Orchard Supply Hardware

I’ve been going to this OSH for years. Mostly to fix some little problem around the house or storage solutions quick. Customer service is pretty good. The store is laid out well enough. Lot and lots of free parking and their location is central to lots of other shopping, which makes it very convenient.

This store has excellent customer service compared to Home Depot in El Cerrito. I was on hold with Home Depot for over ten minutes checking on their supploy of impatients in gardening. I have made two trips to Home Depot and was told keep checking we should restock soon. I called Orchard and had a response in less than three minutes. Home Depot is defintely off my list.

Customer service sucks! My husband just returned trying to get custom cut for a pipe and thread. He was told when he called there was someone on site who could do this. He waited around for sometime before the clerk, the person who was said could do it, was free. When the clerk found out he needed to cut the pipe and thread the pipe he said that he «was not paid enough money to do it.» OSH lost today’s sale as well as further sales with us. My husband left his cart and walked out. I hope the clerk is paid enough to restock all the items my husband left. If you don’t like your job go find another one. This is not how to treat a customer. If you don’t know how to do something state it and my husband would have been upset with the operator than the service member.

Terrible customer service! I walk around for 45 mins and no one says anything to me, then I ask one employee a question who refers me to a guy named Nick who never stops fumbling with the plants the entire time I talk to him. It’s fine if you don’t know which indoor plants are toxic to dogs, but don’t say «I’ll check» and then keep doing what you’re doing without actually going to check. I just stood there and then said «thanks» and walked away. OSH, please employee people who at least try to help customers without making them feel like they are bothering them by asking them to do their jobs. Won’t be back!

I agree — you get more personalized attention here and don’t have to work for miles. A lot of nice people — I also echo the comment about one of the older male employees having an arrogant, abrasive approach.

I really like this place… I bought a home in the area recently so every once in a while if I need some gardening or other household appliance I go here. The store is always spotless it seems and the staff are all very friendly and helpful and constantly offering assistance and they are also very nice and friendly to my 2 small children that I have with me… Something that I really like and am always looking for. I will keep coming back and back for the great service and good products as well

They have NO EMPLOYEES! I was just there and couldn’t find anyone to help me in the paint department or the garden department. I looked around the store and couldn’t find any employees. No one. Zip. Nada. Zero. Zilcho. For a minute I thought they must have closed and I got locked inside. I like the remodel but the prices are just way to high compared to Home Depot. Example: The exact same hanging baskets are $ 10 less at Home Depot. It’s just a big waste of time to go here especially if you can’t find anyone to help you.

Not that I need much at hardware stores, but I really like to wander in them. And every now and then I do need something. Unlike the understaffed big box hardware stores nearby there are people working here and they are helpful.

This place is well organized well lit and has great attendance good customer service. We love the key service here the keys are always perfect. We really like the plant sections lots of variety and selection of indoor plants as well as outdoor plants. Great old time candy selections like, chick-​O-​sticks.

Store is nicely organized and the nursery is beautifully kept. Downside is customer service. One of the older male managers was modeling a very non-​chalant, arrogant and uncaring communication style that really took us aback. Plan to give Lowes my business when I can and Ace on Dam Rd too before stepping foot inside Orchard.

And then they trashed OSH in Berkeley. Dang. I’ve been back a few times and sometimes there are managers there who know what they’re talking about. Kids ringing you up are still the biggest bunch of tools than they have…

When did the clerks here stop bagging your merchandise? I had an arm load of stuff and the guy at the register stood there holding my receipt as I bagged my stuff! WTF!

I came here often before the renovation but the selection is much better now. We come to the garden center often, mostly for veggie starters and the selection is usually pretty good. Better than the other hardware store near us. The plants are usually vibrant and we have not had one not survive yet. The service is usually friendly and efficient. Rarely have I not been able to find someone to help me in a reasonable amount of time. I usually come here for my hardware needs when I can.

