Rockler Woodworking and Hardware Reviews 158

As a professional craftsman, I expect technical precision and business integrity. Rockler’s current 1.8-star average on Trustpilot is a direct reflection of their failure in both areas. My experience started with a vague product listing for "14-inch bandsaws" that lacked specific model compatibility, leading to attempting a return of a factory-sealed, unopened item.

What followed was a masterclass in corporate contradiction:

The Admitted Error: After being quoted a 25% restocking fee, I asked for clarification. A supervisor responded by hiking that fee to 26.3%. In a public response elsewhere, Rockler admitted their math was "incorrect," yet they refused to honor the original percentage or provide a fair resolution. To Rockler, "correcting" an error means overcharging the customer further.

The Resale Lie: To justify the massive fee, staff originally claimed they "never resell" returns. Once called out, they changed their story, admitting they sell returns through their outlet locations. They are moving the goalposts in real-time to protect a punitive fee on an unopened box.

Tax Withholding: They are refusing to refund sales tax on the shipping and the fee itself, effectively keeping money that belongs to the customer and the state.

I gave Rockler two weeks to address these errors privately. And that was after going back and forth with what seemed like every Rockler employee via email for God knows how long. They ultimately chose silence until the matter went public, and even then, they chose defensiveness over accuracy. Now, Rockler will claim that the item (Carter Bandsaw guides) was purchased in “November 2025”. Indeed it was. Add in the insane length of time for shipping that they charge $23.99 for, given to me as a Christmas gift, and sat touched until I had the time to tear down my bandsaw. Sure, it is past their 90 day “Satisfaction Guarantee”. They clearly couldn’t care less about customer satisfaction after 90 days.

When a company admits to "incorrect" calculations but still refuses to make it right, they are actively ostracizing the woodworking community. This level of service is exactly why their reputation is in the gutter. Buy elsewhere.

Several years ago I purchased a Rockler lathe duplicator to replicate spindles. I spent a considerable amount of money retrofitting it to my lathe even though it’s supposed to fit most lathes.

Fast forward eight years and one of the brackets that held the template was no longer functional and I requested to be able to purchase an another one including shipping. Evidently if a part for a Rockler product is not found on their website they will not ship it. The only spare part for a duplicator on their website is the chisel itself thus if anything goes wrong you have to buy a new duplicator. At $US480 that isn’t much by way of customer service.

I have managed to find a metal fabricator who is prepared to make the part for me. This is unlikely to be a cheap proposition but when you deal with Rockler that’s what you have to expect.

Before you spend money on a Rockler product check to see what spare parts are available because something will go wrong and you’ll be left dangling.

Everything from employee knowledge, tool selection, and store layout/stock is top notch!

They make amazing stuff and I loved them until I had to return some draw slides. They wouldn't pay for the shipping label and it took me well over an hour just to try to return it. You need to call customer service and all this stuff just to perform a return. This is a massive deal breaker when you are a small business and time and money are tight.

I bought a Drillpress top with a fence. Now after 3 years and no warranty, the white plastic top is delaminating.
Rockler will not replace it for me. I suggest to not purchase this top.

My order never shipped but I had to wait 10 business days before they would look into it. This became 19 days because of weekends and holidays. The first time I called, I pointed out that the shipping status showed the item as 'awaiting receipt by the USPS' and the customer service rep told me that was incorrect. How she knew, I don't know. I waited the 19 days to call again only to be told they could reorder and send it out in the next few days. Jeez... Also, why do I have to confirm my email and phone number when I provided the order number?

I’ll start by owning my microscopic mistake: a wrong ZIP code slipped in via mobile autofill. What followed was an impressive demonstration of how a company can take a fixable issue and actively refuse to fix it.

I contacted them before labels were printed, again after tracking numbers were issued, and repeatedly while $422 worth of product sat in their warehouse. Every response was an excuse. Customer service is apparently closed on weekends — unless it’s picking orders. Then it’s magically open, just not for helping customers.

Nothing was corrected. One package went on a pointless USPS vacation and was returned. Two more followed via UPS, and I was charged $42 — not to fix the address, but to undo the damage after they ignored every opportunity to prevent it.

A single address-validation check at checkout would have stopped this. Instead, they rely on a flimsy website, absentee customer service, and a business model that quietly shifts the cost of their own laziness onto the customer.

This wasn’t bad luck. It was a systems failure propped up by indifference. I won’t be ordering again.

Awful, aweful company. I ordered a dust collection system that said was in stock. Several days later after not getting an update I contacted them about shipping times and they said it was backordered and wouldn't ship for 3 weeks, which was cutting it very close to when my shop was supposed to be open. Fast forward 5 weeks and it has not been shipped. I never received any updates. After calling them I was told, sorry it won't ship for another three weeks. Now I have my whole shop down, with five employees unable to work and no solution. Their issues are ultimately going to end up costing me into the tens of thousands of dollars in down time that could have been avoided if they had communicated.

Avoid this company if you value your business.

Placed a small wood order at 5pm CST Wednesday and canceled it 90 minutes later. Received an email the next morning saying it was too late to cancel, really?

