Clement Street. A neighborhood hanging on by its fingernails to whatever soul it has left, and right there, anchoring the block, is Ace Hardware--one of those glorious, beautiful neighborhood handyman shops that somehow refuses to die. It's a beautifully cluttered ecosystem of survival, packed to the rafters with the latest and greatest tools for the weekend warriors and the desperate do-it-yourselfers trying to patch together their overpriced Victorians. They've even got a couple of highly contested parking spaces out front, a minor miracle in this town, just so you can haul your payload of drywall and copper pipe without getting a ticket from the city's predatory meter maids. But the real soul of the operation? The stewards behind the front counter. These guys are the real deal--fair, friendly, and treating you with a level of respect that's practically extinct in modern retail. I've known a few of these folks for as long as I've been kicking around downtown. They know their stuff, and they don't judge you when you walk in not knowing the difference between a drywall screw and a toggle bolt. Now, let's talk turkey: the prices. Yeah, they're a little elevated. It's San Francisco; breathing the air carries a premium. But what are your actual alternatives? Are you really going to pack up the car, risk your sanity, and burn through fuel just to crawl thirty minutes outside the city to some soul-crushing big-box warehouse to save three measly bucks? No way. Personally, I prefer to stay in the interior, skip the structural headache, and avoid paying extortionate prices per gallon just to buy a box of nails. Support the local guy, swallow the extra couple of dollars, and keep the neighborhood alive. read more

Standard Plumbing-ACE Hardware - Frog tape - Hardware Stores Near Me - San Francisco, California

I have always loved this Ace Hardware and genuinely want to support this business, which is why what I witnessed today bothered me enough to write this review. I watched the owner (Jonny), who is not white (this will come into play later, I promise), ask a group of white teenage boys who were being extremely rambunctious in the store to leave. An older, short white man then decided to insert himself into the situation and tell the owner that the boys should be allowed to stay and that he would buy whatever they wanted for them. The owner told him no. The older white man then said he was going to return a bottle of dye he had purchased in retaliation. The owner allowed him to make the return. During the interaction, the man physically PUSHED the owner. The owner understandably became upset and pointed his finger at him. The older man then proceeded to call him names and berate him, speaking to him with an astonishing level of hostility and disrespect. Saying that there is no way he is the owner and he wanted to talk to whoever was "above" him. I want to be very clear about something: I was there. I saw what happened. I am a white woman, and I found it particularly disturbing to watch a white customer feel entitled to override a non-white business owner's decision about how to run his own store -- and then feel entitled to put his hands on him and verbally attack him when he didn't get his way. I cannot tell you what was in this man's head or what motivated his behavior. But I can tell you what I witnessed, and it was ugly. The owner has every right to tell disruptive customers to leave. He should not have to tolerate being physically pushed, insulted, or verbally abused for enforcing the rules in his own business. I hope people reading this understand that there are always two sides to a confrontation -- and sometimes the person being loudest and most aggressive is not the person who started the problem. I love this Ace Hardware (as I mentioned already but cannot say it enough) and will continue to support it. They are always helpful and educational when I come in. The owner deserves better from the community, and I hope other customers will stand behind him. No business owner should have to put up with this kind of treatment. read more

The asian manager at this store has the worst customer service I have ever experienced. There has been multiple occasions where this manager has been rude and unhelpful. Last time this manager shamed a customer in front of us asking for help with screws. He said "We don't have time to help everyone with every little question or else we won't make any money" This time we went to this store to look for an adapter to connect from a portable dishwasher hose to a faucet splitter. When we arrived at the store, the asian manager sees us and asks us if we need any help. We start describing what we were looking for and before we can even finish our sentence he cuts us off and says "not possible" with no other explanation. We were skeptical so we looked in the store ourselves because why would a store named "Standard Plumbing" not have a simple plumbing piece? Eventually we found the 3/4" bushing we needed after 15-20 minutes, which I'm sure if he hadn't dismissed us so quickly he would have helped us find in 5 minutes. If he had not intended to help us, why even ask us if we need help? read more

I don't know what's up with the angry power trippin manager here. I'm doing my best to buy locally rather than online even it means I end up spending an hour total on the effort on a costlier product versus 5 minutes online because I want local jobs supported and life on our streets. The manager here is going to single handedly sink this place. I tried to return a spool that was the incorrect size for my trimmer and he was hostile and not so passive aggressive accusatory of me - that I was playing some game or scam with a $10 spool, I guess? At this point I just wanted to get out of there and left the opened spool and told him to donate it. This follows another time when I was sold a defective doorbell ringer and they acted all strange about it. Anyway, there are other hardware stores. read more

Came here in the morning and all staff members greeted you like How the old days were. Jazz music in the background. JR is amazing polite and very helpful this place gives me to good ol San Francisco vibes read more

