I wish I could give Strosniders Hardware zero stars. Over the past 3 years I have lived or worked pretty close by. This meaning I stop in from time to time just to pick things up for my business or for the home. Every single time Ive been in Strosniders I have worse service, less help, and more uncomfortable situations. No one ever seems to want to take the time to help me or answer questions. My experience today had me leaving and planning to never go to this store again. These employees need some serious training on how to help and treat customers. After being talked down to and treated like I was stupid I walked back to my business. I thought about what happened and I felt it was necessary to wright in about this. While thinking about everything that was said to me I found another local hardware store (Christopher's Glen Echo Hardware). I drove to this other store and asked the same question and they could not have been more helpful and friendly. To really just sum this all up if you don't plan on having any questions Strosniders is fine for you. But if you have any questions or need any help at all RUN AWAY from Strosniders. read more

I've shopped at Strosnider's a long time and am happy to support a local business over a big box or online store. So, we went there today wanting to replace our incandescent kitchen floodlights with LEDs and get one halogen bulb. We had to hunt down some help (everyone was playing with 2 standard poodles). The first guy wasn't sure what LED bulb was equivalent to what we needed. The second guy handed us something the wrong size. We pointed out that it was the wrong size and he handed us something else that was the wrong wattage. We pointed that out and he said, "it's basically the same" and walked away. Another employee came down the aisle, passed me, and asked someone else if he needed help ( he didn't), and continued on. I called after him that I did need help finding the right halogen bulb. He did come back, and he did find what I needed. We got home. The halogen bulb works. But the LED is significantly brighter than the 5 other bulbs in the room, so it's not "basically the same." I know this is first world problems. But I'm used to pleasant service at Strosnider's. That's been part of their competitive edge over other sources. We ordered the LEDs on Amazon and will returning the other bulbs. read more

Strosniders has the most knowledgable and friendly staff in the area. The place is on the small side but packed with everything one would need to do any diy projects. It is conveniently located in Bethesda on Arlington Boulevard. read more

Strosniders in Potomac is my "go to" store for everything one could want in a hardware store. The paint department is the very best in town. The staff customer service are nothing short of the finest you will find anywhere! I heartily recommend this shop for everything from paint to lighting to gardening to everything one needs for home maintenance, repair and construction. Shout out to Shaun! He has saved me more times than I can count! The best team ever! bgg read more

Big Bill is the guy who helped me. He WAS A LIFESAVER! Marvelous guy - he won't leave you until you find a solution to your problem. To the owner of this store - BILL IS A GEM! He is a keeper and great role model for your employees!!!! Cheers!!!! read more

Hardware stores are my worst nightmare. I will admit that I have gotten lost at the tall aisles of Home Depot, and have wasted a significant amount of time looking for the right screw and bolt. Whenever I reach out to an employee for help, it is the blind leading the blind. So my trips to hardware stores typically ends in me walking out of the store furiously without finding the item I need. And I know I'm not alone in this. You won't run into that problem at Strosniders. As some reviews have mentioned, the store is relatively compact, but they are always well-stocked and seem to carry everything I need. Furthermore, what makes Strosniders awesome is their wonderful customer service. The staff are eager to help, answer any (stupid) questions for the clueless like me without passing judgment or losing patience, and very knowledgeable. Thanks to their helpful advice, I can get in and out within 30 minutes, which is a major plus in my book. read more

Had to comment on Alan 's review. Something fishy about his comments. Strosniders sits within a commercial shopping strip. The entire parking lot is available for use by anyone patronizing any of the businesses. People routinely take advantage of the fact that they very rarely if ever tow anyone our of there. The people who work at Strosniders are focused on providing world class service to their customers and are not in anyway responsible for what goes on on that lot and couldn't care less about where you park or where you shop. Also, having been going to Strosniders regularly for nearly 10 years, I am familiar with the staff. I know of no-one who could be described as elderly. Perhaps you encountered a representative of the company that owns the shopping center. Or a prankster. read more

