Ace is the helpful place! A hardware store that's actually fun to go to. Downtown Berkeley lost the dollar store but has Target but not many craft stores. It was nice to grab odds and ends for an art project, volunteer activity and church, etc. The kitchen supplies are plentiful and they always carry decent cleaning supplies. I've bought everything from batteries, card games, handkerchiefs, and toy. The hot sauce shaped like a grenade was delicious. I tried the original spicy flavor. Nice treats and candy at the checkout. Grab some! read more

Large store and friendly staff. They have large collection of everyday household items in the downtown area.

Hardware stores are fun in SF bay area...Ace hardware and home Depot and mill valley Depot haha same thing mill valley Ace Depot hahahha

Bias customer service went to front and asked for help two employees walked pass me and asked another person did the need help very unprofessional and seem like they need professional help on to approach everyone not just certain customers read more

This hardware store is situated near Berkeley High. Too much stuff is sold here and it's in a random location. The drinks they sell are affordable. read more

Parking was a bit of a challenge , but we made it there and husband was like in a candy store ! All the stuff he needed for his hobbies !! Go check it out ! Super friendly staff . read more

I've been going to the store for years, both for hardware and for gifts. Everyone is consistently helpful and knowledgeable. Cashiers encourage me to use coupons my for discounts. I heartily recommend them to anyone and everyone. read more

Most workers here have gone above and beyond to help, and I've learned to adjust my expectations about merchandise carried by typical Ace Hardware stores. They really work on customer relations, for example, I overheard a worker asking a regular here if their basic needs like groceries are met. What I would go to Ace Hardware for: - the employees here are walking versions of DIY Stack Exchange, they will help problem solve your maintenance issues and refer you to more specialized local stores if they decide the best solution to be outside their knowledge or just can't be found at their store. The maintenance workers at my student co-op told us during training to just take the existing parts like under sink pipes to Ace Hardware when we don't know what to do. I always come into the store knowing I won't be sold a shoehorn solution that won't work. - simple emergency repairs where something is better than nothing and there is a longer wait at specialty stores (for broken single-pane glass, their turnaround time is faster than Arrow Glass) - model-making supplies Downside: - like all Ace Hardware stores, there are some low quality mid-range budget products so use your best judgement. I've bought hex keys that wore down after a few uses and work gloves that started shredding micro plastic all over my clothes immediately. I found their $2 cotton gloves to be more economical than $15 "work gloves" and the same applies for some of the tools. read more

Wow, reading the reviews I'm really glad the nasty crabby woman wasn't there when I went in this afternoon! Today when I called with a question, an actual person answered the phone, not an obnoxious, time wasting phone tree. Then the person transferred me to the correct department and, miracle of miracles, someone in that department answered and even found the products I was seeking. Amazing. Truly a miracle and an anomaly when it comes to Berkeley businesses. My experience has been that people working here are both friendly and helpful. Hopefully I never run into the awful person mentioned in so many of the reviews. read more

This place has a little of everything and a good variety too! Everything you might need .. they usually have it unless they're out! I really like the staff there as they are customer oriented and seem to really want to be helpful With whatever home needs you might have and have been very helpful when I have absolutely no idea what to do to fix a home situation and have been great about providing me with suggestions / options! Now for the bad part... Parking! That part of town has over the years been turned into a one way/ wrong way street area with only metered curbside parking if you can find one close by. That is the only downside to this place but otherwise it's a "Thumbs Up" from me! read more

Love this store and the staff. They know everything and have everything that I expect a good hardware store to carry.

Your Friendly Neighborhood Ace. Nicer and chiller than Home Depot. Parking can be tough I avoid driving when possible

I was advised that window foam was the same thing as weatherstripping for doors. When I made a return I was ignored (and the refund was made) and yelled out of the store by an angry manager. I have never had such an experience in any store of any kind. A. Berkeley read more

