Analyzing 7,185,9777.2M ReviewsFor 20,38520.4K Experts

Crafty Beaver Home Center logo

Crafty Beaver Home Center

Hardware store · Chicago, IL · reviewed since 2012

How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 64%80+50.8Reliability 28%84+23.7Replies to reviews 8%49+4Experts Score= 79Not enough data for value; its weight is shared by the others.Grade B: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews.79SCORE
BGradeLetter from the Experts Score: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39, F = under 20.
#4 of 30 hardware storesPosition by Experts Score among all companies we track in this category. · better than 90%
4.7 ★★★★★ 623 Google reviews · 23 photos
80%five-star reviews
4.95★last 12 monthsAverage stars on reviews from the last 12 months only.
2.1%1–2★ in 2 yearsShare of 1–2★ reviews in the last 24 months — or the 20 newest reviews when the company had fewer than 20 in that time.
51%reviews answered by the owner
Oct 2026latest review
📞 Call (773) 725-4432Request a call backWebsite ↗

Crafty Beaver Home Center at a glance

Customers frequently praise the store for its knowledgeable, friendly staff who assist with locating specific items, key cutting, and general home repairs. Shoppers also note reasonable pricing and convenient inventory availability, often comparing the service favorably to larger competitors. However, some reviews criticize the store for high prices on certain products, failed paint matching attempts, and instances of poor communication or negative interactions during billing disputes.

  • Google rating: 4.7 out of 5 from 623 reviews (80% five-star).
  • Reviews on this page: 623 Google reviews (395 with written comments, 9 with photos).
  • Owner responses: the business replied to 51% of reviews.
  • Most recent review: October 31, 2026.
  • Service: Hardware Store serving Chicago, Illinois.

Data from Google, last updated November 1, 2026.

Score profile vs other hardware stores

Score per factor (100 = best)Each factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (star average, share of 1–2★ reviews, price verdicts…); standing within the category can only raise it, never lower it.. Strongest: momentum and reliability; weakest: replies to reviews.

Satisfaction80Reliability84Craft & service–Value–Momentum100Replies to reviews49Satisfaction: 80 (median 69)Reliability: 84 (median 77)Momentum: 100 (median 100)Replies to reviews: 49 (median 34)
Crafty Beaver Home CenterHardware Stores median0 = centre, 100 = best
SatisfactionSatisfaction · 54% of the scoreRecency-weighted star average (2-year half-life), shrunk toward the category mean by review volume; the company’s own lifetime average as the prior; absolute: 4.0★ = 0, 5★ = 100.Crafty Beaver Home Center: 80/100 on this factor. Category median: 69.A
80
ReliabilityReliability · 24% of the scoreHow rarely jobs go badly: share of 1–2★ reviews — 60% the last 24 months (or the 20 newest if fewer), 40% all-time; 0% = 100, 15%+ = 0; the category percentile can only raise it.Crafty Beaver Home Center: 84/100 on this factor. Category median: 77.A
84
Craft & serviceCraft & service · penalty only, up to −10 pointsGoogle review highlights: Quality, Professionalism, Responsiveness, Punctuality — how rarely reviewers flag them as a negative, per review since highlights began; 0% = 100, 5%+ = 0. Subtracted from the score (up to −10), never averaged in — clean highlights are the norm, not a bonus.Not enough reviews for this factor yet.–
–
ValueValue · 14% of the scoreCustomers’ own price verdicts (Great / Reasonable vs Overpriced) and Value highlights; 65% absolute (all “reasonable” ≈ 80, “great” = 100), the category percentile can only raise it.Not enough reviews for this factor yet.–
–
MomentumMomentum · penalty only, up to −10 pointsPenalises only a real slide: last-12-month average below lifetime (−0.5★ = 0). Still 4.8★+ over the last year, or steady/improving = 100. Subtracted from the score (up to −10), never averaged in.Crafty Beaver Home Center: 100/100 on this factor. Category median: 100.A
100
Replies to reviewsReplies to reviews · 7% of the scoreHow often the owner publicly replies to reviews under 5★ (1–4★). Needs 3+ such reviews, otherwise not counted; 65% absolute (80%+ replied = 100), the category percentile can only raise it.Crafty Beaver Home Center: 49/100 on this factor. Category median: 34.C
49

Bar = this company · dark tick = category median.

Star ratings

623 Google reviews we collected

  • 5 stars50080%
  • 4 stars8914%
  • 3 stars163%
  • 2 stars51%
  • 1 star132%

Praise vs complaints

Phrases our text analysis found in 395 written reviews

  • Praise31597%
  • Complaints103%

Topic share

How often each topic comes up in the written reviews

  • Staff & attitude21265%
  • Price & value4012%
  • Quality & results289%
  • Speed & response247%
  • Would recommend144%
  • Communication52%
  • Honesty & trust21%

What customers talk about

We read 395 written reviews and marked every phrase about these topics. The same colors are highlighted in the reviews.

  • “Staff are friendly and knowledgeable and love seeing Whitney wandering around keeping everything in check in between naps.”
  • “I find everything I need at a reasonable price with a friendly staff”
    “Way too expensive”
  • “Crafty Beaver is my go-to for hardware and lumber - customer service is top notch!”
    “I had a horrible experience with customer service regarding lumber.”
  • “I called before I came and they found what I needed right away.”
  • “I stay close to the bev and every single staff member are very nice and helpful highly recommend to shop here”
  • “Good selection of materials, fair prices, and the staff is helpful and easy to work with.”
  • “On top of the great key service, the entire staff was super friendly, helpful, and genuinely knowledgeable.”

