Large varied inventory in good condition and fairly priced but their customer service was very lacking. At least acknowledge the customers and try being friendly instead of acting annoyed when asked question regarding an item or say thank you when a customer makes a purchase. read more

What an awesomely curated store full of treasures! Every day is a new adventure, a new find. It's hard to walk in here without walking out with several items. The selection is incredible, furniture, household items, linens, books, DVDs and so much more! I could spend hours in here daily. And the prices, OH MY?! When they say they price to sell they mean it. read more

This is a wonderful place. The store is always well stocked with quality household items. The staff is helpful and friendly. They always great me warmly when I walk in. I bought a nice silver box and also a classy vase which was a gift for a dear friend. I have never been disappointed with anything I bought at Second Home. I give them my highest rating of 5 stars - excellent store. read more

This is a great place to shop for items for your home. I have done so for as long as it has been opened. The merchandise is always revolving. Smaller items are well priced. Larger items are sometimes a bit over priced. If your looking for a variety of household goods I would recommend this place. So You ask why only 2 Stars. It's the customer service from the Owner herself. Suzette. While you shop around, she sits behind the counter gossiping about the Local's of Alameda to either her employee's (her mother included) or to her well known customers. Gossip from her can be heard on an everyday basis. If she could only remember what it is to give a great shopping experience and great customer service. She doesn't greet customers (unless she knows you wel.l) My advice would be to plug in your headphones and tune her out and shop. Suzette, I hope you read my plea, to Stop your Gossip and start giving better customer service that each and Everyone of your customers deserve!! I will still shop your store because I do like the variety, but i may have to take my own advice and wear headphones to tune you out. Hope you will change!! read more

Suzette, the owner, is without a doubt, the rudest, most unfriendly and unprofessional business owner I have ever had the misfortune to encounter. I've been a seller and buyer there for many years and have yet to have a pleasant encounter with her. Every time I leave i swear not to return because of her rudeness. read more

The customer service at Second Home is excellent. I consign many items there. All are in nice quality and in excellent condition. The staff there know me now and accept almost all of the items I bring in. I rarely see them on display the next time I go in and am pleased to know they have sold. When an item is not accepted, the staff are always courteous in declining it. Frequently I am delighted to find unusual and useful items to buy. My experiences at Second Home have always been very pleasant. I recommend doing business with Second Home, based on my two years of consistently positive interactions with the owner and her capable staff. Thank you, Suzette and staff. read more

Got Junk? Second home does. Not very friendly staff, they look at you like you are intruding. Had to wobble around the junky furniture on the floor, too crowed and parking was difficult. The smell was bad, not sure if it's from the old stuff grandma use to have or the owner? I could find better stuff on Craigslist. read more

WOW...I stopped here a short time ago to consign some items. On returning home, I had to go to Yelp to see if the incredibility rude staff was the norm. Obviously, there have been many reviews on Yelp noting issues in this area. In a previous review, someone noted that they left here "stinging from the encounter". They were absolutely correct. Candidly, I didn't really care if the items were accepted or not...it was the general rudeness that left me almost speechless. The owner actually commenting to someone else in the shop on a very innocent question I had...right while I was still in the shop! Thankfully, there is another relatively new consignment shop in Alameda that is the polar opposite in customer relations. In the future, I will go to the relatively new shop first...they are always more than polite. If they don't want the item, I will donate it to Mastick Center Senior Thrift Shop...a wonderful Alameda institution. read more

This home consignment store is a fun place to stop and search for highly affordable treasures. It's packed and the inventory constantly changes. I've got some great deals here on furniture. If you want to sell, they'll probably take it but don't expect to get much. They price things cheap so they'll move quickly. The only drawback to shopping at Second Home is the cool, sometimes downright unfriendly, customer service. I pop in once every couple of weeks and can not recall ever being greeted by an employee. The owner obviously sets this tone. That's what happens in Alameda when you have next to no competition. Still worth it for the bargains. read more

They have good items at good prices. I've been going in that store for 5 years now. Not once have I ever been greeted or acknowledged by anyone in the store. So, good prices, but no interaction with customers. read more

I had sent pics ahead of time, and Suzette (the owner?) was enthusiastic that she could take most of the pieces I had. When I showed up with a truck full of furniture (and the guys I was paying), she sent one of her employees to look, and insisted she make the decisions. She only chose one piece. I ended up taking the other three pieces to Poor Honey's who gave me dimes on the dollars these pieces are worth. What could I do? read more

I have had great luck at Second Home, and have also been here on hit or miss days. Really, its what to be expected with consignment shops. The most important thing is that the merchandise rotates. I have also sold items here. I appreciate the honesty of the staff - I sold a bunch of consignment items here and totally forgot about them - uh for like 2 years... It was really nice that they had me in their computer system, then just handed me $25 cash! read more

