MUJI Cooper Square — Local services in New York

Love what Muji is all about. They've got super simple, super cheap goods, made sturdily and without branding or flash. It's a quintessentially Japanese concept so foreign to most American tastes. Idea is fantastic, but some of the inventory choices puzzle me.

For instance, they have a huge focus on stationery when few people write anymore. Yet they skimp on the office supplies when those are high-volume items. I picked up a notepad, a zipper pouch, and some erasers. All great products, durable and simple, for a few bucks total.

I wish their selection at this NoHo location was larger. They've got a quiet and easily-ignored lower section focused on bedding -- space they could've used on everyday goods.

Japanese companies often bungle their western operations because they don't understand the market. That seems to be the case here. They don't get what people in New York need. (It's certainly not sheets and pillows).

The one guy who I interacted with in a meaningful way, the guy by the door, was great. He explained the different rain jackets they had on offer.

Also, he was...

Review on Muji Cooper Square: Zero Star. My wife bought three pairs of foot cover socks last Sunday and they are marked size 5-7. When she tried them they were way too small. She wears size 5.5 shoes, so obviously the tags on the socks were not correct. So we went back today, a week later, and asked for exchange. The cashier referred me to their manager and the manager refused flat out to exchange the pair my wife tried. The lady manager said she could only exchange the two pairs my wife didn't try. Her reason for not exchanging the one my wife tried with the larger size (7.5-10) was because the tag was removed. My wife asked how she would know if she didn't try it and how she could try it without removing the tag? The manager kept saying it was a store policy. This would never happen with other stores such as H&M, GAP, Nordstrom, e.g. If this is in fact Muji's store policy, it is extremely short-sighted thinking, and needs to be changed. We love the store and its product and have been their regular customer for years and now We are thinking of...

I've always loved MUJI's products as they're inexpensive and quite reliable. I think of them as Japan's IKEA, and over the years I've always been satisfied with the various items I've tried. Their clothing is understated and functional (although I tend to wait for sales). Their cleaning utensils are inspired and somewhat cool. Their electronic home devices are unobtrusive and sturdy. They have inspired ideas like a refillable pen, or an umbrella that you can tag so you know yours in a restaurant. Such cool ideas are a big draw. But it's their stationery and pens that keep me coming back. They're understated and for an old fashioned person who likes to write, they're sheer heaven (their aluminum fountain pen is a revelation). They also have smaller furniture, bedding, housewares, tabletop, kitchenware, and skin care. All so subtle and understated and at great...