Cole Fox Hardware

This is my go to spot when I need to fix something at work while in the city. The key department was very helpful to grap keys for a few new employees. I will be back.

We went to Target looking for Christmas lights and they were sold out. Then I remembered Cole Hardware. We were in luck they had a variety of choices still in stock along with Christmas decorations etc. I was happy I remembered Cole Hardware is in the neighborhood and has many supplies one would need for a condo. Kitchen goods, gardening tools, crafts etc. I won't be returning to target. Cole's will be our new first stop. The customer service was also great.

I needed a furnace filter and decided to go to more local hardware store instead of a big box store. I told an employee at the entrance what I needed then headed downstairs and was met by another employee who asked me for dimensions but not what merv rating. All the filters were up on a tall shelf above other racks in a big pile so he pulled one down and handed it to me. I've purchased and researched filters in the past so when I saw it was a high merv rating, I asked him for a lower rating and he replied, why would you want that? I said I have an older furnace and didn't want to restrict airflow with a higher merv filter. He sort of scoffed at me and handed me an unwrapped unbranded merv 8 filter with dirt on it. I said that it had dirt on it, and he got visibly annoyed with me and pulled down another one. At that point I felt so awkward that I just took it and went upstairs to check out. At check out, there was no barcode, because it was just one loose filter from a bulk pack and wasn't supposed to be sold individually. The cashier had to call back downstairs and ask for a price, and was told $44. I said well that's obviously not right, and a few minutes later they said $8 and change. I should have just left but I paid and got out. I'm not an hvac expert but I re-compared advice online which seems to align with the recommendation to select lower merv ratings for older systems, so it's concerning that the employee either didn't know that or thought that I wouldn't know that and tried to sell me the most expensive thing by default rather than asking me what I needed. Plus being treated with obvious disdain which was just uncalled for.

I used Cole Fox Hardware as a Stasher drop-off point, and the experience was great. The staff was super friendly and made the process quick and easy. I was in and out in just a few minutes. Definitely recommend this spot if you’re looking for a smooth Stasher experience.

Denise consistently goes above and beyond in locating merchandise for me. I'm handicapped and unable to access the lower floor, she ensures that the products I need are brought to the front of the store. She has climbed ladders to find out the cost of a product. I ask for Denise when I enter the store as I appreciate her stellar customer service and I like having a female who can assist me. She's a wonder.

Tried to find some wires. The guy whose name is Rex is super helpful! I come to the store quite often. They have a little bit of everything.

Needs more visible signage- I didn’t know this shop was here! Great shop in the center of SF. All staff very helpful and kind! I believe it was Diana who helped me at the cash register. Very good customer service!

I used to love coming to this location as it was convenient and the employees at the time were helpful, kind and friendly. However unfortunately this store has taken a turn for the worse. Thanks to an overly rude and judgemental gentleman who will follow you and attempt to sneakily observe you for what ever reason he may pick. I like to consider myself a decent human being, I don't shop ]]ft, steal, or even cause a ruckus. Yet he will still accuse you of theft without any proof other than his gut feeling. Then when you open your belongings willingly as being called a thief in front of other customers is degrading and embarrassing to say the least. When he is unable to find any items . Then he turns and says it's In your pocket... What's in my pocket?!? So I pull out all of my pockets to yet again find nothing. Instead of apologizing like a normal human being he states " I don't have time to play your games"

Denise Walker, in Commercial Sales, at (full name) Fox Cole Hardware 70 Fourth Street, SF (the "Downtown" one, in the Union Square DISTRICT I just now learned exists), was very helpful!. Before they opened today, by a few, but not very few, minutes, she looked up an item. That their website didn't have, for some reason. She gave me additional info about it, atop her volunteered, quickly sent, informative e-mail (pair). She went above and beyond. But do as I say, not as I do, I suggest. Call once they open at 9 M-F, 9:30 weekends. They're busy setting up. I will wait, now on. But the possible deal was so good.....lame excuse, I know.

