Bear Claw Trading Post — Local services in Shoshone

Walked in and saw a kitschy inauthentic yet fun retro totem pole. Started to take photo but a scowling employee shouted at me “ you want to read the sign on the door?” He could’ve just said sir no photos please or something to that effect. There were about eight signs on the door. I mentioned to him that I didn’t have time to read a novel and he could just ask politely. He spent the remainder of our time in the store scowling and never offered a word of greeting or asked if he could be of help. I have a pretty thorough knowledge of Native American art as well as tribal, Eastern and Western art in general. The shop was filled with low-quality items from Indonesia, (masks, etc.)Chinese fake Native American beadwork. Suspiciously Fake looking jewelry that said Navajo made but if it was it wasn’t made by craftspeople or artisans (necklaces). The rings didn’t carry the telltale design elements that one familiar with SW art recognizes but looked like Silver and turquoise rings from India. There were drums that looked nice but upon close inspection had holes and major flaws. There were the cheap pottery wheel pots that are technically “ Native made” but are just crappy pots made on machine wheels and repeatedly painted with crappy designs by unskilled workers. It looked like he did have some decent pots mixed in. They are supposed to be a “trading post” so when you see that coupled with the fact that they are near a major Reservation one would expect to find Shoshone and Bannok beadwork and other handiwork but instead 2 dollar rosettes from China were sold. There were Kachinas but none were Hopi Kachinas. Crystals were on offer though far more expensive than those across the street. All in all a complete waste or anyone wanting to visit a trading post (usually means high quality Native art on offer) crappy products (if not fake) and horrible employees (or was he the owner)....

WARNING: STAY AWAY if you want to avoid being treated horribly, especially if you have young children! Worst customer service experience! We wish we would have read the past reviews first or spoke to people who have been here before stopping by. Don't waste your time and money to support this business who apparently for years can be extremely bitter towards unsuspecting customers. Totally uncalled for! I do not wish for anyone else to be treated with such hostility. More people need to know about the lady who owns this place.

Our first sign to leave this place immediately was the cold stares we received the whole time we were inside. We didn't see any sign that says no photos or video recordings allowed (mind you, I had the intention to share with others what this place has to offer), but rather than respectfully being asked to not record anything, a lady with the nastiest look on her face comes out from behind the counter and suddenly yells at me to shut my camera off! When I told her she didn't have to be rude about it, she claimed I felt that way because I didn't get what I want! How ridiculous! Lady, if you would have nicely asked me not to take any pictures or videos, I would have respected...

I took some of my family to the Bear Claw this morning and bought a throwing star and some rocks. We have had the owner get rude in the past so we were super careful to make sure we were quiet and polite. She was pretty rude to my husband a couple weeks ago when he asked where the fireworks stand was so I tried to not bother her. Everything was fine and my granddaughter loved the rocks. Some of the stuff looked pretty cheesy but the throwing star said it was stainless and the owner said it was so I bought it. Got home and my son threw it at a cardboard box and it hit the dirt and one of the points broke off. I called and was told they don't do returns, which is what I figured but I'm really disappointed that I spent $20 on something that broke immediately. I feel like the stuff they sell is decorative only and not actually meant for use. It was really not worth the drive...