Well I have been here before for a European faucet part with luck, so I thought they could help with my 20+ year old faucet cartridge. They actually close at 3pm on Saturdays, but I pulled up at 4pm and they were really nice and let me in anyways and offered me refreshments. I did not have a model or part number for my old faucet, but one of the guys knew just by looking at the cartridge. He went to go look for it and came back with a few, none were the exact match. And he had some that were similar, but he was not sure if they would work or not so he told me I can take a shot and see if they work and gave them to me for free then referred me to a competitor to see if they had the right part. Wow totally went out of their way to be helpful. Now by reading the review I see they have furnace parts, so I will be calling/visiting with my next project. read more

I truly can't say enough about the staff of this company! I come to promote my own water damage business and everyone there is excited and happy to see me every time. Not only do they make me feel welcome, they are kind to their customers and get things done fast. I also have to say, the owner, Mr. Rubenstein is great as well! Such a personable guy and whenever I am there, he always says hello, asks me how I'm doing and how business is. I really can't say enough about everyone at this branch. They make me feel so welcome, that in turn I feel a part of the Rubenstein Family! read more

The guy i had was helpful. I do not know all the terminology either, but the guy helped me out. I do see what you are saying about them being a little condescending maybe and definitely no one asked me if i needed help for 10 or so minutes, but they were busy. So i waited. I guess i'm saying, if you are going to go to a construction supply place in Oakland maybe you should not be so sensitive about them not wanting to listen to you drone on about your project that no one cares about. Anywhere you go you will be profiled and categorized and dealt with appropriately. You probably looked like a whiny pretentious douche and they knew you would be writing a 1 star review before you even opened your mouth. Is that abrasive? sorry. read more

An essential resource but customer service can be slow - depending on who you get.

Great customer service! John assisted me over the phone and was very professional. I was looking for a particular shower valve that home depot didn't carry on-site. So John asked me to send photos of it to make sure he has the right part via email. Soon after he got back to me and told me it was in stock and ready to be picked up. When I arrived at the store, the staff were courteous and I was quickly helped. I got my part within minutes. Good job guys! read more

I went here because I need a new gas line for our spa. I am used to shopping at Home Depot or Ace Hardware because those are the most convenient for me (i am a true amateur). When I arrived there was a 5 person line. The employees seemed to know all the customers and were very nice to them. It was early in the morning and everybody seemed to be in a good mood. Someone came out of the back and sat at a podium and called me up. He must have woke up on the wrong side of the bed! I told him what I was doing and asked him what kind of pipe I needed to which he answered "I'm not allowed to give you any advice, you have to tell me exactly what you need.". They had two option for underground gas lines, I ended up guessing the right one. I had a long list of stuff to get from my contractor which the guy got together. When I got home I had a lot of the wrong parts... NO RETURNS!!! Now I drive across the street to get (4) 20 foot gas pipes and the guy doesnt even help me load them. The guy helping the customer before me is helping his customer, but not my guy. Maybe I got the wrong guy on the wrong day but I will never go back to these guys. This place might be for you if you know exactly what you are doing and dont need to ask any questions. Just wish I had a good alternative to Home Depot. read more

Been shopping at Rubies for 25 years plus. It's a family owned business with many long term dedicated employes. There are strong on the plumbing and heating for contractors. I shop there because of the customer service and knowledge of the trades. They are not a hardware store. But they do have a showroom and sit down sales people work on special orders. Safe parking. Bad coffee.--Update! Coffee has gotten better:) read more

Needed a simple part for a Toto toilet. Erik, was very helpful calling me back to tell me he located the part at another site and again later in the day to say it was ready for pick up. When I picked the part he was available and interested to check the new part against the broken one I had been asked to bring. Good stuff thank you I will use them again. read more

This is the only plumbing supply house for professionals that is open on Saturday mornings. I can't tell you how many times that has helped our company out. It's not always the fastest service, but it is always friendly and the prices are reasonable. read more

These guys were awesome. Our boiler broke and we needed a part. They were recommended by a plumber and they delivered on every level. Helpful, communicative and knowledgeable. Great service. read more

These guys are the best! They treat you with respect and really take care of you. I came in with a dilemma and Juan helped me out and sent me off with a smile. read more

Excellent customer service! I purchased a few items from them over the phone and also in person and had great experience every time. John assisted me with my linear drain purchase and was able to help me workaround the time constraint that I had. Their prices are the best and always offer the contractor's discount without asking. read more

