Ace Hardware 20% off bag sale this Saturday only

[ford33]

Saturday Feb 21st only. Ace Hardware 20% off any items that fit in the paper bag.

Not sure it applies in all areas of the country. I live in Chicago.

 

[NBHD]

It's nationwide. The fine print:

Exclusions: Power tools and small appliances qualify for a 10% discount. Offer valid February 21, 2015, only. Discount applies to the regular price of in-stock merchandise that can fit inside the bag at one time. Merchandise placed in the bag must remain in its original packaging. Not valid on fuel, bagged fertilizer, sale and clearance priced merchandise, online purchases, rental, in-store services, Ace gift cards, city stickers/garbage tags, lumber, previously purchased merchandise, Weber[emoji768], and Stihl[emoji768] branded products, and other items that each participating store may designate, or in conjunction with any other coupon, excluding Rewards. Discount does not apply to phone orders, special orders or store charge accounts. No rain checks will be given. LIMIT ONE BAG AND ONE OFFER REDEMPTION PER CUSTOMER. Offer good in USA except where prohibited or otherwise restricted by law. Additonal exclusions may apply. See store for details. Ace stores reserve the right to limit any customer’s purchase quantities to five (5) on any item. Customers will receive this bag at participtating retailers.

 

[riggs1117]

I got the flyer near Youngstown, Looking at the 24 crescent wrench.

 

[Southernbuild]

Last year, after buying some stuff at Ace, I got Home Depot to match the 20% off as well!

 

[Marc Benjamin]

I haven't been in one in over a year and never bought tools there.

What's regularly cheap there?

 

[Southernbuild]

Might be a good chance to score some USA NOS Craftsman tools, at a discount....

 

[Caman]

So now I only have to pay 10% OVER retail? Mmmmkay....

 

[DSM21]

So now I only have to pay 10% OVER retail? Mmmmkay....

Yeah seriously their prices are high

 

[quattroJoe]

I haven't been in one in over a year and never bought tools there.

What's regularly cheap there?

Not much! Most of the Jorgensen clamps are still US made and are pretty fairly priced. They're transitioning to Chinese though, so make sure you check. May be worth stocking up on consumables and fasteners. They also carry Gearwrench (dual branded for Ace) at about normal retail price, but the 20% could help if you need singles to fill out a set.

 

[Davefr]

Yeah seriously their prices are high

Not really. Ace Hardware is the last resort for me and often a lifesaver if I'm in the middle of a project and need something hardware related.

If they don't have it, then the alternative is the industrial suppliers like Mcmaster or MSC and they're typically a lot higher priced and you have to pay shipping and wait.

Ace saves me time and money and fortunately we have a really well stocked Ace run by guys that believe in stocking the uncommon stuff.

 

[Banjorear]

Not really. Ace Hardware is the last resort for me and often a lifesaver if I'm in the middle of a project and need something hardware related.

If they don't have it, then the alternative is the industrial suppliers like Mcmaster or MSC and they're typically a lot higher priced and you have to pay shipping and wait.

Ace saves me time and money and fortunately we have a really well stocked Ace run by guys that believe in stocking the uncommon stuff.

This. I agree 100%.

 

[orb27]

Received an email today with coupon for early bird access to the sale Friday for Ace club members, Has my name and "home store" printed on it. I wonder if it's only good for that location?

 

[Tellingthem]

Received an email today with coupon for early bird access to the sale Friday for Ace club members, Has my name and "home store" printed on it. I wonder if it's only good for that location?

I think any rewards member can go tonight. And I don't think its store specific. My store had a sign up saying that earlier in the week. I haven't gotten an email yet but I'm going tonight after work. But again each franchise may do things differently so ymmv.

As for prices my local one goes from quite reasonable to outrageously expensive. So there are some deals to be had but some even with the discount are still quite high.

 

[scootr29]

MY local ACE Hardware *****....it is like I have insulted them by walking through the door...plus it a dirty nasty store...

 

[PatStroud]

20% off doesn't do much to excited me at ACE ....... they are way over priced to start.

 

[djb2]

We have several excellent Ace stores in my area. They are well staffed with helpful people, so many that you are asked if you need help every minute or two.

They hire people that look in their late teens, but must spend a lot of time training them. I frequently see one-on-one training when I'm there during quite times, something that I never see in other stores.

Their regular prices give the impression of being on the high side, but there are solid reasons to go there. For most people, the advice more than makes up for any higher price. For me, the service at one store's plumbing counter is amazing. They'll match the o-ring or washer, dab the right sections with silicone grease, install it, and hand it to me in a plastic bag. All for the loose parts cost, which is almost always less than the price of a bagged o-ring at HD or Lowes.

