Hardware Stores in Alexandria , VA

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Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Who Rates Best (& Worst) in the Washington DC Area? Now You'll Know.

Hardware Stores in Alexandria, VA

Our research finds that the area's two largest chains-Home Depot and Lowe's-offer low prices, but their customers are typically less than thrilled with the advice and service each offers. Yet picking a hardware store doesn't have to be an exercise in tradeoffs. Sprinkled throughout the area, there are many independent stores that provide helpful advice, and some of these stores even make a reasonable effort to compete with the Big Guys on price.

From Washington Consumers' CHECKBOOK Magazine

	Name	Number of ratings	Checkbook's top rating ()		What percent of customers rated firm "superior" on our survey for "overall quality"	Firm's price index score
			for quality	for price
1.	Executive Lock & Key Service 2003-B Mount Vernon Ave Alexandria, VA 703-823-2000	43 ratings	How does "Executive Lock & Key Service" rate compared to other hardware stores in Alexandria , VA? Subscribe Washington Consumers' CHECKBOOK Magazine to find out.
2.	Home Depot 7710 Richmond Hwy Alexandria, VA 703-619-5124	128 ratings	How does "Home Depot" rate compared to other hardware stores in Alexandria , VA? Subscribe Washington Consumers' CHECKBOOK Magazine to find out.
3.	Home Depot 6555 Little River Tpke Alexandria, VA 703-642-3660	246 ratings	How does "Home Depot" rate compared to other hardware stores in Alexandria , VA? Subscribe Washington Consumers' CHECKBOOK Magazine to find out.
4.	Home Depot 400 S Pickett St Alexandria, VA 703-823-1900	518 ratings	How does "Home Depot" rate compared to other hardware stores in Alexandria , VA? Subscribe Washington Consumers' CHECKBOOK Magazine to find out.
5.	Lowe's 6750 Richmond Hwy Alexandria, VA 703-765-8011	474 ratings	How does "Lowe's" rate compared to other hardware stores in Alexandria , VA? Subscribe Washington Consumers' CHECKBOOK Magazine to find out.
6.	Old Town Ace Hardware 809 S Washington St Alexandria, VA 703-879-0475		How does "Old Town Ace Hardware" rate compared to other hardware stores in Alexandria , VA? Subscribe Washington Consumers' CHECKBOOK Magazine to find out.
7.	Restoration Hardware 614 King St Alexandria, VA 703-299-6220	11 ratings	How does "Restoration Hardware" rate compared to other hardware stores in Alexandria , VA? Subscribe Washington Consumers' CHECKBOOK Magazine to find out.
8.	Smitty's Building Supply 8457 Richmond Hwy Alexandria, VA 703-780-7800	15 ratings	How does "Smitty's Building Supply" rate compared to other hardware stores in Alexandria , VA? Subscribe Washington Consumers' CHECKBOOK Magazine to find out.
9.	Smoot Lumber 6295 Edsall Rd #20 Alexandria, VA 703-823-2100	12 ratings	How does "Smoot Lumber" rate compared to other hardware stores in Alexandria , VA? Subscribe Washington Consumers' CHECKBOOK Magazine to find out.
10.	Village Hardware 7934 Fort Hunt Rd Alexandria, VA 703-765-1555	395 ratings	How does "Village Hardware" rate compared to other hardware stores in Alexandria , VA? Subscribe Washington Consumers' CHECKBOOK Magazine to find out.


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Sample Subscriber Comments/Reviews About Hardware Stores

CHECKBOOK provides subscriber comments on their experiences with the firms they use. Please remember that individual subscriber comments are informal. Subscriber comments may give you insight into the types of features and problems that exist in a service field, but are not the best basis for selecting or rejecting a specific firm. To assess the quality of a firm's performance, we recommend that you give more weight to the percentages of favorable ratings. Those percentages are generally based on much larger numbers of consumers' ratings (the number of consumer ratings is noted above).

As You Can See Below, Some Hardware Stores Get High Praise from Their Customers. Some Others Don't. So Choose Carefully.
Here Are a Few Samples of the Thousands of Comments CHECKBOOK Has Collected on Hundreds of Different Hardware Stores.

