Unique Thrift

The problem at this location is not the selection. I’ve found great stuff over many shopping trips to this store. The issue is the staff. No one wears name tags so I can’t reference names. There is only 1 female that was consistently kind to me and actually treated me like a human being. She is probably 5’4 sm-med build with long brn/blk hair that is usually styled in a ponytail. Everyone else gave unremarkable/poor customer service and dedicated most of their time 2 handling customers with suspicion especially if you fit a certain profile. Unfortunately, I fit that profile. My first glaring negative experience was when a girl who was a new hire decided to assume I couldn’t have purchased all of the items in my cart and proceeded to search it while I was outside pulling my car up to load up my items. She quickly tried to end her search as I reentered. The storefront is all see-through glass. Duh.

I guess she really wanted to impress her new colleagues with how good she was at racial profiling. Mind you this woman appears to be African American but speaks Spanish. I did confront her about what she did and told her she was just reinforcing stereotypes about people that look like us. Wouldn’t you know her behavior towards me completely switched on subsequent trips. Yes, I decided to forgive this offense and cont’d to patronize this location as I enjoy thrifting. The last straw came a few months later when the biggest offender, an older Indian man who, mind you, had aided the young lady in my cart search did something I couldn’t tolerate/forgive. Employees regularly check receipts at the door but he was a rude stickler. After my last time at this store he, once again, blocked my path demanding my receipt. Something told me to stand and watch him with other customers before leaving. So I stood outside watched him check the receipt of an African American male and allowed a Caucasian woman to breeze past him. I haven’t been back there or any Unique thrift store since.

Today I was shopping at this store and picked up a tea cup that was taped to a saucer plate and cut my finger open because the teacup was broken. My finger was bleeding and I asked the nearest associate for help, and they didn't have time for me, I then asked someone who looked like a supervisor for a bandaid and she left and didn't return, I then went to the very front of the store to ask again for a bandaid and this lady returned with one. A man also appeared and kept me for about 15 minutes filling out an incident report.

No one at any time offered me an apology.

This location really needs some some basic customer service training. I will not look forward to returning to this location again.

I tried to buy something there today, I will never go to there again. The customer service advice I received was if you don't like it there is the door. I tried to buy a bowling ball with no price written on it, all the other bowling balls were the same price, I said cant someone let me know the price? It could have been 21.99 for all I cared I just wanted a price. I was told no... if the price is rubbed off we have to put it back in production (nothing is produced there btw) I said so I have to guess when it will be available? They answered that's correct, OK so I said what is your name they said we can't tell you that (no-one has name tags) I said I understand people probably change the prices they said it happens all the time, so I said OK so maybe it just needs to be more organized which is when they walked away and left me basically hanging. I have never in my life given anyone a bad review but I have never experienced worse or more rude behavior. Never will I frequent this place again. For the upper mgmt. I have some ideas...Make the people wear nametags so if they are rude (as they most def. were you will know their name) and put stickers on things so when prices smear you wont be basically accusing people of changing prices its uncalled for and avoidable. PERHAPS then I would consider going back there, until then I will take my business elsewhere!!!!!! Also I tried to give them zero ratings but I had to put something in so there you go.

Best to shop here on discount days - 25% off on Mondays, and Thursdays with free VIP card. Prices range from good, to very high for a thrift store. One note of caution about this specific Unique. There is a cop (short, with tattoos, and a buzz cut) who is sometimes there on busy days. If you're black he will follow you around the store or try to look inconspicuous while eying you from a short distance away. Amazing thing to experience in a store filled with low-income people of all races, that this moron singles out one group.

I've only seen large thrift places like this in Co, PA & NC while traveling... This particular store is part of a growing chain. It's perfect for me as I always need something to complete an art project... Next best thing to freecycle.org and curbside shopping! LOL