This is a great consignment store to go in, great finds and good prices, however the customer service from the owner and I believe her daughter is horrible. There is one associate that is very kind and engaging but the owner and daughter gossip about you before you can get out the store. Very unprofessional, so the key is to block them which is sad, and keep shopping read more

We just recently moved to Alameda and are trying to make our apartment a home without spending too much money. We have ventured into Second Home every week or so so far and have been able to find some pretty good stuff for our apartment. We were able to find a great couch, a desk, dining table chairs, lamps, etc. This place can be hit or miss though - really depends on what people have brought in to sell and how much room they have to display the stuff. Prices are definitely fair. Customer service is great. We had them deliver some of our pieces and the delivery company they use is excellent - cost = $25. read more

I've been a customer at Second Home for several years and agree that the merchandise, although second hand, is clean and presented well - that the prices are excellent, and that the customer service has alot to be desired. I don't like being approached, or hard pressed by any means, but a greeting is simple, and in all the years I have been shopping here I have NEVER been greeted upon my entrance. Thats fine though, I will continue to shop here and I am fine with their lack of customer service. read more

Second home is a great store with great finds. Unfortunately, rudeness is provided free of charge. Suzette (the owner) and her sidekick are so unprofessional and condescending to customers who come in ro shop and consign items. They began spewing garbage out of their mouths before customers even exit the store. I have witnessed such behavior on several occasions therefore, its to to find a store who appreciates my business. Its really sad that such a wonderful store is ran by a woman who displays such immaturity and unprofessional behavior toward customers who help to support her business. read more

Selections vary, sometimes you do get good stuff. Very rude. No customer service at all like they don't even care if they make any business. read more

I like this place but don't understand how they decide to put your goods in their store. I brought nice wine glasses but the owners said it will not sell. I ended taking them to goodwill in Alameda. read more

This store has very nice, good quality things at very reasonable prices. The owner of second home is by far the best and nicest business owner I have met in California! I bought a king bed frame and a little after getting it home, I realized I was not given the support slats. I went back and she was very apologetic and got them for me right away. I ended up sanding, repainting and refinishing the frame and when I tried to put my bed on it, I realized the bed had been mislabeled and was really a Cal King bed. I took it back and even though I had repainted it, she was again very apologetic and gave me a full refund! She even gave me a gift certificate for what all had happened!! I am beyond impressed with this store and owner, I will most definitely return! read more

I love this place. I've found some great deals on gorgeous furniture and cheap kids' books. I've read the complaints about the service, but the service has never bothered me. I'm one of those shoppers that hates it when staff hovers and bugs me. I am fine with looking around, in silence. The staff has always been pleasant as I purchase the items and one time they helped me carry a table to my car. read more

I had a bunch of fun looking through their stuff, they had great store displays, lots of furniture and so many other this and thats I can't list them them, but if you are a bargain hunter, you will have a good time. I bought a round teak tabletop for a great price, I walked in looking for it, and found it, a small miracle. The even oiled it and gave me a towel for the car. I dont know why I'm telling you this, you might beat me to the next bargain that I want, but the women who helped me were so nice I had to yelp it! love this store. Zack read more

Love this place! So many neat little finds, and at a good price! I was pleased to come across home decor items from Pier One Imports and Pottery Barn for a fraction of the cost. read more

This is a great place to find great deals on most everything they have. I almost always walk outta here with something. It's become a dangerous place (in a good way) for me to go! Haha. Great selection, service and anything that's been there for a little bit they will haggle with you. I've bought numerous things here and I've been very satisfied with all their goods. Thank you! read more

Bad Customer Service. While I was shopping at the store, the seller did not attempt to help me at all. I was simply trying to negotiate on how to obtain a furniture on hold if the other buyer did not want it. But the seller did not want to help me. In the world of business, the customer is first and sometime we go to store with the idea that the customer service is great but not this store. read more

Seconds Home is the best place I have found to buy used furniture and home decor items. They definitely price things to sell. The quality and prices are very much better than Goodwill or Salvation Army. The sales staff is always very courteous and friendly to me. The only arguable downside is that shopping here can become very addictive. It is amazing how many things I have purchased that I never knew I needed! read more

The owner of this store is an incredibly rude jerk. I ran into the store late on Saturday to consign a small item. When she told me they couldn't take it at that hour, I didn't argue with her, I mentioned only in passing that I work (meaning, I can't get in here that easily due to your inconvenient hours, but didn't say that). She launched into this huge long lecture about when they close, when they take things, how she works 6 days a week and *she* wants a day off too. She was a complete and total f*cking bitch. It's very possible to say, politely, we can't take things after "x" hour and then shut up, but not this lady. And the store hours are idiotic. A place like that which is closed on Sunday and at 5 every day must not want customers with jobs. They have few nice things but regardless, this woman's attitude really poisons the place. By comparison, another local consignment shop, Urban Island, is incredibly nice. They're always polite and friendly. read more

I think some of these 1 star reviews are a bit brutal and not reflective of the experiences I have had over the years of shopping here. It is a consignment shop, so it naturally will be hit or miss on the items. The personnel are friendly, always have been and I have found them accommodating time and time again. They have a delivery service available, which is convenient, and I have bought and sold many things here and always treated with respect and fairly. read more

Great store prices. Many items are cheaper than thrift stores. Great for a buyer but not so great for the consignor!

