air filters that seem to be about 24 by 11... I could be off by an inch or two. Do you have anything around that size? Woman on the phone: Ahh, I don't think so. Me: I bought one a few months ago. Would you mind asking one of the people in the back? The last time I came by, there was an entire wall of air filters. Her: (asking someone at a distance) Hey! Do we have filters that are 24 by 11!!!? Her: ... (2 seconds later) We don't have them. Me: I may not have the exact size right, do you have anything close to that size. Her: I don't know. Me: OK, thank you, have a nice day. Her: (Click) Everyone has a bad day now and then, present company included, but I wish I could say this is the first time I've had this experience at this Ace location. read more

This Ace Hardware store is located in a corner block with a massive space for all its tools and supplies for everything under the sun. I come here for a specific item or sometimes simply to browse. The hardware store has a large specs separated by little alcove rooms and the main floor is lined with shelves filled from floor to ceiling. I've bought sink supplies and kitchen utensils. I'm impressed by the variety of materials this store offers. By far, my favorite purchase where a pair of long colorful salmon potholders. Prices are fair, some items can be pricey. I'm surprised to see an amount of gift shop specialty items which I don't expect to find in a hardware store. I always find something useful from this Ace Hardware store. read more

It might as well be call "Curmudgeons Hardware". And trust me, leaving a poor review for a small business during a pandemic brings little joy but it's difficult to support to these grumpy old men. They have a good supply; essentially everything you might need, and it's conveniently located, but each trip to the counter has me leaving while shaking my head. This is our neighborhood hardware store but it's anything but friendly read more

I grew up in larkspur. My father started going to Jim Corbett's when it started on Tamalpais Ave in Corte Madera. It is now at its third location. My father who is deceased still has a charge account there which I often use to get things for my mother whom no longer drives. Not anymore because I won't be going in there except tomorrow to return the glue I just bought. I try very hard to support small business. Today was just a small purchase which shouldn't matter. They were out of the glue I wanted E-6000. Any crafter knows this glue is excellent . But I still wanted to purchase from there. I interrupted an employee from a personal conversation with a friend to ask a recommendation of a glue that might be comparable. First of all he isn't even familiar with it, secondly he pulled down another glue. I had specific questions and was told to "read the label." Basically he was such an A-s hole which I nicely told him on the way out . I also asked if it didn't work could I return it. I was told NO once it was opened . I rarely return anything.. Carter , who was the sale associates name immediately returned to his personal conversation. I asked the cashier whom he was (assuming maybe a manager) . Her response was, "no one. He just works here." Well here's how I feel Bruce Corbet who is now the owner. My dollar is green like anyone else's ; big or small purchase. I try to always support your business. The cashier knows me. That ends today including my mother's business because I run her errands. I just ordered from Amazon. I try to order as little from Amazon as possible to support businesses like yours. And I'm not a fan of Jeff Bezos. But Amazon has great customer service which is probably why they are becoming close to a monopoly . But for me personally , at the end of the day I'm going to go where the customer service is. You just lost a customer from a family that has been a loyal customer since inception. I will be returning my glue tomorrow. Your business keeps downsizing. Maybe you need to teach employees such as Carter to focus on his customer service skills while you're PAYING him and not have a personal play date with a friend on your dime. Anyone who's reading this shop Amazon . They gladly take returns. Or if you do go into this establishment. Don't buy anything that you haven't used. No returns. And by the way, everything in there is overpriced compared to other places. At least the things I buy. So if you're on a tight budget you may want to unfortunately go to the Bug Corporations for your purchases. In the case of this establishment it's just not worth it. read more

The manager Anthony was the rudest manager we ever encountered. He acted so unprofessional when we expressed our frustration not being able to get a pick up an item we ordered online. The order stated we would be able to pick up in 30 minutes, but when we showed up 1hr30 min later, the item was not in stock. We said we would have appreciated them letting us know, to avoid going to the store and the manager insisted that the order wasn't a priority and didn't have the time to fill it. He also blamed the website and never apologized for the inconvenience. He physically got way too close to my husband and forced us out of the store for no reason, he refused to provide his name and kept following us even outside of the store escalating the situation, raising his voice and even shushing my husband when he was just saying how disappointed we were. We understand an item could be out of stock, that wasn't the problem. The problem was how we were immediately met with hostility. Hope he does better. read more

I've been coming to Corbet's for the past 5 years since we moved up to Marin. What I love most about this place is the family-owned feel of it, that is so different from Home Depot and the others. There are always plenty of employees roaming the aisles to provide support. And if they don't know how to solve your problem, they call on another co-worker who most likely will be able to help. They have a fun assortment of items for each holiday, and is the "go to" place for all of our home DIY needs. Please visit Corbet's before you shop a box store! Corbet's is legit. read more

This is my fave Marin hardware store and i have been to them all. Kevin in plumbing saved my sanity, my ability to have running water and probably 2k dollars today. luv him. read more

Jim Corbet's Store - Hardware Stores Near Me - Larkspur, California

love the betta fish! I enjoy that the caption in the photo confirms it is indeed, alive. thank you read more

