I, my wife and our daughter have used the Reading, MA Paper Store for years, for cards and gifts. Today I went in for a card, and saw a rack with "warning" papers covering some of the items. When I looked behind the papers, they were oven mitts, dish towels and socks with illustrations and text; the text on many used words including "f**k", "sh*t", "b*tch", "motherf**ker". Not all of the items with those words were behind the papers. The intent seemed to be messages of "strong woman", "girl power", etc. Great way to send a message. (After I post this I'll see if I can post some photos I took.) A clerk came up and tried to be humorous. She"Are you old enough to look at those?" Me"Yes, but a substantial number of your customers aren't." She"[We're careful with them.]" Me"No, you're not." She simply turned and walked away. I needed the card, or I'd have left then, so I bought it and left. I might give such an item to my wife or a friend as a gag gift, but such items should not be easily accessible to kids and even teens (the rack full of items extended from the floor to about 5 feet high). Further, such coarse language should not be casually presented as being normal and acceptable where kids-teens can see it. I'm an adult and I know when and where I can use such language, and when and where I should not use it. I Googled "Paper Store reviews" before writing this, and posts by employees suggested that much of Paper Store's upper- to store-level management seems to lack good judgement. read more

The Paper Store - Gift Shops Near Me - Reading, Massachusetts

Liked this store, however when I went I was looking specifically for an Alex and Ani bracelet, and they had none of the ones I was looking for. Store was nice, just as any other Paper Store! read more

This is the 2nd time in two weeks I've been to the Reading store and both times an older woman (possibly the manager) was rude. Corporate would be wise to re-train this woman in effective customer service. Needless to say, I'll be shopping at the Paper Store in nearby Lynnfield. And if anyone is rude there, I'll assume this poor customer service is sanctioned by Corporate. read more

Bought the large ceramic Xmas tree and star was missing. Trying to call customer service and no one answers. Tried in store and they said I had to go to another store. I suppose I can just return it but it's a pain. Just wanted someone to send me the star. Guess it's no one's job. read more

The store has a good selection of gift items. They are overpriced. There are always greeters welcoming you with a smile but don't be fooled... they are not helpful. The worst is the experience at the checkout. I'm not sure if the computers / registers are just that old and difficult or if the staff just isn't trained. Least time I went I needed two gift receipts and suggested that she do two transactions if she could figure it out. The salesperson had to ask the lead cashier three times for help and it still came out wrong. Then the lead cashier said we would have to return everything and start again or I could just have two copies of the one receipt. Sooo annoying. At this point I was late and had to go. I got gifts someplace else with gift receipts and will just return everything tomorrow. Also, they are a pain in the butt to return to. I would keep away unless you are desperate for a quick overpriced gift. read more

I was in the Reading store earlier today and was planning on purchasing a few items. When I got to the register, I requested a box. I was told by a sales associate that she would have to charge me a dollar for the box. I was shocked! I told her I thought it was ridiculous. I asked the sales associate if she would override the box fee, especially for the amount of money I was spending. She said she could not, that the fee came directly from corporate. I then said, I am sure your manager has the authority to override the fee. The manager was standing there, she turned her back to me. I left the merchandise on the counter and left. I guess they don't need or want my business. They lost the profit on my purchase over the box fee. Just a suggestion for management, perhaps you should post signs throughout the store stating the box fee. This would avoid what I went through. It would allow your customers to make a decision as to whether they want to purchase from the Paper Store or go to a store with better customer service. Needless to say, I will never go back to that store! L.A. read more

Great store to poke around in like all the other paper stores. One thing that I find keeping me away is how many store associates come up to you when you are just poking around. No I don't know what I'm looking for. No I'm not here for a gift. I'm shopping! Aka just looking around! Went in on a weekend day and they literally drove me insane as I was asked if I needed help by 5 separate people in the span of five minutes. Store is not that big to need that many associates standing doing nothing bothering people. Worked in retail I understand that's the job, but my gosh it becomes a little overwhelming. read more

I would have given 4 stars but this one employee working, I believe her name was Patricia? I overheard the way she was talking to her employees and I did not like that at all. I myself am a manger at a company and I would never talk to any of my em that way. read more