Wow, there's a lot of Home Depot backlash going on in these reviews! Glad I never tried it out. So, Strosniders is the third point of a triangle of awesome (the other points being Bradley Food & Beverage and Bruce's Variety). Wine, beer, deli sandwiches, arts and crafts, paint, sleds, and home decoration items all in one plaza? How can you not love Bethesda? Obviously I have been around here for a while, and have frequented the Stro on and off for years, though mostly just for Christmas decorations and tools when I went through a grueling Ikea phase. What gets me is the spread of things they offer. You can buy a fire extinguisher, or Mrs. Meyer's line of cleaning products (which I absolutely adore). You can buy a spatula or a grill; a light dimmer or a lawn chair. No matter what you need, an employee will locate the proper aisle in under 20 seconds. And speaking of customer service... Yesterday I came in with my friend Anne, who is gearing up to decorate her new condo this weekend. She wanted to match a few paint colors to wallpaper she'll be hanging in her living room, so we headed back to the sample section. An extremely helpful home decorating-type lady named Patricia proceeded to spend an hour helping us find the right colors, and had Anne draw a diagram of her apartment so we could figure out what color should go where, matching the wallpaper as well as the existing carpet and sofas. She was super happy to help out, and told Anne that if a color didn't work out, she could come back and get a refund, no questions asked. I've seen few instances where a store employee has gone so out of their way to assist a customer. If I ever need a decorating consultation, I know where to go now. read more

"A place like this appears to be smug in it's extensive business with the wealthy patrons of the area."-previous yelper As an unfortunate longtime customer... I completely agree. Long story short... I parked my large truck (Im a contractor) where the other contractors usually park (the lot was empty). I went into the store for supplies, and then to the bakery next door for cookies (they are delicious!). I come back to my vehicle to see 2 older guys eyeing me up. As i open my door i hear one of the men address me. Not understanding, I move closer and ask what he said. Elderly man: "I was just about to have you towed!" Me: "why" Elderly man: "this is private property" Me: "im a paying customer" Elderly man: "you cant go to another business while parked here" Me: "are you the owner?" Elderly man: "yes" Me: "great, now i dont have to pay your ridiculous prices anymore" I was shocked that Mr. Strosnider himself would treat his customers that way after all the years of paying him crazy high prices, and dealing with his poorly trained, bad attituded staff... and all in the name of supporting local businesses! It just goes to show that no good deed goes unpunished. Home Depot... here I come! read more

I can't believe I would give a five star review to a hardware store but this place is really a great place. It's not huge but it seems to have everything you could possibly want in a hardware store and then some. It's also great because there is actually plenty of staff around who will ask if you need help and actually know where things are, take you there and answer any questions you might have. You won't find that at Lowe's or Home Depot. It's also reasonably priced. Sure. It's in Bethesda and they could probably get away with charging more but they don't. If you live anywhere near a Strosniders you should go here first before any of the big box places. read more

Me: Hey, I got you a present! BF: A present?! Me: Ta da! *presents him with a little scrub brush shaped like a curly-q* BF: What is it? Me: You use it to clean the little space where your shower door slides. You know, the one that is all grody and slimey. BF: Cool! No more using paper towels for me! I bought this, lemon verbena toilet bowl cleaner, and magentic hooks to hang my dry erase board on the fridge at home. It was more expensive than other places, but the staff was very helpful. I did not need to be helped, but they offered it... more than once! That day their credit card processing system was down so they had to process cards by hand. They even had an employee direct people in line ("credit or cash?") to save people time. It's crammed packed full of stuff you may or may not need. I'm not sure if I would go out of my way to go here but I'm glad I stopped in and found things that I "needed". read more

This is actually a pretty good hardware store, and I've come here before with a series of odd requests. One time my rear view mirror fell off, and one of the staff members helped me glue it back on. He even took turns with me holding it to the windshield while the glue dried. Talk about customer service! The prices here are reasonable, and they will make any kind of key you want. Some places can't duplicate car keys, but this place does. It also has a very friendly, neighborhood-oriented feel to it. read more

This fantastic local store has been around since I was a kid, like it's equally fabulous neighbor, Bruce's Variety. And actually, I could probably wander around, taking in all the cool stuff that they stock for longer than at Bruce's, which is saying something! Strosniders has an amazingly broad selection and if they don't have it, they'll offer to special order it for you. The staff is always helpful and easy to find, which nevers eems to be the case at the big box stores. I am frugal but it is so worth it to spend a little extra $ here to have personal, expert service. And if you think time is money, don't even think about going elsewhere. I needed a new drain plug for my bathtub. I'd gone to Ace/Tenleytown with the old stopper, and two very nice employees tried their darnedest to help, but after half an hour said I'd probably have to remove the whole drain to bring it in for a size match! I just needed the right size thread to fit into the drain! Enter Strosniders - it took their staff about 30 seconds to check size and give me the right item, and it worked! He knew that it was a question of both diameter and height. What's half an hour worth, people?! I've gotten my mower blades sharpened here too. And they give advice on service providers, too, which is very helpful. I had a question about my furnace and the advice I'd just received, and they said it sounded questionable and recommended someone for the future. Great bird feeder and birdhouse selection too! I like that they carry items from a great local bird non-profit, the Audubon Naturalist Society. And last but not least - Strosniders accepts your batteries for recycling! read more