It's not Home Depot or Ace Hardware and thank goodness it's not a Walmart. It's much, much better and more than these. Especially the latter. Don't get me wrong, I like both Home Depot and Ace, but I love this store. They may not carry everything; but more than likely, they just might...but sometimes they may not have enough of what you need or what you're looking for. But that's OK. It's always quality over quantity. Even though they may not have the item(s) you're looking for, you can simply ask them to order them for you. And they'll happily do it with a smile without ripping you off or charging you a fortune. No hidden extra fees or delivery charges here. Just an overall good value hardware store in the heart of the SOMA district. The store is very intimate, but it's not that small either. The layout is very easy to navigate from top to bottom. Everything is arranged specifically and purposely to the types of item(s) and tools that makes practical sense. What it lacks in size more than makes up for its one-on-one customer service. It's got that feel of an old-time mom-and-pop neighborhood corner hardware store where everybody knows your name. Either that or it's because I'm usually wearing a name badge. Hardware stores like these are a dying breed, but this one is thriving in downtown of all places. It's truly a store for the people of all ages and sizes that has a community feel to it. A surprising and much needed beacon of light in a once bustling downtown.

Great place that has everything you need. Even more helpful and friendly staff give great customer service.

Spencer was so helpful today! I walked in with one plan for a project, and after discussing it, Spencer had much better ideas. He offered to cut and drill some scrap wood, and sorted out the nuts, bolts, and washers. I ended up with a better, safer, and cheaper product, all in about 15 minutes. Thank you Spencer!

It's always worth it to drive across the city to visit Cole Hardware! I stopped in to get duplicate keys made for the family and both Cole staff members I interacted with (from the key specialist and the cashier) operated efficiently and with kindness - which from my experience with other hardware stores is not a given. Thank you, Cole!

Denise was a delight! Fast, helpful, and got everything I needed quickly. Will be back soon!

Cole Hardware is an oasis in a zombie apocalypse cause by SF Government. The store is chocked full of items you need...some you didn't even know you needed. Needed some mold mildew remover for a property that had water issues during the current storms. Cole had six or seven to choose from. Great staff. Love you guys ...please stay in business.

A huge thank you to Rex at Cole hardware on 4th Very creative solution to my problem .. he listened to what I needed and took literally a second to come up with a product that I needed in house and could use a portion of for my hobbies .. Great price and amazing help.. Shout out to Denise at the front for pointing me in the right direction .. but if you ever can't think of what you may need go see Rex.. a modern day MacGyver..

Best hardware store in town with knowledgeable and helpful employees. My mother lost a screw to her dining room table. I took out one of the other screws to Cole. The employee spent several minutes matching my missing screw. Employee even opened a package so I would only have to purchase one screw for 25 cents. Highly recommended!

Denise is one heck of an employee! On Thanksgiving day she was out in front of the store advertising with a sign that not only was the store opened for the holiday but that the store sold pies!!! She's a keeper Cole Hardware

Came here twice looking for various items and the customer service here is just outstanding!! The associate at the front will ask you what you're looking for, then lead you to the aisle of the item you're looking for. Special shoutout to Rex for helping us out both times, he has the best attitude and is so friendly! Will be my go to hardware store now.

On 11/10/2024 I needed to pickup some misc items. Upon entering the store the man at the door was so ridged both in posture and attitude. One of the items I was purchasing was going to be a price match. When I got to the register I asked the rude man at the door if the lady cashier could do a price match, he said no. He then went on to explain the price match policy and I was trying to explain just days ago it was honored. I asked for a . manager he said the cashier was the . manager but yet she couldn't do a price match. I left the store with nothing except confused and with a bad headache.

5 stars for excellent customer service! This was my first visit to a Cole's Hardware and I must say that I am pleasantly impressed with the staff's attentiveness to their customers. As soon as I walked into the store, I was greeted by an employee who provided detailed information on where to find gardening supplies. As I looked for seed packets, another employee approached me and provided some helpful tips. I appreciated the suggestions as I selected some bush beans and squash seeds that would grow well in San Francisco. As I struggled to reach for a packet of seeds, a third employee happened to pass by and helped me obtain the seed packet. Thank you for the vertical assistance! I wish I took the moment to remember their names because everyone I met was friendly and very helpful. If you're an avid gardener or eco-conscious person, Cole's Hardware has great staff and a lot of cool products.

