I don't understand some of the negative reviews here. Maybe from competing businesses?
I've been shopping at Picky Picky Picky for years, back when they were primarily a military surplus store, through them becoming a "work outfitter" store, to them finally opening a dedicated surplus/military store next door to the original location.
Odd complaint in a negative review #1: Small selection of women's clothes. WHAT? Their selection of women's clothing is larger than their selection of men's clothing. I suppose if you count all the unisex Carhartt jackets, etc as "men's" clothing then there would be a smaller women's section, but this store is the #1 spot my wife buys her clothes specifically because of the selection of more durable brands than the junk that stores at the mall carry.
Odd complaint in a negative review #2: Poor customer service/lack of staff. This place usually has 5 or 6 employees working in the main store at all times, and two in the surplus/military store next door (it's much smaller). I've never had to wait, except on the few weekends a year when they do their big warehouse sales and seasonal clearances, at which point the place is so packed you're lucky to get through the aisles let alone get through a register without having a wait a little. Stores like Sears and Kohl's get you through so quickly because they're big box stores that likely don't even turn a profit individually, whose staff's wages are supported by the profitability of other stores owned by the parent company. Those stores are overstaffed and can afford to be due to buying power. Maybe this reviewer doesn't understand how local stores and other SMBs work?
Odd complaint in a negative review #3: Can't find freeze-dried food or a Thermarest in an "outdoor outfitter" store. Uhm.... these guys have never, ever advertised as an outdoor outfitter. They're a work outfitter, and prior to that a military surplus store. They sell mostly Carhartts, Dickies, various boots and coveralls, gloves, etc. They're not an outdoor store. I realize this review is from 2009, so they caught the store when they were just a work outfitter and hadn't opened the military surplus store next door yet. In the current surplus store, they do have freeze-dried foods and Thermarests, though honestly there are better places in the county to buy them. Again, Picky Picky Picky isn't advertising themselves as an outdoor or camping store. It's a clothing store, with some accessories.
Odd complaint in a negative review #4: Carhartt prices are above retail. This reviewer then compares the prices to Costco's prices on Carhartts. The Carharrts carried at Costco, just like the Snap-On tools they have there, are made differently and more cheaply than the Carhartts you buy from a real Carharrt dealer. Also, Picky Picky Picky's Carhartt prices are below retail and always have been (though you will get a much better deal online if you know what size you want already).
Odd complaint in a negative review #5: Fitting rooms are locked. Uh, DUH. This store is located in downtown Eureka, which is populated by homeless crazies and tweakers. What do you expect? This is a local business that has to keep losses to a minimum in order to stay in business and keep competitive prices. They can't afford to have a bunch of stuff stolen from them all the time like the big box stores can. I'm sure the fitting room doors are locked so that they can count how many items you take in, and how many you take out. As a comparison, some of the big box stores lock their fitting rooms as well, such as Ross at the mall (or at least they used to, I admit I haven't been in their fitting rooms for a few years).
I've always found the staff to be friendly and helpful. I buy most of my clothes there, some of my tactical gear from the surplus store next door, and most of my shoes at the main store. The prices aren't as good as you can get online in most cases, but they're better than any other store in town for the brands carried, that's for sure. I just bought a Benchmade there yesterday, and on Amazon I would have only saved about ~$14 over buying it locally, plus shipping (which may or may not have been more than $14... probably not), so I think it was a good deal.
Also, if you go to one of their warehouse sales, try to get there really early unless you're REALLY BIG. What I mean is, their warehouse sales are almost always nothing but 2XL, 3XL, and above sizes if you get there after 11:00AM or so because the stuff in "normal" sizes (Medium, etc) go REALLY quick. read more
