Romanys Architectural Ironmongers

I regularly use this store and find the service efficient and helpful. They have a lot of stuff in stock which is a relief when you are in need of a particular something.

Despite this place having a really comprehensive selection of everything you need for DIY and building etc. — from timber to tools to screws to glue to curtain rails and beyond — it is very badly let down by staff who seem to have taken a qualification course in poor customer service. These people obviously went to the same charm school as the bozos who work in Music and Video Exchange in Notting Hill Gate. The experience of buying a screwdriver can result in you being made to feel as if they are doing you a gigantic favour by even acknowledging your presence.
A friend of mine described them refusiong to accept a five pound note which split as he placed it on the counter — for the reason that they didn’t have any tape to stick it back together. In a hardware store? When I asked for a little advice on the best sort of screw to use for a certain wood-​fixing job I was met with a cold and blank stare that told me squarely that help was not part of the service at Romany’s.
If you know what you need then this place is fine. If you want to actually exchange with the staff and get a little advice them go to Homebase or somewhere similar.