Williams-Sonoma — Local services in San Francisco

So we originally went next door to get our Jewelry cleaned. Decided to stop by here and kill a little time. Was not looking at buying anything but this black fella with long dreads was seated explaining an espresso machine to a different customer and he was super passionate about the machine and annoyingly on point about the specifics and function of the machine. I thought myself knowledgeable about coffee and this chap made me feel so basic but in the most positive way possible. He was sooo passionate about the machine and his espresso. Down to explaining the function of the machine, its heating elements the automated tamper, the steaming function, the durability of the machine. He went into the finer points of why steaming the milk is far superior than frothing. The best beans for the dollar, Then he walked me and my wife though the machine operation from start to finish and why the newer Nesspresso machines were not as good as the older ones and how the pods were / are a rip off and the Breville was so much superior. He made me an espresso from start to finish to show the function of the machine and with no sugar it was pretty damn good. This fella taught me a few things in the 10 min he spent with me explaining the machine the financial cost break down of owning one and I would have never thought I would have gotten so much knowledge from a man selling machines to be knowledgeable about the finer points of a good espresso. Made my whole night...And this is not a knock on the fella selling it. I just have not seen a proper sales person selling a product in a long long long while.

To William Sonoma Eric Wynn is the type of employee you want in your stores. He was patient, knowledgeable, and personable. Although I did not execute a purchase tonight as soon as I can bring myself to buy a 2,200 dollar machine I will be buying one from you based on the interaction I had tonight. My own wife who had told me no, absolutely not when she saw me eyeing the machine was impressed after the presentation so she was even saying well if it fits under the counter I can get one. If anyone. cares it was the Oracle machine. Auto grinder, auto tamp, milk temp control, broiler heating elements, cup warmer...... Just a simple to use sexy machine. And this chap explained it in such detail with a level of passion I had not seen in a long...

I went to Williams Sonoma on Union Square, which might be their flagship store, the Thursday before Mother’s Day 2023. Because I needed a new wok cover for our Greenpan wok. I immediately went to the Greenpan section in the store to find the desired cover and was casually checking out the other cookware within the Greenpan collection - we had purchased a number of Greenpans from Williams Sonoma severa years before and really liked the product and the ceramic technology - when a staffer began showing cookware to two other customers by saying “the Greenpan pan cookware is absolute sh:t; don’t buy it; don’t know why we carry it; you can get a better deal on that sh:t at Target so it you want sh:t cookware go to Target.” I was a bit taken aback because (a) we had been told a different story a couple years ago and (b) why, if this were true, would Williams Sonoma knowingly carry sh:t products? I tried to ask the staffer but he continued on his diatribe. The products he recommended were not the ceramic-based technology like Greenpan but rather we’re cephalon coated products that I know are sold at Walmart and Target. Perhaps he was being commissioned more generously on those cephalon products?

Regardless, this was a poor shopping experience and highlights why online is unfortunately a better way to shop these days. Fair, knowledgeable, and reasonable staff are definitely required to compete with online and command the in-person premium which I guess is required to pay for staff salaries and the costs of bricks and mortar operations.

I would encourage Williams Sonoma to evaluate their hiring / screening practices to ensure that staff show a bit more decorum. I would also encourage their purchasing department to not purchase or carry “sh:t” products ever!

Giving two stars because the store has a broad selection and one of the staffers was helpful, attempting to help me find a generic wok cover for my Greenpan wok, which ultimately didn’t fit but I could tell was trying his best (I had asked him about his colleagues odd behavior but he didn’t...

Horrible experience , My daughter living away from me , I tried to surprise her by ordering a cake from this place to surprise her for her birthday , a week prior to her birthday is when I ordered and I got a confirmation it would arrive on the day of her birthday , On the day of my daughters birthday I get the news that it hasn’t arrived in which I call them all the way from dubai where they were absolutely no help and told me there was still 8 hours for the day and I have to wait till the last minute at the end of the day to actually say it hasn’t arrive , I had to stay on a call for almost 80 minutes trying to figure out how I could fix this with them but they seemed to be hung on just the money ..? On a special day of my daughters 21st , I gave them a great deal of trust on reaching a cake , just a cake in which I paid for but wasn’t reached..? After being on the line for so long with them giving nothing but endless excuses and I finally asked to reach out to the ceo so I asked for her email which the employee didn’t have , so I was told to wait a few minutes in which resulted in them just hanging up on me , not only did I have to face a great difficulty for what I ordered but I also faced a horrible experience of customer service … I want to reach out to the ceo immediately .. I would like to get the contact of the ceo or I will make this a bigger issue … thank you so much for ruining this special day 🙂 Will make this a way bigger deal … Wait and watch I will make this way way bigger … take...