Cliff's Variety — Local services in San Francisco

Cliff’s Variety is THE ABSOLUTE BEST and I will scream it from the rooftops.

I met a woman yesterday who said whenever she needs anything, she will drive from Sea Cliff past two Ace Hardwares to Cliff’s. After a lovely interaction with owner Rich, I will now do the same.

Longer review:

I just told a friend that if there’s anything that he needs that Cliff’s sells, he should just get it at Cliff’s mostly because of the people there and the service they offer. The owners and staff at Cliff’s are the sweetest and most helpful and a small business like Cliff’s deserves our support. My friend said he was sold on my enthusiasm alone.

Yesterday, I went in to get supplies for a kitchen painting project and essentially walked away with not only all the supplies I needed but also what felt like my own private painting tutorial, an impromptu retelling of San Francisco history, and a lovely interaction with strangers.

A few days prior, I had gone to a different hardware store to inquire about paint and had to ask someone for help. I hadn’t even finished asking if I needed primer or if I could use a paint and primer combo and the staff member had cut me off, started answering my questions as he was also walking away from me, leaving me hanging. His last sentence was, “You should probably watch a YouTube video.” The hardware store was not busy and there were not other customers for him to help.

At Cliff’s, I was standing and looking at paint swatches for a mere 5 seconds before Rich asked if I needed help. I said yes and explained that I wanted to paint a wall in my kitchen. He ended up helping me with EVERYTHING. He explained why it was necessary to prime and the downsides of primer+paint combos. He walked me through all the steps it would take to paint my kitchen wall, helped me pick out all the necessary products, and explained how to use them. I joked to a friend later that it felt like I was watching my very own customized-for-me HGTV show. Unlike the staff member at the other hardware store, Rich answered every question I had kindly and patiently.

At one point, I shared with him that he had offered the best customer service and another woman said that she couldn’t help but interrupt and shared that she drives from the Sea Cliff all the way to Cliff’s (avoiding all the hardware stores along the way) because their customer services beats everyone else.

I cannot sing Cliff’s...

A difficult time choosing between three stars and four stars for Cliff's variety but decided to settle on three. Cliff's is an amazing store with with a wonderful selection including many obscure items. They have pretty much everything and anything and you couldn't want when it comes to hardware and assertive other great stuff. I could see myself getting stuck in here for hours but there's one thing that precludes that kind of April on shopping experience for me. I've been going to Cliffs 4 years and since the first few visits I have had constant bad experiences with employees being overzealous in their anti-shoplifting efforts and for whatever reason I felt that I've been singled out more than others much of the time. Otherwise I may not fit into whatever narrow aesthetic mold tends to put them most at ease. I do know how to speak, use a bar of soap, and try to be polite and use common sense. On the other hand I don't exactly fit whatever perfect mold some of these employees must be looking for and they haven't been shy about letting me know it's over the years. Many of the employees are wonderful but have experienced awful experiences my shopping at this store including being followed around by employees who were not at all subtle about their assumption that I was there to steal. When I, as politely as possible, mentioned that a certain employee was making me uncomfortable by standing so close to me I could feel his breath he defiantly let me know exactly how he felt about me and asserted his right to "profile" me at will. I made a complaint and the Manager was wonderful and it seemed like this wasn't the first time he'd heard this story.

Aside from the few bad Apples I think the store is unique, convenient and a pretty great place. If they would make dealing with my concerns a higher priority I'd certainly be open to a 4 or 5...

I love Cliff's. (There will be a big "BUT" in a second). They have a great selection of items, the store is super organized, and the staff is, for the most part, helpful. I've made my way across town for over a decade to shop there.

This past week, a friend and I (another local) went into the Annex to look for a gift. My friend inquired with Scott about a t-shirt artist whom he heard sometimes sells their shirts at Cliff's. From that very first moment, Scott was so abrasive. "Who is this artist? You don't know their name?" My friend paused as the questions came at him, trying to think. Seeing his co-worker was losing his s* a gentleman chimed in that he would be able to help my friend. My friend turned away from Scott as Scott continued to roll his eyes, state "He doesn't even have a name!" and all manner of complete annoyance at something so... nothing.

With my friend turned away, I couldn't take Scott's reaction anymore. It was unacceptable for a place of business. I asked him to stop. "He is trying to think and you are just coming at him. Stop it. This is not cute or helpful." It ended with Scott leaving the floor calling out to his colleague that he would return "when THAT leaves" as he pointed to me. Yep, I was called "THAT". By definition, something with no identity, no purpose.

I was shocked and disheartened. I've supported Cliff's with my purchases and promotion of their place in San Francisco's gay history and culture. While it wasn't their direct actions as a business, to have someone as unkind and demeaning as Scott working for them... it's just...