I own an auto repair shop and know about cars but when it comes to commercial heating I need some help. When a contractor offered a bid that seemed very high I looked around and couldnt find the right heater. I had purchased a furnace at Rubenstein's a couple of years ago (picked out by a contractor) so I called and showed up to talk to a sales rep. They answer their phone on the first ring, by the way. I got great service at the store and followup service on the phone and by email. When I had a problem with the installation I got more support and the unit is working fine now. Go to Rubenstein Supply and tell them you need help figuring out the best course of action and they will do their best to help you. read more

I have to report a horrible first time experience with Rubenstein's. I purchased a commercial grade hot water heater and then had it installed. After 3 days of installing the water heater I had several problems, where AO Smith had to come out multiple times to correct. The last problem I had was the new very expensive water heater was leaking. Since I had a warranty, I decided to exercise the policy. After getting the run around from a manager and a few employees, I was informed in order for an exchange to take place I would have to buy another very expensive water heater, to SEE IF I can get an exchange due to their policy. Rubenstein's has a return policy through AO Smith, but it appears to be some contractual problem between the two companies. Either way, their contractual problem is their problem and not mine to deal with. I should have been able to get a new water heater seeing I had the problems with in 72 hours of using it. Beware if you decide to go through AO Smith and Rubenstein's for major purchases, this was my first and last time. read more

I am a homeowner and I went there looking for a stem for my shower. It is an old fixture and they didn't have it. They sent me to a place that did. They were very helpful. read more

I was giving my home repair project one last try before I was to call a plumber. Like others I started at Home Depot and was told they didn't have a part I needed and I might try Rubenstein. I get to Rubenstein and present the sales rep with a cobbled together mass of pvc and steel pipe which drew shock and ridicule from both the staff and some of the plumbers, contractors and handymen that appear to make up the bulk of Rubenstein's business. I would have left right there except that my threshold for embarrassment goes up proportionately to the amount of water leaking on my bathroom floor. I hand over the leaky pipes and say that I want an exact copy. The clerk disappears and returns with a brass pipe set up that is much better quality and has less connections (therefore less chance for leaks) than my old configuration. The guy who helped me disclosed he wasn't a plumber but said he knows parts having worked with them for 13 years. He sure did. This guy even told me how to make adjustments if the pipes didn't fit just right. Long story slightly less long - no more leaks, I'm happy. read more

Rubenstein's truly does have all of your plumbing needs, is organized, clean, well staffed and everyone that works here is kind and pleasant to deal with. I'm not giving the last three stars because every time that I walk in, no matter how large or small of an order I have, I lose a minimum of 20 mins out of my day. There are quite a few people that work here, so I'm not quite sure why it is that everything here takes so incredibly long. It's very frustrating and I go elsewhere just do to that. There's also the very frustrating fact that there is only one person working the register for all transactions, so if there are say 4-5 people helping customers find what they need and all have to pay for their items, everyone bottle necks at the payment window, which doesn't help get out any quicker. The return policy is also very poor. I bought a pump a few days ago, which never worked, which I brought back and was told that I must turn the broken one in to go back to the factory, wait until they deem it defective and then I get my refund. In the mean time, if I need one, I have to buy a new one. This has happened in the past where I have gotten 3 defective parts in a row and needed to buy 4, just in order to have a functional part, while I wait for the refund on the first 3. Pretty lame! read more

We are on a major construction project. We ordered the $5K of parts very early on. They never called when most of them arrived. We finally called, and they delivered almost all of them. When we really needed the rest, I called. They said they hadn't ordered them. It is March 2018 and I prepaid for them in December 2017. I asked why weren't they ordered, and got a lot of attitude from the person on the phone. He said someone would call me back. They didn't. When i was ready to go down there the next day, all of a sudden the parts arrived. Imagine that. So if you want to prepay for parts, wait for five months for delivery, and get yelled at by people when you finally ask for delivery, go ahead and use this company. By the way, the parts they didn't order are cheaper on Amazon and i could have got them in two days. I have learned from this experience. I will never use Rubenstein Supply again. read more

