Champaign Do it Best Hardware

Carmen Cita

2024-05

Usually a very friendly, pleasant experience with welcoming staff.Not so on 4/15/24. The young man who appeared to be in charge, offered to have staff find my part for me, so I handed over the old part, received a new part from an older gentleman and checked out.It was the wrong size. I went back, telling the young man that I could not make the 1.5” part I was provided fit the 1.25” fitting (as it was not the same size as the part I provided for replacement), only to be thoroughly offended as he told me perhaps I needed a plumber (to replace a HAND tightened PVC sink trap). I assured him I was perfectly capable of changing out the simple part, when I HAVE the CORRECT replacement part. I showed him the original part and the wrong part, and received another trap.That did NOT fit. Both employees failed to note that the trap I provided was threaded on only ONE end and therefore gave me traps threaded on both ends.I take full responsibility for failing to check the replacement parts both times BEFORE purchase, as I had unfortunately grown accustomed to trusting the employees to know their business.So now I had lost the time, distance, and convenience factors (thereby wasting my client’s money) of going to Do It Best vs a big box store and I had been insulted.I went to the store a third time, rather frustrated, I think for good reason, only to find the young man had NO INTEREST WHATSOEVER in ASSISTING me with finding the correct part. He outright told me to go to a big box store.So much for the benefits one used to find by going to the local store :-(. Truly disappointing of a store I once enjoyed going to and whose employees were always kind and welcoming.Albeit, the woman behind the counter was still friendly and the guy at the paint counter was quite welcoming. Too bad it wasn’t paint that I needed that day.In the end, I looked for and found the correct part independently at a local family owned store. If you want something done right…

Matt Freund

2024-03

Very helpful and knowledgeable staff, great location close to campus, and they offer an i-card discount. Best hardware store in town!

John Katzenellenbogen

2024-02

They have an enormous stock, and they are very helpful in guiding you to what you need. They offer freely useful advice about repairs and replacement

Zachery Podunajec

2023-05

The man with the clear, round glasses went absolutely ABOVE AND BEYOND helping me find the right bolt for what I needed. I didn’t have a bolt for reference so I was just going to buy a few and hope one would work because I didn’t NEED the bolt as I had a correct one ordered online already (car bolt, manufacturer doesn’t provide what size the bolts are) but he gave me his time and then some. Super nice guy, I’ve never been treated and valued so much as a shopper. Live In Bloomington but will be sure to stop in whenever I need something while in Champaign

Sarah Coleman

2024-05

Excellent customer service in the paint department

Mackenzie J. Alston

2023-05

I went here because I'd spent 2.5 hours trying to build a tv console and was near the point of giving up. An employee asked me if I needed help. I explained my situation (needed to remove some dowels from some wood), and he recommended some products I could buy. He then brought me to another employee who ended up removing the dowels for me. (I brought the wood with me.) This really helped me because I was nervous to remove them myself. The employees were helpful, knowledgeable, and non-judgmental. I will make a point to go here over Lowes and other big name hardware stores.

Melody Craig

2022-05

Great customer service and prices! Staff is very knowledgeable and so helpful/friendly! They always help to find exactly what I need, or brainstorm how to make something work if i'm floating an idea around. It's great to have a local place!The store itself is clean and not intimidating like some of the bigger hardware box stores.

Heather Johnson

2021-05

Honestly, I wouldn't choose to get paint from anywhere else. The people in the paint department are EXCELLENT! I have a nearly 100 year old house with lots of wood and they are so helpful to help me make important decisions. They've never steered me wrong!The rest of the store employees have always been equally helpful with anything I've needed. The ladies that run the registers are always so kind. I love it here because it's a smaller store where I can always get help and great advice. Yes, the selection isn't what it might be at the larger stores but for me the service more than makes up for that!

Sir Kiddo

2020-05

This place has great customer service, but another major thing to note is the installation prices are very reasonable. At home Depot they wanted nearly triple the price of the item to install it. The service here was far more friendly and the prices infinitely more reasonable then similar stores. All and all I felt happy with the choice of this store.

Joel T Ornery

2023-05

I've given up on bog box stores, too much walking past stuff i don't need. Here i walk in, ask a clerk where is this? They tell me and I don't walk a football field to get it. Prices are competitive. Personal service excellence.

Erin Sahm

2019-05

Wow! I had a great experience here. There was someone waiting at the door asking if I needed help finding anything and was able to immediately point me in the right direction. The cashier was so nice and let me know that there was a student discount here as well. They're affordable and have a great selection, I'll definitely be coming back.

Kevin Kennedy

2017-05

Great hardware store for those quick miscellaneous project needs.Extremely friendly employees that are always more than willing to assist customers above and beyond.Great paint selection and really nice selection of small quantity and unique screws.TIP: Show your University I-CARD for 10% off your purchases (there are some exclusions).

