Urban Ore

Reviews

Reviews are sorted by relevance, with the most helpful and insightful feedback listed first for easy reference.

  Evelyn Zhai
a month ago
I love shopping here and will always come here first before looking elsewhere for stuff i need. Such a wide selection and it's always fun to wander even if you're not looking for anything in particular. The workers here are always super helpful and nice, and i hope their unionization efforts are successful in achieving the working conditions they deserve.I hope management and owners can stop union busting and bargain with workers in good faith!

  Fernando Munguia
a month ago
Amazing store with great staff. Most importantly, UOW(Urban Ore Workers) are in the process of Unionizing which will elevate this wonderful establishment to new heights. I fully support their efforts and the community at large will greatly benefit from them establishing an official union.Unfortunately the owners are doing everything they can to stop this which itself is a huge disgrace to Urban Ore and the Berkeley Community.

  Jacob Straszynski
a month ago
It makes no sense, like it s propped up solely because of a rich steampunk benefactor that keeps it operating more as a museum than a place you d find anything useful at a fair price given its condition. Unless peeling polyurethane furniture made out of pine is derelicte chic and worth a premium Do you want to pay more for one unorganized rusty m5 bolt than you would for an entire box, brand new, from a place with a return policy?

  I D
a month ago
informed person at front desk i was interested in donating, and they told me drive that way, i m not interested at looking at your stuff . a second person came out and said the same thing, but informed me that they meant around the corner. Like just don t be rude?

  Jake
3 years ago
More of a junk yard that a salvage yard, but maybe that s just semantics.There is a ton of junk here. The bulk of it is strange, misfit items that nobody really wants but are in good enough condition to keep on the shelves. Anything that is relatively nice, or at least salvageable, costs nearly as much as it is new.It seems that their building supplies and hardware is where they shine, but it is once again not exceptionally cheap and the quality is inconsistent.

  Hopscotch Interactive
2 years ago
It feels like everything but the house is here - the longer stuff stays the more it will start to feel like a museum, but there are tons of useful and quirky items from picture frames to housewares and doors. The staff was helpful and seemed to have their way of communicating to help you not get too lost, but the condition of a lot of stuff was borderline and needed to be cleaned or organized - with so many staff it seemed like downtime could have been used to do some straightening! Nevertheless super cool and one of the most Berkeley places you can go in Berkeley

  Larry Leonard
a month ago
Very disappointed with Urban Ore ,bringing my used building materials for 25+ years to this company, I know there s been a few changes over the years ,but I called to make sure they will accept materials and when you get there, they change their mind and say they won t either take it, or won t give anything I will now bring all my products ,And use materials to habitat, humanity in Oakland. At least you get a receipt to write off for your taxes !

  Kyle Trambley
4 months ago
This place is pretty useless.Pricing is weirdly firm for a salvage shop and the sticker price on most of this junk is sky high. When I tried to show the prices were higher than new on some junction boxes (and the items were no longer code for construction) I was told the price is what it is.If you go in here looking for anything in particular you will be sorely disappointed. If you spend a day in here searching, maybe you will find something half worth what they are charging for it.*Also, they claim so much junk for themselves and throw it on their wall not for sale, which is weird for a Salvage shop*

  JoAnn SkyWatcher
3 years ago
If you like old things, and goiing through old stuff, this may be the place for you! It is kinda like a scavenger hunt you may or may not find what you are looking for. It might be a good idea to take a list �of what you are looking for unless you don't mind getting lost for hours.I went in looking for wide-mouth quart canning jars. I found 2 wide mouth and 4 regualar quart canning jars for a dollar each they can be difficult to find these days.In the back of my mind, I was looking for a way of dealing with mail and paperwork. I found something made out of metal with three levels for holding business papers for $8.Another thought I had was to see if I could find some LP vinyl records for my teenage grand daughter. Well, they had a large number of records, but I easily gave up on that idea because there was no order.� However, the price was right only $1 each. So, for someone who has a lot of time and patience, that could be a goldmine.It makes me happy that there are still places that one can take stuff and keep it out of the landfill.

  Thomas Tarshis
a year ago
Urban Ore rocks! They take your old items and help them find new homes! Always fun walking indoors and outdoors and looking for treasures!

  Queenie Tact
7 months ago
This place has really gone downhill in the 10 years I've been going there occasionally. Everything is so overpriced. For instance, there are some antique light posts outdoors. I asked a year ago and they wanted $2500 each. They need a lot of repairs, to be totally restored. It seemed like way too much. A year later, they are still sitting there rusting (in worse condition than before).Almost nothing outdoors is even priced. You have to ask and then you get the sense they are making up the pricing as they go.Inside, the smell of mold is so bad, it feels unhealthy to be there. That's okay, not much point in going back.

  Lisa Johnson
7 months ago
I love this place so much, not just for shopping and browsing and imagining what life would be like if i had those matching pedicure chairs in my home, but also I love donating items here, too! I help my clients declutter and purge excess from their lives and I love donating the stuff for them in ways we can all feel good about. And this is a really great and cool option for keeping it stuff outta corporate horribleness (looking at you, GW). The staff are great and sweet and helpful and one definitely gets a sense of Berkeley Community in this place. Special shout-out to Timmy at the Main Register, who made me feel like part of that community, remembering me the second time i came in and making me feel welcome! This place is a jewel and so are the staff!