I was referred to this plumbing supply store by someone at Home Depot when they couldn't find what I needed . The sales people at Rubenstein are friendly, and I was able to buy what I was looking for. However, when I tried to return something that didn't quite work with the existing pipes I had, I was given so much crap that I would never go back again. The guy who called himself "the boss" blamed me for cutting open the package. Apparently you are not supposed to open the package to see if the product you bought actually works. Then he proceeded on charging me 20% restocking fee. What a total rip-off. My suggestion- stick with big chain stores when buying stuff for home improvement, save yourself the risk of being charged for nothing and getting yelled at! read more

Really helpful staff. I"m a homeowner, not a contractor, and have bought several custom items from Rubenstein over the years, both directly and through a Contractor. They are very good at being the "middle man" with the manufacturers for questions of functionality, warranty, cost, etc. And they are good at email communication too! (something some supply companies don't do). read more

First of all, this is a store for contractors, not for the general public. Second, this is not a showroom. Third, you have to wait for counter service. Re-stocking fee? Well yes, it says so in writing in the waiting area. See item "first." This is not set up as a store for the general public. So if you are the general public, treat the guys and gals with respect. Now, even as a member of the general public, Rubinstein is my go-to place for bathroom fixtures and faucets. They know what they are talking about and are willing to teach me what I need to know. Their products meet California environmental standards (some on-line don't) and are all good quality. I have been in several times -- sometimes just to ask questions -- and have always been treated with respect. Maybe you just get what you give. read more

Great customer service. We are doing a big remodel and needed to coordinate and purchase fixtures throughout the house. Staff were patient, knowledgeable and helpful during the 3 times we shopped. Thank you! read more

Knowledgable friendly customer service. Carry Toto brand toilets, simply the very best. Have always had what I needed.

RUDE!!! I called with a few simple questions and got rude and condescending attitude. These people will never get my money!

Very helpful and friendly staff, have gotten lots of free advice from them over the phone so when it came time to buy a new kitchen faucet for a remodel I went here even though I probably could have saved a few bucks by buying online. read more

They had the parts I needed and patient people to explain the great unknown world of bath fixtures to someone having to deal with an emergency loss of hot water. read more

Awesome, these guys are HVAC specialists so have all the parts you'll need. I was looking for a couple of pumps and after doing much research online they had the best quality products available. I'll for sure will use them again, and highly recommend them. read more

i think these guys know what they are doing i am really not a professional plumber and i know nothing about plumbing but when i walked in they took the time to explain a lot of things to me ... i like that !!! they were nice and had a big selection of faucets (which is what i needed) now i know where to go if i need anything that involves faucets parts !!! read more

tried to buy a few shower heads thinking that it should be a simple process. after waiting a few minutes at the counter, a rep asked if i needed help - simple enough - but this is where it gets nuts. first - he asked me if i had an account, i didn't. his body language showed between disgust and why am i bothering with this. then he asked me what i wanted which he did not carry - except that he sounded disappointed that i would ask for something that he didn't carry. so - i asked if he could special order it. then he mentioned that i would have to pay up front. so -i said ok. i then asked how much it would cost - again in a frustrating tone - said that he would have to look it up. i think you get the picture. i did not order the fixture - went on line instead. rubinstein told me that the fixture would about 3 weeks from order to delivery. on line - i could get it in three days. this is why i ended up shopping someplace else other than oakland. read more

I'm a homeowner and have bought plumbing and HVAC parts from Rubenstein Supply for a number of projects - replacing a water heater, replacing a toilet, installing a kitchen sink, replacing a boot for a heating duct, etc. Their prices on large items (like the water heater and toilet) are competitive, and they have a ton of small parts in stock; but the main reason I go is because they are willing to answer my questions about how to go about something whether they are selling me $3 worth of plumbing fittings or $1000 worth of water heater - and if all the job takes is $3 worth of parts, they don't try and sell me a bunch of other junk I don't need. I called them looking for a particular kind of water heater (direct vent) because a city building inspector had recommended it to me to address a problem with how our current water heater was installed. The guy I spoke with at Rubenstein asked what my application was and then asked if he could call me back after talking with the water heater manufacturer to make sure it fit the application. I interact with contractors and suppliers in my work, and it is a rare thing to find someone who will admit that they don't know everything and not just try to sell you whatever you are willing to buy. He called me back and told me that the model I was asking about would fit the application, but I should be aware that it had an internal fan that could be noisy when it fired (he's right - it is noisy, but at least I knew it before I bought it). When the water heater showed up at my house damaged in shipping, they delivered a replacement within two days with lots of apologies and no hassle. Did I mention that they are open weekends? read more