Bates Ace Hardware

Went there on Sunday to purchase a new dead-​bolt lock and have it re-​keyed to work with my current house key. When i returned to my house, I noticed the key not only didn’t work but wasn’t even a close copy of my existing house key. Went back today to have it fixed and the key guy was very salty. Additionally, not once did anyone in the store apologize for the mistake or time required by me to remedy it. Finally, I had an additional key made for my house and the new lock, which didn’t work either. Had to pay to have another additional key made even though they messed-​up the first one. Too many fish in the sea — go to another Ace or hardware chain altogether.

Bates Ace Hardware is one of my two favorite stores in Atlanta (the other one being Your DeKalb Farmer’s Market). It is a fairly small store, but what distinguishes Bates from other Aces and other hardware stores is their customer service (and they have just about everything in the world). Their extraordinary customer service starts the moment you get in the door with a greeter stationed by the Big Green Eggs ready to get you help or point you in the right direction.
They also have a pretty kick ass selection of plants in their greenhouse. As someone from California, I’ve been shocked to get amazing succulents and cactuses in Georgia from Bates Ace Hardware at a fraction of the cost that I’d expect to pay in Los Angeles.
Come to them with your project and fix-​it needs, Lewis (store manager) and his very capable team will never steer you astray! They also recognize many of their frequent shoppers when they come in — whenever I go in I get asked about how whatever my recent project was (this may in part be because I have a tendency to lug broken lamps, etc. over to Bates Ace hardware to make sure I buy the right size doo-​hicky the first time).
Smallish store, as I mentioned, but it is rare that I go away empty handed. They have everything you could ever want (and somethings you forgot you needed). Prices range from cheap to decent. Wide array of everything, and you can expect them to give you their candid advice (which often results in saving customers money over higher priced unnecessary items).
Can you tell I’m a fan? When I leave Atlanta the two places I’ll be most sad to leave are YDFM and Bates Hardware!

This is the most friendly and helpful staff! Every time I come here, they help me find what I need. Every employee always greets me and makes sure I’m finding everything ok. Such a friendly staff! And they always have what I’m looking for.

Hate having to write negative reviews, but the truth is this place sucks. Went out there with my manager and told the guy that I needed a copy of each key and if he could PLEASE had the one he just copied back to me when he is done. Evidently I speak Chinese because not only did he do what he wanted, he made the copy of the same key TWICE! Pretty pissed off because the entire reason we came here was to make a copy of the keys to switch out a lock box. This is the closest place unfortunately that can do it, so out available options are to either drive there again, NOT HAPPENING! Or to come back another time. Pretty pissed off and will never go back to this location. I was gonna give this place a two just because I have always loved ace but this location doesn’t deserve my time. Oh, and by the way, if you are expecting some leg room when you get out of the car, FAT CHANCE!

I have never been to a business with so many employees and such horrible customer service.
Once I went and there was a line of three customers and one register open with two employees behind the counter and instead of opening another register one employee just walked away with his coffee in hand and there were many other employees throughout the store doing nothing. Poor management of staff.
Another time, the greeter at the front called for someone to assist us in the back of the store, but no one came. I came back and let her know and another employee was standing next to her telling her he was on the other side so he wasn’t even available. They have phones, radios, and plenty of staff but no communication. So many employees standing around doing nothing and just clueless.
Maybe if they managed the store better and reduce useless staff, they could lower their prices. Walmart is right next door with prices half of what ACE wants for the same quality of service.

Everyone was super nice, helpful and attentive. I will definitely be coming back! I bought organic potting soil and pots, my garden is growing in full force and I couldn’t have done it without the awesome people at bates ace hardware.

Love, love, love this store! The staff is so knowledgeable and helpful! So much better the HD! Took a part in for my sink — before I even told them what it was they knew and were getting me a replacement. Took same part to HD and was told I would have to purchase a whole new faucet! :-(.