This is my go to hardware store in the Richmond. The staff is always friendly and knowledgeable. Very patient in helping me deal with weekend projects. read more

Excellent service, great selection of merchandise and one guy there is very knowledgeable

Had to come running to write a review for this ACE when I saw the 3 star overall rating! Located on Clement St, this is my neighborhood hardware store I frequent often. Of course I never know where anything is when I walk in, and every time I receive the best customer service here! I wish I remembered the names of the staff that constantly help me here, but they'll literally walk me to the aisle & even answer "silly" hardware questions like "whats the difference between a plaster wall and a dry wall?" Overall, never had a bad experience here. They are always fully stocked with the items I've come looking for (Spray paint for projects, 100lb picture hangers, windshield wiper fluid, gardening shears, etc) read more

Solid three stars. Good selection of household hardware. I've met both great and not so great employees at this location. Some of the staff were incredibly kind and helpful in helping me pick out some tools and wood. Docked two stars for Deborah (Sunday evening associate) who seems to be not living her best life. Tried to make a return and she acted like me making a return was the GREATEST inconvenience like I was breaking store policy (I wasn't, it was within 14 days and the item was in original condition). read more

Just moved to the city and was amazed at the organization of this hardware store. The inside is clean and bright unlike the traditional hardware stores we know of from our childhood. It wasn't too busy during my visit, so I had more time to ask the nice workers there some product questions. They know what they're talking about! Brilliant store! read more

Hit-or-miss service. You either find what you're looking for with the help of an employee or you don't. Assistant manager today cut me off mid-sentence to have a quick non-work related chat with staff. I was literally asking him a product question, after having politely greeted him and he me, when he sharply turned his head away to chit-chat with the cashier. Again, the discourse was not of a business nature. I was a bit taken aback---'one moment, please' could have been easily said, you know? So, I about-faced and marched out of the store. If you're lucky enough to have wheels and are keen to take a short road trip, there are two Ace hardware stores in Pacifica (one in Manor and one on Pedro Point) that are usually WAY more helpful than the Clement St. store is. I'm also keen on the Cole Valley Ace, too. Laurie W's review is worth a gander as well for those who need replacement car keys. read more

Sometimes I come into this business and they're very nice but not today. It's just never consistent. And when it's bad it's really nasty. I just dropped 50 bucks with the store and she wouldn't take my coffee cup because she didn't wanna take my garbage as she put it. Thanks, Abby! Get a new attitude. read more

I needed solutions for stopping my elderly tabby from using my 10' potted Fiddle Leaf Fig tree as... ...a new litterbox! This is a new, unwelcome behavior: He's cruising into 19 this fall and is now completely deaf and just a wee bit dotty. I love my cat. I also really like my plant. So, I'm hopeful the non-toxic spray the staff recommended will keep him out of my gorgeous tree. They also sold me the Taliban of drain cleaners so my stopped-up tub will run free. The staff was fantastic and prices are fair. The former CitiKids store has 4 valuable free parking spots out front, a nice perk, though metered parking on Clement isn't that difficult. read more

I have been coming to this store for a couple of years now, during the rainy season we had some crazy flooding issues and needed sump pumps and a hose. The staff has helped me out numerous times from finding electrical light switches , super sticky tapes for leaks Usually I just show the stafff a picture of what I need and am guided right away Smart staff They know what they are doing read more

Sorry to have to post a one star. I truly want to shop local, but the attitude of the manager/ owner is something else. I could go into detail but honestly he is not worth my time. I will just say that from my dealing with him, he seems to have no understanding that a business needs customers to survive. read more

Good selection - 1 star Clean and well lit - 1 Star Employees are craptasticly unhelpful, truculent, sullen, and far to busy shooting the shit and joking around with their fellow employees to help you find anything. I live in the neighborhood and am in on a weekly basis, this is unfortunately the experience with the employees every flipping time. Management on the floor does not care. Third star is for the one employee that is actually willing to help you find that screw or washer or hose, etc. If you are owners - Please up your game or sell business to someone who gives a shit. read more

Came here at 553 PM, they are supposed to close at 6 pm . They stated they aren't letting anyone in, when I rushed to get here. When I asked for a manager, they denied a manager, and denied providing me with their name and the managers name. In fact, they told me to move from in front of the property and tried to "shoo me away." It was a short guy with a pony tail, then he proceeded to flip me off, so I took his picture. He needs to be fired, and so should his four co-workers that were standing around and laughing, tall mixed guy with curly hair, and a short Asian guy, read more

Standard Plumbing-ACE Hardware - The guy flipping me off. He needs to be fired - Hardware Stores Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Rude service people! Not helpful and laughed when I needed help. There is a much nicer one on California street just a few blocks down.