I first starting going there awhile back and they were pretty good about taking my things. Recently, I was getting out of my storage locker and they were really getting selective. The owner seems have alot of friends that come and chat. One time I was in their and her friends made rather rude remarks about an item I brought in. They claim they take only seasonal stuff, but I do not know if that is an excuse or what. They seem to be standoffish or something. Not sure if I will return or not. But I will say that I have found somethings that I liked and purchased. The one nice thing I have to say is that awhile back I left my credit card there and they actually called me. read more

One time shame on you two time shame on me, I took two batches of items that were never posted to my account. I later started listing things before I took them in so when it happened AGAIN they did give me a donation slip. The owner is friendly to some others not so much, we don't have to go out to dinner but a friendly attitude would encourage customers to return. Initially it seemed as if they weren't sure of taking some of my items until I gave my address and that changed things...seriously, thankfully there are other shops in the area. read more

So every few days I need a respite from the daily grind...being retired and finding myself busier than when I was working. Where do I go? I go to Second Home, where they are cheerful, helpful and have the very best deals around. Suzette, the owner, and her daughter Kate, are charming and the rest of the staff is great. I like everything about this place. You will too! read more

I go to this store 2x a month, when I am in Alameda visiting family and I love it. I'm always looking for fiesta-ware and cool depression glass which they get in, but not too often and it tends to go fast when it does. I think a lot of the more negative reviews here are totally unfair. As I only go 2x a month, I'm not a so called "regular customer" but I've always been treated nicely and with a smile. Anytime you linger near their counter I get asked by one of the younger women who work there if I need any help. As complained about, the owner might not say much or acknowledge you unless you say something because she is WORKING, pricing items for YOU TO BUY, answering your phone calls and emails. She isn't being snotty she's busy doing 5 different things at once. (often times its only 1 person in the store and she can't do everything so cut a person some slack) Saturdays is a busy and chaotic day, but alot of stuff comes it so its worth it to check in often that day or just linger around. When they are busy they are VERY BUSY and they can't answer all 10 of your questions as fully as you want, which is annoying, but it happens. They are angels for putting up with the crap that people say and do. I was there one Saturday last month and it was crazy. These women are totally nice if you are nice and courteous also. I heard one female customer pester them about the price of an item. After replying about 7x saying there is no discount the price is as stated anyone is going to get annoyed. She followed them around the store as they were trying to help move a sofa to someones truck. The woman actually got in their way on purpose to ask the same question. If you came in and saw them being rude or short to a someone, you might have seen the hour of interaction before So giving them a review that they were rude because you didn't get your way is just spiteful. I've also seen other customers pestering about prices of items just being brought it. AS another yelper mentioned it can take some hours.....but if you had to process a couple hundred items a day, it would take some time. Yes they can get annoyed and snippy, but any sales person can when customers are unreasonable and pushy. What I've found that works, is if I see something I like that isn't priced I inquire about it. Sometimes they can get to it right away, sometimes they can't, if they can't, just accept it. If its busy and you really really want it, just wait for a calmer minute, (this might take 15 or more minutes) but just ask again or see if you can call in and about how long you think it might be. If you ask nicely with understanding that they are busy, it helps. If you act entitled that when you get the short ambiguous answer. THIS IS PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. This man was after the same buffet I was, and kept pestering, and (he was older 60'-70'ss maybe that was why) and someone else had brought in what seemed to be an entire house of furniture. They were busy moving stuff around and he just kept following the owner. Once it seemed like it calmed down I asked on of the other girls "I know your busy, but I just wanted to let you know that I'm interested in that buffet, when do you think it might be priced?" and I got a NICE response back "yeah, i'm sorry, we got a bunch of stuff in at the same time, it might take awhile, might not be till the end of the day or Tuesday, take our card and give us a call, we open at 10" Yeah its annoying to have to wait and risk them pricing it earlier and selling it but once you get a reputation as a mean and pushy customer, why should they want to go that extra mile to help you out. I have never sold anything with them, but if you look around their prices are totally reasonable and CHEAP by Piedmont or Montclair prices so you can't complain when your buying for cheap about your stuff selling for cheap And who cares that I'm not greeted at the door. Its not Tiffanys. If your pushy and impatient and want to be waited on hand and foot then don't shop here. Like anyplace if your nice and patient they will be the same back. The so called RUDE that people call them is more accurately called ANNOYANCE and after seeing and hearing some of the customers its justified. Sorry this is long, but when people use yelp as a way to just rant and rage about stupid and spiteful stuff it makes me want to defend those businesses and restaurants more. read more

