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February 2022 by Dawn E.
I needed a Swarofsky pen refill which I couldn't fine at the stationery store in town. Then, I realized Madison carried Swarofsky products. I called to make sure they had refills and the fellow assured me they had them. When I went in the saleslady was nice and showed me the refills. Unfortunately, they only had one kind of refill, but it was not the correct one after all. The fellow who answered the phone would not have known, so not his fault. I guess it was a special refill. At least they tried to fill my order.
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November 2020 by Lanny B.
Definitive spot for Hallmark cards and all kinds of tchotchkes. This place is stuck in 1983 in terms of its mission and its merchandise. The service is slow. Like, it was totally normal from the cashier's perspective that they might have to reboot the cash register in order to help me. Ya know, since it had been 10 or 15 minutes since the last customer checked out.
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July 2020 by Ava L.
I just feel like the customer service at Madison's has significantly gone down in the past few years. They're always so rude. Never once have I or a family member of mine been greeted with a "hello" or "welcome in." When we came in to look for a Father's Day card (they didn't have any in stock) the lady rudely stared at my sister and I assuming that we were going to steal bc we're young and have some visible tattoos. It's no wonder it's very known about how they profile you. They seem to judge you by your race/ age/ status. They will look at you walk around the store as if you are going to steal something. You might as well invest your money in product from another store, especially during Covid.
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November 2019 by John Yavorsky
Chic, Papyrus, many baubles
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May 2019 by Diane L.
This is a fabulous store for cards and gifts. It is fun to browse...always surprising, fun things to look at. The customer service is a little iffy.....if you don't have a signature on the back of your credit card, you will be asked for an ID. Doesn't matter what color you are. The ladies are usually jovial, sometimes not. I do not go here for the employee bonding. Sometimes I'm greeted..... sometimes not. I ALWAYS find a card here, and usually a gift. Worth the trip.
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September 2018 by Betsy B.
It was just a very odd situation. I returned a gift for store credit. I purchased something in exchange. Very cute locals store but their return system is totally manual, took a very very very long time to complete the transaction.
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August 2018 by Sarah W.
Horrendous customer service. The staff are always incredibly rude. Useful location for grabbing a gift if needed but today will be our last visit. Despite selling children's stuff in a family-oriented community they hate children. The sales associate was unspeakably rude to my 3-year-old daughter. We spent the whole drive home explaining why some people are bad people. Go anywhere else!
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March 2018 by Tanisha W.
We experienced racial profiling and horrible customer service! I saw this cute little card shop and decided to purchase much needed and overdue thank you cards. I am a woman of color who was there with my friend who is also a woman of color. Upon entering we were not greeted at all but just looked at suspiciously. We were treated rudely, and stared at the whole time while shopping. They have really cool stuff so we were enjoying looking around. When time to purchase I placed the cards on the table and was rudely asked if we have anything else we picked up that we wanted to purchase - insinuating that we had stolen something along the way. I brought the card then went back 5 minutes later after I thought about how bad we had been treated. I confronted her and there was no remorse at all her her end and no apology for terrible customer service. Just a dry I'm sorry that you felt that way apology - without taking ownership for her actions at all. Please do not support this type of behavior. All customers should have a right to freely shop without being under the threat of false assumptions!!!
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January 2017 by Heidi G.
We went to buy a gift for a little girl and a puzzle and Madison's looked like an adequate, even if slightly overpriced boutique shop. I like to avoid chains, hoping to support a local business. I had an empty espresso cup ( no sugar) and when we asked if there was a trash can they said, "No." Then they said they couldn't take it because there would be ants. All they had to do was be straightforward. Then she says if it is really too difficult to take outside she will take it outside in a tone than was insincere. I purchased other things in addition to the gift and total was 55 dollars. When we went to wrap the gift it was $13 and they said there was a policy that it has to be 15$.In total I had spent more than that but the thing I wanted to wrap was not enough and I needed to add something so I told them to forget it. I could have had them wrap it all for the sake of it but it is an absurd policy given I spent the amount and wasn't asking for anything unreasonable. I say NEVER go there! Don't waste your time.
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December 2015 by joan C.
