Tl;dr: this store has amazing customer service - Junior gave 110% effort to making sure I left Tap Plastics with the perfect products for my family's needs. He was extremely patient in listening to what we were looking for, and showed me a variety of different options around the store. Background: I ended up at Tap in search of plastic display cases (for cherished figurines), and plastic display frames for pictures. The SF store seems to have a much wider selection of the 'Showcase Plastic Boxes' than the San Mateo store. Thanks to Junior's expert guidance, I left the store with a variety of boxes that perfectly fit all of the objects (big & small!) that we were looking to encase. It was as if we'd gotten them custom made! Pro tip: Know the dimensions of the objects you're looking to encase beforehand, or simply bring them with you to the store and let the magic unfold. read more

Thank you Junior and your plastic craftsman for replicating a clear plastic pick guard for my Gibson Les Paul Custom Shop R9 guitar. It looks great and a perfect match to perfectly fit on my guitar without any problems. Now, I can show off the wood-work of the full body of my guitar while protecting the it from my picking motions when I play. Thank you for rushing my order and for the excellent service. All of you treated me so well, and you treated me like I was your only customer when you had a bunch of customers in your shop today, 5-November-2025. I wish you all the best, and I will be a return customer. /s/ Alfonso Faustino read more

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I'm clueless when it comes to the world of plastic materials. Hubby was interested in obtaining materials to create a mold. I went along for the ride. I'd been here before in the past but can't recall what I purchased. They carry plastic containers and cases and frames so I might have come for those. The staff was very helpful in advising hubby what materials were needed. There's a customer parking lot adjacent to the store. I noticed it after I paid for street parking. On this visit I purchased two 4 oz. plastic beakers for liquid measurements in the kitchen. I'll see how long they hold up. $0.55 each. Overall 4.0 for great customer service and convenient parking. read more

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To be frank about this most noteworthy business, I think their prices are a bit too high; however, once you get past that you'd discover the countless things that TAP Plastics can do for you. I've gone there to get them to cut a thick and unbreakable top to cover a circular table; noticed that they could cut a thinner and more flexible replacement plastic window for my soft top RAV 4, even something with an appropriate thinness for framing an unusually sized map. read more

TAP was a great resource and go-to for us when we were in San Francisco. They had what we needed and when we needed it. Recently stopped in while we were back for a business trip. Hadn't changed much if at all. Same friendly helpful faces and everything I needed was in stock. read more

I just came from Tap and as usual the guys there are always fantastic. Igor, Edgar and Jr. Are always ready and able to help with anything you need. I was very disappointed in one thing though. They removed the display of all the small plastic bottles and jars. It was an ingeniously simple but effective way of not only saving the customer time in seeing all the small stuff you didn't know you needed, but saving the staff from having to go check a price on a million little things I find to buy there. Whoever decided to fix what's not broken needs to rethink that one. Otherwise 5 stars as usual. read more

I wanted to personally thank Max for his service!!!! So nice!!! Initially i received a lot of condescending comments from the shop director and was honestly so rude to me I walked out and cried I want to thank Max for personally taking this project on when I came back. I think this is what TAP should be about and the kindness and genuine excitement to pursue the project made up for the initial rejection I had. If there is ever a need for a genuine human conversation with understanding and actual listens to the customer without talking down to them. I would 1000% recommend TAP specifically ask for Max thank you ! read more

Thank you to Edgar who helped me immensely on my tiny project - repairing a fridge drawer rather than buying a $200+ replacement drawer. It's an old school kind of biz in the best possible way. read more

I walked in today with a few bathroom shelving needs. Within no time I was being served, given my options, watched Egor meticulously measure my items and in no time my order was ready! I'm really impressed and grateful San Francisco has such a great company as Tap Plastics! read more

This place is great. Who actually makes anything anymore? I needed a clear plexiglass barrier to fix a weird stair gap. I went in with a cardboard mock-up and was promptly helped. After about a 15 minute wait for them to cut the piece, I was on my way. The store is interesting to walk around and browse while you wait. Employees were nice. Free customer parking on the right side of the building. read more