I ordered some Handscrew Clamps from them. The First time I went to use one of the 4” Handscrew Clamps the threads, of one of the screws Jumped multiple threads in one of the nuts. Unfortunately, it is past warranty. Junk!

They do not transparently confirm or advertise their cancellation policy. i tried to immediately cancel an order and followed up before the order even shipped and they refused to cancel the order. They mislead you saying that cancellations are not guaranteed, but what they mean is there are no cancellations. They then force you to receive the item and then ship it back to them while deducting the return shipping cost. So ultimately you end up coming out of pocket. When asked why they couldn't cancel the order before it even left their facility, the woman at their call center could offer absolutely no reason why. It also took her over 10 minutes on the phone with me to even find where they buried their cancellation policy. I went through the entire checkout process once more to make sure I didn't miss anything obvious, but the policy is not there. I have taken screenshots to share with the BBB.

The Store Manager (Pat) for the Altamonte Springs, Florida 32701 store did a fantastic job of coaching me thru repairing/rehanging a troublesome double (two connected doors) on a elevated corner kitchen cabinet. He explained/demonstrated how to repair existing parts and how to choose and install new parts. I was inexperienced at this, and the job came out perfect. Pat's knowledge and his pro customer attitude is greatly appreciated.

Nice big and clean store, but whoever calculates the lumber needs to understand how to measure better. Purchased 2 shorts of Padauk today and when I got home I decided to double check.
Board one, 49-3/4x4-3/4x15/16. Sticker show 1.6bf. When you calculate it out: 49.75x4.75x.9375/144=1.538bf
Board two: sticker shows 3.2bf. 49.625x8.875x.9375/144=2.867bf.
Granted this over charge, $4.44 won’t break me, but it doesn’t take long for small change to calculate out to big bucks for the store.

Read the reviews. Rockler has a systems issue that has been documented here more than once and they flat our REFUSE to deal with it. Their system holds old addresses and sometimes, for no good reason, it defaults into your order.

I placed an order for some hinges. They shipped them to an old address I have not lived at for 11 years and then tried to blame me, saying I had entered the old address and somehow confirmed that address several times throughout the order process. Not possible.

When contacted about it, they refused to acknowledge they have a systems issues, kept my money and flat out REFUSED to reship, saying that was the address I entered.

I charged them back with my CC company and am working through that process.

Shameful. Avoid them at all costs.

I placed a order with Rockler woodworking on line
On March 27th 2025. I received an invoice of the purchase by email the same day . Approximately 11 days later I go online to their website to check order status. I was unsuccessful finding my order. So I call customer support. They tell me the items are on back order until the 14th . I was never notified by email, mail, or text message etc… Customer support said I could not cancel the order. But could return once I have the order in my possession. 😀 When will that be , some day .
There’s no guarantee the order will be in warehouse by the 14th and then shipped out which would possibly take another seven days so maybe I may receive in the following month.
I feel they should’ve notify me by email or phone notification or text message some form of notification so that I would’ve been aware of this . I called the brick-and-mortar store and they didn’t have any advice of what I could do about my order.  so for me personally, I don’t think I’ll be ordering anything or shopping at rockler woodworking in the future. 

Website refuses allow sign on and then prevents resetting password.
Website offers free shipping until checkout, no such deduction.
Called to place order by phone and report issues with online ordering and was disconnected.
If there’s a way to screw up the main purpose of your company, generating orders and income, I have to say, well done Rockler. Not my way of doing things but apparently it’s the Rockler way. Geeeesh!

Absolutely terrible Customer Service! I am never shopping there. A shipment never arrived at my house and they wanted me to pay for another one when it was their fault to begin with some people need Customer Service training.

I made my first purchase from Rockler on line for a project download, they charged me for it and I never received the download.
I called customer servant’s inquire and I was told to check the website, nothing there.
The , union trying to verify my order, the site does not recognize the order number, yet they charged me for it.
Update: this situation was my oversight due to my first experience with the Rocker on line orders. I called the he Roxker customer support and they helped locate my order.
My apology.

I have been a loyal customer since 1990. Last night I placed an order for a sander and some sandpaper. I filled out the form and paid for my purchase. When I printed the receipt, it showed the items were going to be sent to an address I have not lived at for five years. In the past I have tried to delete my old addresses from the Rockler site, but their program will not allow me to do that. Apparently the site defaults to the first address listed. Anyway, I immediately (within 2 minutes) sent an email to their customer service desk, asking that the order be sent to my current address. This morning, I received an email saying the shipping address could not be changed and the order could not be cancelled. I called customer service and was told the same thing. Customer service did acknowledge the items were being sent to the wrong address, but refused to do anything about it. Now I am being forced to pay over $350 for items I will not receive.

Warning! Do not buy Rockler spring close hinges, ever. They do not last because the spring is plastic. I purchased 21 pairs ($31per pair) about 5 years ago and in 2022 had to buy 10 pairs to replace the ones that broke. Another one just broke and I called the company. They would not replace any for me because they said it was more than a year. Should not hinges almost last a lifetime? These hinges are junk and the Rockler does not stand behind their products.