Ok, Home Depot is bigger and has more stuff, but at this Strosniders I can't walk more than 10 yards looking lost without someone trying to help me. And they don't just take me to what I'm looking for, point to it, and walk away. Not entirely fair - there are some good pros at HD, when they're not helping someone else and I can find them. But let me tell you what to do... walk into Strosniders and hang that right after you walk past the registers As soon as you turn that corner, put on a face like a spaceship just dropped you off onto the streets of Tokyo. Look up at the isle labels, go slow - really get into it. Someone will be helping you in no time. They'll take you to what you need, tell you about it, help you pick out the right one, and how to install or fix whatever you're trying to do. Try it. It works. read more

Even though it's pricier than, say, Home Depot, I love this place. It's much more convenient that shlepping out to the further burbs to save a couple of bucks at a soul-less big box store. Strosniders has everything, the employees are incredibly helpful and plentiful, and it's a true neighborhood store. However, if you are somewhat claustrophobic, I recommend staying out of this place on Saturday mornings. If you are truly claustrophobic, then it might behoove you to shlep out to the big box store up on I-270. Strosniders packs a lot into little territory. ~ Update: April 14, 2008 ~ I had not been to Strosniders in a while, but had to stop in today. They've remodeled the store! It is now far less claustrophobic and more attractive. Of course, for regulars it'll take a while to find things and get used to the new layout. read more

This is definitely my favorite local hardware store. It has just about anything one could want from a hardware store at reasonable prices, the staff is knowledgeable, friendly, helpful, and is scattered throughout the store (unlike my experience at Home Depot, where I wandered about for 20 minutes trying to find an orange-aproned employee, and then had to wait in line for an hour only to learn that they didn't have what the window crank I needed). One neat thing that makes Strosniders special is that they have a great kitchen selection at good prices--far better then Linen 'n' Things, Bed, Bath, and Beyond, and similar sorts of places. If you need pots, pans, kitchen tools, plates, shotglasses, wine goblets, or anything in that vein, Strosniders is the best place around. Well, next to J & B Restaurant Equipment in Rockville, but that's a bit of a schlep. read more

Love, love, LOVE this hardware store. This is the one place I've been to where I'm not looked at too funny because I'm wearing a skirt and actually know what I want. I've actually had a few good conversations with the staff about the projects I'm working on, and my adventures in engineering. (This is in comparison to other large and small hardware stores in the area, where I'm ignored/hit on/treated condescendingly) I've been here when they're slow and when they're super busy, and at either time, there are always a TON of staff members around. At first it can seem a little pesky to have them bothering you, but it does help to just ask them to show you where the next item on your list is, as the organization of the store can be confusing. They don't have everything, and the prices are a little higher, but I'll take this any day over the other hardware stores in the area! read more

"Have you been helped?" If you go to Strosniders, I promise you'll be asked this question at least 3 times. I love that they have an army of staff that are super helpful and willing to answer every silly question you have (I really mean every silly question I have). They've helped me figure out everything from the best type of paint to use for a shelf I'm putting out on my balcony to the type of fertilizer I should use on my pintsized tomato plants, and everything in-between. It's amazing everything they carry- from seeds to candles to toilet roll holders to picture frames. You name it, it's a good bet they'll have it. The only reason I'm docking them a star is because their prices are on the higher side. But it's something I'm willing to pay for the great service I get in return. read more

I really like the Strosniders in Silver Spring, but I went to the one in Bethesda to grab something quick. It was super-busy and the items especially overpriced. The lines were very long and confusing. Eventually, customers started cutting the lines and the cashiers did nothing about it. Next time, I would drive to Home Depot, Lowe's or Target to get something. The selection at this Strosniders is great, but the lines and prices are not worth it. read more

Every time I run into Strosniders to grab something I need quickly, I always regret it. Last time, they charged me over $12 for a roll of making tape. That seems to be typical of their pricing. At times their service is OK, at other times I've actually been yelled at. I usually prefer to drive to the Home Depot in Rockville for lower prices, or the (also expensive) hardware store in Glen Echo for better service, even though I live in walking distance of Strosniders. read more

Strosniders is a great local business that is packed full of all the goodies you'd find at any other home improvement store. It feels family oriented and doesn't kill your wallet. The biggest pain is finding parking. read more

