San Andres Hardware

I was at the San Andres Hardware today. I live in Montecito and planned to buy several bags of lawn mulch as I am replanting my lawns in preparation for El Nino. I always buy supplies there when I have business in that neighborhood. In the past I have always stopped in the store to tell them of my business in the neighbourhood and that I’ll be back in 20 or 30 minutes to make my purchases. Well the old bearded clerk with broken English asked me for $ 2 for parking. I was so incensed that I can’t imagine doing business with them in the future. I was nonplussed as they have always been so nice in the past.

The Owner of the store was so nice and so interesting. He helped me get my hollow wall anchors and silicone caulk. He was courteous and kind. It’s a great hardware store that all the locals use, too.

Great neighborhood asset. They are always helpful and it sure beat a drive to goleta.

This is a quaint store with everything you need. Stocked well since the new owners took over. Pappi the owner is so nice and helpful. Beats going to a big store like Lowe’s or Ace.

OWNER LIKES TO HUMILIATE CUSTOMERS! My husband purchased a plunger yesterday, which was defective. We attempted to return it yesterday, but were told by the very young teenaged employee (I guess) and her beer-​breathed dad (?) that «they didn’t know how/​how not been trained to do a return by «Papa.» So we made another trip there today. The owner pointed to a large sign completely covered by papers that said, «ALL SALES FINAL.» We told him the product was defective. He then tried to humiliate my husband by suggesting he didn’t know how to thread the black part of the plunger onto the stick and then that he surely didn’t know that there was a hidden piece of the plunger on the bottom that needed to be pulled out to use it properly. All the while not allowing my husband to show him where the defect was. My hubby had brought along a replacement plunger we bought elsewhere yesterday (when you need a plunger, you need it NOW) and tried to show the owner why his was defective and the other one worked. The old guy was not interested at all and refused to refund the purchase price. HE ALSO TAKES SQUARE AND WILL NOT RING UP A PURCHASE UNDER $ 5.00, so if you want an inexpensive item, he will force you to spend more things so the total is over $ 5.00 And we all know hardware prices are traditionally low. SUGGESTION: Go over on Gutierrez to the other small store where there are knowledgable, friendly employees, or to Goleta to the big box store. It’s worth the gas and civility either way. BUYER BEWARE! P. S. The merchant dispute unit at my bank reversed the charge. If you are in this situation, thank God you used a bank card instead of cash (never use cash with this guy) and dispute it. You will get yout money back with an apology and make you feel better. Meanwhile, this guy lost a customer, another one in the parking lot on the way out, the amount of the transaction, and a useless toilet plunger for this year’s white elephant gag gift.

DON’T BUY FROM THIS GUY.
HERE IS WHY:
For example, I bought a toilet plunder ($ 8.79 + tax) from San Andres Hardware (SAHW) and took it home to use it.
It failed as the rubbber flexed and flopped over instead of being stiff enough to be plunged.
I bought a replacement from Lowes. (&5.99 + tax) and took it home.
Two punges later, flush.
Returned to SAHW for refund with my Lowes plunger and receipt in hand, and clerk said no refunds on Sunday.
Monday, I returned with receitp, Lowes plunger and its receipt, but the owner/​manager said no refunds. He pointed to sign on counter covered with stuff. I said what about for defective stuff? He said no refunds even for defective products.
I brought my Lowes plunger to compare and he tested his which failed in front of a customer. Still, he refused to refund for defective plunger.
I told him I would use my credit card customer dispute resolution department to get a refund. He said go ahead.
He violated rule #1: «The customer is king.»
He violated rule #4: Refund the sale of a defective products.
He voilated CA law which requires a refund for the sale of unmerchanable products which fail the implied warranty of fitness for its purpose and implied warranty of merchanability (it is a saleable product.
This guy will sell you a defective product, refuse to refund, blame the customer, and chase you out as if you were the bad guy.
DON’T BUY FROM THIS GUY

This place is a joke. ZERO selection… what hardware store doesn’t sell u-​traps for sinks!!! Also the staff doesn’t know anything and the older guy speaks broken English.

I love this place! I recently moved to SB and have been here a couple of times for small miscellaneous purchases (new key copies, paint, brushes, etc). The owner has assisted me both times and has been very friendly and helpful. It’s a great local place that I will definitely be returning to.

We needed lightbulbs in a bad way. Looked up hardware in Unilocal and found this place. Friendly staff all said hi as we came in. Small store and small selection but so happy they still carried ‘real’ lightbulbs. You know the kind we all used growing up that don’t have mercury in them? We were staying a couple of miles away and forgot to bring our own lightbulbs to swap out the curly cue bulbs in the hotel that give me migraines. They even had some bathroom big round bulbs that my Mom needed so she bought those too. Nice little neighborhood and good looking plants for sale.

Best new owners around, local and true to SB, this team is ready to serve and so awesome! Defiantly go here for all your hardware needs! If they don’t have it, give them time, (they just took over) so fill them in on all your requests.

Great selection of nuts/​bolts and many other tools/​accessories… The worker was really kind and helpful… I will go back here again!

Perhaps the last neighborhood hardware store left in Santa Barbara.
Knowledgeable and friendly staff.
I save gas and buy local rather than driving way out to Goleta.

Purchased paint stripper, but I didn’t need it, so I brought it back. Tossed the receipt, unfortunately, but I thought I could just get store credit, which I would’ve been satisfied with. When I came in, the guy (who, when I called to complain later, turned out to be the owner) said he couldn’t take it back because it was used. Fact: I had never even opened it. He proceeded to open the canister, point to some of the liquid that had gummed around the rim, and say, «Look, you used it.» Professing that I hadn’t used it, he replied, «I can’t take it. You might have poisoned it and then I’d be in trouble.»
First, I’m offended that he insisted that the unopened canister was used. Second, I’m offended at his suggestion that I might have poisoned the paint stripper. And third, you’re supposed to use paint stripper in a well-​ventilated area because PAINT STRIPPER IS ALREADY POISON.
Not coming back here and warning people to turn away because of the way I was treated by the owner himself. Wanted to like the place because it seemed cozy and local, but this was just outrageous. This is my first review of anything on Unilocal,so if it’s not yet obvious, I joined only to write about how bad of a taste (perhaps I was poisoned!) San Andres Hardware left in my mouth.