Whoever the crabby, very negative, rude, manager lady (Brandy) is at the door that looks like she could be the older sister of Beavis or Butthead needs to get some serious training on how to interact with people. My sink had a bad leak so I rode my bike and arrived just before closing with no lock in desperate need of a roll of plumbers tape. I was denied entry and told to leave my bike on the street, I then asked if an employee could get it for me and I'll just pay because my house is flooding, she quickly denied me a second time with some bs about being understaffed and told me to come back tomorrow. Every employee within hearing distance just looked away or at the floor while she walked off mumbling and talking to the ceiling. I was able to seal it temporarily with a dog poop bag and took my business to Home Depot. I really try to support local mom and pops, she makes it hard to want to return. I'm sure that they have had theft issues etc, I'm not one of those guys and if my bike was a POS I would have easily taken the risk of leaving it unmonitored. read more

Berkeley Ace Hardware - My sink sealed with a dog poop bag and is still leaking. - Hardware Stores Near Me - Berkeley, California

Omar was so helpful and sweet! My friend and I were absolutely clueless about painting and he gave us all the info we needed in such an accessible way!!! read more

I remember the commercials with the jingle about Ace hardware, being the place with the helpful hardware men. I have to say, every single time I go to this Ace Hardware store in Berkeley, the service is incredibly friendly and thorough. I've had a good experience every single time and can't recommend it highly enough. Five stars ! read more

Very helpful place with helpful people. Has a large collection of nuts and bolts at good prices if you you're ever in a pinch. read more

Berkeley Ace Hardware - Hardware Stores Near Me - Berkeley, California

Buyer beware! I've spent years dedicated to giving the "little guy" my business and paying a premium for it to keep Ace in Berkeley alive and well. Then, the one time I try to return something they tell me that it's against their store policy to accept returns of tools. If they allowed it, then "everyone would use tools and just return them." No, actually they can go to the Tool Lending library in Berkeley for the temporary use of a tool. BTW, this policy is not on the receipt anywhere. They tell me it's on the store's wall. Is that a legal way to communicate your return policy? Not every customer is out to get you, Ace management but This one is not coming back! I am nauseous at the thought of giving you a dime more of my money. You just lost a die hard customer over a non-functional overpriced piece of crap "tool" at $27 that you refused to even take my word at the nonfunctional state of it and it's clear lack of use. Hi, Home Depot!! I'll be seeing you soon. I'll take your lack of customer service and corporate nature over the nonsensical abuse Ace spews so willingly upon their best customers. Let me ask you this, Ace: who's the tool now?? read more

Floor clerks seriously need training in customer service skills, which I have observed over a number of visits are woefully low. When you walk in you'll usually find them talking to each other and very on interested in welcoming you and asking if they can help you. And God help you if, like the polite young customer I saw today, you nicely ask if you can return something he didn't know was non-returnable. They' replied in a rude tone as they turned their back and walked away, then dissed him and gossip unkindly about him with their coworker. Seriously, these are not nice people. Only go here in an emergency. Otherwise, make the trip to Pastime Hardware in El Cerrito, which gets a gold star for customer service on every level! Go to the rest of the reviews and sort them by the lowest rating and you will see over and over and over again people talking about how unbelievably rude the staff is, apparently especially a woman co-owner. I wonder if that's who I watched in horror today as she serially abused customers. read more

I purchased a tape measure that was all imperial when I needed metric. I didn't know until I opened the package. I tried to exchange it for a metric but they said no returns/exchange for tools and tape measures. I hate this since I bought the tools when I was in a rush and out of my mind. It's a lesson I suppose. The world will take advantage of you when you're feeling weak. read more

Rude woman monitoring the door and being a control freak with every employee and customer. All three employees at the front counter seemed diminished in personality and quiet and very cautious of their maneuvers, this woman is watching everyone like a hawk. I understand the theft problems these days, but that doesn't mean you have to be rude to everyone including your own employees. And there's really difficult parking in this neighborhood. Go to a different hardware store. Not worth getting verbally assaulted by the woman at the front door, who I think might be Brandy as she's had other complaints on Yelp. Hey Ace manager, or whoever the boss of the crabby woman at the front door is, you need to get her in line, she is rude to your customers. It's one thing to explain a policy and it's another one to have a bitchy tone in your voice and be argumentative with a customer while explaining it. read more

