Rona+ Shopping Guide: An Informed Visitor's Perspective

Why You Should Visit

• Well-stocked Garden Center: The garden center offers a wide selection, including outdoor furniture.
• Knowledgeable Staff in Some Departments: You'll find helpful and polite staff, particularly in the paint and plumbing sections, as well as at customer service. Look for staff like Donal, who is known for excellent customer care. Some staff members, like the computer scientist in the garden center, provide exceptional service, offering insightful suggestions and going above and beyond. Another staff member in the garden center, with a buzz cut and tattoos, proved very helpful in locating specific items.
• Clean and Airy Store: The store has a bright, clean, and airy atmosphere, making for a more pleasant shopping experience.
• Large Assortment of Products: You'll find a vast selection of home-related project items.
• Empty Parking Lot (Sometimes): Compared to other stores like Home Depot, the parking lot can be empty, making it easy to find a spot.

Why You Might Consider Alternatives

• Inconsistent Customer Service: While some staff are helpful, experiences vary widely. Some staff in the paint department may lack product knowledge and provide incorrect information. You might encounter unhelpful staff in the garden center who are unable or unwilling to assist with inquiries about specific plants. The web pick-up service is also notoriously disorganized, leading to long wait times and delays.
• Poor Paint Department Experiences:
  • Avoid the paint department if you need a precise color match; matches have been reported to be inaccurate.
  • Some staff in the paint department may struggle to read paint recipes or may argue with customers about the correct finish.
• Quality Concerns:
  • Be aware that some products, such as mud pans, may be of low quality with poor construction.
  • You might find items like rusty trowels on the shelves, suggesting a lack of quality control.
• Price Gouging: Be aware that some customers have reported what they perceive as inflated prices, particularly on lower-quality items.
• Difficult Navigation:
  • The store's aisle numbering system is illogical and confusing, making it difficult to locate products.
  • You'll find that aisle numbers are out of sequence and not easy to follow.
• Inefficient Web Pick-Up: Avoid the web pick-up service. Customers have reported long wait times (up to 25 minutes) and difficulty finding orders.
• Warranty and Returns: If you experience issues with purchased items, such as a new lawn mower that fails to work, you might be directed to the manufacturer for warranty claims, which can be a lengthy process.
• Potential for Inconsistent Staff Helpfulness: There’s a chance that staff will not want to assist you.
• Price Matching Difficulties: Expect that price matching may be denied, even when provided with clear evidence of a competitor's price.