Soko Hardware

–Obstructional Return Policy.
–Misusing description «Damaged» and «Used» when product brought back for store credit only after 2 days of purchase.
–Twisting the fact to over-​protect their return policy that wasn’t informed at purchased.
–Avoiding you from talking to their manager.
–Poor communication between staff.
–Attitude
Bought a water fountain device, tested it this morn. Device is good but water splashes out of the fountain, hoping to use my store credit as promised, plus adding $ 10 to buy a bigger device from them, I returned to soko 1pm.
Had the receipt, all the parts and packages
Unhelpful lady staff had poor, stiff, rigid judgement about not being able to offer store credit as the device has water mark on it
(which Will dry out and disappear in short while) She kept refering it as a case of «damage and used»
I objectively believe very few people plan to «use» the water fountain for 2 days and return to the store.
I see these 2 days more a «test period»
NOT a usage.
Certainly No damage.
Being stubbornly assertive, she stared me right in the eye very aggressively. Telling me I should have known if the size was right immediately.
It felt like an interrogation.
I explained I needed to put water in to see if it splashes the floor wet.
I reasoned with her she said she’d get a second opinion with a colleague upstairs, whom later confessed to me that his judgment of deciding not to agree on offering store credit, was pressured by the lady staff’s colored influence.
I asked for the manager she said she doesn’t know when he’s back. Suggesting I had to just randomly come back in & out to see if the manager is around if I get lucky.
Other young lady staff near by interfered by sayin” The manager will not be available. He had family business to deal with”
(with an attitude implying get out my store and that I couldn’t argue with family business)
No one cares to take my phone number, so they could call me when the manager is back.
They’d rather have me making the effort to keep checking in all day I guess.
Avoiding having to have further interaction with intimidating lady staff, I asked Erin the staff upstairs of her name so I could refer the case better when I talk to the manager. He said:
«Go down and ask for her name yourself
«What’s your name!?»
I walked out of Soko trembling.
Between choices of getting my store credit, or writing a long Unilocal review and never return?
I choose to reveal that this is not my usual encounter with a Japanese business.
Good selection of products tho. I guess the staff can handle being friendly on a superficial level providing it’s a simple routine transactions/​inquiries. Beyond that they don’t want to deal with the complication and help.
I give up wanting to have dialogs with the manager tho he might be a nice person.
I do know the above contradicts the Japanese business etiquette value.

#34/​2016
I can’t believe I’ve never written a review for this fine hardware — and so much more — store.
Two stories of many things you’d need for around the house and kitchen, be it odd-​sized lightbulbs and metal broiler pans; flower and herb seeds and apartment sized-​vacuums; sake containers with matching cups.
Plates, bowls, excellent knives at every price point; woks, food storage containers, cast iron tea pots, spider ladles, bamboo steam baskets and serving plates.
And you can get a key made while you shop!
Shop Soko Hardware and watch those little errands get quickly scratched off your list.
They keep a close eye on prices on Amazon so you’re going to get competitive pricing plus shop locally at a fine SF mom ‘n’ pop– and get instant, total gratification.
No refunds, only store credit so shop wisely.
That said, you’ll always find something useful to buy that you actually need and use daily from Soko Hardware.
I love this store.

Like a dollar store in selection, unlike a dollar store in price but still reasonable ($ 0.99 for a 24-​ounce mason jar). Reminiscent of mom-​and-​pop stores in Asia.

This is a great store. Excellent customer service. Good prices.

Great local alternative to having to drive way out to Home Depot! They seem to have «everything». Paint, tools, nails, teapots, shoji screens, bamboo, keys (always cut right the first time!) and know how. Ask for Phil — he’s been there forever and has a wealth of knowledge.

This places has a lot of cool stuff. Fun to just look at the stuff they have. Might not be as comprehensive as other hardware stores though.

Though I no longer live nearby, this is still my favorite store. We can’t go to San Francisco without coming here. My husband bought me a fantastic poultry ax and it’s about the best gift that I’ve ever received (almost as good as the Sawsall I got for my anniversary).

Amazing hardware store on two floors, the basement is lots bigger then the first floor. it is located across post from Japan Center’s Peace Plaza with the big structure.
Once you get inside you will find most of what you expect at a hard ware store, paint, hardware, Japanese downspout chains… they have a good selection of the chains. They also have Paper lanterns, Origami paper, dragon wind socks, all kinds of asian dishes, cast iron teapots and an amazing kitchen gadget area with Items I haven’t found elsewhere (silicon gadgets for the kitchen in great variety, plastic silverware that looks like the good stuff…)
They also have some amazing tools from japan for bonsai and gardening to home repairs. It is amazing the blend of stuff they have… I can gush all day but you should see it for yourself, the prices are great for what they are selling.
In summery I always have to keep reminding myself I have to pack for my flight home all that I buy to limit myself here.

OK, I confess I have a fetish for hardware stores. I love poking around and discovering. But this one, oh my.
Loads of hand crafted tools for specialized purposes. Ikebana pruning shears and a variety of garden tools from Japan.
Bamboo and ash tools for making or repairing Shojii screens. Hand made paper and a slew of nifty kitchen tools. Call me crazy but I love this place.

