SHAMEFULL!! Only to spare others the horrific experience of enduring the most startling and traumatic moments of stepping foot into this Bedlam of Rage and deceit, do I write this. You cannot allow the Joy of the Holiday season or a quick need to pick up a little token stocking stuffer or a last minute bowl you need for nuts lure you into this den of shaming, unprovoked profiling, and rage! As a quiet shopper keeping to myself and looking at some forks, I was first informed that they could keep them for me at the register...a quissical pause...I carry on...this spiraled into the Manager wondering if I had an issue-and he was looking for a fight-in my face and threatening... I chose to remove myself as he continued obscenities...was it how I looked? Did I remind him of someone? This is a store manager who really doesn't have it under control. He doesn't understand his clientele, how this story could turn back on him in an uncomfortable way. Is he really choosing his victims? Utterly bizarre and shaming to the end the degree. Please keep your Holiday Spirit and STAY AWAY. The most toxic environment ever read more

My go to store for sweet gifts, both for others and myself. I always find something here that makes me happy and that I didn't even realize I needed until I saw it. The staff are so chatty and friendly, and they even gift wrap! One of the last true independent neighborhood stores still standing. Love it! read more

This was the worst experience I've ever had in a store. I reside around the Lexington Ave location, I'm in the interior design industry, and I will never be back to this awful store. The tall owner came busting out of his office in the back while I was shopping quietly and was keeping to myself. He started following me around and giving me really obvious nasty looks across the store. He rolled his eyes when I said 'excuse me' to pass around him. He cut me off at one point in the narrow hallway of the store by charging in front of me. After spending over $100, he also made a point to slam the door behind me as I walked out. All for NO REASON. I did nothing to the man or his store, yet he had it out for me. I was really baffled and confused by the tense and childlike behavior. The disgruntled, nasty, miserable old owner cannot get away with treating clients like this. The store has some decent items, but not worth the degrading treatment. Take one of your overpriced chinoiserie monkey candle sticks and shove it up yours. read more

My experience was the same as the lady on 12/28/2014 Jennifer R. If you read her review it was exactly the same treatment I received from the two rude owners even though I was returning a bag of items that didn't belong to me! This was the first time I ever returned an item. In fact not only was I returning 6 placemats but also a shopping bag that was given to me by mistake by the sales lady. One of the owners (the shorter one) looked closely at me as I entered the shop carrying two bags...... When I reached the counter (8 steps) and opened my bag he shouted "we don't sell those placemats anymore" with a look of "disgusting" in his face. To which I responded, I bought them in less than 3 hours ago and you still have 10 left to sell. The sales lady whispered to me not to say a word as it was a "bad day". I gave her the second bag, the one I had been given by mistake and contained a number of small items and said "thank you" with the kindest eyes! I immediately understood that a lot of grief had been given to the sales lady with the disappearance of the bag.....she told me that the owners DO NOT like returns....will not give you your money back, only store credit. I then learned that the receipt one gets after payment, has a stamp on it, stating no returns, only store credit. Not a great way to inform your clients but not at all important compared to the cruelty, the pain and how petrified the staff is in the store on Lexington Avenue. I was embarrassed by the way Wayne and his shorter partner treated the sales lady. The fact that she whispered and asked me not to say a word as "it was a bad day", was concerning. I asked her how many bad days are there in a month and she whispered back "many". I will walk by the store and see if the sales lady continues employed after this review - easy to do as I live across the street. Someone has TO STOP these two men treating their staff and clients in this manner. I will be on the look out.....Wayne is the tall one, most aggressive and pushy while the shorter one has an "explosive" behavior. "Wayne" is the tall one and so aggressive. I feel terrible for the sales lady who kept whispering to me to be patient as today was a bad day, while her bosses were abusing me.....I believe she has been abused by this two men for a long time. I will keep an eye on the sales lady on a daily basis as I live across the street and go by the shop every day. This treatment has got to end. read more

