Oldies Marketplace — Attraction in Newburyport

This place wouldn't be making it into any Green Book any time soon. If Oldies could become the Lesotho of Newburyport and call itself South New Hampshire, it would.

I've been coming here for years, excited to find new things all the time and hadn't had the chance to come in AWHILE. After my latest visit, I won't be back. If I wanted to be dehumanized, I'd move to Braintree or the South. Yikes.

The lady at the front door booth in the blue shirt was perfectly lovely and friendly and seemingly over the bullshyt that is her co-workers. Why it takes 3 people to run one cash register is beyond me. Job security? Are your lips permanently like that or like Mrs. Twit from Ronald Dahl's book, did they BECOME that way over time?

Anyway, the closer you get to New Hampshire, the arm pit of New England, the more you come across folks that absolutely would yell at a child Ruby Bridges just going to school. Poor me for forgetting this. It only takes ONE time for a business to disrespect my civil rights to THIS extreme for me to not return. The joy of money, it spends elsewhere. So this awwww shucks crowd won't miss me, remember me or get MY money, but this is a warning for those after me: watch your back!👀

Newburyport is a hot pot, not a melting pot of culture: there together, but separate. Oooh, like segregation!

While looking at pieces, I could hear the cashiers whispering about me, but decided not to make a scene and stayed there longer just to see what they would say. I already drove up there, why not make it a show? Besides, I thought spontaneously running down aisles closer to the door to see if they'd give chase, with kids already running and dogs in the way, would get ME hurt, so I didn't.

What was I doing? Existing. So it was unnecessary to say "I got my eye on her" to each other as I browsed items. I was the only one in front of them! I had to head out to my car real quick and left my items with the person I came with and as I was walking back in, lo and behold, the cashier was pointing at me FROM THE DOOR w/ blue shirt lady that was explaining to her, that I didn't leave with the items. Did she run to the door after I walked out?????!?

I absolutely put my items back after that. Went to other stores and spent my money there in the area. You can't be a bigot AND get my money! Thank gawd they aren't the only store in the state and we have OPTIONS!

These cashiers don't even know me. I'm a lovely person! The best! I have lots of multicultural friends, but making me feel uncomfortable to make YOU comfortable is just rude. And yes, I did interact with the 3 cashiers to ask a question and yes, they were rude. According to other reviews, not shocking.

And guess what, if you can't remember me, just HOW many people ARE you rude to that you can't remember?

The final nail was me coming across their "artifacts." We live in New England. Why is it there's never any decorative "Irish Need Not Apply" signs?!! There HAS to be some AROUND! And the fact that there's a long winded SIGN about someone stealing ritual items from AROUND THE WORLD, but not Europe ofc, lets me know that this store KNOWS they're wrong and SOMEONE has said something.

Be an equal opportunity hater or don't be one at all. There is a Woe Is Us book on Europeans on their shelves in Oldies, but it's not the saaaaaaame as saying Europeans Allowed The Irish Famine To Flourish And Kill Off Its Own Poor Citizens.

So yeah, I have taken Oldies OUT of my saved places, where it has been for years, because after being an unwilling participant in the Civil Rights Disrespected Tour '24, I've had my fill. I was SO annoyed I wanted to rage cry and push the embarrassment back on said cashiers by telling them it's 2024, not 1924, but why waste my breath? The damage is done.

And what annoys me the ABSOLUTE most is, I was really excited to get the items I picked up and putting them BACK after finding the best ones for my collection, because of the accepted behavior of the staff, really grinds my gears.

Unlike them, I was raised better....

I would give them a negative rating if I could or zero stars. If you are handicapped or observe special dress requirements for religious reasons, you are federally protected against discrimination. Laws that are in place to protect the rights of people with disabilities, and the foundation which our great country was built on (religious freedom), but not at The oldies marketplace in Newburyport! Even after explaining the law to the 'greeter' he said he didn't care. When asked to speak to management or someone above him to explain, he lied and said that he was in charge and management nor anyone above him was there. I called the establishment, reaching the owner, who was on the premises. I explained to the woman who answered the phone and identified herself as Joyce Bowers Flagg, that it was against the law to discriminate against individuals because of handicap or religious beliefs, and requested to be granted entry, to which she replied "I'll close my doors before I let you in" She suggested I go to the police station and come back with the police and see if they want to escort me around the store. Really? I might add I was wearing a shirt that said "Talk to me about Jesus" and my husband was wearing a shirt that said "God is Love" I was only there to escort my elderly handicapped mother in law around as she is a but unsteady. I'm considering filling...

RUDE AND A RIP OFF!! I am planning a nautical type wedding and thought I could find hidden gems for decor at this place. I found these perfect pair of lanterns. One was priced at $22 and the other at $18. They have a no negotiation rule which is understandable but it didn't make sense to me to see that they were priced differently for the SAME EXACT lanterns. Same size, same color, and everything! I brought them to the women at the counter and told them about the price difference, and they gave the excuse they were priced at different times so they would give them to me at $20 each. I think anyone would have thought that was not a good business move and you should give the customer the items for the lower price. I continued to let them know it wasn't quite fair to raise the price on one and slightly lower the price on the other. They didn't even give me the time of day and TOOK the lanterns away from me. They didn't even give me a chance to think about it and choose to buy the lanterns or not. They didn't give me the option whatsoever! The women were SO RUDE and this place is a complete rip off. I have never been treated like that at any...