Kabelin Ace Hardware - La Porte West

When working on a home project you can easily make multiple trips in a day to the hardware store. Kabelin wins over the big box store for me every time - because I can get in and out and always know that I don't have to go looking up and down the aisles for help. It's right here in town and I'm back to work right away. Their hours, staff and inventory keep me coming back. This past week I thought my entire landscaping project was over and I would spend the next hour driving back and forth from a different chain store to buy a larger repair piece than I needed. Two minutes with a floor representative and I was taken back to the Service counter and sent home with a $4 part and back to my project. Customer for life here! : ) Thank you!

Disappointed with the service here. Came on a Saturday to get parts for a Stihl blower and only one person at the counter. So after waiting in a long line for like 40 minutes I find out they are out of the part and will order. When I go back, even though the store is open evidently the service counter is closed. I can see the person back at the counter, but they can’t help me out. I guess the next time I want to drop a few hundred dollars on a tool I will think a little harder about the service after the sale.

HAD A PUMP GASKET THAT WAS BAD. THEY KNEW WHAT IS WAS FOR AND PULLED THE NEW ONE OUT RIGHT AWAY. THEY EVEN MEASURED TO MAKE SURE THEY WERE THE SAME SIZE. GREAT SERVICE!!!!

Always enjoy shopping for something different and special here. There is always a nice selection of old fashioned candies and sodas too. The staff is always pleasant. I especially love the handicapped greeter.

Amanda was very helpful and I was in need of a heater as mine went out on this cold day
She ordered it on line an told me when it would arrive.all your associates are so pleasant.i love shopping at ACE my father shopped their for years also. Thank you ACE

I just tried to exchange a 3/8” Craftsman ratchet and was told their policy is the model numbers have to match in order to exchange. So I had to call Craftsman directly for a replacement, which will be here in two weeks.

If they’re not going to honor the lifetime warranty of the Craftsman product, maybe they shouldn’t carry them. Total inconvenience, the whole point of the warranty is to be able to exchange
in-store..

The last photo is the replacement Craftsman is sending me. The same one they have available in-store!

Let me tell you, I had the best experience! Ava in commercial was the most friendly and best person I have ever met! She treated me so well, she was informative and showed me everything I needed to know about the store! She definitely needs a raise for how hard working she is!

Called in to ask about a rental and was told to come before we close. Times posted online is 5 PM and on the store. I walk in prior to 5 and I am told they close at 4:30pm and I can not be helped. Do not tell a customer you close close at 5, which they mentioned on the phone and when I get there prior to 5 tell me you can no longer help me. So much for shopping local!

Funny story - I know zero about plumbing but I do watch a lot of Youtube videos... finally going to tackle the leaking bathtub faucet (local plumbing biz said they wouldn't touch it says i need new shower unit? I just wanted to faucet fixed). I took it apart and needed the valve seat tool to remove it - it was $18 and its $8 on ebay (Seriouosly this is why I shop online for everything minus grocieries)

I brought the stem in saying I need a new seat - I found the tool but can you match up the correct seat for this? (no) hmm if they looked up the stem (which I bought in the past at same store) they can see which seat I need for it or I am sure they have a template/guide to go off of.

He first pointed me to the toilet seats (seriously) no the seat the stem goes into. (had it in my hand). He then pointed me to the end of isle where the rubber seals are. Not what I asked for....

I know this didn't require 2 trips but I will back once I get the part out so I bring in and show "this is what i need!" I was in the store for 30 minutes (lunch break) and seen 1 person running the entire side of the store. Shouldn't there be department heads for each department in that area?

Now I will need to come back and find someone else (hopefully) to get the $2 part I need. Even with me knowing very little (I can rip a computer apart but plumbing little grey on) - this should of been a 10 minute fix which turned into waiting another week for my tool so I could save $10 for something I will use once.

I used to work there many many years ago and it hasn't changed a bit.... (Many many years ago the store when I worked there with minimal staff that had a VCR stolen from a shelf that had theft cables holding it down - they were able to cut the cables and leave with it and no one seen it) - comical though - not angry I got a good chuckle - but this is why I only support the online community.

2 stars since its the only store in town that sells Charleston Chew candy bars :)

Tracey was very helpful and professional. I have another issue with my chainsaw that hopefully I can deal with her to get it right.
I first problem I had was chain brake problem.

Tracey and the rest of the people there are spot on and know what they are doing. It is great to have a hardware that has small engine parts too A++++

I came to this Ace for the first time solely because they are a Stihl dealer. It was my first time purchasing a top tier saw. The fellas helping me were super friendly and helpful, without pushing me towards one purchase or another. I ended up getting a fantastic saw and they really made it right for me. I'll be getting all my Stihl products from here for sure.

I frequent this Ace, and every time I go, I’m greeted and asked if they can help me find something. I went in literally right before close last night needing a last minute craft item for my wife, and 2 different people helped me immediately without me asking, and had smiles on their face. Cashier was friendly too. Bonus stars if I could give them for giving me a $2 bill :) also nice location to have the UPS store in the building.

