I should have reviewed this place years ago, since I regularly (or used to) buy supplies from Elmwood Stationers but always forgot. My previous experiences here ranged from "meh" to below average (and I never really had high expectations), but the past couple of months really sucked! I came here a few times recently to get envelopes, pens and other supplies (which I have found here before). I didn't see the envelopes I usually get, so I asked if they had any more, and the new skinny teenage/college aged girl (light brown hair) shortly replied, "No," and immediately turned her head down again to her phone or book (not sure what she was looking at) and I didn't care enough to stick around to see or be inside any longer. Instead I just went to Staples and got a multicolored pack of the envelopes I wanted (for a cost much less than here with more quantity).
Another time I went in, the same new cashier girl and a new cashier guy (about college age too, black hair) were just chatting at the register station the whole time doing nothing, like the store was a dorm hallway or some frat house, while a couple customers browsed the store. The other day I went in to buy pens (and knew what I wanted), then a couple of elderly people entered after me. They asked the cashier girl something, and the reply again was a quick "No" close down. I looked back and they looked confused (probably thinking the same thing I thought before: "Why are these clerks so rude?" And "Why don't they make any effort for products previously bought here with different clerks?"). Don't know. The new retail clerks here just can't be bothered with anything except whatever it is they're looking at or chatting about at the center of that register station. The only thing they seem to want/know how to do is ring you up, and even then they act like you just ruined their day when they haven't helped you in any way and paying takes less than a minute. Just the most horrible clerks I have seen anywhere. For anything else besides paying, don't bother. That's not the type of service or business I want to support, so I left and went Downtown to Staples again to buy my pack of Uni-Ball Signo pens (even though I could have bought them here, which is closer to me). I mainly went here due to it being conveniently near me and already have low expectations, but these new clerks require you to sink your expectations even lower.
In contrast to them, the many times I have gone here before the young man who was there for years (seemed about high school age, got taller through the years, brown hair and worked before and after the remodel), was a little friendlier and actually tries to be helpful when you have a question. He walked the aisles and sorted shelves. If an item a customer was looking for wasn't on the shelf, he asked more questions about the material, size, etc. of the paper/envelope/card/item or would go to the back to see if they had more in stock. Sometimes he found the product, other times he didn't. But he wasn't just in his own mind bubble and never gave a quick, reflex "No" to customers but followed up. Not sure if the young guy just works less now or was on a summer trip or is just gone, but he was a better clerk. Or before the store's remodel, there was a hipster-ish girl (with bangs, usually had a beanie and bicycled), was also actually helpful to customers, walked aisles, organized shelves, followed up on inquiries and not just declining questions to stay on the phone or just staying motionless at the cashier station. My rating of one star is because of the previous cashiers/clerks, otherwise (based on the new clerks) it would be 0 star (but really more like -2 stars if that was an option).
Been going here for years since before the remodel when I was an undergrad and then after the remodel to now as I entered the professional world. I won't be giving Elmwood Stationers another try again. Even if I'm tempted to browse cards/pens while walking to a local cafe to write a card, seeing those new clerks will definitely make sure I won't even step inside. I'll just go to Therapy (next door), Papyrus (across the street) or Staples (in the downtown area) or the paper stores on 4th St. instead. All of those stores' clerks actually work, help customers etc. and aren't trapped in their own little mind bubble. read more
