Mai Do - Fine Stationery & Goods - Santana Row — Attraction in San Jose

Two weeks ago, my partner and I visited this store, hoping to buy some blind boxes. I found a blind bag on display that I wanted, and a male employee with longer hair offered to go see if they had any more boxes of that series in top stock, as there weren't any for sale near the entrance. Unfortunately, there were no more of the blind bags available to sell, but he offered to grab us another blind box from top stock, to which we chose a box from the HeyDolls KIKI Cat Condo series.

Though it was pretty expensive, sitting at $21.95 before tax, I was so happy with the purchase that I came back yesterday to purchase another. When I went to go look for an associate that could help me get another blind box, I saw two women behind the cash register that weren't working as cashier, sitting around. I asked one if she could help me get another blind box, and she rudely said, "Ugh, we're not allowed to sell those ones yet." So I responded, "But I got one here two weeks ago..." then she rolled her eyes and ignored me.

I'm not sure if she was just being lazy, preoccupied with another task on her laptop, or having a bad day. But seeing as we were able to get the blind box I requested a couple weeks ago, she was obviously lying to avoid getting on the ladder to grab me another blind box. I love this store and visit it rather often, so it hurts to be treated so poorly with no reason when I'm a somewhat...

I go to stationary shops all around the area and it's always a pleasure whenever I can go to Mai Do. The shop is neatly organized with each aisle catering to different needs. The quick and dirty right when you walk in, that aisle will be all of your notebooks/paper-based materials to craft on. The next aisle over is more "tool" based, you'll find scissors, pouches x-acto knives, templates, etc. Lastly, the third aisle holds all the writing implements you could want with lead-based writing instruments, fountain pens, fine-liners, ball-point, gel pens all neatly categorized. The advantage here is you can get singles of pens that you typically can't find anywhere else but online (like the website jetpens or something) AND they also have convenient sets to buy if you end up liking something!

Overall, it's one of my favorite places to go to whenever I need a re-stock on a Rhodia notebook or need some Ohto replacements or just wanna have a look around and find/buy a new pen! If you're ever in the Santa Cruz area, Palace Arts are very similar but each has its pluses...

It wasn’t a good experience. Terrible customer service. The cashier dropped my stuff without saying sorry and make me pick it up. No basket for keeping the stuff you want to buy in one place. I have to carry them all by hand. The stuff here are quite pricey for what it is. The receipt make it so unclear to understand. I’m pretty sure I only bought 15 items but somehow payed for 21. I checked 6 times before writing this review. So I think somehow I got scammed. I understand that it’s located in California, which is an expensive state in my opinion. Just really hope you can fix the problems I mentioned. I don’t care if you disagree. Just know if I were you, I’d never go to this...