Len’s Ace Hardware

This is the closest hardware store from my house and I tend to shop here first most often. I’m not the handiest of guys, so I really appreciate the expertise and helpfulness of the staff. (When they’re in the midst of changing over inventory and displays for the next season’s stock you may need their help in finding things.) Their prices seem to be exactly the same as the bigger hardware stores. If you want to support your local businesses, go here first.

Does cost more and small selection but when i am in a pinch they pull through. I have an apartment building near by and when i need something quick i go there. Also the manager is very knowledgeable about everything. It works for me.

Sorry but buikema down the block ppl are much nicer lens staff is not knowledgeable
I brought in a particular weed. They told me to go to Morton arboretum pay $ 10 just to get in to find out what it was !!! I went to Home Depot to find out it was simply a variety of creeping charley. And ppl at lens didn’t know that

I’ve had several very frustrating experiences at this ace. The staff is knowledgeable and helpful, but the checkout process is awful. On multiple occasions I’ve been charged incorrectly, especially when purchasing sale items. This has caused me to have to manually total up my purchased items from the convoluted receipt and then when wrong, go back, wait in an often long checkout line a second time. I’ve gotten the issue corrected each time, but with little apology from the cashier and no other compensation for my time or frustration. If this occurs again I will no longer be a customer here.

Friendly and helpful staff will assist you wherever possible. I get the 10% senior discount with EVERY purchase. Good hours too!

Horrible. Would give 0 stars if that was an option. We have been here a few times, and while not excellent by any means, our trip yesterday was so awful I had to write a review! We were trying to get 2 paint samples and after waiting almost 30 minutes, we were told by the kid at the paint counter that it was not coming out right. He tried twice and even asked for another employees help. They were both trying to find a solution, and when they were unable to, they tried to get the manager to help by contacting him over their walkie talkies. The manager replied that he «didn’t know what to tell them.» I asked the employees what was going on and they said they were waiting for the manager to come help. After waiting with them another 20 minutes for the manager to show up, I decided enough was enough and went to leave. I happened to Finally see the elusive manager, approached him and tried to explain the situation. As I was speaking to him, he was backing away from me, shrugging his shoulders and saying how there is nothing he can do about it! I understand that things don’t always work properly, but it was his attitude and lack of concern for both his employees and a customer that made the situation worse! After spending an hour waiting on something that should have taken 10 minutes, being ignored by the manager and then completely blown off by him when I finally found him, I left disgusted that this man is employed in a customer driven business, let alone the manager! Unacceptable behavior from the one who is supposed to be «in charge.» Horrible.

Over the weekend,
The gods of snow unleashed a fury [as us local folks know] and my acre long driveway was loaded. My plow people bailed on me and left me in a lurch. I got stuck trying to get out of my own driveway this morning and knew it was time to bite the bullet and get a snow plow myself. I was terrified. I’m not good at putting things together and anything that requires gas and oil makes me unsure.
I called Len’s ace hardware in the aftermath of snowmageddon. Yes, they had plows in stock. Headed over, walked in, was helped by 2 men in the snow plow section. Not only did they already have multiple models assembled for me, they explained the features of each AND on the gas models, they already prep them for use. Did you hear me ladies? I’ll say it again. THEY ASSEMBLED, PUT IT TOGETHER AND PUT THE GAS/​OIL IN FOR YOU! They showed me how to work it, they put it in my truck, and in 20 minutes I was HOME doing my own driveway.
All of my panic and worry. GONE. Thanks Len’s Ace Hardware staff!!!

Walked around for about five minutes until I was asked for help. The lady that helped me was friendly but needed more education on what they sell. After searing the store and asking 2 employees She said that they didn’t have what I was looking for but other Ace’s would probably have it. The parking area is also quite small.

I still don’t like this place. A lot of the people they hire aren’t helpful, they’re more like Walmart material. A special hassle is that the drill bits and stuff are locked up and it’s hard to find someone to unlock it. You walk over to the cashier to have them call someone up there and nobody responds so you have to keep trying to get someone. If I didn’t live as far from Home Depot as I did, I would never go here (it’s overpriced here too).

