Cargo Hold — Local services in Poulsbo

As a sailor with a passion for maritime history, I had high hopes for my visit to Cargo Hold in Poulsbo, WA. The store is known for its extensive collection of unique and vintage maritime items, which drew me in with excitement. I imagined spending time exploring the treasures within and buying some as Christmas gifts and some for myself. Sadly, my experience turned sour due to the unwelcoming atmosphere created by a staff member (which I believe was the owner).

Upon entering the store, we were immediately struck by a hostile vibe that marred what should have been an enjoyable outing. While browsing, we encountered rude comments directed at my 18-month-old granddaughter, which were both inappropriate and uncalled for. It’s disheartening to see a place that could be a charming reflection of maritime culture instead foster negativity and disrespect.

This incident not only ruined our experience, but also left us feeling unwelcome in a space that should celebrate the love of all things nautical. We were having a fantastic day in Poulsbo, enjoying the sights and sounds of the town, until our visit to Cargo Hold turned into a regrettable moment that overshadowed the joy of our trip.

If you’re considering visiting Cargo Hold, I urge you to read the reviews beforehand; they may provide some insight into the store’s atmosphere. It’s unfortunate that a store with such potential can be so negatively impacted by the demeanor of its staff. I truly hope the owner reflects on the importance of customer service and the lasting impressions they leave on visitors.

In summary, while Cargo Hold has the makings of a delightful maritime shop, the unfriendly treatment we received overshadowed its charm. It’s disappointing to think that a space dedicated to the love of the sea could be marred by such hostility. As for me, I will never visit this particular store; but as a sailor, I genuinely hope for improvement, as it would be a shame for this unique store to continue to drive away potential customers...

I don't know how many "rude man behind counter" reviews it takes to convince someone this store suffers from a pattern of unprofessional behavior, but here's mine. He was on some power trip with my 13-year old niece and scolded her for taking a photo of a compass at the front of the store.

From the back of the store, behind his computer, he said "I don't mind if you take photos, but you need to ask permission". She was at the front of the store and didn't hear him. Because I was at the back of the store, we both thought he was talking to me. He spoke louder and scolded her: "Young lady, did you hear me? You need to ask permission from me before you take pictures in my store. It's common courtesy."

She's a strong kid, so I shrugged at her and we left. But his tone and subtext align too neatly with the other negative experiences posted here. If you truly don't care that she takes photos, then what do you gain by berating a 13-year old girl into asking your permission, besides a power trip?

Either way, this is something you should check before you open a public store and interact with all of the people that don't agree with you on what "common courtesy" is.

Put up a "Please no photos" sign. Or greet people when they enter and tell them you require explicit obeisance before they take a photo. Or let it go, since you "don't care". There are better ways for a shopkeeper to interact with the public, including retirement, than to misdirect personal peeves on young...

I went in the store to look at the wooden maps and get an idea of price as I've been planning to buy one for my husband and prefer to support local business. The man working asked if my friends and I needed help. I replied that I wasn't looking to buy today, but was very interested in the maps as an anniversary gift. He seemed offended and said "do you hear her getting defensive? I didn't ask if you wanted to buy something, I just asked if you needed help" and then he continued to say he has the best prices available on maps and offered a 10% discount, today only. I repeated that I didn't have the money today, but would be back soon and just wanted to get a look at the map options. He repeated "that's 10% off today only". I'm sad because I want the map, have the money, and want to support local business, but I felt belittled. I asked my friends to make sure I wasn't overreacting and they agreed that he was very rude to me. Amazon is $20 cheaper and the customer service is far better so I'll be ordering online.

ETA: I mentioned this to my sister and she asked "isn't that the place I got yelled at for taking a picture?" Why yes it is, and I wish I had remembered sooner. I won't be shopping there anymore and certainly won't take any future out of town...