I really like this shop when I need a small gift for someone. However, the customer service is AWFUL. I have had one too many bad experiences, so decided I needed to Yelp. First I asked the clerk at the desk for the location of an item. He told me to ask another clerk. Really? You don't know where your wine bags are? Then when he rung up my purchase, he acted as if I was imposing on him by being there. When he was done, he ran off to a back room, slamming the door behind him. Excuse me! If I'm not there, or others customers, you have no job. And not even a Thank You! I was stunned. If this shop wasn't so convenient, I would never go there again. I may not anyway.
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November 2015 by T. S.
This rating is actually a response to Rose H. of Orinda. Rose, please don't feel bad...they ask me for ID every time I buy something with my credit or debit card and I am as white as a ghost. Sometimes it's a little odd, as they'll ask me even if I'm just buying a card for $4 or $5. I, too, was a a tad offended the first few times they did this, thinking maybe I don't look as "fancy" as some of the "Lafayette ladies of leisure." However, I recently noticed they check to see if my credit card is signed on the back before they ask me for ID. Maybe the lady ahead of you that day had signed her card.
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June 2015 by Leah W.
Fun selection of this and that. Stationary, calendars, wrapping paper, books, specialty items and more. Great place to find a small gift for just about anyone.
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December 2014 by Rose H.
Have always loved this store. However, was there recently and a customer stepped up to the counter the same time as I. I offered her to go first. She made her purchase of $50 however her Chase visa would not go through. The sales person tried several times and then tried wrapping the card in tissue paper and swiped it with tissue paper and it went right through. The customer saw a pocket knife she wanted. Had to be purchased separately and the sales person encountered the same problems with this new $40 something charge. Finally it's my turn and she rings up my 3 gift cards. $19. I hand her my Amex card and she swipes it and it goes through without a hitch. She then asks me for ID!?!?! I hand her my CDL. She not once asked the previous customer to show ID despite the fact she was having all these issues with her card! The other customer is white as is the sales person; I am a person of color. I was tempted to say something but chose not to as it was Christmas Eve day and didn't want to make a scene. Now I wish I had as it bothers me. I like the store so I'll go back and test it to see if it happens again. Both McCallous and Madison's (same owners) do not have any black employees that I have seen in ANY of their stores.
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September 2014 by Sarah S.
I went in this store last week and fell in love with a pair of leather gloves. I did not have cash on me, and was nannying at the time. So I decided to come back during the weekend, which i did. I grabbed $100 from my savings (which came straight from wells fargo down the street) and went to the counter to purchase. The old woman began to ring me up, she examined my $100 very thoroughly, which was fine. And finally did the pen test. She explained to me that the bill did not pass the pen test, and that she would have to go speak with her manager.... So here I am feeling like a criminal, totally embarrassed and humiliated..I tried to regain my respect by explaining how that bill came directly from the bank, but this was to no avail. The manager comes to me, another older woman, and goes on to tell me that they do not have enough money to break my $100. I was very fed up at this point, and mentioned that I was given the impression from your employee that my bill is fake, not that you simply can't break it..She reiterated her excuse that they just dont have enough money in the register. FINE, so I go to yogurt shack to get change. Guess what? He also did the pen test, and it passed without a second glance. I go back to buy my gloves, totally feeling like they think i was trying to get over on them with my "fake" bill.. I tell the old woman that the 17 year old next door was able to clearly see my bill was in fact REAL. And that she may want to purchase a new pen. All in all the one star is for the products, but with such stuck up, rude, judgemental staff.. I wont be back. Maybe its because I have a tattoo on my wrist? Or that im a college student? Im not so sure, but im a lamorinda native and currently live down the street in an apartment. It would have been nice to have had a good experience in my local gift shop. I almost regret buying anything, no wonder everyone shops online... LEARN HOW TO CHECK BILLS BEFORE WORKING A REGISTER.
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August 2014 by Peter N.
Cool gift and card shop. More (and better quality) cards than I've seen outside a Hallmark store. In general, a bit girly for me, but maybe that's what you need to get sometimes. Definitely fits into the Lafayette boutique thing, and definitely the first place I'd look for a card in Lafayette.