Legit, locally-owned hardware store with knowledgeable staff. The cashier was really young, but he…read moreknew what he was doing. I picked up some gardening stuff: plants and potting soil. Turned out to be a few bucks cheaper than what you'd pay at Bunnings. Quick access from the city along North Terrace. Takes about 10min by car. Booyakasha! Will be back.

I know for a lot of people, Bunnings is synonymous with hardware. In the same way that people who…read moreshop at woolworths and think that they are getting the best price possible just won't visit a foodland, a lot of Bunnings customers are loyal to the point of self-punishment. I on the other hand, would prefer to spend my money at somewhere like Banner Mitre 10. The first reason is that like Woolies, Coles and Dan Murphy's, Bunnings are owned by one of those dominating behemoths (in this case Wesfarmers) which squeeze their supply chain, their staff and everyone else involved in the process. Like Woolies and Coles, what you end up with is not the best products, but rather products with high margins that can be bought in bulk, and if they break it just goes in the bin and you get a new one, and a new one, and another new one. Don't get me wrong... Bunnings has its place. It's a good place to go for say Stanley tools, Hills products etc, but if you want a good chainsaw, like the Stihl I bought on the weekend, there's no way you going to get it at Bunnings. What you're going to get is a piece of crap Ozito or something for $100 less which you can only cut 2x4 pine with before it craps itself. Now, onto my Banner Mitre 10 review... I used to work for these guys about 9 years ago while at uni and they are a great family run business. They treated us well as staff and had great discounts for staff and end of year parties. I felt like I was part of the family. After a few years living too far from the store, I've moved back fairly close to the area, so I popped in to look at ladders. They have a great selection of Bailey ladders and don't stock the cheap crap that Bunnings do. They also price matched a quite ridiculously low price I had for the chainsaw from one of my work's suppliers, so I'll definitely be back. They have a great trade section and friendly staff. What I'm trying to get at here is that there are other options apart from Bunnings for hardware/tools and home improvement products. Give these guys a go because they know their stuff, have better brands and service and are family run.

You're in the Adelaide Hills? You need a thing? If you're not already on your way to Balhannah,…read moreyou're doing it wrong. Without a doubt, this is the best hardware store in the Adelaide Hills. It's not a Bunnings, so it doesn't have the incomprehensible range of things you didn't go there for, but there is still the risk you will see things you "forgot" you needed. It might be because it's a co-op (co-operative) hardware and cold storage, owned and ran by locals, but you really feel like you're part of a bustling community, especially when you become a member (which is free, and you don't need a loyalty card!) The staff aren't excessively friendly, which I find refreshing compared to other large hardware stores, as you are more likely to get genuine customer service, not just an employee trying to promote a brand or company. The layout can seem confusing, with the metal, timber, firewood etc being so separate from the main store, but once you're used to it, you quickly realise the pressure it takes off of the convenient but often occupied parking.

For it's size this place is incredible. They manage to cram so much in, but not quite to the point…read moreof overwhelming the customer. And 9 times out of 10 they have either what I'm looking for, or at least something close enough to what I'm after that it'll do the job. On the occasions they don't have what I need, they are more than happy to suggest the closest places that might. The service here is really good. Being in a popular area for older residents, you'll often see staff in the car park helping load potting mix into cars, and with a smile too. Also, I'm not sure if it's a clear cut policy but often if I come in twice on the same day, I'll get a discount. It's a really nice gesture, especially for people like me who all to often forget a few key items on my first visit. The only downside to this place is it just isn't quite big enough to have the extra stuff that hardware stores have these days. But of the two in the area, Stirling trumps Aldagte 100% of the time.