I have an old car (1970) for which I needed a spare ignition key cut. Rex Locksmith, always my go-to for keys, is now closed Saturdays so no luck there. I had already purchased my own key blank online because I knew no one would not stock it. I was told Ace Berkeley policy does not allow cutting keys when they don't sell the blank. I explained I would not hold them responsible for any issues if it didn't work. Young guy called the manager. He said No. I asked what was the basis of the policy, he replied it's always been that way. I asked to speak to the owner. He said he was an owner. I asked again what was the basis, and if he could make an exception. He said No, it's the policy, always has been. Completely unwilling to engage his brain. Starting to feel like am in a Monty Python skit. Oh well, I guess the customer is not their first priority. 40-year customer. But not anymore. read more

First of all, you should know that half of this store is solely dedicated to toy trains. Which is amazing. If I were still 10 and wanting my train to be up and running, this would be the place to go. I believe they also have some miniatures to place around trains, though I haven't done a full investigation of that part of the store. As with other Ace Hardwares, this place is VERY organized. I was quickly able to find paints and primers, as well as sand paper and sanding blocks. The guy who was manning the paint area was attentive enough to not scare me away, and helpful with finding the right shade and finish for the type of paint job I wanted. He mixed paint while I perused other aisles for things I probably didn't need. TIP: you can find cleaning products and paper products here! The cashiers were like my Ates--little Filipina ladies, ready to help with any question I had. They quickly signed my boyfriend up for an Ace rewards card and let us know anything we needed to know about its usage. Easy peasy! TIP: you might want to park ~5 blocks away in a residential area instead of paying for parking. OR wait for a Sunday when parking is free ;) read more

RACIST. STORE. OWNER. AVOID. THIS. HELLHOLE. (Please read!!!!) To my fellow minorities: You know when someone's going all Karen on you and you *know* they're being racist with you even when they don't SAY outright racist words to you? Well, I just met my first Karen in Berkeley. Some employees confirmed with me that this co-store-owner is disrespectful, hurtful demeaning and rude. Both are minorities, store-owner is a blonde, white woman, Anne Carpenter (I believe that's her name.). Also, they suggested and encourage me to write this Yelp review. I asked Ms. Carpenter if I could get a discount as the dolly wasn't standing straight and scratched up. She shaved off a few dollars off the item rudely, being extremely curt. But hey, maybe she was busy with something and stressed out. I went back after a few mins--the wheels weren't working properly, and I was in a rush and needed the item, so I asked if we could renegotiate the price. She said, as she snatched the price tag from me: Anne: "I SWEAR TO GOD...IF YOU COME TO ME A THIRD TIME...*keeps yelling* I HAVE A LOT OF THINGS TO DO!" (This was in front of the entire store, and I had asked to talk very politely). Me: "Do you need to talk?" Anne: "NO. JUST LEAVE." I spoke to some employees immediately after this incident, asking if this was normal or if I'd just caught her on a bad day. They disclosed that this behavior is pretty standard, she gets like this often and the incidents are "nipped it in the bud." All the employees I met today are minorities. ALL. They said management reads this and this is the only way to speak out against Ms. Anne's terrible behavior. I'd urge you to not support this business--employees assured me that this review or any repercussions would not affect their ability to get steady paychecks. read more

Not your ordinary hardware store, Mr B found this while looking for hobby stores in the area. This store is as old as dirt, and quite interesting. It is quite representative of what made Ace Hardware a household name, but with a spin. Located in an old brick building , you must go downstairs for the real treasures. Clutter everywhere, multiple aisle have shelves full of models. If you look long and hard you may find something special. Although we did not score, we did find some cool hummingbird feeders that can be suctioned to my kitchen window (as long as no prehistoric, 300 lb hummingbirds get greedy), and a little biplane to appease the grandson. Not a big take, but the adventure was fun. Who knows? You may even come here for hardware some day, too. read more

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Amazing stay of products, very helpful staff. We needed a new kit h faucet and we successfully found a Moen to meet our need.