Seriously, 4 1/2 stars? For what? nagging employees? Criminally overpriced products? Long checkout lines? Products they don't have that I need? Needed a microwave plate and they don't sell them, they only sell microwaves. Could have easily gotten one online or from one of their competitors, instead I overpayed for a standard glass plate because apparently no one ever breaks the plate in their microwave? Seriously, why would anyone willingly go here and overpay for their products? The Strosnider family has been greedy beyond belief for years and it shows in their pricing and also their attitude. read more

This is place is head and shoulders above Home Depot. THe staff is knowledgeable and helpful. If they don't have something (which is rare), they offer to order it for you. The only negatives are that the aisles are a little small and cramped and the stuff is a little more expensive than Home Despot. Still, I would much rather go here since HD is usually out of whatever you need and you're going to end up frustrated there. read more

Strosniders is crowded-- but that is because the have a lot of variety-- which for me is a plus. The service at the Bethesda store is very good-- a bit better than the Silver Spring store. In some cases the pricing here is higher than the bigger hardware stores but it is a better experience and the service makes it worth it. Bottom line: if I want to look around and enjoy the hardware store experience or just need something quick I will always choose Strosniders first. If I need something big or in larger quantities I will likely go to Home Depot or lowes first. read more

I edited my review due to management reaching out and explaining that the problem I experienced was due to an employee mistake. I was inconvenienced and frustrated, but I appreciate the effort to own their mistakes. read more

I go to the stro all the time! Fast, friendly, convenient, consistent. Many many products, Staff is amazingly competent and helpful. They will know where EVERYTHING is in the store, down to which drawer or which side of the aisle. Large store with basically everything from hardware to home goods, to gifts and in between. Clean, bright, basically the best place I have been in the DMV to get and tools/ hardware / etc. Also, the stro has a larger variety of keys to cut than anyone else from Gaithersburg to Old Town. My office keys are larger than average and the stro is the ONLY place I know that carries them. Everywhere else tells me they can't make the key copy because it is too big. If you need anything except food or clothes, try Strosniders, you won't be disappointed. read more

Strosnider's is amazing. I live just down the block and I can't imaging living without it. It seems like there are several dozen people working the floor at any given time, and the vast majority of them actually know what they're talking about and are genuinely interested in helping you. This is rarely the case at Home Depot or Lowes. The prices are a little higher, especially on electronic gadgets. I suspect this is probably due to the amazing location and extra staff. In my opinion, it's well worth it. read more

As I remembered it from when I lived in Bethesda 40 years ago - packed floor to ceiling with even more stuff than the big box stores, plenty of helpful knowledgeable staff. Still on their game even though I slunk in 10 minutes before closing. Darn, I wish they had a store closer to where I live! read more

The best store where you can find a wide variety of household items that you would not find in other stores. Even soda stream refill that Best Buys do not support anymore you could find it there. It's a household items candy land from tools to fabric cleaners to the green egg! read more

This is a nice, reasonably-sized, well-stocked hardware store that seems to have a bit more local feel and knowledge than you'll find at a Lowes or Home Depot. I came in to buy a sled and a snow shovel before the storm and they managed to answer the phone to tell me they still had sleds and then got me through the line in ~10 minutes despite the fact that it wrapped all the way around the store. It's hard to ask for much more than that from the local hardware store. read more

Knowledgeable staff, excellent range of products, slightly overpriced. I think its great that a store like this still exists in Bethesda. They have basically everything you could ever need for household repairs and minor upgrades. The staff are all very helpful and the senior staff have an incredible breadth of knowledge. They are willing to take the time to explain all your options and give their suggestions. They also somehow manage to retain the airs of a family run place (even though it isn't), which is refreshing given the recent spurts of urbanization in Bethesda. But this doesn't mean that they do not keep up with the times, they can even cut and encode a transponder key (for way cheaper than a dealer BTW). The only possible complaint is that some of the items are slightly overpriced, but I guess this is the result of high rental cost in the area. read more

Great hardware store. The staff here is friendly and very helpful. There's a wide variety of stuff here. But they get five stars for being so well-stocked after the Great Storms (aka snowpocalypse, snowmageddon, snowverkill etc). There were a ton of shovels, de-icing compounds and trash cans available. I kept on hearing stories of how hardware stores were totally ransacked throughout the past week, yet these guys were able to answer the call of snowy duty and had the stuff I needed. Now if only I could get a jackhammer... because the steel shovel I bought just isn't cutting it for destroying this ice!!! read more