We recently rented a bobcat on Thursday my boyfriend took 2 days of vacation to try to get some yard work done. My boyfriend took two days of vacation to get our large yard project done. The young man that I spoke to on Thursday when the machine broke said that he would refund or send us a new machine that day. Nope never heard anything that day had to call back the next day at 11 in the morning and speak to a manager who then sent the machine that wasn't it any better. Was told by the young employee that we would be refunded and they actually charged more than what we were quoted over the phone I will never use a ace again I'll go to the big chains in Michigan City.

Fantastic home town feel. They have lots of staff to help you and a large selection. Well worth a visit

Preface: LEAVE YOUR WALLET IN THE CAR!!!

Laura in the service department is absolutely phenomenal with everything and anything that has a Stihl label on it! Whew I was humbled really quick and I thought I knew my stuff, but she had me cracking up and Johnny on the spot pulled out the exact parts I've needed. I've been afraid to go here for a while but I finally did, I had to because they had the parts I needed. This place is the Mecca of Ace hardware stores and the Stihl department is scary, hide your wallet. Both the Laporte and Michigan City Kabelin Ace's are hands down my favorite, and I absolutely love my local Hopkins Ace that's a 2 minute drive from me, I'm not knocking anyone but I've never seen an Ace like the Kabelin in Laporte. Hopkins is incredible too but specializes in Echo while Kabelin deals with Stihl. 5 stars and I'd go higher if I could.

Mit

0/10
Terrible customer services at Kabelin's Ace located on the west side of town. I use to go here all the time to support the local business and not go to a big box store even though prices are a lot more expensive here.
Customer service has went downhill bad the past few years. You use to get greeted and helped. Use to joke around with people about how you could never get around the store without being bugged for help.
Now employees just stand around talking to each other and don't want to be bothered. Won't help you unless you are a retired male.
I've had multiple run-ins with a retired older man that ignores you when you ask him something and if you do happen to get his attention he just points won't say anything or ask if you have any questions and just straight up walk away, but 5 minutes later you'll see in another aisle helping a older retired man being super helpful. I wish I would've got his name to put it on here, but he walks away so quick I couldn't catch it.
It's a shame what this business has come to. I use to enjoy coming to this store and had family that worked here. I won't be taking my business there anymore.
I'd recommend going if you are a retired older man, but if you are a woman, or below the age of 40 you might want to go somewhere else.
Haven't had issues on the east side of town, more so hard to find a employee since its a smaller store.

Couldn't get paint match. New technology does not let you manually adjust colors (i.e. add a little more of one color to make darker, more blue, more green, etc.) Ruined 2 gallons of paint. Too purple or too bright blue. Employees tried to be helpful. Not faulting them at all.

Was able to find what I needed within a few minutes and started to walk out the door when I realize I set my keys down some where and 2 of there associates helped in retrieving them in a minute, what a great place

Amazing amd every fri and sat they are selling nelson port pit all summer! Found gardens plants here i couldnt other greenhouses

At least ACE can do their job! Unlike Menards where you don't get help, and when you do you they don't know squat, this place not only helped, had 3 PEOPLE there willing to, but got me EVERYTHING I needed that Menards didn't!
Great people! Great service! Will return!

Tried to borrow a tool. I was told on the phone they had one, when I got there in-person I was told it was broken. The employee helped us find one at a sister store 25 minutes away, they said we could return the tool to the Michigan City location but when we got the tool from Laporte we were told it had to be returned to the store that loaned it to us.
Seems to be a great deal of miscommunication across the board. But I guess one star for checking the computer to see who else had the tool.

They got everything you could need for your home here. From toys, to plumbing and yard care. Super friendly staff that goes above and beyond to make sure you get exactly what you need. Would recomend!

Was a great time ..bill in hardware helped find everything I needed ..very quick in and out ..thanks Bill you deserve a raise

It was the best! Went to the service counter to get a belt for my snowblower. I had the model number ready. They found the part in less than two minutes and it was fairly priced.

Go rent the equipment for the job, it probably costs less than you think, and will make the job go faster. With all the rest of the supplies for the job, it the go to store for home projects and renovations.

Staff is usually helpful. Some prices can be a little high, but they usually always have what you need. My youngest son call it the popcorn store.

I have always thought if Kabelin as my go to store for anything that isn't edible.. well they do have popcorn... and its free... if you need that one screen or bolt or nut or whatever that nobody seems to have... there's always the guy that works in the department you are in and just knows exactly what you need and takes you right to it.. This type of service has not changed in all the years they have been in business..

You can always go to that store with an asterisk for a logo and get the classic eye roll and it's over here..I think.. and its not even close to what you need.. then end up here at Kabelin anyway.

Save yourself the hassle.. go there FIRST!

This time I thought they would not have what I was looking for? I was wrong! Ace is the place...

Asked a young lady for help about the product I was looking to purchase and she was very helpful!! ☺