Nel’s Tahoe Supply

Great service-​very helpful when I go here. Store is clean and well stock and organized. I am NOT handy, so I tend to ask stupid question-​more than once!:) Nice garden center with plants-​trees as well.

Best lil hardware store in town! I love the folks that work here.-always happy. They can fix anything!!! And they have awesome free coffee, cute lady staff, and a friendly store cat. Nels is great!!!

Oustanding service! Yesterday, Monday, July 7, about 15 minutes after closing I drove by Nel’s and the parking lot gates were already locked, but there was a young woman standing out front with her canine unit. I asked if she worked there and she said yes. I needed a key copied in a hurry because I had to leave town that evening and didn’t know where else to go in town at that hour. Without hesitation, she put her dog in her car, ran my key inside and copied it thrice and returned promptly with my keys and for payment. Afterward, I felt like a jerk for not giving her a tip for going the extra mile for me. So I just wanted to say thanks here!

Friendly, helpful, and experienced staff sometimes busy helping others but since I wasn’t in a hurry, it was fine. This is the small town hardware store that keeps locals and tourists coming back with the dated, been around a while feel. Decent selection of hardware since it is backed by True Value. Honest with good prices.

*sigh*
This is more of a 3.5-er. I want to give these guys a higher review but I just can’t. Mostly due to the understaffing /​lack of customer service given to other customers while we were here.
We came in yesterday afternoon (Wednesday) in search of a sturdy garden rake and indoor paint samples. We wandered around for a bit (as my hubby and I both find some sort of weird enjoyment in hardware stores) before going over to the paint department, and saw a total of two employees. The guy –tallish, short brown hair, very polite — who seemed like he was in charge was running back and forth between the paint department, front counter and rental counter. I’m not sure if the girl –average height, blondish hair, more than a little whiny — was training or what, but she seemed to be standing around to a whole lot of nothing.
As I was perusing paint samples, the guy was helping someone in the paint department. There were a couple of cranky old guys at the front counter who had apparently stood there waiting for service for so long they felt the need to start yelling things like, «I guess I’ll name my own prices!» and «I guess everything is free today!»
Rude, but not completely unwarranted. The girl was standing a few feet away from them and wasn’t wearing any «Nel’s» gear or a name tag, so I guess she didn’t even feel the need to apologize for the wait or be friendly or whatever? She just sort of half-​hide behind a display awkwardly. I’ve worked in retail for along time, and it’s really, really bothersome when I see that kind of shiznit. Especially in a generally awesome place like this.
By the time I decided on a sample color, there was no line and the guy helped us out no problem. The sample took about five minutes to mix, and in the time I waited I hear the girl/​chick/​woman ask no less than three times to go home early.
NEL’S. For goodness sake. I didn’t have any direct interaction with this employee and I still want to smack her a day later. An employee that hides from customers and constantly whines to go home early? Waste. Of. Space.
At any rate, the guy working was friendly and helpful, even to the old guys threatening to steal stuff. He gave us some helpful tips on what different finishes of paint (semigloss versus satin finish) would have on the final color. Really would have given Nel’s a 4.5 or 5 if it weren’t for the lazy chick. THAT’S HOW OBNOXIOUS SHE WAS.

The best. I actually drive a bit further to come to Nel’s even though there is another hardware store near by. Rose

I go here when I need to grab a quick item. Basic hardware stuff, nothing fancy. Helpful staff. Sweet Resident Cat.

A mom & pop’s store that the locals go to. I would recomend them.

The BEST hardware store in AMERICA !!!
Ok, I’ve not been to every hardware store in America to make this claim but it’s DAMN good in South Lake Tahoe. They have a solution for everything and the proprietors and staff are super-​duper knowledgeable and friendly to boot! (BTW: what the heck does «to boot» mean???)
Not as extensive as Meeks (see:
), which has a lumber yard and stone, but Nel’s is what Home Depot will never be: the epitome of the American Hardware store.
Outta sight but not outta mind. My first stop if I need anything up in Tahoe. Meeks (see:
) is a little too far.