They sell sharpening stones!!! Imported Japanese whetstones to sharpen and maintain your knives.
I thought that this would be useful information for others.
I online & Unilocal searched FOR DAYS and was almost resigned to purchasing on Amazon before I luckily spotted half a whetstone in the lower corner of a pic posted by another Unilocaler.
They sell many immaculate Japanese (and other) knives. The majority of which, they will inform you, are intended specifically for right handed people. These can cost hundreds of dollars but they also stock more economical knives.
Prices are fair enough for such specialty imported items and all staff are knowledgeable. A nice lady helped me on the phone and confirmed that they carried what I needed before I came in.
Keywords:
Knife, knives, sharpener, sharpening stones, whetstones, wetstones, knife sharpening

I didn’t believe my fellow Unilocalers until I finally came to see Soko Hardware myself, in search of the perfect plates and tea set for my parents-​in-​law-​to-​be (oof!). Normally I’d spend at least double what I paid here, but I was in a time crunch and my bank account had seen better days hah. Boy am I grateful for their incredibly competitive pricing!
Great selection of everything from Japanese décor to kitchenware to actual home repair supplies. I left with random goodies for myself, and wanting to return.
Also, Japanese manager/​owner was super friendly and helpful. Always a plus.

Soko Hardware sells most of the things you’ll find at a typical hardware store: tools, hardware, home repair supplies, garden supplies. But unlike a normal hardware store, it also sells many goodies specific to Japantown: shoji supplies, paper lanterns, door curtains, Japanese kitchenware (including some awesome tea and sake sets!), Noh masks, origami paper, and a variety of Japanese home décor. I even found some happi coats mixed in a rack of aprons.
I snagged myself some picture hanging hardware, a towel rack, and a neat sake drinking game set that I’m gonna bust out at the next house party I throw. Best hardware store ever!

Must see Japantown stop, especially if you like oldschool hardware stores, lotsa Japan cooking wares

What can I say? I love a good hardware store. Better yet, I love a good quirky hardware store. A gentle mixture of utilitarian things I need with things I didn’t know I needed and things I want but definitely don’t need.

Best customer service. Great pricing. And its like a well organized treasure hunt .
I found some reflexology slippers that amazon was listing for 45 $ for 20 $- and the cutest blue haired lady have me done great tips on how to ease my self into foot bliss.
I didn’t have enough time to check out the knives as much as I wanted too. But I’ll be back, my pretties. I’ll be back.

This is a great neighborhood hardware store. It’s got a little of everything. And items you didn’t think you needed until you spotted it here.
I’m sure the big box hardware stores copied Soko’s business model.
You pay a little more than at a big box store, but we’ve got to support our small business owners.
If you’re in need of SPAM sushi molds, they’ve got them here.

As a young couple, living on our own in SF in 1976, Soko hardware was our «go to» place for just about everything we needed to set up our household. We still use many of the items we purchased there 38 years ago.
We made s special trip this week from Sonoma County with the intention of purchasing a Japanese vegetable knife. I can not express enough my gratitude for the service and assistance we received. I wish I knew the name of the woman who helped us so I could thank her personally. She took the time to show us different knifes. Her recommendation of the MAC JU-​65 vegetable cleaver was perfect. I have a nerve condition and have struggled with chopping for years, This knife is so sharp and well weighted that it’s like a hot knife in butter cutting even the hardest vegetables. It is the best knife I have ever experienced. As with all the things I’ve purchased over the years from Soko, I will treasure this knife for years to come. Thank you for your years of excellent service.

I am a huge fan of Soko Hardware. The name is a little misleading as it’s not a store full of screwdrivers, nuts, and bolts. There are Japanese goods of all kind — including traditional hardware but also tea pots, lacquer serving trays, etc.
I got a really quality kyusu tea pot (with the handle perpendicular to the spout) here that is no longer available from Lupicia Tea Stores. These are also available at Shiki but a little more expensive.
My mom got a few lacquer rice pots here that are good quality and very decorative. It can get a little pricey, as with all Japanese goods, but I find this place has the better deals.
Notably, this place was closed on January 1, 2012 — New Year is a holiday that the Japanese take. Meanwhile, some of the other stores in the area were open. Just something to be aware of…

Soko Hardware is the kind of place that comes through for you if you’re looking for a specific nut and bolt to repair something, or just shopping aimlessly in Japantown.
The «classic hardware store» stuff is adequate but not mind-​blowing. If you need a replacement toilet valve (as I did last weekend), you’ll only have one choice, but it’ll be perfectly adequate and affordable. I’ve never not found what I needed there.
If you’re in more of a browsing mood, they have some fantastic Japanese knick-​knacks, primarily in the kitchen/​cooking category, but also housewares and decorative stuff. My dad came pretty close to buying himself an authentic wooden bath scoop with copper trim for like $ 50 (he later decided against it). But if you need one of those, you can get it at Soko Hardware. I’ve also bought a few decent but affordable knives there that have served me well. You need cheap serving/​rice bowls? They’ve got ‘em.

A very functional mom and pop hardware store. They had a full range of normal hardware goods combined with some traditional and non-​traditional Japanese items. It is a fun place to poke around if you are a local OR a tourist.
NOTE: They do NOT take American Express