Two themes for today's posting:1. Ace Hardware is a good place to shop2. You can actually get replacement parts for toilet fill valvesCustomer has a low-flush toilet that was running. Problem turned out to be the fill valve, which was very flaky. Called a couple places: the "real" plumbing supply place said "Sure, we have replacements for those Toto fill valves"; more than $30 and, oddly, not adjustable. The nearby Ace said they had a replacement "quiet fill" valve that *might* work, but they weren't sure.So I trucked on over to Ace with the old valve, and sure 'nuf, the replacements they had looked exactly like mine. I grabbed the package and headed out, then bumped into the guy I'd spoken to over the phone to show him they were identical. He told me I could also get just the fill valve (the plastic package I had also had a replacement flapper, which I didn't need). Then he tells me for next time, you can get just the replacement valve body, which was completely news to me.He ended up taking my fill valve to his little work counter where we took it apart to see if the valve would fit; it did. So instead of paying $30+ for a new fill valve, instead of $12 for a new fill valve, it was less than 3 bucks for just the part that had gone bad. (It worked fine after taking it back and replacing it.)My hat is off to that manufacturer who actually makes a replacement part for a plastic item that I've gotten used to just tossing out. How quaint and early-20th-century is that? And to Ace for having knowledgeable and resourceful people working there.

Ace is great, but ask for a commercial discount. I spent near 1700.00at Ace last month. HD is my other option many deals like CFL s arebetter at HD

Why I shop at Ace Hardware

Feb 21, 2009 84 Replies

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Nate Nagel 17 years ago

Sadly, I don't agree. US made products (what few there are left) are almost as likely to be crap.

nate

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N8N 17 years ago

The correct reply, of course, is, "no, you have to do it yourself."

nate

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Stormin Mormon 17 years ago

Try automatic Rock .... dot com.....

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The Daring Dufas 17 years ago

We have an electric motor shop in town that keeps some old air handler motors in stock. I brought in one of those 60 year old motors and they had a rewound replacement on the shelf. The old motor is a lot bigger than the new ones and looks as though it was designed to be rebuilt.

TDD

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The Daring Dufas 17 years ago

REVENGE OF THE LITTLE PEOPLE, sounds like a good movie title. *snicker*

TDD

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