Five Below — Local services in New York

I was wrongfully detained and accused of stealing at this location. I am horribly disgusted at the way I was treated in that manner. There is a specific way to approach someone in this matter, and it is more the duty of security/loss prevention personnel, not the regular staff/employees. I was looking for stencils when I came in, and I proceeded to ask a female associate if they had any. She stated no. So I went about just looking for coloring books for my daughter. As I was continuing to look, that same associate came next to me with another male associate. The male associate dropped a basket in front of me and said, "Empty out your bag in this bucket." In that moment, I was unclear what was happening. So, with confusion, I said "excuse me" and repeated in the same disrespectful, rude manner, "empty out your bag in this bucket." When I realized what was happening. I say, "I know you are not doing this right now. I know this is not what's happening." The female associate says We have you on camera? I repeat to her, You have me on camera, on camera doing what, on camera taking what. I was met with the same male associate saying, "Empty out your bag". In that moment, I was so mad, so pissed, so disgusted. In the emotional state I was in I threw my bag on the floor, emptying all the contents, and said "SHOW ME WHAT I STOLE FROM FIVE BELOW." Met with silence, nothing, the female sales associate goes to security as she does that i am picking up my things an I looked at the male associate and I say do you have anything to say and he says oh i was going with what was told by security. I told him it doesn't matter; the moment you realize your mistake, you apologize. The female associate comes back and begins to apologize, as she should, and I tell them that what you guys did was absolutely horrible. I was not at the register, I was not at the door, I was in the middle of shopping. You did not tell me what you believe I stole. The way you approached me was disrespectful, and it was not loss prevention/security who approached me. Then, when you realize your mistake, instead of apologizing as a decent human being, you shift the blame. There was a better way to handle this, the right way but that was not done. There was bias, there was not a confirmation, nor actual real evidence of me stealing. I never felt so disrespected in my entire. I will never step foot inside another five...

POC (BLACK) UNWELCOME!!

I was initially excited about finally getting a 5 below in Union Square and decided to check it out during the grand opening. WORST idea ever!! I was constantly followed around the store.

The 1st instance I just chalked it up to the fact that I was in an area that was probably unmanned by staff as I browsed. It made me uncomfortable being followed so closely from one section to the next by a tall Spanish man with a ponytail. So closely that it would be difficult I would touch him as I turned or step into him in I attempted to step back. Hell I almost hit him with a box that fell as i attempted to reach it on a high shelf... but I tried not to jump to conclusions.

2nd instance I'm lookin at phone cases and an Indian man that i presume is loss prevention or security just stood less than a foot away from me and just stared at me. As the store was packed (again trying not to jump to conclusions), i asked if he needed to get by. He ignores me, but kept staring... so I turned and asked if he wanted something or if I can help him. He gets defensive and waves me off. At that point I am certain that I am being racially profiled and damn near stalked throughout the store.

I just put my items down and leave. I visit the Burlington and DSW in the building and try not to think too much of it.

The 3rd instance happened as I was leaving the building. A black woman with braids stares into my bag like I stole something and when I confronted her, she just laughed it off.

It saddens me that I was being followed and profiled by people of color. People that would be outraged if it were treated in the same manner. I will never step foot in that store again. I refuse to spend my hard earned money in a store that treats me like a criminal.

This place is lucky I was forced to give them 1 star after the way I was treated. Absolutely...

Overall, the range of products offered is impressively sizable & varied. Compared to a department store, there’s hardly an area that they don’t touch (except for, of course, groceries & furniture). I was pretty glad to see that, unlike places such as Walgreens, CVS, even Target, this store was offering everyday items such as stationery, water-bottles, LED lights, even travel-sized cosmetics, at far more reasonable prices. It seems like 5 Below is the only one not trying to swindle consumers by exploiting inflation.

Before a recent cross-country trip, I shopped here to see if there were any little knickknacks I’d find handy as well as more reasonable prices for items like toothpaste, insect repellent, & snacks to munch on. 5 Below delivered on both fronts. I found so much and more, including items for my apartment and for outdoor fun this summer.

My only caveat is that while I bought several of their electronic products (chargers, puck lights, rotating stand to attach my phone alongside my computer screen) at incredibly affordable prices, I ended up not getting much use out of most of them. They either fell apart within days or couldn’t deliver what their packaging promised. Again, I know it’s easy to say you get what you pay for, but I was really hoping these electronic items would last longer.

That being said, all the other items I’ve purchased from several trips there, including other electronics, have held up well and in some cases even surpassed expectations. So, all in all, give 5 Below a shot because depending on what you’re looking for, you can end up with a...