Before today, this would have been a 5 star review. I was a repeat customer to this establishment and thought that they had nice offerings at affordable prices - and nice people to go along with it. However, there can be that one employee that ruins it for the business and unfortunately, I've experienced that today.
I had a defective item (small gem missing from an inexpensive bracelet) without a receipt -- the rude employee, who I spoke with on the phone, denied that they would ever let a bracelet with a missing stone leave the store, thus insinuating that I must've done something to it after purchase. Really? The bracelet was a small gift for my mom - who pointed out the missing gem as soon as she opened it from its wrapping.
I still came in, talked to another employee who double checked with their manager - and they found the exact bracelet on the shelf and exchanged it for me. Thank you - kind employee and manager - because it shouldn't be a fight to exchange a defective item, with or without a receipt.
For a local business - good customer service is key. Perhaps they would benefit from teaching all of their employees that big box and online retailers are competing for customers' business - and that a repeat customer can doubt returning based on that one experience. For me.. I thought I had found "my store" - but there are so many other stores within a block of this place selling similar merchandise... I might just give those a look before I go back to this place.