Two P's & Calli's Boutique — Local services in San Marcos

Changed my mind about not writing a review after reading reviews and now understanding why a 5-star store gets a 4-star average review and after my experience today I can see why.

I drove by this store for many years and since it used to not be open on Sundays when I was driving back from San Antonio to Dallas, I had never had a chance to go in until about 3 years ago. My sister had told me that one of her friends really liked the store but always felt uncomfortable because the staff followed people around and made her feel like they thought she was trying to steal something. I had worked retail long ago and understand that there is a fine line between breathing on top of someone and making sure that you're respecting a customer's space and keeping an eye out for possible shoplifters.

So, about 3 years ago I stopped by and the staff was attentive and yes kept in the general vicinity while customers shopped. I was ok with it for the most part. It never was too overbearing and I understood it to some extent although it is excessive. It's a great store with a good mix of apparel, accessories and gift items. The buyer does a great job and the store is merchandised well.

Well, today I stopped by and was greeted by an employee that has helped me before. I think her name is Joy and she was nice. She would come over to me and ask me if I needed anything, etc and would move on to other customers. She was replaced at times with other employees coming over to me to ask me if I wanted to put whatever item I was carrying at the counter and I would say yes and they would take them. I even walked up to the counter and handed a few small items to an employee to add to my items I was purchasing. Then I walked away and started looking in another area - I think it was some Christmas night shirts/gowns. I had my phone in my right hand. The saleslady that had been working at the counter that had taken those last few items to add to my pile came up beside me and asked me, "What do you have in your hand?"......I was caught off guard by her rude tone and the fact that she wasn't smiling and was seriously asking me what I had in my hand. I responded with the obvious. "My Phone".....and she tried to laugh off the awkwardness by asking if I wanted her to put my phone at the counter. I said no and that I was ready to check out. I was tempted to just leave the store because I realized she thought I was stealing something and I was shocked. I had shopped there before and have spent several hundred dollars in the handful of times I've been in the store. As a side comment....in all my years of shopping from discount stores to high end boutiques and department stores, I have never been asked anything like this and was appalled.

So, when I went up to the counter and she was beginning to ring up the items I asked her what their shopping policy was and if they always took items out of people's hands when they were shopping and took them to the counter? When she didn't say anything I asked her or do you do this because you think people are trying to steal things? Still no answer. She kept ringing up the purchase and didn't respond to my questions. She did finish ringing up the sale and acted fine at that point. But the damage had been done.

I talked to the floor manager over the phone a few minutes later when I was driving away and she was very gracious and apologized. After I talked to her I looked the reviews up on-line and realized that this is just appears to be part of the culture at the store. I don't know whether it is mandated from the top or just interpreted by some employees differently and not handled well. Based on the reviews it sounds like I wasn't alone in my experience however I'm pretty certain I was almost accused of trying to steal something. Shame on the store employee and shame on the management for not training people better. There is a fine line in trying to have excellent customer service, targeting shoppers as possible shoplifters and running people off because of...

This is a nice little boutique and is in a great location however the customer service could use a lot of help. I stopped by the boutique on my way back to South Texas to purchase several birthday gifts and Mother's Day gifts. I was wanting Kendra Scott jewelry and found on Google that they carried it, and I thought it would be quicker to stop at this small place rather than fight the San Antonio traffic as I went through there. As I entered the place I noticed right away that I was being scrutinized by two women standing together because they just stared at me, then I was given the once over by a clerk and she asked if I was finding everything ok but she walked away before I could speak. (At that point I realized that I probably looked out of place there considering I was dressed very casual, and my hair and makeup were not all done up, I was on my way home after driving many long hours.) I did not let it bother me and I continued to make my way through the store while being watched and followed and found where the Kendra Scott jewelry cases were. As I stood there looking I noticed that all the ladies were watching me very closely, again, I was made very uncomfortable. A younger clerk that seemed much kinder did come over to help me as soon as I got too close to the jewelry case, I chose to only buy one pair of earrings there because of the way I was made to feel so uncomfortable. I could have purchased many more things as I intended to purchase when I went into the store but instead I made a much smaller purchase and then left and went to a Kendra Scott store in San Antonio and purchased the rest of the gifts I needed. I guess the moral of this review is never judge someone who isn't like you or who isn't dressed like your regular clientele. A big sale was lost for this business because of it. If one of you ladies that were there happen to be an owner then I would like to say to you personally that being a business owner does not make you any better than the next person, you see, God sees what is inside of us and how we treat others, not what we own or how we look or what we are wearing. I am also a business owner but I do not treat anyone in this way. I suggest implementing some customer service rules and guidelines in the near future and maybe you all should attend some workshops on this subject as well. Because what good is it to have a cute little boutique with nice inventory if the customer does not...

I usually love popping into cute little boutiques and this was definitely a cute one, but sad to say I did not love my experience. I had just finished a day of shopping at the outlets and when I’m in town I always see this boutique and want to stop but by the time I’m done at the outlets it’s closed. So I walk into the store and I will say I was greeted warmly. As I’m shopping though I began to notice not one but two employees were watching me. At first I thought it was all just in my head so I brushed it off and continued shopping. Every time I glanced up there was one of the two girls that would be just steps away from me and staring right at me. Then they would then try to make small conversation about whatever item I had in my hand when they realized I noticed them. After a while of this I decide to put my theory to the test and I walked clear across the store………and with in seconds one of the two girls were right behind me. I have never felt so harassed. I get it as a business you do want to be vigilant and mind-full of potential theft. So an employee should ask legit questions and see if there’s anything they can help a shopper with to help minimize the possibility for theft and to honestly have good customer service, but there is a line. I was asked more times then I could count if I needed help or if I had anything that I wanted them to hold for me behind the counter (I wouldn’t even have items in hand). All while taking notice that they weren’t asking any of the other customers in the store around me the same types of questions or following them the way I was being. I worked and managed retail for many years so I know when I’m being watched and followed. It was very unpleasant and I could not enjoy my time. I felt rushed I didn’t even get a chance to really look at everything. I was just about leave because I was so uncomfortable but I did find a cute little book for a loved one that I don’t think I would have found anywhere else so I purchase it. The owners were on site and I got a few smiles and hellos, so I don’t have anything negative to...