And really, the prices are usually not bad. The easy-to-compare items like bulk electrical outlets are higher. But once you move out of the builder grade, prices are comparable. Packaged hardware is about the same, while loose hardware is cheaper.

As for tools, it's certainly not my go-to place for casual shopping. I'll usually only buy the monthly specials, which can be quite good deals. Example: the 4 pc Gearwrench ratcheting wrenches with Ace Professional branding are marked $33, and they go on sale for $10.

 

[Vegaman_Dan]

I wouldn't bother with it for tools or paint or really much at ACE since a bag is too small and the discount is only on regular price.

BUT that said, I would be tempted to go hit up their nuts and bolts / fasteners section and see if it's worth doing. Some stores do sales by item number and price, some do it by the pound. That could be useful for specialized items.

 

[Davefr]

I don't understand all the whining about pricing. Maybe it's different where you are, but for me ACE is the only B&M store where:

- I can buy individual drill bits, taps, dies in fractional, metric, number or letter. (even L.H.)
- Match up an 0-ring
- Get a high tech automotive key cut other then at the overpriced dealer
- Match up a spring
- Find fasteners like cap screws, grade 8, metric, brass, ss, etc AND buy the exact quantity I want
- Buy individual screwdrivers. (even specialty screwdrivers)
- Get various shapes/sizes of specialty metals like brass, copper, ss and aluminum
- Buy machinists fluids like tapping fluids and layout fluids

The list goes on and on.

The alternative would be to order this stuff from industrial suppliers and likely be forced to buy larger quantities, pay shipping and wait for the "brown snail" to ship it across the country.

At least for me, Ace saves me time and money.

 

[FJ 432]

IThe alternative would be to order this stuff from industrial suppliers and likely be forced to buy larger quantities, pay shipping and wait for the "brown snail" to ship it across the country.

At least for me, Ace saves me time and money.

My sentiments exactly. My time is worth more than waiting.

Long live Brick and Mortar hardware stores.

 

[Chicken]

I don't understand all the whining about pricing. Maybe it's different where you are, but for me ACE is the only B&M store where:

- I can buy individual drill bits, taps, dies in fractional, metric, number or letter. (even L.H.)
- Match up an 0-ring
- Get a high tech automotive key cut other then at the overpriced dealer
- Match up a spring
- Find hardware like cap screws, grade 8, metric, brass, ss, etc AND buy the exact quantity I want
- Buy individual screwdrivers. (even specialty screwdrivers)
- Get various shapes sizes of specialty metals like brass, copper, ss and aluminum
- Buy machinists fluids like tapping fluids and layout fluids

The list goes on and on.

The alternative would be to order this stuff from industrial suppliers and likely be forced to buy larger quantities, pay shipping and wait for the "brown snail" to ship it across the country.

At least for me, Ace saves me time and money.

THIS^^ and they are open past 5 pm week days and later on weekends. Which is great since I work during 'regular business hours' - ALL local industrial supply stores close by the time I am out of work and they are never open weekends (my only chance to work on projects)

 

[Caman]

I don't understand all the whining about pricing. Maybe it's different where you are, but for me ACE is the only B&M store where:

- I can buy individual drill bits, taps, dies in fractional, metric, number or letter. (even L.H.)
- Match up an 0-ring
- Get a high tech automotive key cut other then at the overpriced dealer
- Match up a spring
- Find fasteners like cap screws, grade 8, metric, brass, ss, etc AND buy the exact quantity I want
- Buy individual screwdrivers. (even specialty screwdrivers)
- Get various shapes/sizes of specialty metals like brass, copper, ss and aluminum
- Buy machinists fluids like tapping fluids and layout fluids

The list goes on and on.

The alternative would be to order this stuff from industrial suppliers and likely be forced to buy larger quantities, pay shipping and wait for the "brown snail" to ship it across the country.

At least for me, Ace saves me time and money.

Your opinion will change if your store ever starts targeting the female market. The ones around me have nicknaks and other overpriced chochkis and don't seem to care about being a HARDWARE store anymore. The Menards near me seems to have taken over with having almost all the needs on your list. Minus the Machinist Dykem. And MUCH CHEAPER.

 

[Fordman7795]

I don't understand all the whining about pricing. Maybe it's different where you are, but for me ACE is the only B&M store where:

- I can buy individual drill bits, taps, dies in fractional, metric, number or letter. (even L.H.)
- Match up an 0-ring
- Get a high tech automotive key cut other then at the overpriced dealer
- Match up a spring
- Find fasteners like cap screws, grade 8, metric, brass, ss, etc AND buy the exact quantity I want
- Buy individual screwdrivers. (even specialty screwdrivers)
- Get various shapes/sizes of specialty metals like brass, copper, ss and aluminum
- Buy machinists fluids like tapping fluids and layout fluids

The list goes on and on.

