TOHOSHOJI(NY)INC. — Local services in New York

Every time I come in here, I'm incredibly uncomfortable. I've browsed the store a few times because I started jewelry business and found that there was a place that sold small quantities locally to me in Manhattan. I was really excited so I went just to browse to see what was going on. I've been there four times, I've made purchases twice. Every single time that I am there, I'm stalked. The employees have the egregious habit of gawking, following, and downright hovering your neck as if you're going to steal something from the moment you walk in.

And I've noticed that this happens when you look a certain way. The first time, because I don't want to feed into the stigma that the Asian Community does not like black and brown people, I brushed it off. The first time It happened I said "oh you know they're just looking because these are very small items this easy to put them in your bag", etc. The second time, I went in, mind you wearing $200 sneakers and $400 bag, I was LOCKED INSIDE OF THE STORE.

They literally locked the door when I got in and lingered a little too long. Like I said I was trying to look at the prices of everything as they're not a wholesaler and def don't claim to be, but they do sell things cheap so I was just trying to make sense of everything to see if I can make them work as a go-to in the city. Unfortunately they locked me inside until I was done.

The third time I went and actually bought some of their charms. I already knew the process of what it was and I went to get it it wasn't a problem, they were nice they were polite.

This fourth time I went was so uncomfortable. My past browsing was in effective as I realized bc they make me so uncomfortable, I never REALLY grasped how pricey they would be as a go-to for emergency supplies. I want to reiterate my complaint isn't really rhe price thing, they don't claim to sell at wholesale. But I was there to gauge the prices so I could know that but each time I felt icky.

This fourth time, the more and more I did the math the less and less I wanted to buy because I realized I can just buy emergency charms on Amazon, I didn't because I wanted to support small. At that point I wanted to leave the overpriced charms, but I was stared at and followed for so long I felt pressured to buy. I knew I was overpaying, I knew I wasn't going to get a good enough quantity for what I was paying but they had just stared and gawked for so long and I felt like iw as a criminal just for walking in and would be one if I walk out with no purchase.

I never really understood that whole 'why are you going to Patron somewhere that's profiling you until this moment'. Because you feel pressure to. I also unfortunately do still need something from that store so I also didn't want to be told "look you never make any purchases so you can't come back" so I just bit the bullet and paid my $30 but it's just such an uncomfortable, unfortunate experience.

Yes the staff is lovely but you can be nice and polite and still be racist. When you want to stare at people and act like they have nothing, no good intention when they're just trying to have a small business and work hard like you do yeah that makes you a racist. It was just gross I really don't like going there I feel low, I don't feel human when I'm there, and they do that without words because of the way that they just stare at you like like you don't belong and they don't do that with white customers. Honestly, one of my most racist experiences in new york, in the 16 years that...

I was buying fastener clasps here a pack of 12 for $8 - but now they are selling only 4 for $3.20 !! That is insane about of increase in price and I don't appreciate the way they are trying to fool customers. It's time for me to find another supplier. Also I just walked through the door, a woman saw me and greeted me, when I pulled out a bag of gold plated jump rings of 3 pieces from my pocket that was in their original bag - torn and used - and I said I need the same kind of jump rings again. She asked me how I got those and looked behind her!!! I said what do you think??? I just walked in!! You saw me coming through the door! I bought these here a few months ago. She said this is confusing, let me write on it "paid" I told her it was unnecessary because she saw me but she didn't care. These people are paranoid and mistreat customers. Following me around the whole time as well! Regardless the color of your skin, these people treat everyone like a thieve. No matter if you're white Asian or black. They treat you equal....

This is my go-to supply store in NYC for jewelry supplies. Partially because it's one of the few that survived COVID but mostly because it's a fantastic store.

There is a significant portion of one of their walls that is full of chain in brass and silver tone. There are also some colorful ones for those of you into that. I come here for chain a lot, so I really appreciate this and you buy it by the foot rather than pre-cut amounts. They also have a bunch of findings. In the back is semi-precious stones, Swarovski findings, and cording/beading supplies.

Also, the staff is amazing and super helpful.

They have amazing COVID protocols: when you arrive they sanitize your hands and give you gloves as well as a time slot that you able to stay in until. There is a limit on how many people they allow in the store so you may have to wait outside...