Economy True Value Hardware

This is more of a mini Bed Bath & Beyond than a true hardware store, but it’s perfect for the urban neighborhood that it serves. They sell everything from dishes to pots and pans to home décor to futons (yes, futons). I have no idea whether they actually sell hardware supplies, because that’s not what I’ve needed to buy there (but I assume they do). The only reason I don’t give 5 stars is simply that the store is small and on a few occasions they didn’t carry items that I needed or didn’t carry the size item I needed. Very helpful staff.

You pay for convenience so it’s okay if you have a focused item (s) you want to get, go in and get it.
As for help with a very small home project — since it was a small project, it got pushed to lowest priority, no one ever called me back to give me an update and after physically going there at least 5 times to check in and calling in between and not seeing any movement, I just went back collected my stuff and that was that. The staff remained pleasant and nice at each visit, but on the last visit they looked at me a little sheepishly but didn’t really apologise on behalf of the main person who had been helping me (but seemed not to be doing as many shifts so was not there). Someone should have had some follow-​through. Disappointed.

Do NOT go here to get keys made. I’ve lived in Brookline for 3 years and have attempted to get keys copied here on several occasions. I’ve never had a clean copy; usually the key will work, if you spend 5 minutes trying to jiggle it in the lock. I went back to have it remade but the same thing happened, even after they «calibrated» the machine. I recently moved so needed to make a copy; I went to True Value again out of desperation because I didn’t know where else to go in Brookline. True to form, the key sucked.
tl;dr: Don’t waste your time making keys here.

This is a very good, very versatile store that will do such things as cut lumber or cut plexi for you for not a whole lot of money. They have a good selection of all the basic appliances, household items, storage and furniture (basic) as well as paint, electrical and tool and hardware supplies. My only critique is that they don’t always stock top-​of-​the line items but everything they offer is perfectly satisfactory and on many items they provide surprisingly good quality. Prices seem reasonable and the staff is always friendly and helpful. They have a promotion where if you spend a certain amount a number of times they will give you a coupon with $ 10 free store credit. They can deliver larger items and are always VERY well stocked and have a very wide selection of goods. I only give them four stars because I come from a city where there was a really top-​notch hardware store which I don’t feel this quite makes the grade, it is as it implies an «Economy» store and unfortunately I have been spoiled. But two thumbs up nevertheless and if you need anything for the home I am sure you will find what you need here!

I cannot believe this isn’t all five stars! I don’t know what else people are expecting from a place on Beacon Street in Brookline… they can’t stock everything.
But yet… for me… they do! I have brought so many miscellaneous things here and they can ALWAYS help me out. As someone who is totally incompetent when it comes to home repairs, True Value appreciates that I’m willing to try. I know the difference between a philip’s head and a flat head but I don’t know the size of my sink aerator (or what that does). The people at True Value acknowledge that and roll with it. They tell me how to do things and always offer returns if I’ve bought the wrong thing. They have no problem admitting when they don’t have something and are quick to point you in the right direction.
Huge bonus: they also stock so many things I happen to need while I’m there. I have bought picture frames, ziploc bags, trash bags, shower curtain, kitchen tools, etc.
I seriously seriously love this store.

I would call myself a pretty «handy» girl– I know my way around a tool box. Hand me an allen wrench, will ya? I frequent this E-​TrueValue during spring cleaning season, September move-​in time and for daily necessities (i.e. light bulbs, extension cords, spray to kill the little bugs in my houseplants). But my motivation for displaying my affection to my local E-​TrueValue is motivated by my discovery of PickupZone. I never receive packages directly from UPS, FedEx or even the Post Office. Either they «buzzed» and I didn’t answer, I was at work (yes, some people work 9 – 5 when you drop off packages) or a notice just magically appears stuck to my mailbox. And when I have to go down to the post office to pick up a package (mind you– that it is only open 9 – 5 Monday through Friday and early Saturday morning), I constantly find myself walking hung over to the post office to find it mysteriously closed early (or I don’t make it at all). So my solution? Shipping all of my packages to E-​TrueValue, where they sign for anything. I get a convenient message saying my package has arrived and go pick it up at my convenience at a location near my apartment that is open after I get out of work AND on Sundays. What kind of miraculous business is this? I even got 20% on a purchase at E-​TrueValue when I picked up my package. I was thinking about buying a miniature watering can or a new gadget for my kitchen! The prices are super reasonable, the staff is ⁹⁄₁₀ really friendly and helpful and the things they sell have surprisingly good quality compared to BB&B. I think my apartment would fall apart if it wasn’t for E-​TrueValue– and my packages would most definitely be shipped back, stolen or missing.

This is easily the best hardware store that I have gone to in Boston.
First of all, they have plenty of space. I do not know how they managed to have so much space in the city, but the aisles are ample and they have a large assortment of goods. I was also amazed that they sell furniture lamps, etc. It was almost like a small Home Depot!
The staff was also very helpful. While so far I prefer the True Value on Harvard avenue, I definitely recommend this one.