Today I went to my go-to hardware. It's been that for 5 years now. Always receiving the best service, so imagine my shock about an incident with an employee that was both funny and a terrible example of customer service. It's almost too ridiculous to post. My key fob needed a battery and they offered to help open it and replace the battery I bought. 2 men could NOT for their life figure out HOW to OPEN the fob. So I asked for the small screwdriver and did it myself. The 2032 battery has a plastic cover on the back and unless you remove it the fob won't work. I had to go back inside and try again. There was no trash can nearby so I left the plastic piece on their workbench. One employee who was condescending from the beginning., yelled at me about the 2 centimeter piece of plastic and FOLLOWED me out the store ranting! I will never go to this store again. And I remained polite. But tonight I'm mad and I'm posting it here. read more

Old school family-owned hardware store with old-timers prowling the aisles who actually know what they're doing and can provide good advice. We much prefer going to Corbet's over Home Depot or the other large chains. You go here for the service and it's well worth it. read more

I went there today to buy a few things and the guy stocking the shelves was very rude to my wife. We all have bad days, but don't be an azz to your customers for just asking a question. Looks like I will be going to the Fairfax Ace Hardware store from now on. read more

Ive been going in twice a week now for the past few months to get odd parts for a project. Everyone is super helpful and they seem really well staffed for such a small store. the place is more of a first stop, they're not big enough to hold the speciality equipment that a bigger place might have but I've been able to get a surprising amount of stuff to build out my van from here read more

I was in the store early sunday morning and witnessed a very ugly, foul language exchange between what I think was a manger and employee. The employee was being chewed-out about a uniform or name tag issue. I said that language should not be used in a store like this and the manager dude actually started yelling at me and said, ''you mind your own business and go back shopping''....I said a YELP review is more then in order.....I will NOT BE shopping at this place again read more

It is just not the fanciest, most complete hardware store in the world. There was one a Boulder years ago that was remarkable. Yet, the people here are friendly, helpful and knowledgable. I have never "not found" what I was looking for. The prices are standard and reasonable. The store is clean and well lighted. I only gave it four stars because it is not fantasmagoriphic. So, I buy all my hardware stuff there. read more

Kevin is by far the most helpful employee! I've been having a pest issue in my backyard and he didn't hesitate to help me. Thank you!

I want to send a huge Thank You to Corbet's for their service during the outages. I believe they were open on Monday 10/28 (saw somebody walking in, altho it was dark) and they were there on Tuesday before and power went on, as well as after. I heard one employee telling another he'd been there since 7:30 a.m. (This was mid afternoon; he hadn't taken a break yet..) They still had a good supply of lanterns and batteries, and I think other things that I wasn't shopping for. They have been our neighborhood hardware store since we moved here. When I need advice, they always know where a remote item is located, and have sound advice and skill in every department. Really lucky to live near to Corbet's. read more

Great small business! Very helpful staff. Was greeted as soon as I walked in and was very helpful finding a specific bulb I needed almost immediately, quick friendly checkout :) great little store read more

Just left this store and I honestly cannot believe there are as many (or any) positive reviews. Their customer service gets zero stars given that I got zero assistance. No one else in the store but me, two employees, zero help. I'm not even sure if the employee at the cash register was actually breathing. If you live in that neighborhood it's probably convenient to have a place to grab misc hardware items. But, if you people want to know what Ace is actually suppose to be like, visit the one in San Rafael or Novato (or anywhere else) -- those employees are very eager to help. Now, I think I'm gonna call Corbet's and have someone check on that cash register dude. read more

Horrible over phone service. I was trying to find out a price and sat on hold to only get hung up on.

I walked in to get some cooking and cleaning supplies, but got the impression that they suspected I was going to walk off with a non-stick quiche pan under my skintight workout clothes. One staff member kept following me around and giving me strange looks, which made me super uncomfortable. I guess I'm not your standard hardware store customer. I bought some hardwood floor cleaner from a cranky employee and made an easy decision: I'm not coming back. read more

Recently I've been doing some projects around the house. This Ace is pretty close seeing as I'm in downtown larkspur, but from now on I think I'll make the drive to Goodman's. Being in my early 20s I'm probably not the average customer in Jim Corbet's Ace, and the staff makes sure that I realize that. The employees will follow me around the store, watching as I dig through the screws trying to find the right one. They do not offer help, I ended up filling and marking my own screw bags (Something you'll never do at another Ace). They are making sure I'm not stealing anything, which makes me feel like a criminal, not a customer. When I do need help I am hard pressed to find someone willing to make eye contact with me. If I do eventually get help it is Always begrudgingly. When being rung up I do not get a hello or good morning. Simply some drone scanning my items, I wasn't even offered a bag. As I walked from the store with nine feet of chain dangling from my palms, I felt pretty upset. The staff at this store obviously does not want me there, so I don't think I'll go back. read more

This political hardware store is on my walking route. In Corbet's old location a few hundred yards down Magnolia Street, the mountain was beginning to move into the rear of the store. Bad for customers. So the owner sought to move upto the corner of Bon Air, the empty bank building.. Not so fast, said the petty bureaucrats of greater metropolitan Larkspur.: You need a great many permits, public hearings and busy work of every description before we will allow you to do that. Say, at least two years. Larkspur clerks and the town council were unimpressed by the mountain moving into the store. So, we the people went political on them. On my walk, I signed the petition next to Corbet's cash register and soon joined the non-violent post card and e-mail campaign to let Corbet's move out of the way of the mountain. It worked. Corbet's moved to the old bank building at the corner of Bon Air and Magnolia, and I stop in there occasionally to check on my political investment.. It's about the same size as the old place. Cleaning products are kept in the (open door) vault of the old bank. I'm not sure what political message is intended there. read more