I've been here many times but when I went there to get a piece of white acrylic , Dante told me they don't have the 3/8" ones. So, he told me to get the pvc ones which I asked if I can glue it together and he says yes. I just glued it and it's not very strong in holding. And yes, I know it takes a while for it to be cured but it's definitely not as strong as the acrylic bonding together. I used the number 16 glue they sell. I'm not sure why he would tell me they don't carry the 3/8" acrylic. I bought it from them about 2-3 months ago. Also, I tried to get a piece of clear plastic that is 3/8" thick, 2"x5" and he tried to charge me $19 and some change(for one piece) which I didn't get cuz that's ridiculous! I've bought that size before costing around $3 or less. Either he doesn't know how to calculate or he's just ripping people off. Update! So I went to Tap Plastic in San Mateo 2 hours later and bought a piece that was 2"x5" and was charged $1.38. I'm curious, why did Dante try to overcharge me at $19?? As far as the 3/8 or 1/2" white, I was told in San Mateo that they stopped carrying it a couple months ago or so. read more

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Very unprofessional behavior on the part of the sales people at this location. I dropped off dimensions for a project and returned the following week only to be met with sarcasm and indifference. I guess they don't need business. read more

One of the most interesting stores even if you not buying anything. Anything you could imagine in the plastic world from sculpture to home repairs. Great store layout and fairly priced with a very knowledgeable staff willing to help . Even if you didn't come in with solid ideas the stock will get your gears spinning. Highly recommended. read more

TAP Plastics is an SF gem. They have a lot of different types of material in unfinished form (plus a few commercial/industrial 'finished' products like acrylic display cubes). The staff there is super friendly and knowledgeable. They helped my son and I purchase a small bit of acrylic for a Halloween costume, and talked us through how to shape it using our oven. Please support them if you need a plastic thing! read more

I finally found time to repair the plastic on my gate after many years of damage. I watch a few videos on Youtube and decided to do it myself. I ran into Tap Plastic - San Francisco with the measurements and was greeted by Edgar. He was extremely knowledgeable about the different types of plastics and reinforced what I learned on YT. He also recommended their plastic drill bit which cuts into the plastic much cleaner then the ones for wood and metal. Edgar was great. I was able to drill screw holes and cut the mail box slots and mounted the new piece of poly carbonate plastic on my gate. I'm so happy with the results. Thank you Edgar! read more

TAP Plastics - Hobby Shops Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Thank you Max for helping me find the right material. I believe this would be long lasting and bought at a fair price. I appreciate your help and patience! Thank you too to Mateo for providing wonderful customer service.! I appreciate you both! read more

Service! No stupid questions and great recommendations! Parking is easy in an area that you pass by frequently but never stop in. It's worth the time. read more

Everyone is super nice and knowledgeable here, and the prices are so reasonable! I'm super shy but everyone here put me at ease. I was looking to create a fish tank cover with cutouts for my filter etc and Junior turned out also to be an aquarium enthusiast! I didn't come in with questions, but he educated me on the thickness of the acrylic meant to go under LED lights and heated water, whether or not it'll bow over time, how much light will pass through to my plants, and so on! He's so nice and patient, and made sure that my cover was the perfect dimensions. The cutouts are an additional $5 for each in addition to the price of the rectangular acrylic and the entire custom piece came out much cheaper than the pet shop. In addition, Edgar and one other person (sorry, I forgot his name!) helped answer questions about other pieces in the store and their customization. The plastic containers = food safe, great for use as travel bottles, and basically wholesale price--how could you beat that? read more

I needed a custom acrylic circle for a router table and was able to get exactly what I needed from TAP. The custom circle form was easy to fill out, and they sent over easy to follow instructions for creating a diagram for holes. Vanny responded to my questions right away and get my order completed and shipped out to me super fast. read more

I just received a million-dollar service for only $17.00 item bought!!!!! I live an hour from Tap, so their staff tried extra hard to provide exactly what I needed, professionally packed it up, and shipped it to me! It was pure excellence. Management at the San Francisco store should be proud of their staff. An extra shout-out for GEORGY! Thank you very much. P.S. It's an amazing store too, so stop by and visit! read more

I was happy with my plexiglass . Delivery was longer than expected but packed very secure read more

TAP Plastics - Replacement glass - Hobby Shops Near Me - San Francisco, California

Happiness Is a Custom-Built A/C Vent Window! These guys rock. TONS of stuff to choose from. Flawless and friendly service. PERFECT pricing. SHout out to ROY!!! Thank you guys. read more