I’ve been coming to this store for many years. At this point, I have to say the customer service is MUCH better than it was earlier this year. People are professional and attentive.
Some of the new rules — which I think came from Lowes — are a bit annoying. Those rules are why there are only four stars. I won’t say which rules they are because the employees have done what they can to work around them and help me when it made sense to do that.
One review mentioned paint-​matching machines. The people working at this OHS do know how to use them. I’d rather have these folks help with paint than Home Depot, that’s for sure.
The selection is as good as it was before the remodel. Prices are sometimes higher and sometimes lower than HD, which is the same situation as before, too.
The store looks great and is a pleasure to shop in.

Needed LED lightbulbs, limited time and mobility, so, holding my nose, went back to OSH after vowing to never do so again.
First change – an Asian staff member warmly interacted with an African-​American staff member. Warmed my heart and made me wonder if they actually followed through on my concerns from before?
Then, a patient and kind white haired male employee recommended a product, gave helpful specific directions for how to use it, and was so over-​the-​top kind, helpful, and supportive that I’m a fan again.
If the positives keep accruing, I’ll rethink my horror at the inappropriate behaviors I witnessed before.

We purchased patio furniture and when I got home to assemble the table, I found one of the legs was damaged. A package insert directed me to call the company not the retail store. I called the company and they were worthless.
I went back to OSH and they opened another table box and gave me a new table leg. Great customer service!

Unfortunately I have to leave a new update. While I have been coming here for years, the past month has had a serious downturn.
1^st since their remodeling, they have hired new, inexperienced people to help– which they can’t, and only serve to make you wait while they contact someone else in the department they think you need– who then make you wait again, because they are also new and don’t know if they carry what you are looking for. I have been doing 2 large projects on my house and I keep trying to come here to support local business, but the last 4 times, I have gotten this run-​around and the final answer is — we no longer carry that. Which means I have wasted another 20 minutes and another trip to Home Depot.
2^nd complaint — while both Orchard and Home Depot have purchased new paint analyzing machines– only Home Depot seems to know how to use them. Orchard was unable to match my external trim and siding colors, and their best suggestion was to find a color match with their sample colors. Do you not have a spectrometer?
40 minutes at this and I was back at Home Depot who analyzed and matched it in 5 minutes. This is thoroughly depressing.
Orchard corporate took a wonderful store and spent so much on the external, they have no money to hire good people and stock things I might actually need. Thank you corporate for killing a great store, now I have to go to Home Depot.

So I lost my house keys and had to go to osh to get another one made and I’m so glad I did because now I have a cute little SF giants key :-)

I would go here before Home Depot and Lowe’s any day! OSH is much more inviting and has a welcoming feel; more like a small town hardware shop than a big box retailer.
We came in here tonight because we were in the area and heard the store was newly remodeled and it looks AMAZING!!! Completely different than the old store and 100% better! They have improved everything and have made it much more shoppable and inviting!
I love just coming to OSH to look around because they have so many different and unique things that you cannot find anywhere else, especially at their big box competitors. Now with the remodel they have even MORE stuff to look at and discover!
This store has knife sharpening, kitchen utensils, work clothes, vegetarian garden fertilizer, old time coke machines, pet accessories, etc. I also think their seasonal décor is always worth a look, they have a great selection!
On this visit we were helped by an extremely friendly associate named John. We first met John by the tool department where he asked if we needed help. We said we were just looking and talked to him for a moment more about the goings on in the store. We then ran into John again in the outside garden department where he was funny and friendly with us too. Come to find out, John’s department is the garden department but he was walking around the store actually LOOKING for people to help because there was no one in the garden department at that moment. We again saw him by the paint department as we went to leave. Outstanding service! An associate actually seeking out customers to help outside of their own department and engaging them in conversation? You would never see this at Home Depot or Lowe’s and that’s what makes OSH stand out!
If you haven’t been to this store since the remodel I strongly encourage you to go, it will completely change what you previously thought OSH was.

Garden supply:! The inventory are misplaced in wrong price points; sales clerk was unbending so, I left without buying anything from this hardware store.