In all fairness I"ll give this storetwo-star rating, despite the chillingly horrible treatment I received there recently, for two reasons: one, the shop actually has a pretty decent selection of unusual gifts from which to choose, and two, because I have shopped there on and off during the last 10 years and while never would I have said the service was "good", I also never would have felt it deserved any negative comments. That assessment changed drastically last week. I had purchased several items there a couple of weeks ago, and returned one of them. At the time of purchase, I clearly indicated there was a good chance I might have to return that item if it did not match what I had at home. I asked if there was any problem with returns, and was told there would be no problem with a receipt. That was the entirety of the response. Upon my return to the store last week to return the item, I was told it would only be for store credit. The taller of the 2 owners told me that was clearly stated on the receipt (which it was, except that one has to purchase an item before being given a receipt; the fact that I had pre-empted this possibility, I believe should have prompted my being so informed PRIOR to the purchase). There follows what ensued: I started to say (without being allowed to finish) that it would have been nice to inform me of the above, when the owner's partner suddenly appeared, shouting at full volume "NO . . NO ...NO.... THIS IS MY SHOW . . . . I WILL NOT ENTERTAIN YOUR QUESTION!" all the while with his short, stubby index finger pointed dangerously near my nose. I told him he was very rude, to which he called me a "bitch" and to get out of his shop with my "filthy" dog who, by the way, had just come out of Canine Styles for a full grooming! I left the shop to find a lady, who had witnessed the whole scene, waiting for me a few feet past the store. She stopped me and told me she is an interior decorator who has also shopped there before, and she was so shocked at the abuse I had received and said she really hoped I would call the police. I live a few blocks away from the 19th precinct and so stopped by there in person. The officer told me he has heard this kind of thing before, but there is nothing they can do unless I have been physically hurt, which I wasn't. The officer urged me to report this to the Better Business Bureau. I will do that, but I wanted to call attention to this as - had it occurred to someone very old, or in frail health, the end result might have been much worse than just what happened to me. I understand there is stress for everyone during the holiday season; still, there is no excuse for that kind of aggression to a customer. This duo should not be allowed to deal with the public if they cannot behave in a civil way. The taller of the two was only a bit rude and unpleasant, but the shorter one's behavior went much further than that. He acted like a very aggressive lunatic, and while he was shouting at me, he looked more like a rabid bulldog than a human being. I was frightened and in shock. This treatment was undeserved by me, and should not be experienced by anyone, ever, no matter what the circumstance. read more

I received some pillows from William Wayne & Company for Christmas as a gift. But when I saw the receipt for $900, I told the store I did not want them, as they were terrible looking and ATROCIOUSLY EXPENSIVE. What do you think they cost to make by some poor child in Asia?!?! This is not some antique. They did tell me and the person who bought them they'd receive a refund, because I complained, so I mailed them back on my own expense (even though this was a gift). And then they proceeded to only give store credit to the person who bought them for me!!!! I settled on buying new ones online at the widely praised luxury site One Kings Lane, where actual respected interior decorators of note sell, and has a wonderful reputation, including allowing returns. The pillows were $90 that were wonderful looking and just as good quality - yes that's right 1/10th of the price!!! Let me just say in this era of Internet shopping, you can no longer not except returns. Especially on a gift. I looked at their website and it's not a lot of people's taste, even the 1% they so desperately try to appeal to. Reading the previous review by Louis L., I realize these snobs have and will continue to alienate wonderful customers whom can buy from many other antique and interior design firms whom usually allow returns, especially for something that's not an antique and offensively priced. From my experience these decorators and shops, they coddle the buyers because it is such a competitive business. Customer service is the key for the industry. NEVER EVER USE THESE TERRIBLE SNOBS! I'm going to make sure everyone I know knows never to use them, and I know some great, wealthy, potential customers in New York and elsewhere. I make great money, but demand to be treated decently. When I called they LIED to me. Unfortunately, these guys have A LOT of competition in New York and on the Internet and probably will reap the repercussions of this HORRENDOUS customer service. Plus, how can you be a snob on Lexington Avenue? It's not like this store is on Park, Madison, or 5th! That's where the antique and decorator shops of note are. Lexington is a street of grocers, dry cleaners and delis. What a joke! read more

i have been buying home décor items for many years at William-Wayne . they have a great selection and a good variety of products that make our projects more unique! read more