Currently building a chicken shed and had some specific tools in mind. I was a bit uncertain if the staff would know exactly what I needed, but was pleasantly surprised by how knowledgeable they were! They offered some fantastic recommendations that really helped me tackle my project more efficiently. Will definitely be returning soon! Thanks for the great experience!

Rex and Damion were very very helpful ! They know their stuffs. I needed to find a bolt replacement for a broken bolt on my exercise machine. I wasn't sure if a hardware store has it but they found it in a couple of minutes. Good service with a smile. Highly recommend.

Incredible customer service as always! I feel bad as his name fell out of my brain, but was helped above and beyond putting together some cable chains. Thanks again!

To start, this place is noticeable from the great window displays I see every time I walk past. I've been in here a few times and had good service. My last visit stood out in that I had a light die on a holiday when other stores are closed. Shoutout to Denise who was super helpful on the phone about availability and willingness to accept my dead bulbs, and for helping out in store. Thanks for being there in a pinch with the items I need and being friendly about it, Cole Hardware!

Went in looking for bed frame hardware that got lost in a move and came across Rex who was amazing to speak with. He helped me find the hardware needed per the manufacturer specs and just had a great time speaking with him. He was very knowledgeable and quickly assisted me and knew his products. If you are on the lower floor look for him!!!!

Rex was very helpful and made sure I had everything taken care of and answered all of my many questions. Great customer service!

Moving to the heart of the city has its pros and cons. The pros, I mean down town has its charm, the hustle and bustle, it's busy and I love it. However, finding an apartment comes with its challenges. The biggest challenge I had was finding furniture that fits. After building a tv stand, dresser and coat rack I just couldn't do it anymore. Thank you baby J! I found a power drill that made building my standup desk for work so easy! I also was in need of a tape measure because shopping online is iffy. Thankfully, having a tape measure helped me pick out a few pieces of furniture that I was in need of. On to the customer service, absolutely awesome! Everyone was super helpful and knew exactly where everything was. They have everything you need...from command strips to nuts & bolts. Thank you so much for making my move in a breeze!

Cole's hardware saved the day! I needed a blow torch for some creme brulee I purchased from Costco. Little did I know I needed a torch. I was in union square area, went to macys nothing, crate & barrel $50 no thanks. Walked right in front of Coles I'm like wait. I walked in, asked for torch and left the store w/torch & butane. Now I can have my creme brulee! And it was under $30, score!

Great service! Quick, very professional, and good staff. Came here to get my keys duplicated. Each key was $3.75, which was higher than expected, esp compared to some other locations I called. However, I would come here again because they're reliable and service is good.

The people there were attentive without feeling like one was monitoring you. Before leaving because I couldn't find what I was looking for I was stopped by a staff and he genuinely asked if I found everything I was looking for. My response was no and I went into detail what I was looking for. Afterward, he told me a relatable story and helped me find what I was looking for and it was much, much cheaper than buying it through Amazon. Rex, you are awesome and I greatly appreciate the relevant story and your assistance.

I used to go to their 9th Street location, but since that closed, I come to the 4th Street location. It was great to Rex was still around. He has always been helpful with finding me what I need. What is also valuable, is his expert advice and tips on products and how to repair things. We had a washer leak. He told us what to look for in the hose and gave us the clamps needed for the repair. Thank you, Rex!

The folks here are helpful. They've got a lot of useful products here especially given the space constraints in the city.

I was missing screws due to riding my scooter. Damian and Rex both helped on what I needed to do to fix it and make sure it won't happen again. Great service!!

I'm very happy that Coles Hardware has not left my neighborhood like everything else seems to have lately. The staff, as usual, is very knowledgeable and helpful and has quite a selection of products! I was looking for a solution to unclog my older bathroom drain. Spencer assisted me in all the possible solutions and walked through each of the products that might apply as the standard sized auger I have would not work. He was efficient, to the point and I didn't feel rushed even though other customers started to want his attention.

