I eschew big box stores preferring to shop small and local. The workers at Ace are friendly and…read morehelpful. I almost always find what I am looking for and their selection of plants in the spring is fantastic. I like shopping online and being able to come in and pick up my order when ready. While admittedly more expensive than big home improvement stores, I find it worthwhile to do business with people who feel like neighbors to me.

I wanted to take a moment to recognize an exceptional employee who helped me on Thursday, June 25…read more Unfortunately, I can't remember his name exactly. I believe it may have been Sahara, or something similar, and I sincerely apologize if I'm remembering it incorrectly. He was a tall young man working in the Green Leaf trimmer aisle with another coworker. Even though he was clearly in the middle of another project, he immediately stopped what he was doing to help me without making me feel like I was interrupting him. From the moment he greeted me, he treated me with kindness, patience, and genuine respect. I had come in looking for the correct light bulb, and instead of simply pointing me toward a shelf, he took the time to make sure I left with the exact bulb I needed. He answered my questions, double-checked everything, and made sure I was completely confident before I left the store. That level of customer service honestly turned my day around because you just don't see that very often anymore. I am a regular customer at this Ace Hardware. I've probably been in and out of the store around 20 times over the past week alone, so I've had the opportunity to interact with several employees. The day before, I asked another young man for assistance. He was working near the checkout area around the orange blowers. Unfortunately, my experience with him couldn't have been more different. The moment I approached him, I genuinely felt like I was an inconvenience. He barely seemed interested in helping me and acted as though answering my question was taking him away from something more important. Instead of taking a minute to make sure I had the correct light bulb, he quickly brushed me off, assured me it would fit, and sent me on my way. It honestly felt like he cared more about getting rid of me than actually helping a customer. NI trusted his advice because I assumed he knew what he was talking about. When I got home and installed the bulb, it immediately blew a fuse because it was the wrong one. That meant I had wasted my time, my gas, and had to make another trip back to the store for something that could have been prevented if he had simply taken an extra minute to help. As someone who's gotten older, moments like that can be discouraging. Sometimes it feels like people look right through you or treat you as if your questions aren't worth their time. That interaction honestly left me feeling unimportant. The very next day, the tall young man I mentioned earlier helped me with the exact same issue. Instead of rushing me, he carefully verified the correct bulb, answered every question I had, and made absolutely sure I left with exactly what I needed. In just a few minutes, he restored my confidence in your store. The difference between those two employees was night and day. One made me feel like I was simply in the way, while the other made me feel like a valued customer. The way the young man who helped me on Thursday greeted customers, willingly stepped away from his work, and took the time to make sure everything was correct honestly made me assume he must be a supervisor or manager. If he isn't, he certainly has the professionalism, work ethic, and leadership qualities to become one. There is one other thing I wanted to mention because it genuinely bothered me. While he was helping another customer in what I believe was the spray paint aisle, I witnessed a short woman speaking to him in a harsh and disrespectful tone in front of several customers. I couldn't hear every word, but it sounded like it involved a scheduling or timing issue. Whether he had arrived a little early or a little late, I don't know, and it really isn't my business. What I do know is that conversations like that should be handled privately, not in front of customers. It reflected poorly on the store, especially because from everything I observed, he appeared to be one of the hardest-working employees there. It genuinely made me feel bad for him.Employees like him are becoming harder and harder to find, and I sincerely hope Ace Hardware recognizes the value he brings to your store. I plan on returning soon, and I will make sure the highest level of management knows what an outstanding employee they have.