I've been a good customer since I was about six years old in this place, and I can blame it all on the FANTASTIC model train department downstairs. They've got everything you need to get started in model trains, model planes and diecast model cars, and oh yeah.. there's a GREAT well-stocked hardware store upstairs with PLENTY OF HELP when ya need it. This place is the complete polar opposite to Home Depot. Still plenty of stuff, but the friendly help is only an arms-length away! In the Hobby department, tell them Harry sent ya there! read more

Stopped by to get a spare key made. After I returned home to try it out, the key would not fit into my door lock. I then examined the key to the original and noticed the they cut grooves of the key were not deep enough. I returned the key the next day. Other than that, the store is a nice alternative to home depot if you need hardware related stuff and work in downtown Berkeley. read more

I have spent hundreds of dollars there and I am sorry to say that the staff was very rude to me when I needed to return some small items like a lightbulb that wasn't working. Then the manager named Brandy was extra rude and defensive, she demanded that I give a physical description of all employees involved, but was not forthcoming with the lightbulb exchange. Wow, that was an awkward experience!. I'm a pretty straightforward person and just wanted to return a lightbulb. I won't be going back there. I'd rather pay for the new lightbulb somewhere else than deal with that kind of attitude. It's a shame because I would like to support local businesses. I was willing to pay for parking in Berkeley and go through all of that just to support a local business, but I surely am not going back there again anytime soon . They will need to work on customer service and staff training before I go back to that store again. read more

I am a big supporter of locally owned small businesses. Especially ace hardwares all around, this one has resented me with an unpleasant experience. Ok was in this Sunday to pick up an order I made online , and it was fairly simple to do. And I was instructed to follow the arrows on the floor and the staff that directed me www professional. It not all of them were properly following Covid guidances. So when I get to the back to a dungeon like room by the bathrooms a lady who had seen me at the entrance register and heard me ask about a pick up order and I had noticed that she has walked to the back almost parallel to me and she didn't offer to have me follow her. She arrived in the pickup desk in that dungeon storage unit and as soon as I walk in she gave me a nasty angry stare and was unfriendly and unapologetic. I asked about if this was the right place for pick ups since there was no clear signage, and she said "that's where they told you... what's your order number". When I gave her the number she typed it in and I'm a condescending voice told me. Not sure why you came in, it's not here. I said thanks and turned around disappointed in her attitude and poor service. If not for her at this place we deathly got four stars for 4 1/2 stars, because it was fully stocked with almost anything the big box hardware stores have in smaller quantities with the exception of heavy building materials read more

Berkeley location store does not honor that which was advertised on Berkeley ACE Hardware website . I made a purchase online and the transaction was complete and order# was given. I was notified by email for in store pickup. When i arrived for my merchandise the so call part owner Anne told me my order was cancelled cause they only had twelve items in stock. I purchased 6 of the twelve and it was done over the internet. What kind of establishment goes and cancel items that money has been deducted from ones banking acct. I never ever hear of such bad business practices. This store is not accredited with the BBB of Berkeley and no accountabilities are held to this type of performance. THIS CAME DOWN FROM THE PART OWNER ANNE. DONT PATRONIZE ACE HARDWARE IN BERKELEY. SHE KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THE STRUCTURE OF RUNNING A BUSINESS. read more

I went to Ace to pick up some hardware cloth, epoxy, and other items for me and my neighbors as we sheltered in place. The staff provided excellent service, the store was well stocked, and staff very polite. Note some people posted comments about their return policy being unclear, but it is clearly laid out with several giant signs at the checkout. I think the policy is reasonable in that they don't want you to buy a saw or whatever, use it for your project and then just return it. Berkeley has a tool lending library on MLK near ashby for this purpose. All in all an awesome store and I am glad to support and frequent it! read more