The alternative would be to order this stuff from industrial suppliers and likely be forced to buy larger quantities, pay shipping and wait for the "brown snail" to ship it across the country.

At least for me, Ace saves me time and money.

For the small one off things i go to ace (plus i used to work there and am still friends with everyone, and 10% "former employee" discount). Single nuts or bolts in weird sizes. Small pieces of pipe (sold by the foot). Yes, some of their prices are higher. But being conveniently located to me helps.

 

[PowerDubs]

Local store won't honor the sale unless you have a flyer in hand.

 

[andrewd]

If the local Ace was open on weekends I might consider it

That makes ZERO business sense, especially when the majority of your customer base is weekend tinkerers.

 

[dh1]

I went to one this morning and the stuff that would qualify for the bag discount would still be cheaper elsewhere.

I did pick up 2 gallons of oops paint/Benjamin Moore off white color for $5 a gallon. Still have a $5 of $35 coupon I couldn't find a use for.

 

[vartz04]

I don't understand all the whining about pricing. Maybe it's different where you are, but for me ACE is the only B&M store where:

- I can buy individual drill bits, taps, dies in fractional, metric, number or letter. (even L.H.)
- Match up an 0-ring
- Get a high tech automotive key cut other then at the overpriced dealer
- Match up a spring
- Find fasteners like cap screws, grade 8, metric, brass, ss, etc AND buy the exact quantity I want
- Buy individual screwdrivers. (even specialty screwdrivers)
- Get various shapes/sizes of specialty metals like brass, copper, ss and aluminum
- Buy machinists fluids like tapping fluids and layout fluids

The list goes on and on.

The alternative would be to order this stuff from industrial suppliers and likely be forced to buy larger quantities, pay shipping and wait for the "brown snail" to ship it across the country.

At least for me, Ace saves me time and money.

For me that store is farm and fleet. A little pricey compared to menards but it's the closest place to my house and I can go in and get fertilizer, a grade 8 metric bolt, dog food, grinding disks, an oil filter, a case of soda, a shovel and a box of shotgun shells all in the same store.

My office was across the street (construction company) and we spent a fortune in that place buying little odd ball stuff.

 

[Davefr]

You don't have a Lowe's? Home Depot? Fastenal? Tractor Supply? Sears?

Yes, all except Tractor Supply but none of them stock the stuff I mentioned.

 

[dsp1]

The best hardware store around me by far is owned and run by an old woman. She really knows her sh!t. Has a ton of stuff you can't find anywhere else and is really knowledgeable. Now the girl at the register is your run of the mill incompetent idiot you find in pretty much all retail stores.

 

[whyNick?]

You can buy individual drill bits and screwdrivers at Sears. Pretty sure you can get individual taps and dies there, too. I've never been in a Fastenal, but don't they have all of the fasteners you could ever want? That's what I've heard anyway. They have crappy hours so I've never been in one.

My problem with Ace is that the only decent one is 20 miles away. There's no way that my local one would honor this sale. They wouldn't honor the $4.99 clamps or saw blades, so screw 'em. I also hate that I can't walk to the back of the store without four associates asking if I need help, and then I have to wait in line because only one register is open. Do you really need more people working the floor than customers in the store?

My local Ace sounds similar to Rocket's, it's run by two bitter old women who don't know the first thing about hardware or customer service. The selection is poor, the prices are high, the hours are inconvenient, and the only thing I buy are the Hot Deals (when they choose to honor them). But from what some of the rest of you are saying it sounds like other franchises must be better, I'll have to see if I can find another one near me somewhere and check it out.

 

[Davefr]

My local Ace sounds similar to Rocket's, it's run by two bitter old women who don't know the first thing about hardware or customer service. The selection is poor, the prices are high, the hours are inconvenient, and the only thing I buy are the Hot Deals (when they choose to honor them). But from what some of the rest of you are saying it sounds like other franchises must be better, I'll have to see if I can find another one near me somewhere and check it out.

Ace's are franchises vs corp. owned so the differences can be huge.

Fortunately our local one is run like a real hardware store. The selection is huge and the prices are reasonable. They participate in all the promos. The store is well staffed and always busy.

I've been to some of the smaller Ace's and I agree they can be pretty bad.