My expression is crap and useless, the line up is decent. It is my own stupidity for buying lite bulbs from Ace, I don't recommended it at all I bought 2 Feit lite bulbs the temperatures is way off. I also bought CRC contact cleaner and a screw driver set price is decent. I went online and to 1001bulbs.com it is way better. Time wasted 30 mins Fuel wasted= 5 usd Money wasted= 10 usd/ I got 2 litebulbs for 11.00 not so bad, the employees are not intelligent at all sort of dim witted. My bulbs was suppose to be Flourescent cool, the Lumens is suppose to be around 1600-1800 anyways use online unless u wanna be the person who cannot get correct shut eye because of the stupid lite bulbs. Note to me: Call a professional and try online A ass is Ass and u get ur dumbasses at Ace. read more

Horrendous customer service. I had an experience with a manager here that could only be described as hostile and completely unprofessional. Read the other negative reviews. read more

Don't go here for paint. Twice now, the guy with the long dreads working in the paint section gave me the wrong finish. The most recent, he was 100% insistent that for bathrooms you use semi-gloss or gloss. Now the paint in my bathroom is peeling just 4 days later after applying. When I asked him why he so adamantly recommended a glossy finish for bathrooms, his curt response was "that's what you use for bathrooms and I have been painting for years." He basically wouldn't let me get anything other than the gloss. I could tell he didn't want to help me. I had to ask him to see the final result of the paint after it was mixed. I felt talked down to and found him pretty rude. I'll go to the Sherwin Williams on Geary for my future paint needs. The folks working in the other departments have been very helpful and nice. read more

If you would like your day ruined have an encounter with the manager at this location. The whole story is long but short version was that I was rung up and overcharged by an inept cashier. The manager decided to assist and told me I was only "interested in the money" and offered to refund me from his pocket and threw, yes threw a five dollar bill from his pocket, across the counter and told me I was holding up the line! The man was frightening! I will shop elsewhere. read more

I needed some batteries for the remote control to my car. When I walked in, it took only seconds for one of the clerks to ask if I needed help. He opened up the remote and asked the other clerk to ring me up. It took the clerk just 2 minutes to replace the batteries! Thank you! Great service!! read more

I was referred to this store from its sister branch on Geary to get a car key remade and chip programming. They unfortunately didn't have my key in stock and told me to go Lock World instead. FYI: the Ace Hardware branch in Pacifica didn't have my key in stock either, but unlike the branch on Clement, they were kind enough to ORDER my key and contact me once it arrives. Perhaps, certain ACE Hardware stores should follow the Pacifica store's way of properly conducting great customer service rather than deferring business to other entities. read more

Very rude. Super unprofessional. Will not go back. I stopped by to grab one thing quickly and was followed and told that I couldn't buy anything. I was welcomed in and then rushed out a few minutes to closing. Not necessary. read more

I used to go to another hardware store, but Ace on Clement has everything you could want in the way of hardware. My favorite guy there is named Ian, a no B.S man who knows all the ins and outs of the business. He also is a creative thinker, who can suggest different ways to solve your problem. If he doesn't know the answer, he says so, and maybe suggest a different store to find the answer you're looking for. Luckily for me, the store is located not far from where I live. Another plus is Clement st itself; tons of restaurants with Pizza places cheek by jowl to Burmese, Chinese, you name it, Clement St's got it. Ace is the place, and Ian's the man. Jerry Gray read more

Most certainly the worst customer service I have ever encountered in my entire life. An employee named Ian was yelling at me, other customers, swore at me, just a total wanker. I won't ever go there again. AVOID this store. Progress Hardware on Irving and Cole Valley Hardware are better options and they treat people decently. And looking at all of the other 1 star reviews I know I am not alone. Jordan C., if you are still managing the store, don't bother with the I'm Sorry response. Its a pattern. read more

I was out on a cleaning job recently and needed a few tools to do the job right. The homeowner suggested this Ace Hardware store. I was pleased with the personal help I was given. One of the store clerks brought to each item I needed saving me the time to search through the store. Great job! read more

Standard Plumbing-ACE Hardware - Cleaning a chandelier... these help :) - Hardware Stores Near Me - San Francisco, California

This ACE Hardware has the BEST SERVICE EVER! Major shoutout to Derek for helping me with everything!! Could not be more thankful to have him, and this spot, in my neighborhood. read more

Went in today to find some items and when I asked Malcolm at the front checkout where they were he couldn't have been less engaged and less friendly. When I came back to say I couldn't find the item he was clearly annoyed ... it turned out the item I wanted was at the top of the 12' shelves: there was no way I could have seen it! The young man who helped me couldn't have been nicer!! Malcolm is always at the check out so I can't advise you to avoid him-- at least everyone else in the store is friendly and helpful. Thanks for nothing, Malcolm.... read more

JR the manager here is awesome. Super knowledgeable and helpful. Great selection of items and efficient use of space means this place definitely punches above its weight. read more