TAP Plastics - Hobby Shops Near Me - San Francisco, California

I experienced terrific customer service at Tap Plastics a few weekends ago. I had a fairly odd request, a 72" x 12 custom piece I could use as a shelf for my closet. I wanted a really thin piece, not a typical 3/4" thick white premade shelf board because I had limited space. They helped me decide on 1/4" thickness by showing me how anything thinner would bow severely. I happened to be the only customer there at the time, so both salesmen (sorry, did not get their names) gave me suggestions about how I might go about mounting it. I took my time wandering around the store (who knew they had so many cool things?) and by the time I checked out the store was crowded and a 3rd salesman checked me out. He was very friendly also. Will be a repeat customer! read more

TAP Plastics - acrylic shelf separates sweaters in tight area - Hobby Shops Near Me - San Francisco, California

Always courteous and helpful staff to assist with project customers are working on. Now been here twice for specialty cut acrylics etc always on point read more

Let me begin with the fact that I've been to Tap Plastics several times. They've always been very helpful & fulfill my order in a timely fashion. However, today I was VERY disappointed. The gentleman that was waiting on me was wearing a mask that only half covered his upper lip & completely left his nose exposed. THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. Today it was reported that the first case of the omicron variant in the United States was discovered here in San Francisco. Studies have shown that an unmasked individual interacting with a masked individual has a 70% chance of infecting that person. Furthermore, it's not clear that the vaccine which I was given will protect me fully from the omicron variant. How can I feel safe supporting a business that can't require the basic public health measures for it's customers? Restaurants are closed by the public health department if they have roaches or rats. I expect the same attention to public health measures by ALL businesses I frequent. That means that Tap Plastics should instruct their employees that they need to be wearing a mask properly if they are going to be interacting with the public. BTW, when I asked the man to wear his mask properly he grabbed it & covered his upper lip. He left his nose uncovered. He's either a complete narcissist who doesn't care what he exposes his customers to, or he needs to be educated about the proper way to wear a mask. read more

Came to store to get some acrylic pieces for a project and was help by Junior at the store. And he educated and showed me other materials that would be better for what u was doing and help get the right stuff for my project. Junior is truly helpful and a real nice guy. And I would recommend this place to anyone. Thank you Junior. read more

What a great place! I needed to cover a window untilit it gets repaired. I brought in the screen and they cut a plastic sheet to fit exactly the measurements of my screen. I wasn't in the store 20 minutes. Tjey also offered helpful suggestions for my project. There were also a few other items that I was happy to pick up (small plastic boxes and painter's tape) read more

Thanks to TAP plastics for enabling another one of my automotive projects. This is the third time I've come in looking for a specific cut, thickness and pattern of plastic for a project. Just came in for a 5x34 piece to help retain a headliner in a camper van. They cut the piece to fit and I was on my way in just a few minutes. Service was helpful and gave me several options on material. Will be back for my next project. read more

TAP Plastics - Hobby Shops Near Me - San Francisco, California

This place is a gem. I've been going to TAP forever...Whenever we need acrylic artworks to decorate our house, this is the perfect place to get materials for our projects. Dante is super sharp and good at explaining things, and everyone I encountered here is helpful and friendly. Very convenient to have TAP in the city! read more

Neded some small acrylic squares cut and polished to fit a bathroom stand. The guys at TAP Plastics did the job quickly and the squares came out perfectly. The place to go for any "plastic" needs. They are the best! read more

TAP Plastics - Hobby Shops Near Me - San Francisco, California

Everyone at tap was very attentive and gave great suggestions as I was trying to work through options. Hearing that I worked for a non-profit they wanted to find me the best solution for the most economic. We have worked with them for over 22 years and will keep giving them our business. read more

Jacobo & his staff went above & beyond to help me bring an acrylic display shelf back to life after it was damaged in a smash & grab at my retail store. And this is one of those things that honestly would have been super expensive to get completely new, so I'm very grateful and appreciative for their help! read more

TAP Plastics - Hobby Shops Near Me - San Francisco, California

The crew at Tap Plastic went above and beyond my expectations. They built a custom Turtle basking platform for my aquarium and the end result was under budget and was finished a week before the target date. My turtle is happy and when I buy a bigger aquarium I will have them build a bigger basking platform. read more

TAP Plastics - Turtle Tank - Hobby Shops Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I have nothing bad to say about this establishment . The gentlemen I spoke to were pleasant & informative. The work they did for me was rite on & were reasonably fast on completion (same day). The reason I gave TAP Plastics 4 stars is because I think the work charged was a little pricey, however, the work done was perfect. You get what you pay for. read more