Got dragged in here with my wife and daughter while out running some errands this past weekend. My initial lack of enthusiasm seemed to fade when I noticed all the cool stuff. What isn't cool is the prices or the staff. $26 for a Red Sox baseball hat? You must be out of your mind. The staff were also very aloof and uninviting. read more

The first time I ordered from them and I was very impressed. My order arrived quickly. There was a small glitch with one of my products and their customer service was hassle free and amazingly fixed it within 2 days. I will definitely shop there again for the great products and amazing customer service that I feel is missing in many retail stores right now. read more

Update: went back shortly before Christmas to buy a fee presents. I was holding a bunch of stuff I had picked out and accidentally dropped a package of 2 taper candles on the floor. I picked it up and examined it, they were fine. The saleswoman who had been standing still, doing nothing nearby the entire time (and never asked me if I needed help), turned to me a said, very nastily, "you'd better HOPE you didn't break those." I said they weren't broken, I would have paid for them regardless, and she was being EXTREMELY rude. She walked off in a huff. I really am never coming back here, there's no excuse for this kind of behavior in a business. read more

Awesome place to order invitations Lily is amazing! She is super nice and patient, and very helpful, if you're in the area definitely stop in and take a look around. Thanks Lily!!! read more

I was in this location earlier today, I went with my sister to pick up her Boston skyline Alex and Ani bracelet that had just come in. I casually asked if they could check to see if my bracelet had come in yet (we were wait listed) and the employee working the Alex and Ani bracelet counter looked at me like I was stupid and said "They'll come in when they come in." She then ripped the Alex and Ani bracelet out of my sister's hands and brought it up to the register, while doing so she LOUDLY complaining to the cashier that a customer was stupid enough to ask if the silver Boston bracelet's had come in yet, then the cashier that was waiting on my sister looked at me and rolled her eyes and muttered something under her breath. This store will never be getting my business again, rude employees and terrible customer service! read more

The Paper Store - everything you need to know is in the name! This place is great if you need some stuff to wrap a gift or give a card and so much more. Although my visit was quite limited here (5-10 minutes) I easily found what I needed and was very happy with the selection of products. I purchased a card for fathers day that my dad found hilarious, I got a pre-made gift bag for just $4 (which when buying everything seperately is usually $8-10) and when checking out although the line was 8 people it only took two minutes or so to get taken care of! Really no qualms with my first visit to this place, if I'm ever in the area again and need anything pertaining to gifts I will certainly come back for more. read more

Love the staff in Wareham mass And over the years I've shopped the store ..great service great products never had an issue until yesterday I entered the store to exchange an item that was purchased for my niece... I called earlier and spoke to a young woman and she said definitely she would put the item aside and when I came in we could just exchange it ...and as many of you know the paper store has many wonderful items so I walked in the store looking for the toy ...and a young man zipped right by me unbeknownst to me it was the store manager never said hello never acknowledge me nothing ...Well I approach the counter I get my product and the young lady said to me or you'll have to wait I cannot do the return and needs managers approval... so in that instance I say to her I'm gonna go pick up two cards ...on my right hand side was young couple caucasian couple... they were poking around on my left side was another call Caucasian woman who was browsing ....the manager approach them and ask them if they were able to find anything and if they needed anything he be more than glad to assist them ...And made eye contact I'm standing there and never once did he say do you need help with anything ....hello are you all set I was shocked never have I ever felt that way shopping in that store of ....course I'm a woman of color very disappointed very disappointed I will continue to shop there because the staff does not represent the manager shameful shameful shameful when ...I got to the counter he examined the toy and said what was the problem and I told him he took the toys out the back and said should I examine them all for you ...and I said yes of course Still didn't acknowledge me at the register I was paste on a wallpaper in a room with the door closed ...shameful shameful in this time read more

Absolutely the worst customer set I've I have ever experienced . In short my order never arrived. I called them they said tracking showed it was delivered but they have no idea if it was post office or ups. They told me to call my credit card company and dispute the charge . THEY OFFERED NO OTHER SOLUTION. I asked to talk to a manager and they hung up on me. Please don't waste your money shopping here. There are way too many companies who want the business read more

I visited this store to look through their books for wedding invitation designs. The manager and store clerk made fun of my engagement ring, which was embarrassing. They also insinuated that I would not be able to afford certain designs..... Definitely will not be giving them the pleasure of handling my invites. read more

Went here today and Laurie helped me find the exact item I was looking for from the catalog! Great customer service. Thanks so much!