I had to write a review seeing as the others about this company seem quite unfair. Stores have return policies & they are entitled to do so for whatever works for their business model. As a designer, I know that 95% of high end vendors will not even take returns - the few who do always give store credit. This is not unusual so check before you buy! It is your own fault if you don't bother to read store policy at the register. Also, just b/c they have a store on Lexington Ave doesn't translate to cheap. There are many high-end stores, like Mecox Gardens, on Lex that are priced similarly- to imply that it's pricing is not worthy of it's location is stupid - sorry! That sort of thinking is the definition of being a pretentious jerk! On to the store itself, it is traditional and full of great accessories, furniture, mirrors & lighting in that aesthetic. While not everything is my taste, there are many beautiful items that could work for many people. Some things are expensive but I have also found many a reasonably priced item there - i.e. a beautiful glass lamp for $285, a lovely side table for $495. Bargains! The range of pricing is attainable - unless you're used to Ikea, in which case you might balk, but hey, so is life. Yes, the owner does put on a bit of airs, but I did not think it was that bad and he was being friendly even before he knew my profession. read more

I had a horrible experience with this company! They seem to confuse pretentious with class (which they lack). I asked an honest question about a very large purchase. They answered rudely and in a childish manner calling me absurd and rude. Needless to say they lost a very large sale. They seem more concerned about making others believe they are something they aren't than their customers. read more

Although the staff is nice, I would not recommend this store. First of all, they do not accept returns, only store credit AND only if they are still carrying the merchandise! I recently bought my wife a Christmas gift there and she was forced to find something as they would not refund the gift. Also, EVERYTHING is extremely overpriced. You literally can find 90% of the items in Home Goods or other furnishing stores for a fraction of the price. I mentioned that to the staff, and they actually said that it is a "different clientele on Lexington." They are targeting the rich who can't be bothered to shop where things are priced correctly. Unfortunately, honest husbands who don't know how much things should cost get the bad end of the deal! read more

i have to add my two cents to the most previous reviews. i do not agree!! this is the best store of its kind in nyc. i shop here all the time and have always been most satisfied. it seems to me that these people have a problem with the always having it their own way. why take out silly disappointments with hard working new york retailers oh well..shop at this store...i do and will continue to do so. read more

The owner of this store, William Meyers, was incredibly rude to me when I came by specifically to check out a Alberto Pinto china pattern that his store had in stock. He apparently thought I was incapable of holding a plate and insisted on only letting me look at it from afar. It was beyond odd and really quite shocking. Needless to say, I will never be patronizing William Wayne in the future and I look forward to sharing the story with all of my UES friends so that they too can boycott Mr. Meyers' store. It is really his loss as the plates were nearly $500 apiece and I intended to buy all 12. I guess his loss is Scully & Scully's gain. read more

I've been shopping at William - Wayne & Co for years and I've never had a bad experience. The store is full of incredible gifts and home decor items that you won't find - or won't find merchandised like this for sure.. Both of the owners have great taste and I appreciate that they are on the floor selling and merchandising like old school shop-keeps in the best possible way. I saw negative reviews here and honestly I don't get it. I think you must have to have a very low self esteem or feel VERY insecure to be offended by a couple of New York guys with great style and great senses of humor. Every time I'm there women are laughing and chatting with William and / or Wayne. William is usually holding court inside or outside with super chic ladies. I look forward to stopping by whenever I need a gift for someone.. or just to get inspired.. There is ALWAYS something interesting to see. The downtown store is smaller, but also a GREAT gift resource for the host / hostess that has it all. read more