THEY DON'T WARN YOU ABOUT THEIR HORRIBLE RETURN POLICY They have a horrible return policy that they don't tell you about. I bought a drill and drill bits from here two weeks ago. Nowhere near the drills was there a sign that said you cannot return opened tools. The cashier did not tell me I cannot return opened tools. The receipt simply says all returns must be within 45 with a receipt. I tried to return an 8V drill because I needed a stronger one. The owner's wife Brandy came up and immediately was very rude and told me I should have asked for help when purchasing it even though it was so busy that there was nobody available. The whole interaction with her was full of attitude, sarcasm, and eye rolls. I asked if I could at least exchange the drill for a stronger one and she said I had to make a purchase on the spot for a more expensive item, to which I said no because I don't want to be pressured to buy something on the spot. Bottom line: Don't purchase anything here unless you are certain it will work because they don't return/exchange anything, even though their receipts say they do within 45 days. Go to Home Depot where they won't give you attitude and will actually let you return things. Here are some citations from other yelp reviewers to help you -Daniel M. 5/4/2019 "When checking out the manager said 'Don't think you can use that and then return it.'" -Katy B. 5/4/2019: "I wish I could give it zero stars, for the verbal abuse from the owner's wife, Brandy....attacked by the viscous Brandy! Never going there again, they are criminals!" -P.L. 1/30/2019 "The service was bad. They don't accept returns. Be sure to think about it before you buy anything from here. Or, buy things somewhere else." -Gena 3/26/2013 "BUYERS BEWARE!! HORRID RETURN "POLICY" ON DEFECTIVE MERCHANDISE!" read more

Got a tip about the hobby section here and wasn't disappointed. The store has 3 or 4 solid aisles of kits and supplies for model airplanes, cars and military vehicles as well as model railroading supplies. Staff was friendly and attentive and I left with a good little haul to keep me busy for a while! read more

Berkeley Ace Hardware - 3 for me and a snap tite kit as a gift for a beginner friend. Cool little shop with a good selection of new and vintage model kits. - Hardware Stores Near Me - Berkeley, California

I never wrote a bad review but I thought about it for long and decided to do it to help people understand before going to ACE Berkeley and have the worst experience. I have been going to Ace the one in Berkeley for years 20+ years, I would say the people who work there the past 5-10 years are extremely rude and very unprofessional they are so rude they talk about you in Tagalog its Filipino language and thinking other people don't understand what they are saying but surprisingly my wife & I lived in Manila Philippines for 6 years and understand Filipino. This happened a few times but last week the things they were saying can get them fired even sued it was unbelievably racist. I think this people should get replaced, one day soon a lawsuit will happen. I don't think I will ever go back to Ace anymore! read more

I love hardware stores... but this is something so so so so much more. 1. Train store in the basement 2. Three floors of awesomeness. 3. Nice folks work here that help you find things. The day I was here it wasn't busy at all... it probably gets hectic when it is busy. Go when it is empty and wander, wander, wander... get lost... day dream.... read more

Berkeley Ace Hardware - Hardware Stores Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Horrible service. I went to the Berkeley Ace Hardware on a Friday at around 11am and there was a Latino man around in his 30's working there. I called her for help and he continuously ignored me. He was not busy at all, barely any customers around. No wonder this place is lacking customers. Please train your staff to help customers when they need help. This should not even be said. Do better. Just go to El Cerrito Ace Hardware if you want decent customer service. read more

AMAZING customer service (paint department)!!!! Big location, well stocked, and lots of as-seen on tv stuff (so much fun to look at!) I came here because I was looking to patch some holes in my apartment wall and to fill in some peeled off paint spots. A nice gentleman worker pointed me to the location of the wall "spackle" (I keep calling it wall putty but it actually just looks like cream cheese that you smear on the wall) I must also point out that I'm the worse home improvement person so...ya...I'll leave that here for now. My roommate and I must have spent about 30 minutes staring at all the different types of spackle that seem to do the same thing, however the main thing that seemed to vary was the drying time. We ended up just going with one of those tiny buckets for 4.99 with a drying time of 20-30 minutes. The next thing that we looked for was paint. We first came here looking for paint and the specialist told us to try and bring in a quarter sized paint chip. Ours didn't quite make the size but the paint specialist (her name was Diamond) provided amazing service. She color matched our paint chip to the color palettes. She even went outside to double check in the light! She was super nice, easy to talk to, and did her best to help us with out paint problems. The color chosen was pretty close to the paint chip and it was worth the 5.00 sample bucket. And of course we almost forgot the paintbrush...sigh...so after we paid we had to go back in and look for the brushes. We bought a simple one for 2.99. Overall, Ace is a great place and we had a wonderful experience with their customer service. read more

I'm a long time customer, shopping before on University Ave and now at Milvia, and highly recommend Berkekey Ace Hardware for product variety and excellent customer service. read more

Man They totally changed the inside of the store Sad to say It is NOT the hobby shop it once was Sad read more