Northern Tool + Equipment

I needed a generator part in a hurry. The guys behind the service department counter were pleasant and had what I needed in stock. I was in and out quickly. Good experience.

I needed to buy a hand truck for work and the selection was VERY limited, like a selection of 2, and one was out of stock. There is never enough people working there and the one person I find is always helping another customer and no one else is available to help so you have to wait for the one employee you do see to finish with the other customer.
I like northern tool but they really have to step up the customer service

In May 2012 I visited — here’s my google review: I work nearby and have been here several times — the other (google) reviewers are not wrong. Today I called to find out if they had tires in stock and a gruff gentleman told me they did, asked me about sizes and gave me a price. When I went in, the prices were different. There were two employees on the floor and no one greeted me. I inadvertently found the guy I had talked to and he spent some time looking for the one he told me about, but it was no longer being stocked in his system. He seemed very tired. The cashier who opened another line for me was pleasant and the tires I bought rang up at the price he gave me on the phone. Seems to be a poor management issue.
In June I went back to return the tires and pick up some hubs — J.R. Lynch was on the floor and was so super helpful, genuine and courteous. His customer service attitude added a star.

Northern tool is ok but their selection of stuff is a little odd. I bought a winch for a truck here a couple of years ago and bought a dump wagon for my lawn mower recently. They are not your typical hardware store, I don’t come here to often only when I need a specific item. So if you can’t find it at your local hardware store there is a good chance you can find it here.

I may not be the most impartial reviewer when it comes to hardware stores because I’ve never been in one I truly loved… nevertheless, my husband tricked me in to accompanying him to Northern Tool today, so here’s the scoop– there was a lot of stuff packed into this warehouse-​esque store… in fact, I was tickled but not surprised to see that men can easily shop for clothing while they fondle various tools and implements of destruction here– I saw some fetching navy Dickies coveralls, gardening hats, lightweight jackets disguised as «welding jackets,» etc. etc.
It’s definitely a little hard to find stuff in here, and the aisles are super small. However, I will say they have a killer deal on dog beds. $ 10 apiece. I am not joking, $ 10. I’ve never seen one that cheap. Now fine, they aren’t high quality. But if your pooch is a bed chewer like one of mine is, you don’t want to invest in a good bed anyway… so the ones Northern Tool is selling is perfect.
Word of warning– the staff isn’t particularly helpful– the cashier was sullen at best and when we were leaving the store with a full cart, an employee walked out the doors in front of us and basically slammed it into our cart, because she was too busy trying to leave to notice a paying customer standing right behind her– usually even another patron would hold the door for a customer coming out with a full cart, but not this lady. The good news is she didn’t turn around even after she did that, just kept going right out to her car without a care in the world.
Nevertheless, my husband assures me that Northern Tool has reasonable prices and good brands, so it’s better than going to Harbor Freight and cheaper than going to Pleasants.