Silverroom — Local services in Hyde Park Township

Yesterday, first time in The Silver Room, looking for toe-rings. Purchased 4 tiny finger rings that were adjustable. I thought I could make them work. Non-descript metals, but cute. $12.00, $12.00, $20.00 and $25.00. Trinkets.

Called the store when I got home to ask them to hold another ring like the one I purchased for $25.00. The 2 $12.00 rings didn't work right for use on toes, so I planned to return them with my receipt in exchange for the $25.00 ring.

The woman who helped me yesterday was there today, and I was happy to work with her again. There was some question about where the ring was located. Originally I said I would pick it up before close of business yesterday, but, was not able to make it in time.

The woman with short curly reddish blond hair, snappishly informed me that "We don't normally set things aside for people." She looked up into my face reprimandingly.

The white woman with awful halitosis kept wanting to engage me, to get a run down of what this was all about. I ignored her and kept addressing (for the most part) the woman who completed my previous purchase.

The ring was found. I put the box containing the two $12.00 rings on the counter with the receipt. There was some back of counter discussion between the three of them about the price of the ring being $30.00 not $25.00. Today, they realized that the ring should have been $30.00.

So they processed the transaction and said I would need to pay an additional dollar. I expected this and bent down into my backpack. I discovered I had left my wallet at home. I scrounged around in all of it's pockets, but only came up with a few small coins.

I explained to them that I had left my wallet by accident. They all looked into my face dumbly. IT WAS A DOLLAR!!!

SIDE BAR: {When I parked my bike there was an (apparently) down-on-his-luck derelict man sleeping barefoot on the street. I locked up my bike and walked over. I roused him and asked if he was ok. He said yes. I reached into my eyeglass case, (where I always keep a fiver for small emergencies). I put the five dollars in his hand and told him to get something to eat. He said ok.}

Then I stepped into the Silver Room.

"So...are you willing to eat the dollar and complete the exchange?” I asked. The foul-mouthed woman widened her eyes indignantly and replied, all hands-on-hips-ish "Well, first of all… (neck-swivel, finger-wag) …the ring was $30.00..." (blah, blah, blah). I cut in to say "First of all, that has absolutely nothing to do with me." "Never mind.” I say “I will ride back home and get you a dollar.” I walk out of the store and pedal all the way back to Lake Shore Drive. Elevator up. Grab the wallet. Elevator down. Pedal back.

Lock my bike. I walk in. A black man (security? owner?) walks in on my heels. He sniffs a cursory inspection at me and retreats. I give them a few quaters, dimes and pennies. and walk out with my new ring. I will never go back.

I had planned to go back again after yesterday’s happy purchase; to take my time and really look around to see what they have.

Good customer service would have said: “Hey, dont worry about it, give it to us the next time you come in.”

I would have appreciated the good gesture and would be eager to return; if for nothing else but to repay the dollar.

Missed opportunity to...

I have loved this place for years and there is no other like it in Chicago. My very first visit here was in 2008. I came for sunglasses and ended up also buying another really cute clutch bag that I still carry around in the summertime. Since then, they've moved to Hyde Park and have even better merchandise now (IMO) including sunglasses, custom and local made jewelry, unique t-shirts, scarves, and other artisan gifts. You can even get massages there! They also have a great selection of jazz, hip-hop, classic rock, and rare soul vinyl records which are handpicked by the store's owner every week. Eric, the owner, is wonderful and the staff are friendly. Stop by any day of the week and The Silver Room has an event, class, or culture experience happening almost everyday of the week. Listening parties, book signings, partner dance classes, French class, local artist and designer pop-up shops, a storytelling series called Grown Folks, and exhibits in the store's gallery all happen here! This place is a local favorite and a must for travelers...

This is really sad because I really liked this store. Yesterday I went there straight from work and was excited to buy something from a black owned establishment . I purchased six packs of incense and a pair of sunglasses. When I was on my way to check out a notice a clerk sprinting to the Incense section counting the Incense like I was trying to steal and I walked up to her and said is everything alright and she looked like she seen a ghost. I should have left then but I said whatever and proceeding on purchasing my items. At check out the I was asked if I want a case for my sun glasses and I said no and the clerk gave a smirk. I paid for my items and left and that’s when I realized when I got home that my sunglasses were not in the bag. I call Sliverroom and when I told them happened she laughed and acted like I was bothering her. Wow things have changed over the years but I will not be given my money to this...