Forest Gems - Fine Native Art and Northwest Woods — Attraction in Indian Island

I posted this on Yelp as well.

Their products are beautiful, I walked in extremely interested in purchasing, but was not treated with the respect that a potential customer deserved. I happened to be with some Deaf-Blind and interpreting buddies of mine. Another reviewer mentioned how rude one of the shop keepers was, we were met with the same snippy, rude, impatient, not understanding customer service experience from a different worker. We did of course see the signs (they're literally plastered everywhere, which needless to say is anything but welcoming), however most individuals who are both deaf and blind have to use the other senses. That leaves among others...touch. I assumed that this shop would want to be accommodating to our group, or at least calmly explain their policy. We would have certainly been understanding and been comfortable negotiating another option, such as the shop worker holding anything they fear may be dropped, or politely asked us instead to try to explain using an interpreter. Instead we were glared down from the moment we walked into the store, watched the entire time, and eventually told we couldn't touch anything. Okay...fine. When one of our group said you know, that's the only way to "see" what it is, to know what they could potentially purchase, the shopkeeper had no response and instead retorted saying they just can't have people touching things. Okay, fine. If that is your policy, great. I don't know how they sell anything in a store where everything you can potentially buy is off-limits. As we were leaving she said that it may look like a museum in the store but that it was not. I do think that a museum tends to be a place where it is understood that you do not touch the artifacts as they are not intended to be purchased and are being preserved. A store, however, should be the opposite. Again, if your policy is "do not touch", fine, but simply respectfully mentioning that as we enter, getting rid of the unfriendly signage, and trying to work out another option with us are how to gain my business. Not through rude attitudes and unwavering stubbornness. Like the other reviewer with a similar experience said, I suggest one of the many other beautiful local wood furniture and art places who I'm sure would be much more willing to do what they can to earn and keep your business. Terrible experience. I know we're telling all of our friends, coworkers, family members about the awful experience we had on an otherwise...

Though I did not write any review, merely gave my stars, here is my response to the owner’s response to my two stars.

Looking at the other reviews here, the owner consistently uses the neutral word “remind” when referencing his no phone policy. That isn’t reminding. That is rude, bordering on reprimanding. I actually hadn’t noticed the signage (and would have complied if I had).

Forest Gems looks to have great product, with good workmanship and a well kept shop. But I refuse to do business with a person who thinks it alright to reprimand people and possible customers. He so obviously has and enforces this arbitrary “no phones policy” for no reason other than for his nostalgia of the past or an active dislike of the ‘youth.’

Clearly Forest Gems cultivates a certain type of patronage and that is fine, but I take issue with his characterization of some difference between “paying customers” and “non paying customers.” A quick browsing of the reviews here and my own experience suggests to me that he might have several more “paying customers” if he didn’t rudely enforce his no phones policy. One has to wonder why Forest Gems so passionately crusades against the low reviews online when he claims to have cultivated a community of enthusiastic customers...

The reason I had my phone out? I wanted to ask my partner how many shelves she had been thinking to put on a wall in our house. I would have been a paying customer and likely provided a 5 star review. There is no fundamental difference between the people who are posting 1 and 2 star reviews for Forest Gems and those providing 5 star reviews. The difference is HOW we were treated by the owner, and that is why I bothered to review this store. A store should be reviewed based on both its service and it’s product. Forest Gems failed to give me the benefit of fair treatment and instead chose to treat me as if I was a child with my phone out at the dinner table. That is...

What an awesome place!! From the moment we stepped through the doorway, we entered into what seemed like an art studio...I guess because it is!! The co-owner greeted us warmly and took time to explain the process of how pieces are carved, etc. Because of pride of ownersip, I completely undersood requests not to handle certain pieces. I also understood the meaning of no cell phone usage in the shop due to videos being shown to inform customers of the creation of their wooden treasures. I respected this request because some people are hearing impaired, such as myself, and consider it a matter of common courtesy to be considerate to others, which I suppose is not as "common" as in days past. It has become an "It's all about me" selfish world. The shop owner & I joked about the addiction to cell phones and how some people truly have a hard time putting them down for even a short time (including myself.) All in all, it was a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Staff was friendly and helpful. They offered to ship my treasures home for a very reasonable price and they will be waiting for me upon returning home. I would recommend visiting this place to all interested in the art of wood carving. It's a guaranteed...