Had a great experience at Tropic today. One of the owners worked with me for about 1/2 an hour to get a leather strap fitted just right for hanging a pendant and becoming a necklace. (In typical bead store fashion, the cost of all the parts she used only cost like $4--how do bead stores stay in business??). But she took her time and was completely patient, didn't seem like she wanted to be doing anything other than help me. And she did a great job. So good I tipped her $5.
While waiting, I noticed a beautiful piece of agate on a counter and inquired about buying it. She thought about it long and hard, then said: "actually, we'd really wanted to make that into a pendant. And I won't make any money just selling you the stone--I earn my profit from the labor of turning it into a pendant." Man, I totally respected and appreciated her transparency and honesty. So I offered her more money and she sold it to me. Which I also appreciated.
Oh, saw a negative review here about their customer service being rude--she told me they'd purchased the store from the previous in October, 2015. So it's possible the bad experience may have come during the prior regime and staff.