People customers mention

  • Depot 7 reviews

praise complaint · found by our text analysis, Google review wording unchanged.

Recent reviews

Yanko8 reviewsTotal number of Google reviews this person has written across all businesses on Google Maps (not just this one). More reviews usually means a more experienced, trustworthy reviewer. · Edited a day ago★★★★★

Great service. The staff is knowledgeable. Always helpful even if they don't have the products and especially if they do have it. Better service than the big box stores

Hilda3 reviewsTotal number of Google reviews this person has written across all businesses on Google Maps (not just this one). More reviews usually means a more experienced, trustworthy reviewer. · 5 days ago★★★★★

Staff always know exactly where to find my items . Example "packing tape #29 . Up high in back" . I can always exchange items too. Thanks 👍

Maureen3 reviewsTotal number of Google reviews this person has written across all businesses on Google Maps (not just this one). More reviews usually means a more experienced, trustworthy reviewer. · Edited a week ago★★★★★

Love shopping here. Staff are friendly and knowledgeable and love seeing Whitney wandering around keeping everything in check in between naps. Lol. The perfect neighborhood hardware store.

James2 reviewsTotal number of Google reviews this person has written across all businesses on Google Maps (not just this one). More reviews usually means a more experienced, trustworthy reviewer. · Edited 2 weeks ago★★★★★

Went there to get some keys made. Two people greeted me and one took care of me. The man who cut the keys was very thorough. Since I had 7 keys made, he repeated what I wanted since I had 3 different keys I needed. Been in neighborhood over 30 years and have been going there since I moved in.

Mamoona4 reviewsTotal number of Google reviews this person has written across all businesses on Google Maps (not just this one). More reviews usually means a more experienced, trustworthy reviewer. · Edited 3 weeks ago★★★★★

I’m long time customer of this store and manager is very nice and helpful,I am happy to shop there

JulieLocal Guide · 13 reviewsTotal number of Google reviews this person has written across all businesses on Google Maps (not just this one). More reviews usually means a more experienced, trustworthy reviewer. · a month ago★★★★★

Great store with just about anything you need to repair your home. Staff has always been accommodating and knowledgeable.

Compare with

Photos

Customer reviews

4.7 ★★★★★ 623 reviews on Google · rating breakdown

Reviews from Google, shown as published (original wording, unedited).

Team members customers mention
Filter by topic — each topic is highlighted in the reviews in the same color
Yanko Jordanof8 reviewsTotal number of Google reviews Yanko has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Review from Google · view on Google
★★★★★

Great service. The staff is knowledgeable. Always helpful even if they don't have the products and especially if they do have it. Better service than the big box stores

Response from the owner · a year ago

Thanks for the review!

Steve PetersenLocal Guide · 598 reviewsTotal number of Google reviews Steve has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Review from Google · view on Google
★★★★★

Nice little hardware store.

Patrick Bordes1 reviewTotal number of Google reviews Patrick has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Review from Google · view on Google
★★★★★

Great Employees. Always there to help you.

Response from the owner · a year ago

Thank you for your review.

Hilda Frontany3 reviewsTotal number of Google reviews Hilda has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Review from Google · view on Google
★★★★★

Staff always know exactly where to find my items . Example "packing tape #29 . Up high in back" . I can always exchange items too. Thanks 👍

Richie Zwolski3 reviewsTotal number of Google reviews Richie has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Review from Google · view on Google
★★★★★

Very friendly stuff

Maureen Mckemey3 reviewsTotal number of Google reviews Maureen has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Review from Google · view on Google
★★★★★

Love shopping here. Staff are friendly and knowledgeable and love seeing Whitney wandering around keeping everything in check in between naps. Lol. The perfect neighborhood hardware store.

Response from the owner · a week ago

We’re thrilled to hear you love shopping with us, Maureen!

James Kenny2 reviewsTotal number of Google reviews James has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Review from Google · view on Google
★★★★★

Went there to get some keys made. Two people greeted me and one took care of me. The man who cut the keys was very thorough. Since I had 7 keys made, he repeated what I wanted since I had 3 different keys I needed. Been in neighborhood over 30 years and have been going there since I moved in.

Response from the owner · a year ago

Thank you for your kind words, James! It’s fantastic that you’ve been a part of our community for so long. We look forward to serving you again for all your home needs!

Mamoona Chaudhry4 reviewsTotal number of Google reviews Mamoona has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Review from Google · view on Google
★★★★★

I’m long time customer of this store and manager is very nice and helpful,I am happy to shop there

Response from the owner · 4 months ago

Thank you, Mamoona! Looking forward to seeing you again soon!

Alice Colon4 reviewsTotal number of Google reviews Alice has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Review from Google · view on Google
★★★★★

Customer service was great. I got everything I needed.

Response from the owner · a year ago

Thank you for your fantastic review, Alice!

Dorothea RadcliffeLocal Guide · 17 reviewsTotal number of Google reviews Dorothea has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Review from Google · view on Google
★★★★★

I called before I came and they found what I needed right away.

Response from the owner · a month ago

Thanks for your fantastic feedback, Dorothea!

Crafty Beaver Home Center on Google Maps →

Business details