Most times that I've shopped here before, the staff have been helpful. I'm sad to say that the service and attitude of the employees have gone waaaay downhill. Tonight a male salesperson actually had the gall to laugh at me when I asked a question, treating me as if I were stupid. I guess that's my fault for shopping while female at a hardware store and daring to ask a question about a product. Gross, sexist, and condescending behavior=unacceptable and, for crying out loud, it's 2023. The Asian gentleman up front is always super friendly and helpful and I'm sorry to say that his coworkers (employees?) are the exact opposite and detract from his professionalism. I won't be coming back. read more

I have been going to this particular Ace Hardware since before it moved to its current location, so it has been many years. I've always had a very pleasant shopping experience finding what I needed because the store is staffed with helpful personnel who walk the aisles in their red vests...until today. I went in to make two purchases, one of which were some nuts and bolts to fix a shower door. I was directed by one of the long-time employees to the location of what I needed, but when I asked for further assistance, he literally said to me, "This is self-service. They pay me too much to deal with screws - $45 an hour." REALLY??? How arrogant can you be?? This was about the rudest service I've ever received from a staff member at ANY store I have ever patronized. I work in retail myself, and have never encountered anyone this rude or condescending. And this coming from an employee who has been with the store for many years! "Ace is the place with the helpful hardware folks" - my a**! "It takes 20 years to build a reputation and 5 minutes to ruin it." Well, Ace Hardware, you've lost a long-time customer in a matter of seconds! read more

Abraham at Ace hardware was terrific.. he did not talk down to me as a woman shopping in a hardware store can sometimes experience he was funny and direct and very helpful Thanks to Abraham Susan read more

I called them at 6:30 to hold an item for me and told them I'd be there before they close at 7. They said they would hold the item for me until close behind the register. I needed this item for a work project due the next day, so I showed up at 6:50 ready to grab my held item and the stores front gate was down and the store was completely closed at least 10 minutes early. read more

An awful store! I would give 0 stars if it is possible! I bought a bog of soil from here yesterday morning. I was thankful for the staff there who carried the soil bag into my truck, I noticed there was some tape on the bag, but I didn't think about anything negative about it ----should I? I should! After I got home, I saw some soil in my truck when I replace the soil bag, I was wondering why the soil was out of the bag, but I did not check---- who would think that the store would sell an open bag of soil to the customer?! In the afternoon, I started planting my morning glories, and I removed the tape. What?! There was a big cut that was more than a half of the width of the bag! The soil I bought was opened and have been used! They just recovered it with tape, and sold it with full price to me!!! I was so surprised! This doesn't make sense! I called them many times, but nobody answered me. I left message to them, I emailed them... no one contacts me till right now. This is a awful experience from the store. I'm not sure if they would work this this problem. What is my next step, if they don't do anything with it? Tell me, please! read more

The manager/owner JR of this ACE Hardware is very condescending. When I've asked him for help he often is argumentative. I thought maybe last time maybe he was having a bad day. But, it has happened other times. He doesn't take a minute to show you where an item you're looking for might be. Instead he asked, "Do you have a photo of what you're looking for? Most people bring a photo!" This is not the answer a customer is looking for. I then asked another salesperson and he gave me some direction. Another time I was looking for paint. I asked for the "warm" greys. JR said, "what you might think is warm , I might not." Again, not exactly a helpful answer. The other ACE on California Street is much more customer friendly and alway helpful. read more

The neighborhood Ace is the best. Everyone here are so knowledgeable. I'd be lost in the place. It's small but they had everything I was looking for for a decent price. You thought amazon had good service and decent price? Come here! Spent $2.80 on a roll of twine vs. amazon's $9.98 .. don't take my word for it. Ballin on a budget during these unprecedented times. read more

Terrible customer service on numerous occasions.....Finally learned my lesson and will not be back!

Two stars because it's close and I have always found what I need. Minus three because of customer service. Last time I was at the shop, I went to pick up some lightbulbs and something I had ordered online. It wasn't until I told the cashier that I was there to pick up something I ordered online did I realize it was the wrong Ace (my order was at the Five and Dime shop on California), but that wasn't what the cashier told me. No, he did t say a word to me. Instead, he looked past me and told his co-worker in a rather condescending tone "He's here to pick up something he ordered online." That's when the other employee told me that they don't have a pick-up option available and that the store and that my order was likely at the Five and Dime Ace (it was), but the whole interaction felt condescending and rude. I still had other items IN MY HANDS that I was purchasing. I'm sure the two Ace locations get confused a lot, but that does not make it okay to speak to customers in such a condescending way. Since then, I have stopped shopping at the Clement location. I refuse to go back to that Ace when the Five and Dime location is just as close and it is much larger (and the staff is friendlier). read more