Jonathan Tomkin

2021-05

My favorite hardware store in CU. The store has what you need and is filled with wonderful employees; friendly and helpful. On my last trip, the lady at check-out gave my son a balsawood glider, to his delight. 5 stars.

Derpy Dada

2021-05

Just cut a key for my car. Refused. Disappointed. I have my car just stop outside, I didn't stole this car. People in this store changed. No more nice no more friendly .7 years of supporting since I moved to this town for my business, every single time I will think can I get the parts at here before I go to Lowe's or menard or Amazon, won't concern the little bit different in price. Repaid me such a service. I missed the lady who worked as a cashier so much.

Aaron Davidson

2021-05

A great selection and prompt, friendly service the likes of which you won't find on North Prospect or Bloomington Road. Whenever I visit I often feel like I'm back at my old hometown hardware store. That and the fact that you don't have to walk a half mile for one tube if caulk makes Do It Best my first choice.

Robert Shanahan

2020-05

Don't go here on the weekend if you may need help with something. This place is great during the week, employees walking the floor asking if you need help, knowledgeable, and the U of I discount is nice. On the weekend, you won't even be acknowledged unless you're checking out. I stood around for probably 20 minutes looking for someone and no one offered to help.

Shannon S

2022-05

Stopped in today for the first time and I just had to write a review to compliment the staff. Everyone was incredibly cheerful and friendly. It's obvious they enjoy their jobs and enjoy assisting customers.

Abe Cabrera

2022-05

Very knowledgeable and answered all my Goofy Questions without being upset, and I did ask some silly Questions, GREAT JOB, and the Woman in paints went out of her way to help me in different departments, and my new keys worked perfectly.Thanks and I will be back. 🤠💙👍🏽🤟🏽

Teresa DeWitt

2018-05

We go here first for tools, paint & garden plants in spring. The staff is first-rate and very knowledgeable. The only drawback is the store's moderate size might limit stock on hand.

AnalogOutfitters

2014-05

We're a local business that does a lot of repair and fabrication work. Do It Best has always been our go to spot for anything hardware related. The staff are friendly and helpful and they carry a wide variety of products which makes it a convenience one stop shop for us to do business with.

Jake Gaydos

2017-05

prices are kinda high, which isn't such a big deal at a small local place like this. the big problem is the staff is sometimes pretty rude and un-helpful. last time i was there the power went out for about 30 seconds and the computers reset. i had cash in hand and was in a hurry. they refused to do the transaction without the computer, saying they cant open the register. this is a lie because there is always a key incase of computer/power failure. ive had many retail jobs. im well aware of this. the older woman with black glasses and a grey pony tail was very curt with me about it. there were 5 employees standing around a screen vacantly starring off. they could have easily done a cash transaction with a phone calculator, ( or with the use of 4th grade level arithmetic) but instead decided to act like jerks. i turned around and left my items on a random shelf. never coming back. a different, very nice woman with white hair and glasses at the paint desk apologized to me on my way out of the store, so at least theres that. NOTE: also if you go here looking young/ not very clean cut; you WILL be treated differently for the worse. doesn't matter how many "pleases" or "thank yous" they hear. this is only some staff members, not everyone. its certainly noticeable though.

Jim Catlin

2021-05

Great store. I hadn't been in the store for some time and now I could kick myself. This store has more hardware than the others and I've lived in CU for over 60 years. It's now my go-to hardware store.

Dakota Brooks

2021-05

A bunch of good stuff almost everything youd need, very friendly. Let's keep it real though every worker in there is probably 60 years old plus and moves like a slug. Nice people though.

Kathy Kew Lee

2024-03

Great customer service!

Aaron H

2019-05

Always surprisingly well stocked. I can very often find repair parts there that I cannot get anywhere else. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable.

Jen Quinlan

2016-05

Great people work here that go out of their way to help. This is a wonderful community hardware store that also has mulch, some plants and a paint section. Help keep them in business.

Karen Ruhleder

2018-05

This is a great place to shop. They have knowledgeable employees who will help you figure out what you need to do a job, and they sell scews, bolts, etc., individually so that you can get precisely what you need for the specific job you're doing.

Ashley Buerkett

2020-05

Staff rules! They’re super helpful. This is definitely my go to store for any paint, tools, or home improvement needs.

Jim McGuire

2022-05

Those ladies checking out costomers at the counter are a little wild. :) Had some great help finding material we needed, people are always ready to help you find stuff.

Stevex

2022-05

Only store in town capable of duplicating my garage key due to it being such a rare key blank. Super low prices and very friendly staff.