Whale's Tale Toys — Local services in Courtenay

To state, they have a nice selection of toys, and I went in a day before Christmas Eve to grab a last minute item and they did have what I needed. It was earlier in the day and was calm and not busy. (I came here honestly only because planet kids was sold out, and that is my go to place) And I don’t want to see business like this leave the valley because I did grow up shopping here and now have a child myself and it’s nice thought to bring your kids to a toy store you grew up Going to...

However, I have consistently had the worst customer service from the staff. They don’t say hello, they don’t ask if I need help, they don’t even say thank you after your purchase. they look so unhappy, like they don’t want to be there. It’s a toy store, it’s suppose to be fun, inviting and magical. The staff is everything but. And this is nothing new, I have had this experience multiple times, and honestly, even as a kid.. I do not ever ever ever have this experience at planet kids, They make a point to go out of their way and even remember to ask about my child when they are not with me.. this is what you would expect from a toy store.

I am happy I was able to get what I needed today to make my child’s day special, but it will probably live rent free in my mind whenever I see the toy, the unpleasantness I experienced from the staff.. talk about bah humbugs. I don’t make reviews ever, this was just that awful of an experience that I had to share and I know this review won’t make a...

I hate to be the party pooper of the group, but I had an unsatisfactory experience at Whales Tales.

My son spent his own money to buy a LEGO set from Whales Tales. The set kept falling apart when partly constructed, but Whales Tales flatly refused to take it back for a refund. The employee said that LEGO “don’t give us nothing”, if the box has been opened. She invited me to sort it out with LEGO myself; the store would make no effort to resolve the problem with LEGO.

But how, I asked the employee, can the customer know there is a problem unless he or she first opens the box? The employee shrugged her shoulders.

I thought this was an unfriendly customer-service policy, and so I called LEGO, who gave me a refund readily. I also called Walmart to compare customer service attitudes, and Walmart confirmed that they would have given me a full refund.

So be aware that purchases of LEGO from Whales Tales are final, no refunds. You’re on your own.

To be fair, I called back to speak to the owner before posting this review, but she was out of the store for a few days. I will discuss this issue with her later, see if her attitude is different from the employee's, and report back if she displays a more ...

I was very happy that this place will blow up the balloons and foil balloons with Helium. Many places won't do it if you bought elsewhere. That is not the case here. Bring your own balloons and they will gladly fill them with helium. I went to other locations and I had to buy their balloons to get helium. Thanks Whale's Tale Toys...