After an ego bruising from my landlord who laughed when my roommate told him I was a «handyman», I really appreciate the guys at Economy Hardware for treating me like I know what I’m doing. I mean, just because I’m a girly girl doesn’t mean I don’t have a power drill (and know how to use it).
I went in the other day to get some molly bolts for a shelf I’m hanging in my kitchen — a pain the ass IKEA one that decided to rip out of the studs in my wall (who knew that could happen?!) Anyway, the guys there were extremely helpful and even let me borrow a 3/​8″ drill bit so I could secure the shelf with extra super duty bolts. I really appreciated their help and, most of all, the fact that they didn’t once ask me if I knew how to patch a hole in a wall and screw in a shelf.
So five stars for them! My ego is officially un-​bruised. :)

Normally, hardware stores dont appeal to me, but since we were facing that huge nor’easter and a flooded basement, we needed a wet vac. well, i called over 15 stores in near my house and all of them were sold out. intuition told me if i move toward boston where most people live in managed buildings, so chances of finding a shop vac might be higher. well, i guess other people must have thought that too, because the only place i found shop vacs were at this economy hardware. i called and spoke with kevin who was very helpful and held one for me. even though it was only a one gallon one which didnt do much for the 10s of gallons of water in our basement, this store still left a pleasant impression. i picked up some plastic potters along the way too. they have a nice selection of seeds that i was eager to browse through but i heard my flooding basement calling me so i will just have to visit this store again someday.

I swear, since I moved to this area, I must go to this hardware store at least once a week. Fruit fly infestation (you try ripening your bananas for banana nut bread before you judge!), get some fly paper. Hanging some shelves, buy some anchors and screws. Trying to get off the U-​lock my friend’s douche neighbors stuck on my bike while it was parked in front of his house, buy a hacksaw (that didn’t work, btw, but now I have a hacksaw!). Need a peephole in my door, buy the right drill bit. And on and on. You get the drill, pun semi-​intended. Once again, convenience beats out price. Plus, I have to say, Economy workers are always really nice and helpful in my experience. Good stuff.

This is a pretty good place to get keys made, and every now and again I’ll stop by here out of convenience (it’s between the C line and my office), but I find nothing outstanding about this particular hardware store.
I generally get good service here, however on one trip here to get keys made, the woman was very unhappy to have to make my keys, and did a terrible job. My boyfriend was nearly unable to get into my apartment with the copies.

The staff here are super helpful! Even though there are three hardware stores that are closer to home, I always go here because they pack a ridiculous amount of useful stuff into a not very large store, they’re cheap and the service is awesome. Bravo.

Expensive but its convenient and the staff is always helpful.

I like fixing things. I’m not interested in loading picture frames, collecting kitchen organizers, and decorating with plastic furniture. If what you need to fix something is usually found in a hardware selection drawer then give Economy a try if it happens to be on the way for you to Home Depot, Grainger, or Napa –just don’t get your hopes up.

I used to love this place years ago, and I don’t know if it’s because Container Store, Ikea, and Target all opened recently and have a better selection of similar products or because ETV’s selection has gone down hill, but now this place just seems blah. I stand by my theory that you won’t find a bargain here, except maybe on having keys made. The low-​grade merchandise and having ‘economy’ in the name try to say otherwise, but you can find the same stuff cheaper at so many other places. If the locations weren’t so convenient to places I often find myself otherwise (Harvard Ave, St. Mary’s, Newbury), I’d probably never come here anymore.
Tip: Employees at this store are surprisingly open to haggling, at least on some items. I watched an elderly Asian couple bargain down a dresser by $ 100, only to ultimately leave without it.

The only other close by option for some of the things I get here is bed bath and beyond and their prices are usually beyond what I wish to pay… economy however can have some decent yet cheaper items. Example: I had an awful shower head that would make you have to press yourself against the wall it was above to get wet. I finally couldn’t take anymore so I went to bed bath and beyond, shower heads were no less than $ 30 and as high as $ 80. I stopped in to economy and I found bare bones shower heads for as little as $ 6 or $ 7. Of course, I didn’t end up with one of those, but the one I did choose was at least $ 10 cheaper. I also like the random things they have in there like magnets and crazy looking kitchen gear.

I live nearby so this is my goto place for anything hardware/​kitchen/​cleaning. The prices are higher than other places, but the location is convenient. They have a surprisingly large selection of stuff for a store that size. It is organized and laid out well.
Every time I have been there the workers are extremely nice and helpful. So much so that I almost WANT to go there just to walk around and be greeted by everyone!

I had the strongest urge to buy a lamp and inquire about working here. Instead they gave me a double student discount for the batteries and two aprons I bought there.
A great selection of random, nifty gadgets ranging from magnets to pull-​out couches and most everything you’d expect from a simple hardware store too.

It’s true it’s a good place to get keys copied. However, make sure you pair up your keys and check to make sure they used the right template. The totally effed up on me once and cut the key on the wrong template.
As for the rest of their stuff, it’s convenient but mostly overpriced. You’ll get better deals on dishes and household stuff at Filene’s Basement, Marshall’s and TJ Maxx, and even Macy’s when there is a big sale. The furniture is decently priced, but you might prefer IKEA. Most of their furniture is very collegiate (it’s so close to BU) so don’t go looking for high quality. Afterall, it is a hardware store.