Pangaea Outpost — Attraction in San Diego

Be prepared to be treated like a criminal (at least by Madilyn). I had been in the store, which is amazing, for about half an hour and was only through one little nook. I could have spent hours looking for more stuff to buy. The three items I had selected were in my left hand and my carrying bag was on my right shoulder. After speaking to three different sales associates including the assistant manager, I was eventually approached by Madilyn who said that I needed to come to the counter and check my bag. I explained that it was my personal bag, similar to a woman's purse and that many women in the store had purses larger than my bag. If she had done it in a more pleasant manner, I most likely would not have been so miffed. She insisted it was store policy to check all bags and that I would have to do so in order to keep shopping. I offered her the opportunity to look through my bag and she declined. Finally, I explained to her that I would not be checking my bag and asked to speak with the assistant manager.

The assistant manager seemed embarrassed by the entire incident and explained that she would speak with Madilyn. She stated that the policy applied to other shopping bags that were not from Pangaea Outpost.

Upon returning to the register, I was lucky enough to be checked out by Madilyn. I was a bit snarky, but she was downright irascible. She asked me for a method of payment and I handed her my Chase debit card. Apparently, she thought my debit card was stolen as well and that I had waterboarded the PIN number out of someone in the back alley. For the record, it is not common practice for most merchants to require identification for PIN related purchases. Pangaea Outpost's policy may differ, but I believe Madilyn was really trying to put the nail in the coffin.

Words were exchanged, but upon leaving I tried to be the better person and gleefully stated, "Thanks, I'll be back." Madilyn quickly quipped, "I hope not." Had it not been for that last stinger on her part, I probably would not have even taken the time to turn to Yelp. Pangaea Outpost is definitely worth a visit, but beware of Madilyn and her sour,...

Unfortunately, my initial experience in this store (Christmas Eve day) was horrible. The greeter at the door was a sullen, attitudinal young woman who, when I asked what her name was, she asked me why do I need to know her name...and when I said I was just trying to make conversation, she said, "you don't need to my name" and went back to looking at her phone! And this is the greeter??? I reported her to a lady at the check-out counter named Alice (who said she was one of the supervisors on duty), who said she appreciated me reporting my experience, but also said that the holidays are not good for everyone, and the young greeter may be having a bad day. I understand this, but then pull her away from the door! I don't know what happened after I left, but the young greeter wouldn't even look at me as I left and told her to have a blessed day.

I read another reviewer's poor review of this place and she stated that her ethnicity may have had something to do with it. I don't know, but I do know that I'm a 6'1" black man who didn't see any other people of color in the store (coincidence?), but I do know I was prepared to spend a substantial sum in this store because I'm a last minute shopper AND my wife and I were staying in the Crystal Pier cottages (which we come down from LA every year for Christmas) and wanted to decorate extensively for our new grandchild. I don't need to state the sum I as prepared to spend that day, but I'm confident that they did not receive the business of a top 5% spender/customer they would have had for the entire holiday season just because they chose a surly, sulky, morose, and grumpy antisocial greeter to receive people into their store.

Please remember first impressions are incredibly important, and no one owes you their business. I pray this was a one-off, and this is my personal experience. I will not patronize their establishment with my hard-earned income to enhance their coffers that further finance their amazing products but poor customer...

I come to San Diego several times a year and one of my favorite stores is Pangaea Outpost. I come to this store every single time. But this experience is making me change my mind. I was walking around the store with my daughter in her stroller. It’s one of those strollers with no storage absolutely nothing to store anything. Well my daughter grabbed two toys holding them. I knew she was holding them and was just looking at them. I was talking to her and asking my daughter which one she wants. This lady came out of no where saying “is she going to get this?” Like I’m trying to steal something. I told her yes and continued to walk and I kept feeling like someone was watching me. I am a sr operations manager for a large car rental company with over 15 years experience as a manager and this lady was not even disguising or being discreet. The lady was an older white lady with dirty blonde hair. After she harassed me it changed my entire view of the store that I didn’t want to patronize it. But my mom ended up buying a shirt and a hat for my daughter my total for two items was 120.00. We paid the items and once again that older lady popped up again. I’m like seriously and while we walked out she was eyeing my stroller and I said back “we didn’t take anything.” I almost turned around to return both items and I might still do that later this week because I have never been treated like that ever. She changed my entire view of this store and I am never going back even though I love the store all because of that rude lady. Some advise if you want to see if someone is taking something be more discreet you could of said “oh your baby is cute to look at her stroller.” I do hope someone can sit her down and explain to her how to treat customers better and document it. I know the value of getting good reviews and if this lady continues to treat people like that then I can see several more bad reviews popping up. Older white lady with dirty blonde hair stay...