A behemoth of a structure started sprouting just off South Road at St Marys - I turned and said to…read moremy husband I bet that'll be a hardware shop. Well, yes of course it is - the Stratco Big Shed, but I would have named it the 'Red Shed' because it's red but that's too obvious and not 'manly' enough I suppose. And BIG it is - containing a well-laid out hardware component that has enough stock to have the other red shirts a bit concerned, as well as the bonus feature of not having a separate tool department with it's own register (my husband's bugbear!). It also has a beautifully set out display area for all the stuff that has made the Stratco name famous in South Australia, namely sheds, pergolas, verandahs and fences. It also appears the outside kitchen must-do renos are still going strong and yet another selling point to buy even more stuff - is an outdoor bathroom! All we need now is the outdoor toilet - hang on that's already been done, oh well, everything old is new again remember - and an outside boudoirs! The Stratco Espresso Cafe is a great option if the sausage sizzle doesn't cut it (but who can ever resist?), and the range of goods within appears to be expansive. The only area where the red boys down the road have it over The Big Shed is in the Garden department, where the range of stock isn't there and navigation is tight. Oh, and I didn't see any flat tray trolleys either - lifting a few bags of cow poo into the shopping trolley was a struggle but not compared to lifting them out again, another job for hubby. Still, the staff were just as friendly as the other red shirts and let's hope the car park is adequate as well. Overall, this is a good addition to those in the inner south bitten by the reno rescue bug and don't want to drive round in circles or fighting over car parks over at the red shirts territory.

VERY FRUSTRATED WITH STORE. ADVERTISED ALL MORNING 16/5/12 RE LAWNMOWER FROM ROCKWELL AT $69.00…read moreAPPROX. AD SAID AVAILABLE UNTIL 7PM. THERE WAS NO MENTION OF UNTIL SOLD OUT. DROVE FROM OUTER HARBOUR TO ST.MARYS AROUND 2.30 PM ONLY TO BE TOLD NONE AVAILABLE. I FEEL THIS WAS FALSE ADVERTISING AS NO SUGGESTION RE AD OF LIMITED AVAILABILITY. SO WOULD NOT BE RECOMMENDING ANY STRATCO STORE IF THIS IS YOUR METHOD OF OPERATION.REGARDS SIMON ALLEN ( sadecor@adam.com.au) 0411423173

Did you know Tru Value is associated with Mitre 10 Ltd and all the Tru Value stores are…read moreindependently owned and operated plus there are over 80 Australia wide. Every hardware store has it's place in the community, what one place doesn't have there's always another up, down or across the road who does. Each of these stores don't have everything under the same roof as one may specialise in a certain area. For instance BBQ's may the focus besides all the regular hardware requirements people need and want, another is all about painting and interior colour schemes and so on. This particular hardware store has alot of outdoor gardening and power tool focus for the home handyman or handywoman, and let me tell you I love to wield my power tools about the house! Their prices are reasonable and there is a large variety of items for your perusal and purchase.

As someone who feel moderately overwhelmed by more than one aisle of hardware, this place is…read moresurprisingly easy to navigate. The handful of times I've been in here, the staff are aware enough to offer assistance when required without being super pushy. Seeing as I'm not one to browse a hardware store, I often spend a few minutes looking for something before taking up the staff's offer of assistance. Aside from that, the showroom is tidy and well maintained with that comforting layer of hardware store dust over slow moving products.

Mighty helpful? Mitre 10. I'm not sure if this is still the tag line, but it's certainly still…read moretheir attitude. Mitre 10 on Unley Road is my closest hardware store and while small, it offers most of what I need for jobs around the house and garden. The main thing I come here for is the bags of sandpit sand - 30kgs for $8.50 (I think). The drive through at the back mean I can pull in and they'll put four bags directly in the boot of my car. (Pity they can't carry it to the backyard at the other end). In the garden section there is lots of greenery, herbs and plants suitable for gifts. You'll also find to accessories and other bits and bobs such as things to do with weather, umbrellas and outdoor furniture. This is a small store, but parking is easy and the service is great. I do a lot of my shopping at Bunnings due to the one stop shop nature of the superstore, but when I need helpful advice, I support my local Mitre 10.

This is my local hardware store unfortunately. I pass it on the way to Bunnings. The reason I avoid…read moreit is because almost every time I have been there the staff are more interested in talking amongst themselves rather than asking if they can help me. Whenever I give them another chance I am amazed, it is like I am invisible. When I have approached them and asked for any advice I get blank looks. Besides that the place is soooo expensive, I can find the same product at Bunnings for half the price.