RIW Hobbies & Games Inc. — Attraction in Livonia

The employees were nice, however the owner is another story. I purchased about a hundred dollars in board games and decided to buy another hundred dollars worth. I asked to use the restroom to take my insulin (diabetic) and was told no public restroom.

I was confused because there were about 12 - 15 people on the other side of the store all gaming and they had access to use the restroom, but I was not allowed as I was not gaming like the others.

I asked to speak to the owner and she came out and said no you can't use the restroom because you're not here for a scheduled event! I mentioned that I was a diabetic and I needed to take my insulin. She said sorry no exceptions. I asked even for customers who just spent over $100 in your store on board games which makes me a customer not someone walking off the street to use a restroom! And more importantly like I stated before it's because I'm a diabetic and need to take my insulin. Her response again was no exception! I asked the owner why a paying customer couldn't use the restroom. She stated it was a covid restriction that they put in place which made no sense to me because if I was a part of a scheduled event, I would have been able to use the restroom. I understand that policies exist for a reason and I would have understood if the restroom policy was applied to everyone--even the scheduled event gamers.

I was disappointed in that decision and decided that my money could be better spent elsewhere in a place that valued customers especially those with medical need like a diabetic.

Again, the employees were great and pleasant, but the owner was a bitter pill! The thing that sucks most is that they have a great selection of board games and other items. But the owners inflexibility on the restroom made it impossible for me to support their business, so I returned all the items that I purchased.

I have since found another local gaming store to support and spend my money at it's called Pandemonium in Livonia MI a place that understands and values the medical needs of their paying customers.

I would have given one ⭐ if it wasn't for the amazing staff there other than the owner. This easily could have been a easily been a 5⭐ review if not for the owner and her Draconian policies.

09/11/04: Reply to owners/owners friend response:

I approached her, and asked, she stated very clearly, that If I were not a part of a scheduled event, such as the one that was going on while we were in the store, I could not use the rest room. I than askes does that policy extend to paying customers? and I mentioned that I had indeed made a purchase, and to be clear, I understand if the restroom was only for paying customers, but at no time did I flex and say I spent money and you have to let me use the restroom.

I told her, I was disappointed that she wouldn't allow a disabled person, I.E., myself a diabetic use the restroom to clean my skin, draw insulin, and inject that insulin in a clean space; the restroom.

So please speak truth, no one started out flexing about what they spent. Lastly, I find it interesting its 2 months later and now someone is responding to my post and its not Ms. Pam the owner, yet someone who wasn't present during the incident and claiming to speak for Ms. Pam. Somethings suspect about this reply. So, I will address Ms. Pam. You know what our conversation was about. Please do not have people reply on your behalf, as this response really sounds like its coming from you, which suggest you may be embarrassed. Take care, and please do better by your customer, you have a good store, but you make people want...

Pam, your response to my review is not only wildly unprofessional — it’s embarrassing. You clearly didn’t read what I actually wrote, or you chose to ignore it in favor of lashing out like a business owner who can’t take even a shred of criticism.

I never claimed to be a professional card grader. In fact, I explicitly said that you prey on people who aren’t professionals — and that’s exactly what you did. I may not have a grading certification, but I’m not an idiot. I know when I’m getting scammed.

You say your process is “transparent,” but I wasn’t told what grades my cards received, I wasn’t shown which card was priced at what value, and the only way I got any answers was because I had to ask. That’s not transparency — that’s manipulation by omission.

And then there's your attitude. You called me “hostile,” said I “know absolutely nothing,” and told me to “go harass someone else.” What kind of business owner talks to a customer like that — in public? If you actually knew anything about business, you’d know that publicly bashing a customer over a bad experience is one of the worst things you could do for your reputation.

Any competent business owner would take a bad review as an opportunity to do better — or at the very least, try to make things right. You, on the other hand, chose to double down with insults, deflection, and arrogance. That tells me everything I need to know about how you treat people once you have their money.

You also seem to think leaving a review is “harassment.” Let me remind you: sharing my experience — especially a negative one — is 100% within my rights. That’s how reviews work. If you ban customers for being honest, then you’re not running a business — you’re running a fragile ego trip.

And your claim that your Pokémon guys are “the best in the business”? Not even close. Every reputable collector and seller I’ve shown your offer to laughed and told me I got ripped off — badly. You took advantage of someone who was very open about going through a tough time and selling something personal out of necessity. You saw that vulnerability and used it as an opportunity to profit. That’s not just shady — it’s disgusting.

You say I’m not welcome back? Good. I wouldn’t be caught dead in your store again. But let’s be clear: your angry, defensive response didn’t just prove my review was accurate — it made it crystal clear to anyone reading what kind of business you actually run.

Keep digging your own hole. You just saved a lot of other people from making the same mistake I did. Below are my Pokemon cards that were graded "Heavily Used" by their "PRO" Card graders 😂 You don't need to be a "Pro" card grader to tell that these cards are not...

I went there on black Friday to pick up a game that I've been wanting for a while. The staff is usually nice and friendly, today this was not the case. I went to go get gloom haven which you can currently pick up anywhere from Amazon or Barnes & Noble $139. I thought surely this must be a mistake because even on RI w's website it States 140. When I asked the guy about it he looked at me like I was a complete idiot and said the prices 199 and it's not gonna change. I asked them if they raised the price because of black Friday and once again I received a blank stare. I'm sorry but I don't not go into a store to be belittled and talked down to by somebody that I'm trying to give my money to. Learn how to treat people it's not hard to be pleasant or nice. And price gouging to the fact of $80 is just ridiculous. Even after all this was set and done I was going to purchase a game because I received a gift card. So I finally found a game after I cooled off from that wonderful experience. Went up to the counter gave the guy my game and my gift card he rings it up and then proceeds to tell me that he can't give me the black Friday discount because I'm going to use a gift card. What is the point of getting a gift card to at a store if you can't use it on something that's on sale ! I was so fed up at this point I said forget about the discount just take this gift card off my hands because I don't wanna shop here again. So he brings it up and says I have $2 left over that I had to pay so I pull out my credit card and what is he say there's a $10 minimum… needless to say this experience was a complete waste of time and I urge everyone out there to find a different place to Buy a game. I'm not one that ever writes reviews but I felt that this time I had to because it's just not fair for people that are spending that much money to be treated like this period. It's black Friday 2018 I doubt this will stay up long because a problem remove it because they don't Want...