The Salty Turtle Gift Shop — Local services in Saint Augustine

Extremely Disappointed – Deceptive Product and Unprofessional Service

I visited Bonita Bontique as well as the Salty Turtle, both under the same ownership, in St. Augustine on Sunday and was extremely disappointed with both the quality of merchandise and the level of service. I unknowingly purchased what were presented as authentic Sonny Angels, only to discover after leaving the store that they were in fact counterfeit. These were marketed and displayed as the genuine product, which is deeply misleading. Unfortunately, the store had already closed by the time this became apparent, so there was no opportunity to address the issue in person.

More troubling is the fact that these items were being eagerly purchased by families, young collectors, and unsuspecting customers—all unaware they were buying fakes. This kind of deceptive practice not only undermines consumer trust but also raises legal and ethical concerns.

In addition, the customer service experience was remarkably poor. The young woman at the register seemed untrained and overwhelmed. She moved without any sense of urgency and struggled significantly with the store’s point-of-sale system. It took over 30 minutes to check out, during which time a long line formed behind us. The employee appeared completely unaware of or indifferent to the growing frustration of customers waiting.

This was a disappointing and frustrating experience from start to finish. I strongly encourage the store’s management to reconsider the integrity of their product sourcing and invest in basic employee training. Customers...

I left feeling really shaken after our visit. The manager, Avi, interacted with the women in our group in a way that felt intrusive and unsettling. While I understand everyone has different boundaries, several of us felt clearly uncomfortable, and that should never happen in a public-facing space. I hope the business takes these concerns seriously and reflects on how staff conduct can impact guests’ sense of safety and respect. The store itself was nice, but Avi’s behavior made the...

Thad such a great experience with Taylor during my visit. Taylor went above and beyond to be helpful, friendly, and professional. They were attentive, patient, and made sure I found exactly what I was looking for. It's rare to find someone who balances efficiency with such genuine kindness, but Taylor did just that. Their positive attitude really stood out and made my shopping experience so much better. Taylor is definitely an asset to the team, and I truly appreciated their...