Survey: This hardware store tops Lowe's, Home Depot for favorite home-improvement chain

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Ace Hardware Corp., the Oak Brook, Illinois-based hardware cooperative, has long been known as the place with the helpful hardware man. Now the chain can lay claim to being the nation’s favorite home-improvement chain, too. That revelation came in a new Market Force Information poll of more than 4,000 consumers.

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According to a new survey by Market Force, a customer experience management company, Ace earned 68% on the composite loyalty index, far exceeding that of principal competitors Menards at 57%; Mooresville-based Lowe’s Companies Inc.  at 54%; Home Depot at 53%; and Walmart Inc. at 36%.

[RELATED: Home Depot assists recovering Self family member following fatal incident]

Ace also ranked first in scores for many of the store attributes that matter most to consumers, including value for the price, store cleanliness, checkout speed, store layout and merchandise availability. Menards tied with Ace for first place for merchandise variety.

See how Lowe's placed on those measures here.

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