Needed a few weird sized screws to fix the heat shield under my car, and was completely lost trying to figure out what the right sizes/types were. Rex (sp?) Downstairs helped me figure out both, packaged them up too for me so I wouldn't lose them. Probably saved me 30' and an extra trip yo the hardware store! Very convenient location for keys etc too. Thank you!

Rex is the best! He helped me find exactly what I needed for a difficult home hardware repair. Rex is the man.

Knowledge is not something to crow about these days, but the staff at the various branches of the Cole Hardware srotes in San Francisco have it in spades. I live in an Edwardian Victorian house that was built in 1905 (117 years ago) & it's a constant challenge to update/upgrade the internal system from ancient to modern. But the specialists at Cole have the knowledge base to give me the correct gear to fix it on my own & walk me through the repairs, or have access to handy person(s) that can professionally fix it!

Amazing store, great staff. One could spend hours finding very useful items for the home and work and I have. No reason to go to a big box store.

Walked by last night on a whim i went in and they had exactly the item i had been looking for, i went to three different hardware stores with no luck, (a brush you could attach to a drill for high power scrubbing), the employee that helped me find it was awesome. Didn't get his name. Also bought a few other items. Go to check out and Nadia the cashier just stands there and doesn't acknowledge me for about 15 seconds, she's just standing there. She motions me forward, doesn't smile or greet me and just looks at one of my items and says, "how much does THIS cost?" I'm how the fuck do i know you are the person that works here not met. Starts ringing up my purchase...stops half way through to talk to one of the employees, ignoring me. Finally finishes, still no eye contact or acknowledgement. I give her my card and she charges me hands me back my card and just kind of tosses my bag at me. Not a heartwarming experience. (minus two stars). Not a bad enough experience to keep me from shopping here, but when you are on the tail end of a crappy day and get treated like this it puts a damper on the moment.

I have been shopping at this Cole Hardware location in the city for a few years. Every time I have gone in looking for this or that, the store team has been knowledgeable and provide excellent advice and customer service. I went in yesterday and as usual, Rex in particular along with other team members provided amazing service, advice and made the store experience so pleasant.

A older gentleman named Rex believe solve an electrical issue with breaker. He explained to me how he changed the plugs in his place. I listened because he's very knowledgeable and done the work myself. I'm pleased with his service and wish that all stores had the courtesy he gave me. I'm very pleased.

I'm in here fairly often and it's always a good experience. I routinely get my questions answered easily by the staff and find exactly what I need. Yesterday I stopped in looking for a hose bib cap and I was directed to it by maybe the most helpful employee I've ever run across at this store, which is saying something, a man by the name of Rex. After helping me with that, he proceeds to advise me on a handful of other issues my building often runs into, turning this routine stop at the hardware store into one of the most instructive interactions I've had in a long time. It was awesome. So yeah, stop in and say hi to Rex. He knows what he's talking about, as does everyone who works at the 4th Street Cole Hardware.

Management, please talk to your employees about refraining from making sexist comments. The guy who sold me a drill and stripped screw remover today literally asked me if "I had a man who knew how to use tools" because he was "unsure if I would be able to do it myself." Oof. Guy, it's 2022 and believe it or not, the screw's been removed. Sad to see that this sexism has been mentioned in other reviews too. I've been coming here since I was kid growing up in Cole Valley, but man did this leave a bitter taste in my mouth. Taking my business elsewhere.

Even when you try to give places a second chance, they still fail. What a complete waste of space price gouging on masks price gouging on spray paint price gouging on lamps, greedy ownership, lies, fake customer service, and just a pile of trash save your money and don't waste this negative space and the creeps the fillet.