  Green Angel
2 years ago
You can find everything here. Great quality, some items still new. Reasonable prices!

  Wren Miller
a month ago
I need some old hinges for some cabinet doors, and I found them their, try getting hinges at ACE Hardware store. Just don't carry them anymore.

  Megan Taylor
11 months ago
Lots of good deals to be found. Decently organized and a good range of items. Lots of vintage pastel toilets tubs and sinks!

  Fabian
2 months ago
This location has *a lot* to look at and browse. But more often than not, the interesting merchandise is not-for-sale or priced at such a high price that it seems absurd given the quality and condition of the merchandise.

  Sabrina Billinghurst
8 months ago
I love urban ore, but they need to be more careful when moving things. I purchased a table with only minor issues on the top and when they helped me carry it out to my car, the person helping carelessly put the table top down on a rough cart, creating multiple deep scratches that were about 5 across the grain. My car was only a few feet away so it didn t even need to be put on the cart. I wish I didn t ask for their help at all because it ruined the value of the item and I m not sure if I would have bought it if it had that damage. The employees need to be trained on being more careful.I notice a lot of their furniture is also damaged from moving and they ask extremely high prices on it, as if it were new.

  Alex Vinogradov
2 years ago
There are some useful items available for a very low price. Also, this is a very good place to donate.

  Violette Kesserwani
a month ago
Excellent customer service, the staff is just amazing, so helpful and kind, I love this store!

  Tina Chen
a year ago
Love this place full of treasures. Found some replacement door handles that matched my 1930 house for $20 instead of rejuvenation for $500.

  Jaime Austin
11 months ago
Wow talk about huge selection of used random home everything your heart could ever want... This place was the size of a at least 2 or more acres with a huge factory feel inside and an outside selection of door, windows toilets and every other DIY home renovation store but bigger than I've EVER seen.Reminded me of habitat for humanity but with more selection of treasures. I promise u WILL find treasures!! Give yourself plenty of time to browse and u will Love It.

  Jeff Blanding
6 months ago
This is a fun place to wander around at look at everything but most of it is not in good condition and it's VERY over-priced. Good for ideas, I would not purchase anything here.

  Laura Gustafson
2 years ago
Lots of stuff - from architectural salvage to thrift store type items. Records, cassettes, VHS, stereos, windows, doors, knobs, locks, furniture, clothes, tools, hardware, lighting, art, rugs, etc etc etc. It s a bit of a mess, but if you re up for the hunt, recommend. Ample free parking in lot and street.

  Alex Veross
7 months ago
Nicely laid out. Definitely some great finds if you look closely. Doors on doors. Some things felt a little pricey for what they were.

  miniqooper
6 years ago
Urban ore describes this place perfectly. Salvage yard with everything for your home, business, art, burning man and etc.

  Sean Coons
a year ago
I have been shopping here for years long before they were even in this new location. This a fun place to go and find stuff you didn t know you needed. You would also get a great bargain. Not anymore their prices are going through the roof. I don t know who is pricing their items now but somethings are being priced hire than new and some are similar to what you can get for delivered to your door step from eBay. Its getting to the point that it s not worth the visit. Sad. I really enjoy shopping there. I would say I have probably spent $5000 or more there over the years. Probably will stop if they don t come down on there prices to how it was before. Habitat for Humanity re-store is a good alternative.

  M C
10 months ago
I often find awesome treasures here. At amazing prices. Occasionally, the outdoor items are the same price as new. Always check before you buy.

  Dean Fleming
11 months ago
The person who prices windows here is rude and uninformed - asking full retail (Lowes/Home Depot) pricing for basic vinyl windows that are damaged and filthy, with missing screens and torn flashing. It s sad, we d love to recycle and create less trash, but not at full market retail prices.

  Haley Hartwick
a year ago
I love the idea of this place, and I m sure it is a great resource. I have not shopped here, only brought in furniture to consign, and let me just WARN anyone looking to do similarly. They do not offer consignment for anything they think they can t make more than $500 or more on, nor do they offer credit unless it is a very new, highly valued item.For example, we brought in two used leather armchairs, good condition, no scratches or tears, stains or marks. They just didn t fit the decor of our current apartment. When we asked about consignment, we were told they are a for-profit organization, told the above info about the items less than $500 resale value, and were told that the website hasn t been updated in ages and anything on it about trade-in value is B.S. A little blunt, but she was to the point at least.Consigners beware! Bring your stuff with the expectation to donate only, and they don t offer a donation receipt because they are for-profit.You can leave feeling good that anything you may have taken to the dump can be parted/scrapped and potentially given new life as a spare part for someone else.

  Katie C
a year ago
This place is huge! So many different types of things to peak your interest. The pricing is reasonable and I m sure you could find lots of parts for things for cheaper here than brand new at a hardware store. Definitely would suggest coming here for fun or for parts!