Compass Rose — Local services in Olympia

I don’t ever write reviews but my wife and I just had a horrible and unreal experience at Compass Rose. We used to love going to Compass Rose but that changed yesterday. My wife had picked out a puzzle and we kept browsing the store for more gifts when all of a sudden we noticed an employee following us around. She followed us around for about 5 minutes (who knows how long she was following us before we noticed) all over the store. Feeling very uncomfortable, we decided to head to the register to pay. As we were approaching the register, the lady that was following us stopped my wife and asked if she could hold onto the puzzle while we kept browsing (mind you we were already approaching the register, we were only 2 steps away max). Confused and startled, my wife agreed, but the passive aggressive manner in which the employee snatched the item after following us all over the store left her overwhelmed. We decided to leave after that incident. My wife left the store extremely embarrassed and in tears.

She’s never been suspected of stealing and wasn’t sure why we were profiled. I asked one of the workers about the incident only to be told they train their employees to ask customers to take items to the register to free up customers hands. We were there for 15 minutes and not once did we see or hear a worker offer anyone to free up their hands. First off, we had one small puzzle. My wife was holding the puzzle in one hand so she had her other hand free and my hands were completely empty so that excuse doesn’t make sense. Secondly, I don’t have a problem with employees asking to take my items to the register while I browse. If anything I prefer that. What I do have a problem with is being followed around the store and being confronted by a passive aggressive employee as I’m walking up to the register. While I was talking to the employee, there was a person next to the entrance with her hands full. I asked why they haven’t asked to take her items to the register. She couldn’t give a straight answer. For some reason, the employee kept saying “we don’t have an issue with people stealing.” What an interesting sentence from a retail worker. I then asked if you don’t have a problem with people stealing, why would you follow us around? Again, no straight answer. She just kept denying that her coworker was following us around. They made my wife feel like a thief and they couldn’t even apologize.

They’re going to respond to this review and try to apologize and say that they strive for excellence and that they make mistakes sometimes especially around the holidays because it gets “crazy” ( there were maybe 7 customers in there max with at least 5-6 employees working) and hope that we’ll be back, etc. They’ll try to act nice and understanding in their response but just know in person they are very passive aggressive (almost aggressive the way the lady stopped my wife right before getting to the register and snatched the puzzle out of her hand), disrespectful, and will make you feel like a shoplifter all while trying to belittle you if you even dare to ask why you’re being followed.

This was the most uncomfortable, weirdest, and most intrusive experience we’ve ever had. We don’t want an apology, we don’t want them to make things right, we just want people to know the experience you might have if you shop at...

I have been coming here for years and for the right reasons. First, let me say that most people will claim that the selection here is the reason they keep coming back, but I find that the staff are the true diamonds in this place. I’ve always come into the store feeling welcome and have been helped by the friendliest staff in town. Yes, their gift wrapping service is nice, but it’s amazing how they can keep things flowing even when they have to stop and wrap your little present! Thank you for that service and keep up the good work. The gift selection here is outstanding, and truly a gift store worth coming back to you. A wide variety of fragrances, a great greeting card, selection, and kitchen items, interesting books, cool little clothing accessories, like scarves and socks and caps. there’s also a great selection of jewelry to fit anyone’s taste and budget. In addition, they haven’t excellent way of decorating the store that stands out, there’s always something interesting to look at on the walls when I go in. Thanks for being here and and may 2025, be your...

I loved Compass Rose and Captain Little. Told EVERYONE about them. When Oct rolled around I had tons of (girl) bdays in my fam so I went in to find a gift for ea of them. I was stressed, would worry about finding just the right thing. One year, they kindly wrapped my gifts and mixed them all up, so my family got the wrong stuff. The next year I went in again, wandering around & they acted like they feared I was shoplifting. They took my stuff to the front (thx for freeing up my hands) but when they rang me up they didn’t ring up ALL the items they had taken out of my hands! I get home and realize they thought I was just going to steal those small things (earrings, keychains) and didn’t give them to me! Now I didn’t have half the items for my family AGAIN. I emailed them telling them how I felt and they never replied. Now I don’t go back and...