One star? I think it should be zero, but that wasn’t an option. Holy Cow! This was one of the worst customer service experiences I have ever experienced. We turned in our Stihl weed wacker to be repaired by them 8 weeks ago. At the time, they said it would be 7 – 10 business days (max 2 weeks). That seemed reasonable. Although not having a weed wacker in the late spring when the grass is growing like crazy can mean a really bad looking yard. Three weeks later my husband contacted them and asked about the weed wacker progress since we had not heard from them. At first they couldn’t find it and then found it and said it was at the repair shop and they were waiting for an update. Huh? We are already over by a week. We didn’t hear anything. Then we called again a week later. The weed wacker needed a carborater (sp?) and it was on back order. Why didn’t anyone just call to tell us that. We are now at 4 weeks. My husband continued to call to find out what was going on. Unfortunately, they NEVER called us. We had to chase them down every time.
Well after 8 weeks I decided my husband’s nice approach was getting us nowhere. I called and told them I didn’t care if we had our weed wacker or a new one, but I better have one by the end of the day. The manager called back and said the manager of the store where it is being repaired was going to call the parts department on Monday to find out what was going on. My response was that she obviously didn’t listen the first time. I had to have one by the end of the day. She said she didn’t know how that was possible. I responded by saying if they didn’t want to give us a new one, then why didn’t they just take the part out of one of the new ones I was sure they had in stock and use that. I knew they could damage out the one in stock. Her response was «I hadn’t thought of that». You think?!
When she called back, she said that I was right (no kidding!) and that they would deliver it to our house by the end of the day (which was about 4:30…not like we could actually use then!)
I will NEVER go back to this store. I would rather drive twice as far and pay twice as much than to ever go back to this store. It is obvious that their store is not doing well. Hmmm… I wonder why?! Perhaps they need to take some lessons in customer service. The manager continued to make excuses that they didn’t know what was going on with the equipment because the shop was actually at a different store. Seriously? Are they not capable of calling over to that store and then calling us with an update. I understand about back ordered parts, but to never once be contacted to let us know what is going on with our piece of equipment is absolutely not ok.

I frequent Len’s at least 2x a month. I like to support the smaller business owners rather than the big box hardware stores. I’ve given Len’s so many opportunities to help me but almost every time they fall short. I have asked for assistance on almost every occasion and more often than not the men on the floor have not been able to locate what I’m looking for or help me with suggestions for solving a problem. They don’t call when they say they will call and on two occasions they forgot I was outside waiting for help loading mulch, which I ended up doing myself.
The reason why I’m writing this is from my last experience with them 2 weeks ago. I was looking for an item and was told they were out of stock. The man on the floor took my name and number, wrote what I was looking for on an order ticket and told me they would call me when it came in. Two weeks later still no call. I went in this afternoon and the shelf was stocked with what I went in for two weeks ago.
I’m to the point where I’m tired of giving them chances. My Husband thinks I’m crazy for still going to them.
Honestly, I’m all for supporting the small business owner but if I get the same indifferent treatment as the big box store at a cheaper price I think I should just opt for saving more money.
As far as the teenage girls at the register, they do a great job at doing what they are supposed to be doing, ringing people up and they do it with a smile.

I was very satisfied, but I also wasn’t looking to get any help.
I read the earlier reviews and a lot of people seem very dissatisfied with the service or the knowledge of the staff… I experienced neither of these things, but I wasn’t looking for them either.
I came in here knowing what I wanted and I didn’t need/​want someone explaining my options to me. So I entered, read the signs, and moved fairly quickly through the store to find (and obtain) what I wanted. I was asked if I wanted help once, which I declined.
At the registers I also wanted to throw out some old faucet aerators, which two staff members offered to do for me.
Overall, service seemed attentive and they had what I wanted.