I love his place, I come here all the time to pick up this and that!
The people are very helpful! I always buy all sorts of shit off the $ 1.50 table and its exactly what I need. Scrub brushes, stupid 9V batteries, those silicone brush thingies that you use to put BBQ sauce on ribs…
Half of the stars for this place come from its convenience to the west side. You can’t beat its location, the nearest Home Depot is at Piedmont and Sydney Marcus so bump that ish.

This place has fantastic customer service. Very helpful but not in a pushy way at all. The staff is really friendly and the place typically had anything you’d need for around the house projects. This is my new go-​to hardware store.

I’m a fan of Ace in general, but this store is a pleasure. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable, but not overbearing. The store is well stocked, and someone is always willing to give you some advise. Unlike at a Home Depot or Lowes, I actually believe the person is telling me his/​her honest opinion, rather than just pushing certain items. This Ace has a lovely garden section, though it’s not very large. They only seem to keep a few of each plant at a time, so the selection rotates fairly quickly. The same can be said for the pottery/​planters. Before I leave I always make sure to take a quick look at their «quirky» section. Local honey and pickles, along with cute artsy garden/​home items.

I visited Ace Hardware yesterday to purchase a lawn mower. Finding one in my price-​range, I notified an employee of my decision. She was extremely helpful, but I noticed that the machine seemed to be assembled poorly as the handle was very loose. I asked them to tighten it and they instructed me that a repair man would have to do it the following day. I left my name and phone number to be contacted when it was ready.
The next day, no one ever bothered to call so I stopped by the store on my way home from work. I was met by a very grumpy repair man in the back of the store who insulted me by saying that I shouldn’t have chosen such a cheap lawn mower and that is just how they are made. I immediately left and purchased a mower from Lowes.
Coincidentally, the same mower that was apparently loose because it was cheap was at Lowes put together properly.
Now, I understand if this employee felt that I made a poor choice in mower. He should have explained the benefits of another rather than insulting me. Prior to that, he should have called to explain his opinion as they said they would. Honestly, I would have paid more for a different mower had the employee treated me like a human being to save myself the drive across town to a big box store.
I am very disappointed in this customer service. I’ve been going to Ace for years for all of my tools, hardware, and yard needs, but this unfortunate incident will surely keep me from making any large purchases there.

I’ve got to say, this place was a totally different experience then a Home Depot or Lowe’s. Everyone was friendly and the service was incredible. Can you imagine just having a conversation with the paint guy without 10 customers looking annoyed that you are holding-​up their day? The staff at this Ace Hardware needs to be commended for a job well done. They may not have the selection as the big box stores but if I can find it here, they’ve got my business.

So I’m giving this place 3 stars SOLELY on the fact that they have employees (with/​without a happy demeanor) stationed to help whenever needed. I did not know that Ace was priced higher than other hardware places. Had I known this, I would have driven my ass a few more miles to a Walmart. I needed paint to cover my apartment walls back to their original color. Yeah ummm maybe I’m a bit naïve to the home décor world, but I damn sure didn’t plan on paying $ 25 a bucket on eggshell colored paint! I didn’t realize the price until it was time to pay, and I was too embarrassed to tell the cashier never mind. In all for paint and a few other things that I needed to get my apartment inspection ready, I paid around $ 120. Umm yeah I was pretty pissed. I will never go to Ace again. I receive the same amount of customer service from Home Depot. I’ll take my cheap ass back there from now on.

Ace Hardware really is the best hardware store out there. Lowe’s and Home Depot can suck it! Sure the prices at Ace might be a little higher than the other stores, but it is well worth it to pay an extra buck for the excellent service offered by Ace Hardware stores.
Saturday I needed an air filter, nothing really special. Anyway I was passing this location of Ace and dropped in. As soon as I walked in the door there was a guy waiting that greeted me and asked me if I needed help finding something. He pointed out the exact location of the air filters. Once back by the air filters another employee asked if he could help, I told him the size of the air filter I was looking for and he pointed it out right away and asked if I needed anymore help.
It doesn’t matter which location of Ace I’ve been to the employees have always been on the ball and know exactly what I’m looking for and where to find it. If they haven’t had the item, they’ve always been courteous enough to tell me where I might find it around town or to look it up to see if they could order it. You won’t get this level of service at Lowe’s or Home Depot.

