Heart Of Shanghai — Local services in San Francisco

⚠️ Warning: Counterfeit Pokémon Cards Sold at This Store – Avoid Heart of Shanghai / Shanghai Imports / Sophia’s Cafe

This review is for the store located on the corner of 867 Grant Ave in San Francisco’s Chinatown, which operates under several names: Heart of Shanghai Shanghai Imports Sophia’s Cafe (name used on the credit card transaction)

While visiting Chinatown with my child, we stopped by this store, which had Pokémon trading cards on display. My son purchased 5 booster packs at $4.99+tax each When we opened them at our hotel, we realized they were fake Pokémon cards because the cardstock was very thin card the cards had misprints on the front and back the cards had missing holographic effects all packs were made to look new I showed the cards (via a videocall) to our trusted local card shop back home, and they confirmed they were 100% counterfeit Pokémon cards

How the Store Handled It: We returned the next day and politely asked for a refund for counterfeit merchandise. The woman behind the counter became defensive and pointed at a handwritten sign that is barely noticeable on the wall that says "No Refunds.” I explained that regardless of the policy, selling counterfeit goods is illegal and unethical. That when she goes to the grocery store and makes a purchase, she expects to be able to use that purchase the way she intended it to. And that if she couldn't, the store would return/exchange/credit her purchase. She claimed she couldn’t verify if the cards were real—which is false, as legitimate card retailers are required to authenticate products. The manager then got involved and became aggressive. He literally told me: “This is America and everyone cheats." When I said that when we made the purchase, my son trusted that he was getting real Pokémon cards, he said that wasn't his problem, that "you can’t trust anyone.” (I can't even begin to share my thoughts on this because of how aggravating it is). He followed his tirade with “All the stores in Chinatown sell fake stuff. I guarantee you all the other stores are selling fake cards like these” (which told me he knew they were fake when they sold them to us). And added “Go ahead, make a claim, write a review, report the store, NOBODY CARES about this.”

Why this matters to me and why I chose to post this review: This store is knowingly scamming tourists and children. They are profiting from selling fake Pokémon cards, which is unfair, deceptive, and possibly illegal Pokémon Company International should be aware that their brand is being used in fraudulent sales at this location. Stores like this damage consumer trust and hurt legitimate small businesses in the Chinatown area.

After this bitter experience, we will not be returning to Chinatown or recommending it to friends and family as a shopping destination. I strongly believe in supporting small businesses and helping local communities thrive, but trust is the foundation of that support.

When a business knowingly sells counterfeit products, refuses accountability, and shows no concern for the customer experience, they not only violate ethical business practices—they also send a harmful message to the next generation. This experience taught my child a painful but important lesson: That not all businesses act with honesty. That some people exploit trust for profit. And that standing up and speaking out matters, even if the seller says “nobody cares.”

Businesses that choose dishonesty over integrity should not be allowed to continue scamming customers without...

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