Renaissance Antiques — Local services in Florence

I’ll begin with this, on our second visit we had a horrible and embarrassing experience with the owner. It was the most unprofessional experience I have ever had, and I felt as if we were judged instantly. Things escalated quickly, and the fact we were treated that way in front of other customers and my family was horrendous.

They have a huge selection on antiques, and they can be over-priced in some aspects. Which is alright, they did seem to initially be negotiable depending on the stall. On our first visit, we had met an employee and we were originally quoted a price from that employee and the actual vendor (who was called) for a set of figurines. We gave it a few days to think on it, returned back for our second trip and met the owner and her son. The employee we met on our first day was not there. On this second trip, I had even brought additional family members because I had originally liked their selection of antiques.

When I had told them we had been quoted a price by an employee, I already could tell this was going to be rough by the reaction of the owner. I felt immediately judged by her. Granted I was in my civilian clothes, but I work at a local bank and my husband is a reputable engineer. I’m not too sure what she thought of us, but everyone knows the feeling where you are negatively judged instantly. The owner called the employee, which is fine to confirm, so I waited. It was the situation from there where I felt sickened. She started off with saying that she has to, “Protect her vendors” and I was mentally like what do you mean? Protect them from us? So the owner went up from the price we were quoted. But it was how she said things that made both me and my husband bothered. It was the tone.

My husband got defensive, as anyone would, with the tone that was used. It was embarrassing. My sister was even shocked how loud both the owner and the son got with my husband, and I felt like the son kept making comments too.

I felt sheepish and tried to calm down my husband, but he did feel like it wasn’t right to be quoted a price and then have it go up. But after it got quickly heated, I had to tell him to calm down and that it’ll be alright but the truth was that I felt horrible—my family and surrounding customers were staring/listening. It ruined the whole day for me to be treated that way. I just wanted a fun day with my family out because we all love shopping for antiques.

I felt like the situation got unnecessarily heated so quickly. I felt judged instantly. Our first experience was so much better with that employee, she actually showed us around and had a more caring attitude. I just overall had a more pleasant experience with her. Our second trip was just awful. Even if the vendor did change her mind, it was the overall negative tone and actions that made this experience horrible.

The thing is, I did buy the figurines, so it wasn’t necessarily the price that bothered me but how the overall situation was handled. It’s a shame to be treated this way from a local store. Again, if it was handled differently than my review would have been different. Where I work, customer service is key. How you treat customers is important. But to be that heated over a quoted price, I would not recommend this place. It was even too awkward to walk around and look after that. It’s just a shame because I never get to go anywhere with my mother, and when I finally take her out we get embarrassed by the front desk?

I always try to give places more than one chance, but this is my stance as of right...

This place was fine, and a welcome refuge from the defunct attempt by what looks like a really overly priced advertisement for a failed antiques strip mall named "Victoria Station." Given that all remains of the pathetic endeavor is a trashy conglomerate of title loan businesses for drug addicts down on their luck, I understand the frustration of the Antiques market here. Probably best to stay away from all antiques, though. Really, really, super-really nice Brandy lounge...

I was picking up a picture for a friend, from the antique store next door. It was recently hit by a tornado and they are selling items online. So I wandered into Renaissance Antiques next door. I got a very nice metal hanger with a heart in the center. I enjoyed looking around in the store. If you are in need of cast iron, they have a large collection and I will post a picture. It was amazing to see so much cast iron in one place. If you ever in Florence,...