Quill & Press — Local services in Stuart

(UPDATE!) Based on the lovely and timely response from Tina, I am upgrading the review from 1 star to 3, with the hopes of upgrading when I'm in town again and can go back in. :)

I'm leaving the original review because the response I got is exactly what I'd hoped for, and precisely why I wrote it the way I did. Perhaps, dear reader, you might consider this an object lesson for reviewers and businesses alike.

Initially I could have easily thrown out a snarky one-liner as I left the store, or written it here. It's been my experience that service is often a two way street, in that the more reasonable and direct I am, the more receptive and responsive the other party is.

People make mistakes and have bad days. I am by no means an exception! If I'm a reasonable person, I endeavor to make things right when I fall short, and similarly endeavor to provide others with that same consideration. There is quite a difference between things I will not tolerate, and those I cannot forgive. I hope we are all just a little kinder going forward. :)

(original review continues below)

I love leaving good reviews. I love adding positive energy to the world. I read about the store on a fountain pen group, and spent a long time looking at their great virtual store map a few days ago. I found out they carried Lamy fountain pens, and was excited to be able to try them!

The virtual tour was accurate.

The store is lovely and stocked to the rafters with all manner of delightful things. I think my mom shopped here when I lived in the area growing up.

Masked up (purple tye-dye), I entered the store. My hat has a button that says "You matter." I smiled with my eyes and said "hi!" to the employee I saw.

I grabbed a basket and made a beeline to the pen counter. There they were, the Lamys, in all their iconic, colorful German Bauhaus glory! So many colors!

I was happy I'd made the special trip, having every intention of purchasing (at least) 2 pens if I liked them when I tried them, some J. Herbin ink, and blotting paper. I also saw a journal and a few things that would have made great holiday gifts.

I tried the burgundy/wine colorer Lamy (AL star?) - wrote "I hope you have a great day! :) Fountain pens are love."

I looked at the small selection of fountain pens, the journal, the desk accessories. I went back to the pen counter. I wrote with the sample pen again. Smeared the ink to check the color, which was a really pretty dark blue. I wondered if they had any broad nib pens. I wanted to let them know the tines were a wee bit misaligned.

Other customers came in while I was there, and were greeted.

I looked at some of the gift items and circled back to the pens, in an effort to let anyone working greet me and ask me if I needed any help. That didn't happen.

A few things about me -and feel free to determine their relevance to your experience:

I've worked a lot of retail and was good at it. I know how people who want to buy telegraph that to shopkeepers. I did all of those things. I've been told that I have resting nice face. I have been to "non-essential" stores approximately 4 times since March. I still get my groceries delivered. I believe in supporting local business, and wanted to balance some of my (numerous) online pen purchases. I have to work through sometimes debilitating mask anxiety every time I leave the house. I have near infinite patience when a store is busy. It wasn't busy.

I'm not angry. I'm disappointed. And...

Entering Qilll and Press is like going back into time before on line shopping andbig box office stores. If you are disgusted with Office Max or Staples this is the place to shop. It has a great selection of pens. The staff knows their products and is very friendly. Good selection of stationary, gift items, cards, thank you notes. It comes from era when women dressed to shop. Hopefully the era of service and a well stocked stationary store...

Stopped in this store today while visiting from out of town. I was looking for some fun gifts for my kids to take back home. What a great store! I loved how they had unique items from floor to ceiling as I didn’t want to buy my kids the standards toys, as they have too much of that as it is! They had great choices for gifts, pens, toys and everything in between! Loved that store, wish I...