Toyrifix Toystore — Local services in Smithville

Toyrifix is, hands down, the most unique and wonderful toy store I've been in. As a new dad, it was a place I've always wanted to take my daughter, and the selection was impressive. The pricing, although in some cases slightly inflated, was actually aligned with typical retail, and even perfectly congruent with Amazon. My wife and I left with some really fun finds.

The above includes the reasons why Toyrifix WOULD have earned 5 stars... unfortunately, the experience of the actual visit was far from anything we've ever experienced, in the worst of ways.

One of the employees there, the only older lady in the staff, made the entire trip something, truly and sincerely, unbearable. We were, without a hint of exaggeration, followed around the store, inch-by-inch, by this employee, as if we were caught in the middle of a reality prank TV show, mixed with some type of prison guard overwatch. It was, to put it lightly, bizarre behavior.

Because my wife and I were thrilled to be out with our daughter, enjoying the day, and spending time together, we maintained our composure, but it was a serious struggle. This older lady was like a shadow, literally reaching in front of us as we were looking at various items, and she would add live commentary on “Oops, we can't have the cats with the dogs, they'll fight!” or “Oh that buttons back up, like this.” Ironically, the passive-aggressive obnoxious comments didn't even apply to us, the dog and cat figurines were already mixed on the shelf, and my wife was in the actual process of snapping the purse button closed. If we didn't try to find the over-the-top comedic nature of her overzealous and inconsiderate actions, we would have left the moment she rashly approached us.

I own my own business, and my wife and I are ultra-vigilant when it comes to parenting, self-awareness, and social etiquette... our daughter was, in no imaginable way, deviating from perfect behavior, and we were never more than mere inches from her side. This employee, however, became so attached to our every move, it was beyond the pale, and even thinking about our visit last weekend, I wish I had the camera footage to upload to YouTube or TikTok as an example of what NOT TO EVER DO.

There was not a moment that passed by during our tour around the store, that we were not being harassed (there is no other befitting word for it), and actively corralled, like a herd of goats, by this woman to — and I kid you not — more “Age appropriate” toys. I finally was forced to speak up, and address the needless elephant in the room, “We're going to look at everything, and will make our way there in a moment, is that OK with you?”

I thought after nearly a week has passed, I would have calmed down about the situation, but being so outside of the boundaries of normal, I just couldn't keep myself from sharing these thoughts in a review. We took note of a younger, polite employee who was checking other families out, who was observing this woman's actions, and you could tell she was uneasy about it, as if it's something that goes on frequently.

In conclusion, the worst part about it is, we had several hundred dollars worth of items we were going to purchase, but it felt wrong to patronize a business that stalks their customers in such an inexplicable way. If the ownership or management of Toyrifix engages with these reviews, I applaud you for the overall selection and potential for a memorable family experience at your store... but it was ruined in the most dramatic of ways by the highly offensive actions of...

At first glance, this toy store might seem like a whimsical, one-of-a-kind spot — full of colorful displays, nostalgic collectibles, and carefully curated toys you won’t find at big box retailers. But unfortunately, what’s behind the curtain tells a different story.

The magic of this store has been soured by how the owner recently handled a long-time employee — someone who had dedicated years of care, knowledge, and passion to the shop and its customers. After a single, strongly opinionated negative customer review, this employee was abruptly let go. Just like that. One review, one voice, and a person’s livelihood was gone.

The message was loud and clear: this store values customer opinions — even uninformed, unfair ones — more than the real people who help make it special. It’s a dangerous precedent that not only betrays loyalty, but also sends a chilling message to those who work there: you're disposable. The idea that “the customer is always right” is outdated, and in this case, harmful.

The impact on this employee’s life has been real and deeply felt. Those who knew them knew they went above and beyond. Firing someone over one review — rather than investigating, supporting your staff, or considering the full context — reflects a lack of integrity and leadership.

Supporting small businesses should also mean supporting the people who keep them running. Sadly, this store has chosen a different path.

If you value not just toys, but ethical business practices and employee respect, it may be worth reconsidering where you...

Cute shop with some uncommon toys, but extremely expensive. Do yourself a favor and use it as you would Best Buy. Look around find what you like and then go buy it online for half the price. My nephew spent way to much on an item just to have a part break rendering the toy useless. So to keep him from loosing his shiz and crying I found a NIB on Ebay and ordered it so we could get spare parts. Price on ebay including shipping cost almost as much as it did on Amazon which was $28, when he paid $45 for in store. I took pictures of items I was interested in and looked up on Amazon to purchase later. All items were over $15 cheaper than they were in this over prices...