The absolute best Ace I've ever been to is called Parkrose Ace Hardware in East Portland and it's like a Disneyland for hardware.

I've never been to a Fastenal store. Do they stock the hard to find stuff and is it self service? Can you buy any quantity you want?

 

[fm2176]

Seems Ace Hardware store experiences are extremely subjective. The local one here seems okay, with friendly employees, but the tool section is comprehensive yet lacking--meaning they have a broad variety but never what I'm looking for (eg no Jorgensen and only one or two Pony clamps; saw blades in every size but 6 1/2"). They also tend to be a little higher priced than their competitors Tractor Supply and Lowes. I've stopped in there only a handful of times over the past few years. On the other hand, Pleasant's Hardware in Richmond, VA almost always has what I need, and is usually one of my stops when up that way.

I thought about stopping by the local store yesterday to see if they had this sale but decided against it. Hate to say it, but I figured I'd walk out empty handed regardless so I saved the gas and time.

 

[Caman]

I've never been to a Fastenal store. Do they stock the hard to find stuff and is it self service? Can you buy any quantity you want?

Depends if it's a smaller branch or a larger corporate hub. The smaller ones carry a fraction of the inventory of the larger hubs. Their online inventory is pretty good, so you can go to their website and see if they have what you need in stock, and if they don't have it can usually get it next day.

 

[fanatic]

Depends if it's a smaller branch or a larger corporate hub. The smaller ones carry a fraction of the inventory of the larger hubs. Their online inventory is pretty good, so you can go to their website and see if they have what you need in stock, and if they don't have it can usually get it next day.

^^^^^Agreed but, I will add they are my last choice for either my work or home projects as their prices are usually higher than everyone else and the quality is not better.

 

[Ign]

I don't understand all the whining about pricing. Maybe it's different where you are, but for me ACE is the only B&M store where:

- I can buy individual drill bits, taps, dies in fractional, metric, number or letter. (even L.H.)
- Match up an 0-ring
- Get a high tech automotive key cut other then at the overpriced dealer
- Match up a spring
- Find fasteners like cap screws, grade 8, metric, brass, ss, etc AND buy the exact quantity I want
- Buy individual screwdrivers. (even specialty screwdrivers)
- Get various shapes/sizes of specialty metals like brass, copper, ss and aluminum
- Buy machinists fluids like tapping fluids and layout fluids

The list goes on and on.

The alternative would be to order this stuff from industrial suppliers and likely be forced to buy larger quantities, pay shipping and wait for the "brown snail" to ship it across the country.

At least for me, Ace saves me time and money.

For about $11 Next Day Air Saver I can have anything from MSC at my door tomorrow, at a fraction of the cost of what Ace would want on drill bits, taps or layout fluid (although I've never personally seen an Ace stock Dykem or anything like it). Fasteners, you do have to buy quantity but it's SOOOO much cheaper per piece that a box of 100 machine screws is within a couple bucks of nine at Ace.

If you have an Ace CLOSE, I get it! For me, it's better to stay in the shop
& keep working, even if on a different project, and have UPS come to me next day. That $11 is offset in product savings, sales tax, gas, and product selection ( Ace is only gonna have Irwin at inflated prices but MSC will have PTD, Triumph, OSG, Hertel, Metal Removal, Kennametal, Cleveland and on and on plus split point, parabolic, aircraft, 140* carbide and on and on).

 

[Hafen_Kafer]

Sometimes paying a higher price is a tax we have to pay to have a healthy economic neighborhood.

 

[pmason0]

I have a different perspective, in that I grew up in a True Value as my father owned one for 30+ years (I should of bought it and get out of the rat race when he decided to retire but didn't). The True Values, Aces, Do it Best are all individual owned. My fathers hardware store was in a small town as things changed he always adaptive, when Walmart came in he pretty much got out of the small appliances but started to carry major appliances, etc.
In a small town if you had someone with an emergency and needed something even when closed they would call the house and we would go in and open up to get them what they needed. It's that level of customer service that I grew up with, and instilled in my values.
I used to always say if you knew what your doing you can go to the big box and maybe save a little, but if you wanted to walk in holding some plumbing or electrical piece and say I need one of these, then a True Value or Ace would be better. But as many have raised here some of the store customer service does very as they are individually owned.
I do try and support the local businesses when I can as they may not be there when you need them.

 

[purplezr2]

You don't have a Lowe's? Home Depot? Fastenal? Tractor Supply? Sears?

Closest HD, Menards, TS, and Lowes is 2 hours away.

Ace is the only thing open in town on Sunday. Farm Supply and Lumber yard are only open til 5 during the week and 3 on Sat I believe.