Miller’s Hardware: throwback to a better business era

My friend and former colleague Jamie Neely wrote a Facebook post the other day in support of the South Hill-based business Miller’s Hardware . I joined several others in liking her comment. And my reason, in particular, is fairly easy to understand: The place is a throwback of the very best kind.

Oh, I go to other hardware stores. A new Ace Hardware store opened recently in my neighborhood. But here is why Miller’s is so special: A couple of weeks ago, the handle on my screen door simply fell apart. I could see that it would take a certain size screw to fix things. So I want to Ace. No luck. I went to Lowe’s. No luck. I went to Home Depot. No luck.

Then I went to Miller’s. They didn’t have the specific size screw I needed either. But one of the employees took what he had in stock, cut it to fit and smoothed off the edges so I would have no problem reassembling the hardware. And he charged me not a single cent extra.

That’s the kind of service that you just don’t find anymore. And is why I will keep doing business with Miller’s as long as the place is around.