Falmouth Ace Hardware

actual conversation I just had with the customer «service» rep at Ace in Falmouth:
Me– do you have the key blank for a chipped key for a Subaru Forester?
Clerk– I don’t know…(sighs), let me go look (sighs again)
…time passes (long enough that I wonder if he’s going to come back with an answer)…
Clerk– Hi? Yes, we have it.
Me– How much is it?
Clerk– (sigh) it’s really expensive. (sigh) Hang on…
(another minute or two passes)
Clerk– I can’t locate the price but it’s over $ 100
Me– (giving up) Thank you
What would you charge me if I take my chances and show up for the key? And am I the first person to ask a price after asking about stock? I’m dumbfounded.
2 stars for a human being answering the phone instead of «dial 1 for paint, …:»

If there is such a thing as TOO much customer service, this place gets 1^st prize. I appreciate being able to find a salesperson when I need one, but every time I go into this store I am overwhelmed by their desire to help, and not in a good way. As you walk in you are immediately greeted and asked what you are looking for, which is fine. Sometimes I might have several items on my list and I personally prefer to amble a bit in hardware stores, since I don’t always remember everything I need right away. Today, after I let someone direct me toward my goal, another employee asked me if he could help me and when I said no he followed me around until I stopped and looked at him, when he asked «are you sure I can’t help you with anything». Yes, I’m freaking sure! I might have milled around a bit more and found something else I needed, but I after that I went directly to the checkout and bought only what I had come for. I prefer to frequent local businesses as much as possible, but there is something to be said for leaving the customer alone. This review was written after 4 or 5 visits to this store, so it’s based on multiple experiences.
On a positive note, they carry good products at competitive prices, and the staff is (while overbearing) very friendly. And there are usually more staff people than customers inside, which to many customers might be heavenly, but it just doesn’t work for me.

Those New England folk. So nice and accommodating that it makes a city boy feel like a joke’s being played. I found everything I needed, with the eager help of Ace’s staff.