Subscriber from SPRINGFIELD, VA wrote Another Store: No better hardware store anywhere! A true Hardware Store........
Subscriber from CHEVY CHASE, MD wrote Another Store: Superior! Very knowledgeable, very service-oriented. Thank goodness for wonderful stores like this........
Subscriber from WASHINGTON, DC wrote Another Store: Prices are somewhat higher than at chain stores, but the personal service is worth the..........
Subscriber from BETHESDA, MD wrote Another Store: Ordered a front screen door. We had a difficult time with sales people on delivery...........
Subscriber from ARLINGTON, VA wrote Another Store: This store seems fairly well managed and has a good variety of wares in most..........
Subscriber from ROCKVILLE, MD wrote Another Store: Repairing anything is unlikely with Home Depot. They don't have anyone there that knows anything..........
Subscriber from ARLINGTON, VA wrote Another Store: An old fashioned hardware store with the advice and quality that go with it. Wonderful..........
Subscriber from WASHINGTON, DC wrote Another Store: You get good advise from knowledgable people.......
Subscriber from WASHINGTON, DC wrote Another Store: Often don't carry things - but they are very nice and have even loaned me..........
Subscriber from ALEXANDRIA, VA wrote Another Store: Great little hardware store.......
Subscriber from WASHINGTON, DC wrote Another Store: They have everything one could possibly need........
Subscriber from DARNESTOWN, MD wrote Another Store: Mass market, lowest common denominator products and service. Don't expect quality.......
Subscriber from SPRINGFIELD, VA wrote Another Store: All Home Depot stores in this area are filthy and there are no prices on..........
Subscriber from ALEXANDRIA, VA wrote Another Store: too big - help hard to get.......
Subscriber from WASHINGTON, DC wrote Another Store: They generally have a version of a product I need, but I dread going there........
Subscriber from WASHINGTON, DC wrote Another Store: Never can tell whether they will have an item in stock; staff hard to find,..........
Subscriber from FALLS CHURCH, VA wrote Another Store: I love this store! Their attention to their customers is incredible...makes it worth the extra..........
Subscriber from WASHINGTON, DC wrote Another Store: Frager's is a Home Depot posing as a neighborhood hardware store!.......
Subscriber from FALLS CHURCH, VA wrote Another Store: The store is messy and not well kept in order. It is hard to find..........
Subscriber from GAITHERSBURG, MD wrote Another Store: What staff?.......
Subscriber from ALEXANDRIA, VA wrote Another Store: I like shopping at this Lowe's and prefer it to Home Depot........
Subscriber from NORTH POTOMAC, MD wrote Another Store: Prices are quite high........
Subscriber from ARLINGTON, VA wrote Another Store: This store consistently lacks customer service........
Subscriber from FALLS CHURCH, VA wrote Another Store: Prices are very high........
Subscriber from RESTON, VA wrote Another Store: Nobody helps the customer. Ask for help and they don't know what I'm talking about.......
Subscriber from ROCKVILLE, MD wrote Another Store: A welcome refuge from Home Depot and Lowe's.......
Subscriber from HERNDON, VA wrote Another Store: It's a good neighborhood hardware store whose prices seem to be lower than Home Depot..........
Subscriber from SPRINGFIELD, VA wrote Another Store: Computer listing of stock on hand never matches quantity on shelves, which seem often out..........
Subscriber from NORTH POTOMAC, MD wrote Another Store: good service option of ordering online and picking up in store.......
Subscriber from ALEXANDRIA, VA wrote Another Store: The service is a throwback to an earlier time, with the legions of knowledgeable hardware..........
Subscriber from LEESBURG, VA wrote Another Store: Small shop, but they have one of everything I need, or know where to find..........
Subscriber from RESTON, VA wrote Another Store: One of the last old-line, great hardware stores where the staff listens and makes effective..........
Subscriber from ALEXANDRIA, VA wrote Another Store: Best small-community Hardware Store, everyone knows the proprietor's, large variety of products available, reasonable prices,..........
Subscriber from FAIRFAX, VA wrote Another Store: Better than Home Depot. This store at least offers a nice clean facility, polite staff,..........
Subscriber from WASHINGTON, DC wrote Another Store: Like the quintessential "old hardware store"........
Subscriber from WASHINGTON, DC wrote Another Store: Excellent selection........
Subscriber from ANNANDALE, VA wrote Another Store: VERY limited supplies........
Subscriber from KEY BISCAYNE, FL wrote Another Store: Too bad there are so few merchants in the area today with a comparably competent,..........
Subscriber from ARLINGTON, VA wrote Another Store: Bill was very rude to me when I tried to find out why a service..........
Subscriber from ALEXANDRIA, VA wrote Another Store: Fischer's is a GREAT hardware store. They may cost a little more but it is..........
Subscriber from ALEXANDRIA, VA wrote Another Store: Great store with wonderful staff.......
Subscriber from SILVER SPRING, MD wrote Another Store: This is one of the last of the good old hardware stores, where people actually..........
Subscriber from WASHINGTON, DC wrote Another Store: anyone who has not yet gone to Fragers to shop for hardware (including paint) supplies,..........
Subscriber from FAIRFAX STATION, VA wrote Another Store: Store atmosphere and layout is better than most big box hardware stores.......
Subscriber from SPRINGFIELD, VA wrote Another Store: Strictly a cut rate store........
Subscriber from WASHINGTON, DC wrote Another Store: they're big and have a lot of stuff at relatively good prices. Not much advice..........
Subscriber from RESTON, VA wrote Another Store: Paint department is helpful, knowledgeable, and friendly; otherwise, this Home Depot is pretty grim........
Subscriber from GAITHERSBURG, MD wrote Another Store: Usually neat, organized but they need more staff........
Subscriber from SILVER SPRING, MD wrote Another Store: Two months and 10 days to install carpet and tile after innumerable errors in estimating,..........
Subscriber from VIENNA, VA wrote Another Store: Excellent local hardware with good advice, ability to buy just what you need. Also carries..........

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