Watertown Supply

I love local stores that provide items and service that big box stores simply cannot. Unfortunately, despite my every effort to appreciate Watertown Supply (rather than, say, Home Depot), the service provided by this place is sub-​par. Of course, I turned to the trustworthy Unilocal reviews and see that this has been the experience of many a plumber-​wannabe in the past. Disappointing.
I needed a part for my toilet that Home Depot no longer carried, and I could not find online. I was advised to turn to Watertown Supply, and realized after Googling them that they had been bought out by FW Webb. Essentially, this small business was now part of the corporate world.
I called and asked about part availability 7 times. No, that is not a typo, I called 7 times. These were the responses I got:
Call 1: Person who would know is unavailable. Call back.
Call 2: Try again 1 day later. Person who would know is unavailable. Call back.
Call 3: Try again 2 days later. Person who would know is unavailable. I asked to leave a voicemail for this person. Finally got transferred to a voicemail and left a message.
Call 4: No response for 1 week. Try again. Person who would know is unavailable. Call back.
Call 5: Try again 1 day later. Finally spoke to the person who might know, and was told the part would be shipped in next week and I would receive a call when it arrived.
Call 6:2 weeks pass, and no call. I call back, and was told the person was not sure if it had arrived and to try calling back tomorrow.
Call 7: I am finally told the part has arrived. My son heads into the store to pick up the part. Upon arrival, he is ignored for 5 minutes, then is given the wrong part, yelled at for not knowing what part I had ordered, then when they realized the part has a customer printout on it with someone else’s name, suddenly another employee shows up to find the part we ordered.
The store is a shitshow. It is poorly organized. If I had a choice, I would never return to Watertown Supply. 2 stars because they were the only store locally who had the part.

Went in with my defunct hand shower head and asked about a replacement. Got something suitable on the spot — and at a very low price.
True, the weather was poor, it was about 2:30pm so there was maybe one other customer — obviously a plumbing professional — and no line. Just the same, they hit the nail on the head.

«Every customer counts»
Then why did nobody help after standing at the counter in front of 2 employees? I saved myself the trouble and walked out.

Turns out only open till noon on Saturday, not 1pm as Google says at the time I am writing this. We got in at 12:40 but a guy happened to be around and helped us out with our amateur hour plumbing project for quite a while. He was also really funny. We also were considering doing something expensive and stupid, he guided us to something that made much more sense for out situation. Also if someone from WTS reads this: consider the MIT Parking and Transportation coffee mug we managed to forget on your service desk a gift :-)
UPDATE: The hours are something it’s not easy to list in Google /​Yelp /​etc. because they vary with the season. See
for current hours; at this moment they are:
Business Hours
Monday — Friday 7am — 5pm
Saturdays 8am — 1pm
Memorial Day to Labor Day
Monday — Friday 7am — 5pm
Saturdays 8am — 12 noon

Very disappointing. I was told the would have the part I needed and would be very helpful. I was even told that they could UPS the part for me as I live in Nashua, NH. When I called to person I spoke to couldn’t have been ruder and less helpful. He had no time to listen to my needs and did not offer any help. He told me that he didn’t have time for this and I would need to come down. What a regretful experience when I expected much more.

I am compelled to write about this business after reading some negative reviews. I am not a contractor and needed some parts for my 14 year old faucets. They were very helpful and could not have been nicer. They do post a sign that contractors get priority.
I can understand that. The place has parts that no one else has. I would rather wait 10 minutes or longer if I have to than get the run a round which you receive at the large chain stores. I was very pleased with my service and hope the negative reviews do not sway you from going there.

Rude. You wait in the retail line (not obvious) where no one actually comes over. Would be much better if they made that clear when you walk in the door – they don’t – they just walk away from you. Why advertise any retail business at all if they don’t care about a customer that pays double? I’ll go back to staying away from this type, and they’ll go back to staying away from mine. I eventually ordered online from someone else, and probably paid less. I wouldn’t bother unless you’re a union plumber with a wholesale account with them – they seemed to get first class attention.

These guys have everything you need and know the answers to all your questions. Once again they understood what parts I needed (even though I couldn’t explain well as I’m an amateur) and instantly gave me the right stuff. Saved lots of money by fixing the problem with their help rather than having to call a plumber.
Works best to go there, and bring the related parts, or at least a picture.

paint supply specialist. it can get no better than the people at watertown supply when it comes to information on anything general and paint.

This is probably the best kept secret in the area for plumbing supplies. Old time knowledgable service experts. They seem to have everything you need for plumbing and the parts are great quality. Why I forget they are here, I don’t know.
After wasting time and money in the big box stores for the wrong toilet lever for my vintage toilet, I finally came here. Counter person whipped out an actual book and looked up the correct part. Works great.
I have also purchased steam valves here that work great.
As stated, you may have to wait a bit if not a professional but they have coffee to make the time pass. I spent less time here waiting for the correct part. Do it once, do it right.

This is where the plumbers shop in the greater Boston area. Seriously, they can get you pretty much anything you need as far as plumbing related supplies go.

This is, hands-​down, the best place in the area to go for plumbing supplies. We have a house that dates back to the mid-​40s and needed to replace an original stem for a shower faucet. After doing a bunch of research I was able to figure out the manufacturer and the model. I went to a big box hardware store where they recommended an entire overhaul (cutting pipe in the wall, sweat soldering, etc.), because they had nothing that was close and offered no other options. I called some plumbing supply stores nearby without finding anything, but one of them recommended Watertown Supply. I called, they had it in stock, I picked it up and it worked perfectly. If you are looking for a hard-​to-​find part for an older fixture, these guys probably have it (they told me they had parts for fixtures dating back to 1904). Prices are good compared to the online sources I checked. They do have separate counters for professionals and non, and if you’re not a professional you wont get counter service until the pros are all done. It can be a long wait. If you know what you need, you can call and they will put it aside for you at the pickup counter. No waiting there when I went in.

If you want to hang with the Plumbers who are in the Union, too bad you need to wait in the non-​union line. Other than that, these dudes will help you get what you need to fix your sink, toilet, etc., without all the drudgery and bad advice and non-​carrying b-​shit of Home Depot. They have great prices, great customer service and they will explain to you what it is you need to do to be a fix it yourself kind of being.