Terra Toys has been BY FAR the absolute WORST toy/gift shopping experience I have ever experienced while living in the state of Texas.
I was in this store for maybe an hour- browsing around, trying out their demos, and looking at their intricate doll house displays, while contemplating which Sanrio doll I wanted to purchase, and whether or not I should get balloon bouquet to go with it. The employees generally ignored me throughout my visit- although, anytime I went to a different section of the store, a worker would suddenly show up and start standardizing some already neat display extremely close to whatever display I was looking at. Never once offering customer assistance.
When I tried to leave the store once my boyfriend showed up, a blonde long haired employee RAN OUT OF THE STORE, INTO THE PARKING LOT WHERE WE WERE, and told me that I had to come back inside. I complied, not exactly understanding what had happened. Was someone hurt? Did I knock down a display with my arm and it had a domino effect on everything in the store???
The female employee lead me across the entire store, in front of all the customers and other workers, into an employees only locker room, all whilst babbling about how they 'noticed some things around the store' and wanted to 'take me somewhere a bit more private'.
It turns out that they had called the police on me.
I was accused of stealing ("Several employees saw you placing things into your bag")
and was 'asked' if she could look in my bag (she was reaching for it before I could say anything). During this, a male police officer was standing in the door way, completely blocking it.
Obviously, I didn't take anything. She shuffled around my mostly empty red bag for a bit, checking the contents- my wallet, my phone, sunglasses, an opened package of sour patch kids, and a few feminine hygiene products.
As pissed off (not to mention embarrassed) as I was, the look on her face when she realized I was innocent is something that I will savor for the rest of my life.
I don't know who these 'several employees' that apparently saw me putting a copious amount of merchandize into my bag are, nor do I care, but I will say that the ONLY thing I put in/out of my bag during my visit here was my cellphone- for a grand total of 3 times. Once to check the time, once to respond to a text message, and the last one was for a phone call. All of which occurred close to the cash wrap, where employees were in clear sight, and my actions/intentions were obvious.
Really, I don't know what make me so suspicious. I mean, the only suspicious thing about me was that I was the only non-white, childless patron in this store at the time.
I was not given an apology. I was told (once again, by the blonde female employee) before I left that they were "Just trying to protect their business." Just trying to protect their business. By calling the police (complete with a squad car outside) on an innocent customer.
After I got my bag back, I had the pleasure of shame walking myself across the store back to the entrance, past staring customers and...SEVERAL EMPLOYEES...to meet up with my boyfriend again. As it turns out, a second officer had told him to stay behind with him as we got this situation sorted out. (Second officer was cool. Unlike, you know. Certain (s e v e r a l) employees.)
We left shortly afterwards.
In conclusion, I would advise absolutely EVERYONE and ANYONE, NOT to shop at this store. I'm all for local businesses, but this place is completely unprofessional.
I think I'll stick to Toys R Us, Walmart, and Amazon from now on. At least when I'm purchasing toys manufactured and imported from lesser developed countries I don't get the freakin' cops called on me. read more