Namaste Bookshop — Local services in New York

If it weren't for their selection, they would have received one star. I have been in there on more than one occasion and have felt unwelcome each time. The last time I was in there (a few months ago) was the last straw for me. Typically, when I feel a certain vibe, I check in with myself to make sure I'm not blowing things out of proportion. Giving them this benefit of a doubt is why I returned against my better judgement and honestly, from reading the reviews, it looks like i'm not imagining things after all.

At this point I can unequivocally declare that the staff were patently - and consistently - unwelcoming, even obviously suspicious of my presence. As I moved through the store, my suspicions were validated as I watched them literally send a guy with dreadlocks to stand next to me as I perused the tarot section (I guess since I'M Black and HE'S Black, it's not what it looks like, right?). I even went into sections of the store I had no interest in just to see if they would follow - they did. Understandably, stores need to furnish some type of security to prevent loss due to theft, but they gave no one else in the store that treatment during the time I was there except ME and I felt every bit of it.

I remember putting things on the counter to purchase as i moved through the shop only to come back to find they were in process of putting the items back while having me followed - which shows that they assumed I didn't come in there to purchase anything (they always send the Black ones to do the dirty work - this time it was a Black girl who pretended she didn't know the stuff was mine). I remember the anger and intense shame I felt even though I'd done nothing and the frustration I felt at my inability to prove what was happening. And I STILL purchased a few items.

As much as I love that shop for its immense collection of books, cards, and other items, I can't - in good conscience - patronize them any further unless they make this right and stop this ironically unspiritual behavior. I don't deserve that kind of treatment.

I have researched esoteric alternatives and will be trying...

I've been coming to this place for years. however, most likely, I would not enter the store ever again after today’s experience. I purchased sweet grass and while trying to use it, I noticed right away that it doesn’t smell right so I stopped using it immediately. Since it cost $17 I had to call the shop and ask them if it would be OK to return it because it doesn’t smell like sweet grass. They said that I can come with the receipt and they will give me a store credit. I had asked to speak with somebody in the store that had authority. I also explained to them that I don’t live in the city and it might take me a while to get there. They say as long as I hold onto the receipt and the product it should be OK. Today I came over and the clerk at the cashier saw the product and the receipt and told me to pick up something else for that same amount and I did. Once getting back to the cashier with the item I chose, another man showed up and told me you cannot have it. I explained to him that I didn't. I explain to him that I spoke to somebody on the phone and it said it’s OK to exchanged and that the cashier just gave me the green light to pick up something else however, that man who identify himself as the manager say i cannot have anything I was a little bit angry as I should because I got miss information from two people that are both working there. He did not want to listen . He just gave me the receipt and I had to ask for the receipt back. He said something that felt very off “ you taking advantage” which does not make any sense! Well, if you see this, please know that you lost a customer. I've been shopping at your store for many years. If you were a good person and a real businessman, you would just let me exchange it, so you better learn how to treat customers. If you want to stay in your position.Make sure your worker knows the roles and don't be nasty at costumers because you don't communicate with your workers. You are the one that takes advantage of your customers!...

PHONY PSYCHICS!!!!

The 2 stars isn’t so much because the shop itself or the staff members are by any means (as far as I know) mean, unpleasant, or disrespectful… This review is entirely based on the psychic/tarot readings. I decided to splurge on one done by Rebecca Martinez and I’ll just save you your time and money right now: Don’t do it. You can tell she hardly had any idea what she was doing and was giving random generalized manifestation advice she read from a book, completely unrelated or even close to what the cards were saying. It was messages that could very well apply to anyone and when I asked for specificities, she couldn’t elaborate upon a single thing she said at all and claimed things were just “too up in the air” in my life. This was her response to even the most generic of questions that I desired the tiniest bit for information about. Not to mention, for the entirety of that reading she’d reiterate the same simple points and provide examples as a way to take up the remaining time. For instance, she mentioned how my partner might be 6’0 or 5’8, but so long as they fulfill my deepest desires, that’s all that matters… then she proceeded to make that same exact point in 275832985 other words, so I had to interrupt and say “character over appearance/superficiality. got it.” It was the most underwhelming, disappointing experience of my life and I thank my lucky stars I didn’t go for the $70 one. If you get a reading here, I’d fully recommend you go for anyone else. But I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re also just...