My husband and I have sold some pieces through Second Home and were very satisfied with their service. The delivery guys were late coming to pick up an item from us, but I didn't consider it to be a big deal, especially since we didn't have to pay a fee for transporting the item. Second Home is a good place to recycle your gently used items. read more

Dealing with the owner is just about as impossible as it gets.If you have anything to sell ,put it up on craigs list,you'll have less grief.I brought a beautiful couch over to her shop and after all that work she refused to give me a receipt! That same day the couch was sold. At what price I'll never know.She purposely creates a space of non accountability to navigate in. The owner treats customers with absolute contempt when you should have questions of concern. And by the way, the reason you can find deals there is because she refuses to allow the consignee any say in pricing and thus turns your treasured heirlooms into her greed for a fast profit! read more

Love this place! I don't think of furniture as permanent anymore. Not when there is Second home. Get tired of something, Sell it here, buy something new! Such a great concept, great prices, so fun to look....frequently! Have fun go crazy, and it won't cost you much. Love it! read more

My husband and I love browsing here (especially my husband!). We often find something quirky and wonderful, and I never had any issue one way or another with the staff, until I consigned something a few days ago. I had a number of big items in the car, and asked them if they could take a look to see if the items were appropriate for the store. The car was, literally, outside the door of the shop. The owner said, No, they needed me to bring everything in. I asked if there was a cart or something--again, No. There were three salespeople on the floor and just a couple of customers. Why couldn't someone just come out to my car for 30 seconds? So, bit by bit, I brought in about 5 big-ish items, and a few chachkes. Apparently, I'd put them in the wrong place, so now I had to lift them all around the corner to another counter. As I was doing so, a woman in a wheelchair was trying to turn that same corner, and got mad at me, so now I had to shlep my items elsewhere for her to get by. (I'm not dissing the woman who needed to get by. It's just--couldn't any of the salespeople have helped me navigate this?) Ultimately, they said they'd take just about all of my things, which was great. Of course, if they had said no about any of the items, there I'd have to drag them all back out to the car... Prior to this experience, I would have totally given them a 5. I still do, for their stuff, but I'm giving them a 3 now because of their utter lack of helpfulness. Don't know what will sell or for how much, and don't know if I'll consign there again; in any case, I don't usually have anything to consign. Have fun browsing--but grin and bear it if consigning! read more

I drive all the way in from out of town because I grew up in Alameda and I love it. In the past I've gone to second home and it's been fine. Today I went in and they could not have been any more rude very short rude one of the girls who says that she's the manager which I don't believe she is embarrassed me. I brought in a small piece of shabby chic furniture she said no right away without being kind at all. Another woman saw the table and loved it I basically told her I was going to go drop it off to donate and if she liked it she could have it. I was not selling it to her I just thought it would be a nice thing to do and give it to someone who really liked it. The so-called manager with the short wavy blondish hair curly basically told me to leave her store and bring my little piece of furniture out with me it was so utterly rude and embarrassing I could not believe it. I have always spoke highly about this little shop and I will never go in there again and I do not recommend it unless you like people being rude to you. I'm only giving it one star because I have to read more

Love this store, both as a buying customer, and for consignment. We have found many of our favorite pieces for our home here. Owner has a great eye for knowing what will sell, how to display and how to price it. They picked up our larger consignment pieces free of charge, and delivery is very reasonable - the guys who deliver for the store are great. Really enjoy working with the owner - she has been very helpful and accomodating with various things over the many years I have been a customer. read more

Wonderful, wonderful--when you want to redecorate, when you want to find a gift, when you want to buy something you can't afford--you'll find it here at a great price. We like new stuff and this is a guilt- less place to go. Then when the house is too packed with all your great finds and you can't breathe, get a box, trunk, truck and bring them in--soon your pockets will be full. This store is my idea of heaven. I've gotten incredible pieces and on the flip sold tons of stuff. The best of the recycling ideal. Lynn Phares read more

One would certainly think after reading all the reviews over the years about lousy customer service this store would get a clue. I, like other readers, thought it was just me until I read other reviews and realized it's pretty universal that second home's employees don't seem to have an inkling about how to treat customers. I've shopped there for years and it's been the same from day one when they opened. Will I go back? Of course - I love the bargains! read more