There's an employee there by the name of Natasha who is beyond rude. I patiently waited for her to get off of her lunch break to be helped. She works in the printing department and became extremely impatient and rude when I started asking questions about what I wanted done. I drove an hour just to have some pissed off drama queen hiss at me. Never again will I bother with this store. read more

Reading ma ; Went into the paper store lovely young lady Julie (dark hair ) on sat June 25 @ 4:30 ish she was very helpful in my choosing accessories for a dress that I was wearing to a wedding. When I went to register I was rung up by another shorter woman I repeated what Julie had said I think this necklace is on sale for. 9.99 marked 24.99 --woman at register promptly and abruptly said its not! I said that the young lady who works here said she thought it was ---her reply well it's not!! I purchased the other items and on my way out Julie stopped me and said hey you decided against the necklace--I told her what happened and expressed that the woman at register was abrupt and not very nice about it. Well the shorter woman comes over to us and I ask her which necklaces are 9.99 there was a large red sign that said sale 9.99 reg 24.99 to 12.99 --she said I do not know I responded that as a customer someone who works here should know--then the manager I think --tall man-- points to the sign and reads it out loud I asked well which ones are they he said there is no way of knowing and to bring any price request to register -- I wanted to take every necklace under that sign 100 or more and have the short abrupt woman have to price check each individually but I did not have the time to teach people in retail what they should already know. Frustrating to say the least and my heart went out to Julie because she was trying so hard to help me but her co-workers made it impossible for her to do that. read more

Just a really neat store with all kinds of great things to look at and purchase. Terrific if you need a gift.

I do like the selection of specialty cards here, and in the past I have even gone so far as to suggest it to family members. I was there today to make an exchange and the lady that handled the transaction was less than friendly and just kept repeating herself, explaining why she couldn't exchange the item. My mom had purchased shoes for my daughter and they ended up being too small. She had used a coupon, and although the cashier did "honor the discount" she acted like she was doing me a huge favor. As far as I'm concerned if I am taking the EXACT same shoes in a larger size I should be paying the same price, coupon or not. I don't see this being a favor. I've had issues at the Medford store before, so I'm starting to think there's some funny business in the company. It doesn't seem like they're doing much to keep their employees happy. I know retail isn't always fun, but we should never take that out on our customers. Guess I'll stick to the Stoneham store, hopefully they are nice to me. read more

Wow, the Paper Store really impressed me tonight. Their employees were super friendly and helpful. Christine even volunteered to drive (out of her way tomorrow morning before work) to swing by another store & pick me up what I requested. That's top-notch service in my book!! read more

I received a gift of a bracelet from this store at Xmas and a month later it was so tarnished and the finish so worn I could not wear it. I went back seeking an exchange for something different of equal value. They told me they cd not assess the value because they didn't have that exact bracelet (huh?!), so they'd leave it for the jewelry manager who would be in touch. I left the bracelet, with my phone number and over a week later when I hadn't heard back, returned to the store. I was told by a clerk that they weren't going to do anything about it and she retrieved my bracelet from an office. The jewelry manager never called to tell me that - never even called to arrange the return of my bracelet. (Just for the record, what store asks you to leave merchandise. It's not like they're Harry Winston.) I can buy real jewelry at a million places - including TJ Maxx for less money. Their merchandise lasts for more than a few weeks, I'm treated politely, and they stand behind what they sell. I've bought a few cute things on sale after Xmas at Paper Store and their after holiday sales are good. Other than that, they don't sell anything that someone else doesn't sell that's of higher quality and more affordable. I shall do business with them in the future; I wouldn't buy a greeting card in this store. read more