Ace Hardware

I frequent ACE 1 – 2 a week, close to home, neighborhood quick stop, always are courteous and helpful.
Definitely don’t have everything of Menards or Home Depot then again it’s not what their business model is. That’s like comparing a Walmart to a Walgreens. Always an easy go-​to for short term easy around the house fixes or necessities.
Have to agree, the older more tenured employees definitely are a little more rough around the edges, but get passed that are very knowledgable.

Ace is the place?
This is your typical old style Ace Hardware store that is nothing like a Home Depot, Menards or even the more modern Ace Hardware stores. It is located at the end of a group of a store front mall. They have the typical stuff that you will find at most of the other Ace’s but just not as much stuff. Of course you will find Weber Grills, plants (out front), garden tools, Ace paint and much more.
There is a place in the market for this type of store. For me I pick up our yard waste bags and yard waste stickers.

In an era where we have Home Depot & Menards, the only reason I go to Ace in Wauconda is to get Wauconda lawn stickers. While I’m there, if I notice a product I need, I would get it also.
I was told that they can sharpen the lawn mower blades & that’s good to know.

Ok, so there are surely positives and negatives when it comes the ACE Hardware in Wauconda.
I shop at this Ace Hardware a lot (at least 2 – 3 times a week) since it is near my house and on my way home from work. I have been shopping there for the better part of 5 years. It seems that the newer staff has been trained to go out of their way to help customers and answer questions. The more tenured staff likes to ignore you and talk down to you.
The store does tend to have the items I want in stock, and I don’t have to buy them in bulk (like at the big box hardware stores) Items tend to be more expensive than the big box hardware stores unless it has a mail in rebate.
Positives are: location (Don’t have to drive 25 minutes to the nearest big box hardware store), the rewards program and Mail in rebates (I have gotten many purchases for free or just a few dollars).
Negatives: Pricey on most items compared to big box hardware stores, Staff, some of the more tenured staff are not very helpful or courteous. and lastly checkout can be a loooong wait at times

Typical Ace hardware store.