I don't usually write reviews for gift stores, however I felt like I needed to speak about my experience at this location. I went to this location with my mom on January 14, in the afternoon(around 11am). There was a wide selection of amazing items and my mom and I were enjoying looking at the scented diffusers; that is, until multiple store employees repeatedly asked us if we needed help, and began hovering over and over again. I really wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt since the Artbox stores were a big part of my childhood (usually I go to the Artbox Metrotown location and the Vancouver location and have never ever experienced something like this. I figured at first it may have been because they wanted to give good customer service or something, or that they are more service-based (offering help, then notifying us about sales in the store, showcasing different options, etc.).
However, in every aisle that my mom and I went to, we were constantly asked if we need help - even after we took the shopping baskets, even after we said we're fine, and even after I had asked if there are any store wide promotions or sales on any items during the fifth time that they had asked if we needed help (which they said there wasn't any promotions or sales). We didn't have clothing with pockets or anything, no large bags, and I was genuinely interested in purchasing way more items than I ended up purchasing as they had a wide selection of items that were not available on their website.
Some background - I've worked in retail stores before(early to mid 2010s), and the managers would have us ask all the customers(not just a select few) a couple of times if they need help or anything, but after that we would watch the customers from afar(without hovering directly beside them in every single aisle), and in the event that someone was shoplifting, we had protocols in place to prevent it as well(if we witness the shoplifting, say a codeword, notify the manager, lock down the store, and so on), so I do understand how it works in retail(in the sense that managers can force their employees to hover a bit, but never in an obvious manner, or in a manner that makes the customer feel rushed or unwelcome there).
We did observe how the employees were treating the other customers and noticed that they did not ask the other customers if they needed help or hover over them in the same way that they were doing to my mother and I. I do not want to claim that it was a case of racial profiling, however we were the only black people in the store, so take that as you will. If the employees were hovering over everyone else in the same way, or if they had at least said something along the lines of 'I noticed you were looking at these diffusers, we have a whole section on this side as well' and then showcasing them to us or something, then it would be a different story(if they are a service based store), and a very different review.
At this point - having driven from Delta - I figured that I would buy at least one item (to prove that I wasn't trying to steal anything and that I had a valid reason to be there). I ended up buying some stickers and some washi tape, but left the diffuser scents behind. I'm hoping that this may have been a one-time thing. However, speaking from my own experience, due to the constant hovering, it was a truly unpleasant shopping experience.
I do not think I will return to this location, which is pretty sad since they really had very nice items, which is why I have given this review one star. I would've given it five out of five stars if there wasn't constant hovering and if I was not made to feel rushed throughout my shopping experience. read more
