World Market — Local services in Enterprise

Went here specifically to buy an item for a friend that I had previously purchased for myself, but it want there.

I found the front end, where all the fun chochkees usually were to be disappointing. It was filled with fake flowers & candles, looking more like a bed bath & beyond store than a World Market store. I've been a patron for years. Back in 2010 in California, I bought one of their Chaise couches for my studio for about $400 & last time I checked they still had it offered for only about $50 more, but, maybe it's just this store, but the "feel" of the market wasn't there... Where's the exotic items, the fun, international findings you could only find at World Market?? I didn't find one Feng shui bagua or wind-chime nor were there the gorgeous purses from Guatemala or the have crafted coin purses from Africa.. Just.. Fake silk flowers & candles where

Hopefully this is a one off, cuz...

I have shopped here before- however, I want to speak to my most recent experience during this past holiday season. I participated in a Secret Santa Gift Exchange with co-workers and I given a scarf- that I didn't specifically care for. The tag was still attached, so I tried to take it back and was informed that I would need the receipt or the purchaser's phone number ( I didn't have either). Therefore, I wasn't able to exchange the scarf. I waited in line for 20 minutes- this isn't my idea of customer service and I haven't been back since. I understand fraud- but come on. I'm not going to go back to a co-worker I barely know- and bash the gift. So much being discrete. They lost a customer over...

The items there are excellent. HOWEVER, if you have a question that needs to be answered, that's where this place falls off. All the people who work there are in the front at the cashier stand, and Im like, "I just need to know where the tea tins are..." Its NOT obvious because there aren't really good signs. When I did ask someone, they were very unhelpful. This lady acted like they didn't sell tea in there. As I know they do, i was amazed that they were getting paid to act like that. To the older woman, with short close cut gray hair, you ruined my experience and prompted this review. I hope you're worth the bad reviews the company is getting because you don't know how to be...