This is such an easy review!! Strosniders is how all hardware stores should be!! There is always someone on staff to help you with any question you may have about what ever project you are engaged in. The knowledge is such that I have always gotten a complete and thorough answer to what I think are sometimes complicated questions (me and my crazy projects). I might also point out that I have never waited in line for more that 3-5 minutes, with managers making necessary changes to open more registers immediately if lines get too long. Their prices at times are a little high but it's worth it for the customer service that again is second to none. Since I started going to Strosneiders (almost 10 years now) very rarely go to any other hardware store...it's hard to go any other place when you have had the best read more

I used to get here a lot with my Father picking up that extra thing we needed to finish the job. I just enjoy walking through to see all the stuff they have. The are packed with just about everything and group of people that still knowing how to fix things enough to help you. The parking lot can be packed sometimes but if you go up the far right (facing the store) area of the lot you can usually find a spot. read more

Strosniders Hardware - Inside the store. - Hardware Stores Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

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I have always been a big fan of supporting the local businesses. Sometimes this is a difficult pill to swallow when you know that you may be able to run to the local Home Depot Giant for a better price. Easy economics: bigger company, more buying power = lower prices. What these stores absolutely fail on is customer service. I haven't done the proper research to find out how much I will save on getting that bulb or key made or shovel from going to the Home Depot vs our local Strosniders, but I do know that the amount of frustration will be substantially less at Strosniders. Bottom line is, I don't care! I would gladly pay (more) to be helped by one of their fabulous employees. Aaron, in particular, seems to live there and he is seriously a breath of fresh air every single time I walk into that store. He immediately recognizes me, greets me and asks how he can help me. God, if every business had an Aaron or if we could bottle this man, we would make the world a better place! Doug is also amazing, as are all of the employees, decked out in Red Aprons, who not only are friendly, but actually help you! It just makes me so mad with the super giant Home Depot and their fake advertising... The Orange Aprons are so hard to find, and whenever I go to that store and actually FIND one, and make eye contact, they seem to go running in the other direction. And I am actually probably one of the easiest customers that they will see all day... after all, all I ever need is a damn light bulb or a key made!! PROPS to Strosniders, please keep doing what you do! read more

I am about as girly as they come. I like shopping at Anthropologie, not hardware stores. Except this hardware store. It's amazing--like a boutique version of Home Depot, it has almost everything you could ever want, but all in a manageable size. It has stuff stacked floor to ceiling, but they have some really high end stuff and enough things to interest anyone. Even me. Just wish it were a little closer. read more

They have everything here. Except the 0.5mm plastic tarps the time I was 1/2 way through painting a wall. (They had sold out, so minus a star). Interestingly, some of the prices here are cheaper than what you would pay at Home Depot (not for the same item, but for an equivalent item). So paint rollers are $8 for the 3 pack here (3/8" nap, semi-smooth, ACE brand) and like $11 for a 4 pack (1/2" nap) at Home Depot. The ACE ones are much higher quality, so...that one was a no-brainer. The paint tarps too -- 0.7mm at Home depot for $2, and 0.5mm (better if you are hanging them from the wall because they're lighter) for $1.29 here. With respect to paint -- the paint at Home Depot is cheaper for sure, but...of a lower quality. Benjamin Moore at Ace vs Behr at Home Depot = no contest in quality, but do you want to pay the extra $20-30 per gallon can? Hmmm. The advice you get here is marginally better than the advice at Home Depot. The advice from the paint department = excellent. The advice from the kid in hardware, not so good. I asked him for a drywall saw and I ended up spending $17 on a piece of crap that hacked at the wall (big chunks fell off) rather than slicing through it. Of course, at Home Depot, they would have probably sold me a butter knife or something else equally inappropriate. Oh, also -- they have sleds (real ones, with runners and a wood deck) in the winter. And the grills go on crazy sale in October, if you're into planning ahead. read more

We had an issue with a power tool malfunctioning. Customer service was extremely helpful and it was no hassle at all to resolve it (thank you to Chris who helped us at the store!!) Sometimes there are issues with things from the manufacturer that are beyond the store's control but the way the store handled the issue makes me confident that I will continue to come here for my hardware needs. read more

I am writing to give the highest praise possible to Strosniders generally, and one of their employees, specifically. Chuck at the Bethesda location is amazing. He helped me on a very complicated project and made everything easy. He added real value to the project and was phenomenally nice to boot. Thank you, Chuck, for making things so easy!! read more

They are simply the best. The sales staff is so knowledgeable that they actually can articulate your issue before you can explain it. So helpful. You will never find this kind of help at Home Depot or Lowe's. read more