Of all the hardware stores I visited in the city this has to be the one with the friendliest and most knowledgeable staff. They have a good selection of anything you might need. The prices are reasonable. And if needed, you can ask the staff for assistance, and they won't leave your side until you are satisfied. I went to get a valve and a washer for my faucet, and one of the associates name Rex helped me. He even went as far as to open the package right there in front of me to check and make sure it was the right washer, and that it would fit my valve. I really appreciated Rex going above and beyond. Even though when I returned home, I still couldn't figure out how to hook up the dishwasher properly, if I had to, I would return to the hardware store anytime I needed anything hardware related.

I've stopped by here a few times, and I've always had a great experience. The staff is super friendly and helpful! They also not only point me in the right direction for tools but give out pointers with my ongoing home projects

Amazing staff and special shout out to Connie who helped me process my return. I stopped by here during a break at work without realizing that my return was going to take a little longer than usual--totally my fault--but I was worried that I would be late getting back to a meeting. Connie not only handled my return, she also told me it was okay to go back and that she would continue to call the corporate office to ensure my return was processed. She even gave me a call after she processed my return to confirm that it went through! Talk about customer service! Wow! A++

A great hardware store that has a lot of selection and folks that are willing to help you out with your questions. I asked for recommendations on a work glove and the person helping me gave me suggestions and even a time range on how long they last. I've come to this location to get odd drill bits, screws and washers, work gloves, replacement garage door openers, etc. I come back even if it's out of the way for me.

Lower ur damn prices, I was in need of contact cleaner, broom, mop and lite bulbs and a pair of screwdrivers. I compared the price, and Cole still try to rip me off. By the way the it is the crappy lite bulbs, Philip lite bulbs are decents. Only positives is the Fixtures. The Men who runs the place are idiots, I am sorry u are idiots.

I was in the Metreon area of San Francisco and went to Cole-Fox Hardware. The mural on the wall is what I first saw. It has a good variety of hardware and other items. Staff was helpful.

Always great customer service. Just ask for help and the helpful people will figure out what you need. Hardware stores are usually a fun place to look around, but with the staff at Cole, it's even better.

I walked into the downtown Cole Hardware store to return a fan today. Denise was at the front desk working hard to get the store open for the day. She stopped everything she was doing to help me out! She is a very nice lady and it's really refreshing to see such amazing customer service these days! Thank you!

With the ability to order everything off the internet, who would have thought there was a need to go to the hardware store again! This place has a decent selection, and staff is pretty friendly and helpful. Prices can be slightly high at times, but you can't beat the convenience. Recently, with all the wildfires going on, trying to order a face mask online was a pretty tricky and slow idea. I was able to stop by here and pick on up for about $1 right as they were closing

Helpful place! Rex the older gentleman found parts for me and bent them into the shape I needed.

I cannot say enough good things about my experience with Locksmith, Marc Estoque. It started with my initial call being answered by Marc and not by a message saying, "please leave a message". We were able to schedule a time for him to come out the next day (less than 24 hours since the initial call). He arrived, assessed what needed to be done, and got the job done in less than 30 minutes. Marc is a true professional and I would definately recommend him to friends. Thank you Cole Hardware for referring me to Marc!

After two years of being faithful customers, we were treated like criminals when walking in. The greeter at the door asked us if we had any questions or if we were looking for something in particular. I responded that we didn't need any help since we knew where everything was. He informed us there was a downstairs, which we already knew and spoke into his communication device that there's two people to keep an eye on. About ten feet away, a man in a black shirt labeled "Crew" stood with another man dressed in their usual red outfit, blocking the stairwell. The man in the "Crew" said, "Copy that. I've got an eye on them." We chose to ignore that since the area is seedy, and they probably have a lot of theft and were being thorough. We asked him where the doorknobs were. He took us to them, blocked the area where they were, grabbed a doorknob without showing us, and escorted us to the front to pay, handing the doorknob we hadn't even had a chance to look at or get a price on to the woman behind the counter. At that point, we decided to look up the item on Amazon and order it there since we had no idea what we would be presumably buying at the checkout counter or how much it would cost. We've tried to support this store over the last few years even though shopping online is easier, but we will not be returning after our last experience as it seems to have taken on an unwelcoming, militaristic environment.