Paula's Boutique on Broad — Attraction in Rome

WARNING: THIS IS A LONG ONE!

It's sad that I experience disrespect from Paula inside and outside her store. It just shows what kind of person she is which is everything but for the Lord as she "claims" to be. I went into the store with my mother to which we were followed and trailed the entire time we were there. There wasn't much customer attention during the time we were their and we may have been 1 of 3 that were in the building in the moment. ALL of her employees including Paula herself were watching our EVERY move with other people being present and shopping. She kept interrupting me and my mom spending time together cutting us off approximately 3-5 times asking "Ya'll finding everything alright??" We responded every time letting her know we were fine and just looking.

She also stopped by one of my jobs (won't list the name for privacy) to have dinner with her husband and I greeted them as soon as they walked in asking how they were, to which they went straight into their order....okay that's fine, maybe she didn't hear me. I took her order then she said she had a togo order and she asked if she needed to place it with me or...and I responded letting her know that the station next to me "would take care of her with that" I start to read back her order to make sure I had everything correct and as I'm looking down she looks at her husband then up at me and with an attitude, responded, "I'M PLACING IT HERE I DON"T WANT TO DO ALL THAT WALKING BACK AND FORTH" and I responded to her letting her know I personally had no idea on how to put in such an order on top of a dine in order because I was still in training at the time. I asked her "So do you want your food togo?" she responded "I'M JUST GONNA EAT IT HERE I'M JUST GONNA EAT IT HERE." alright Paula. I finished ringing her up and my receipt paper stopped printing which only escalates the situation to which my manager comes over and asks if I'm okay and I let her know I wasn't and walked to the back to diffuse. My manager later followed up with me after she finished taking care of them to make sure I was truly okay and not-too-shaken-up. I let Paula know it was my pleasure serving her and she did NOT take well to that. Paula, your personality and your attitude is NASTY and distasteful for you to be in the customer service business. You have some work to do on your head and your heart. Your outfits are brighter and more vibrant than your character. The one star is for the nice young lady you had working for you that gave me some sweet advise on a purchase I shouldn't have made after that experience. I'm all about small business owners but Paula's not one of those I can...

Full disclosure, I visited this store without reading these reviews. This review is from my own experience. I totally agree with these reviews regarding the uncomfortable feeling of being watched while looking around in the store. While looking at a bracelet, I heard a male's voice saying that "those cannot be picked up" referring to the metal charms that snaps onto a leather bracelet. Startled, I turned around and found a man, who wore civilian clothes with a gun on his hip. I said thanks and asked if he was security. He informed me that he was, and I attempted to make small talk regarding how sad it is that stores has to have security now-a-days. This is when I noticed the "eyes on me" while looking around the store and started feeling uncomfortable. I found this cute charm for my review mirror to represent my school, and I probably should of just left without buying anything. However, I like to support small businesses, so I purchased the charm. At the checkout, I attempted to make small talk with the young cashier by saying "wow, you guys must have a lot of problems if you need security". I even tried humor to warm up the atmosphere because it was VERY COLD and asked if they needed to check my bag. This is when a lady, later identified as Paula, basically jumped into the conversation stating that "they do not have security and her husband has a license to carry and that is his right" ... I even attempted to interrupt and say that the guy said he was security ... but she continued stating that they do not check bags unless they have a reason and was there a reason for them to check my bag. When I answered no, she walked off. I saw the terror in the young clerk's eyes and felt sorry for her along with the other employees as well as customers who has to deal with Paula on a daily basic. When I left the store, I felt belittled and embarrassed. No customer or employee should EVER feel like this!!!

Although, there was one nice lady that helped me with the charm that I purchased, but with the treatment that I received at checkout totally crushed that positive experience. I do not...

I have always enjoyed shopping here, been coming in for years and years for clothing and gifts. A couple of years back I had a negative experience in this store and did not return until this past December. I thought I’d give them another chance- trying to shop local etc. bought several items, one of which was a pair of briefs for my fiancé as a stocking stuffer for Christmas. They were overpriced but hilarious so I got them anyways. They turned out to be the wrong size, so he went to Paulas the week after Christmas and attempted to exchange them. They didn’t have the correct size for him, and since he had planned on exchanging he hadn’t worried about the receipt which I had in my wallet. Yesterday, I took the item back into the store with the receipt and asked to exchange for something else or store credit (never asked for money back) and after a few awkward minutes was told that this could not be done because I had missed the 30 day mark. I then explained I had just had surgery and been recovering for the past 2 weeks. Paula herself stepped into the conversation and said “sorry I can’t bend the rules for you, or i’d have to do it for everyone”. Then she went on to say that “other boutiques around here give you 5 days” and “even Walmart only gives you 30 days”. Actually no hun, Walmart will exchange at anytime- with or without a receipt. Other boutiques will completely work with you in order to provide good customer service and KEEP THEIR CUSTOMERS. In fact I’ve taken things back late to other boutiques and as long as I had receipt they would exchange or give store credit no matter what. They damn sure wouldn’t stand in the store and ARGUE about with an attitude! Very unprofessional and POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE ALL AROUND. I will never go back and will ensure that no one I associate with does either. Good luck with your...