During Covid, like most people it's time to work on homely things. I have an older light fixture recessed in my ceiling. The cover warped due to the heat of the lightbulb. I called several light fixture stores to replace it with no luck. So I took my chance at Tap Plastics. It was great because no customers were present on a Saturday morning. And I got two of the Dopest people to help me. Junior not only recommended different colors I can use to change my light fixture, he also was cool enough to cut the plastic light fixtures for me. I got several different colors for varying moods. And all of it cost me less than 20 bucks, I would have gladly paid 40. They are super helpful and Junior is the man! I highly recommend this place for any DIY projects. They know their shit! read more

Been coming here for years now, unfortunately; nothing inside really changed except for the prices. Before I came here for their heavy grade small craft bags, a bit cheaper than the Container Store. And I would get their small little acrylic boxes which I used for gifts, also cheaper than Container. Now that I came back over the years, nothing inside has changed. Still the same stuff. read more

TAP Plastics - So hard to find 2.5" spigot - Hobby Shops Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Simply put, I could not have completed a couple big DIY projects without this place. The first one was an acrylic window insert to allow use of a portable air conditioner in my miserably hot apartment. I really had no idea what I was doing, but the staff helped me pick out the right materials and gave me some advice on how to get them the exact measurements they would need to cut me a custom acrylic sheet just right the first time - which they did. The second project was much bigger, and it was to my surprise that they even had materials thick enough. I decided to look into replacing some of the wood planks on my deck with acrylic planks to let light in underneath - and because I thought it would look cool. (Update: it does.) I couldn't find anyone else on earth (or rather, the internet) that had done the same thing so I looked into buying raw materials and determined that custom cut acrylic - if at least 3/4" thick - would be strong enough to bear the weight. To my surprise, TAP had acrylic this thick, and options even thicker. To reduce flexing I decided to go with 1" thick acrylic (which I think is actually some metric number that turns out to be .944" thick). I was tempted to go to 1.5" acrylic, which would've made the acrylic planks as thick as my existing wood planks without shimming, but that would've tripled (yes tripled) the cost vs 1". Who knew? Anyway, I gave them very precise measurements with little room for error, and they got most of them exactly right. There were a few cuts or holes that were a little bit off, and they happily fixed them for me, at their cost. It's worth mentioning that if you bring a small job (say one plank under 4 feet long with 6 holes) in during the morning or with enough time before close, they can sometimes do it the same day. But larger or later jobs will require up to a few days before you can pick them up. read more

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It you are a crafty do-it yourself-er and have not been to TAP, you should check it out. I've used TAP Plastics on many projects in the past for work, but this time I contacted them to make a custom piece for our home. We designed a custom shade pendant for our dining room and I wanted to order a diffuser for it to soften the light. I faxed over my requirements and it was ready the same day, within a few hours. I love the efficent service and always keep them in mind whenever the situation arrives where you just need something custom. Because you never know when you'll need something that doesn't fit the standard sizes that stores offer, or something that they just don't offer like replacements for glass in frames, custom storage inserts or solutions or replacements for cabinet panels and windows. Do it yourself! read more

I've come to TAP Plastics for multiple projects, it's time for a review. I'll just say that customer service reps are a real hit or miss here. Here are the guys I've worked with so far. Scott: Super helpful. I always go to him for my laser engraved labels. I'm literally in and out within 10 minutes with piece of mind that my designs will work out great. (5/5) Kiowa: Tends to be a little quiet., but once you get him going, he's really helpful. I went to him after I had to deal with Mike...he made sure that all my plastic pieces were smooth and we built the pieces on the spot (without glue) to make sure it would fit in my container. He noticed that I had a little gap, so he replaced one piece with another 1/8" thicker. (4/5) Mike: I literally wander around the store now waiting for someone else to get to the counter when I see Mike there. He won't help you measure a thing...that way, he can cover himself if it doesn't work cause he'll just say it was your fault. And apparently you have to clarify every last bit with him. I had acrylic cut that was very rough...he bluntly told me "well, you didn't ask to smooth it"...he also charges a ridiculous price for everything...$90/hr for gluing my pieces of plastic together? And that he needed 3 hours for it....$270 dollars for gluing plastic pieces together in 90 degree angles?? WHY DID I GO TO COLLEGE? (0/5) read more

Excellent service. I made a sketch of my requirements for a marine grade plastic. It was cut to size quickly and efficiently. Much pleased with excellent service! read more