I have to put in a review to counterbalance the bad ratings. Len’s checkout teenagers may be less knowledgeable or helpful than Len’s other hardware experts, so subtract 1 star. Unlike nearby Home Depot and Menard’s, however, Len’s has guys who are really helpful and although smaller, the store has things in stock that solve my problem far more often than their big box competitors, Home Depot and Menards. Len’s is more like the old style of hardware store — smaller, but in my experience, better equipped with parts, etc. that actually solve my problem and guys who can show me where it is and how to do it. I go here rather than the local Home Depot or Menard’s when I need guidance.

I shop here all the time and have always received good advice, excellent service. Just came back from seeking a solution to a clogged drain. One of the guys clued me to Zip-​It, a long, plastic strip with hooks. You insert it in the drain and pull out the, yuck, blockage. Worked like a charm! Just one of many examples of ways they’ve helped me. All you gotta do is smile and ask and they’ll help. P. S. I have no business or financial connection to this store. In fact, I don’t even know anyone’s last name, only that they know what they’re talking about

Well I would have to beg to differ with the poor reviews of Lens in GlenEllyn. They could not be more accomodating. Bought a gas grill there and one, very helpful employee Tony found that it wouldnt fit in my small suv. He asked where I lived and he said he lived very close to me and proceeded to put it in his large SUV and delivered it to my home. – in the next 10 minutes!!! HOW MUCH MORE SERVICE CAN YOU GET… ALL the associates were kind and helpful and made me even more convinced that I dont want to do business at a big box store… Ace is THE PLACE –Always!!! with the helpful hardware men!

I agree with both reviews. The two teenage girls at the registers didn’t know where starters were for my flourescent lights and quite obviously didn’t care. I had to ask her to call someone who did know so that I could get them and get back to work. Finally someone who knew something came to help me and couldn’t find the ones I needed, then after about 25 minutes and 3 different guys trying to find the starters, I spotted the box of them set on the bottom shelf with something totally unrelated. Of course when I got to the register with them, I had to wait for the checker to call someone to go and look up the price of them. I only went there because Soukups True Value in Glen Ellyn was out of the ones I needed. If you want to be treated like a valued customer, go there. The owners take my list of things I need and walk me through the store to find them. So nice and so courteous.
Soukup Hardware and Appliances
419 N Main St
Glen Ellyn IL 60 137‑5101
630.469.0448
Ryan Soukup, Manager

Went in for nails and paint chips. Must have wandered the nail aisles for 10 minutes looking for some help, but no one was to be seen. I did, however, hear an employee. In their grill display, a middle aged employee was casually hanging out in a lawn chair, chatting on his CELL PHONE. It sounded like he was conversing with a friend, giving him advice on outdoor lawn mowers. I finally just picked up 6 nails (haven’t hung them yet, hope they hold up my shelves) and proceded to checkout. The teenage girl at the checkout had no idea how much the nails were. So I walked the 5 feet to the aisle to let her know they were 59 cents each. Will I go there again? Yes; I need just one bucket of paint, and I have a 10% off coupon I got off the back of my Dominick’s reciept. I do like the fact that it is a smaller store, not a place to get lost, like Home Depot. And it is relatively close to me. I just hope the customer service improves.

Typical of your 21^st century Ace Hardware. Ace used to be known as the place with the helpful hardware man, but now it’s the place with the punk-​ass teenage employees who don’t know how to do anything, or know where anything is. I was in the area today for a business meeting and on my way out remembered my wife wanted 3M stickies to hang lights inside the house without nailing. I walked up to «Josh» and asked him where the 3M fasteners were. «Deee Deee deeee, I don’t know,» said Josh. So I walked up to the manager with Josh in tow, and asked him where the fasteners were, the manager looked at Josh and said, «How do you not know, you helped me set up the 3M display.» And yes there at the end of aisle 13 was a humungo 3M display, all that was missing was a spot light. My recommendation? Don’t bother asking any of the «employees» where anything is, they don’t know.