Wow, I’m surprised there hasn’t been a review written for Bates Ace Hardware. This place has been around for a long time. It’s located at the intersection of Howell Mill and Bellemeade, just one light north of the busy Howell Mill-​Chattahoochee intersection. Nothing against Home Depot and Lowes, but Bates, like many other Ace Hardware stores, has a smaller, more personalized and welcoming feel (e.g. «mom and pop») for a hardware store and I like that. In terms of physical space, it’s not nearly as large as the big commercialized chains, but I almost always find what I need at Bates.
For example, a couple days ago, I walked into the store with shelving bracket in hand. I had made no more than 10 steps inside when I was approached by Albert, one of the sales supervisors, who looked at my bracket and asked me what I needed. He led me to the back of the store where the screws were located and asked me what kind of shelf I was mounting and how much weight it would be holding. He then supplied me with a small bag containing the exact number of the screws and wall anchors I needed to properly install and secure the shelf into the type of wall and studs I was dealing with. Great, polite service. I did not have to walk from giant aisle to giant aisle trying to find a free employee to help me find what I needed.
I’ve come to this Ace Hardware for a variety of other issues, such as tools and equipment for fixing a bathtub drain and getting keys copied. Checkout has always a breeze. They even have a home décor section and a lawn and garden center with a live nursery. Last year, I had the inside of a condominium fully restored and most of the supplies and equipment used in the restoration process came from this store. If you come often, you should sign up for their free rewards program.
#Yelp365 — ⁷⁄₃₆₅

This appears to be one of the bigger Ace’s in the A, but the employees have a way of making you feel like you’re the only person in the store without being pushy.
I came here looking for a specialty sponge, I can’t even remember the name of the dumb thing now. One of the employees scoured the entire store for me, and when neither of us could find it, he offered to special order it for me out of the catalog. As we stood there poring over the catalog, I looked up and realized we’d been standing right in front of the very last one they had left in the store all along! He didn’t get agitated or snarky with me, and we both laughed about it.
Lots of other cool stuff here. Check it out.

I will always remember the advice my grandfather gave me on my wedding day: «If you need a good screw, Ace is the place.» I later found out that my grandfather had been dead for forty years and it was actually Matthew Lesko wearing a fake beard and a monocle. Either way, the adage holds true.
I used to have to go to Tosche Station to pick up my power converters but I have come here the past eight years for whatever random tools or supplies I might need. The employees are always helpful. Just recently I had to replace a window on my car which had a torque screw and the employee walked with me out to the car with some screwdrivers to see which one fit before purchasing them. That was cool (and useful).
They can make a copy of a key in about a minute. Even old World War II safe keys with Hellfish logos pose no challenge to them. You can buy just one screw or a box of them, which I guess I could go to the Clermont for, but this place does not charge me to get in.
Sometimes I will run in Walmart for basic tools, but if you need to stock up or something not mainstream this is definitely the place for you.

Oh wow who knew that ACE Hardware had so much cute stuff!!! I stopped in for a toilet flusher (sexy, I know…) and left with a little red flyer wagon, some Christmas cards @ 60% off, AND my toilet flusher handle thing… but I could have spent so much more time in there! And maybe it was just like a Saturday thing… or the beginning of the holidays thing… but they actually had FRESH baked chocolate chip cookies and coffee for everyone… and the cookies were still warm! It was a really delightful shopping experience and I was looking for something a little less «orange» after all of my trips to Home Depot over the past six weeks. Wish there was one closer to my new home but I’ll be a fan in the future!