Island City Antique Market — Local services in Town of Minoqua

First time customer. Last time customer.

Nice organization. I spent quite a bit of money but will not ever go back! When I entered the store, I was the only customer there. Within about 20 minutes, another car load of "out-of-towners": arrived.

Let me tell you my experience...

I was shocked as to how rude these women were! They made me feel like a shoplifter from the very moment I stepped in the shop. I should have turned around and left instead of spending over $100.

Rude-Rude-Rude!

My first (and only time) at the antique shop was a horrible experience! I will NEVER go back! I entered the store only to be told that my purse was about to knock over a tea cup. Huh? What? I was carrying an over the shoulder medium sized purse. I knew was the female worker was getting at: "we don't trust you with that purse", so I told them that I would simply put my purse in my vehicle. Let me back up...when I initially walked in the store I was checked out head to toe....in that female catty way. Ladies, you know what I'm talking about. I'm over 50...there's no reason to feel anything negative toward me. I felt like I was being followed...strange. When I would pick out an item, within seconds the worker told me that she would hold it at the counter for me. That's just fine with me, lets me buy even more items. But it kept continuing after I picked out a second item, a third item, fourth, fifth and my sixth item. Try to envision this...for whatever reason, they did not want me to hold on to my items I wanted to purchase. I understand if they did it in a manner of wanting to help me out...but that clearly wasn't the case, they were rude about it.

The level of rudeness continued. These women simply do not care. I tried the "kill them with kindness" approach and it didn't matter. Then I realized that this was a mother and daughter team. That would make sense because the two of them were a tag team of rudeness.

The store was clean and displayed very nicely but it's not enough to make me want to go back.

Frankly, I think these women would feel better to chauffeur customers around rather than have customers browse on their own. When you ask them if the have an item, they stare at you and tell you a booth number. How the hell am I suppose to know where the booth is? Good customer service would walk you to the appropriate booth.

They do not smile. The are not upbeat. They view the customer with a "mean-mug".

I'm sure they get enough business from the tourists that they feel entitled to be outright rude. Maybe business is that good. It doesn't matter to me...after spending a boat-load of money at their shop, I will never go...

I have shopped this business for years and am always treated with courteous service. It's an enjoyable experience with an interesting "find" on each "stop". Unlike stoic antique malls with everything behind glass and vendors who are too lazy to rotate merchandise, this shop always is rotating and adding stock. Purchases are painstaking wrapped and someone is always available to open vehicle doors to assist in loading of large purchases. Additionally, payment is taken over the phone for an item which is previously seen but not purchased and ample time is allowed for a return to trip for pick-up. Prices are reasonable for comparable merchandise found advertised in on-line venues.

Regarding the critique posted ahead of mine, I have shopped some high-end antique shops over the years where purses are checked at the door or are to be left in the vehicle. At all times at Island City Antique Market, there are at least 4 employees on duty and one or two walking the floor working in the store. Additionally, the store has surveillance making theft impossible. Merchandise is well displayed, but it's "tight quarters". The rule is more protection for the patron against a purse brushing against a piece of porcelain or glassware sending it crashing to the floor thereby encumbering the patron with an unplanned bill for damages. I own a business with tight quarters and although I allow purses, I do not allow children for the same reason.

I do not allow patrons of my shop access to my private privy thereby preventing the spread of germs and disease. It is base inconsiderate to make such a request. Located next door to Island City a 90 second walk away is McDonalds with ample bathroom facilities. If anyone is so absorbed looking at antiques that he or she can't take two minutes to walk to McDonald's and use the bathroom, wear Depends.

Lastly, with regard to "lights out, time to lock up". No business owner is going to toss anyone out the door who is intently asking questions while making overtures of interest to purchase. However, we as business people put in long hours and often continue working in our businesses long after the business has closed for the day. K-Mart had a policy for years of announcing "closing" 10 minutes before "lock-up". It is easy to differentiate between an interested buyer and someone loitering while "rubbernecking" and handling merchandise. Loiterers are under the mistaken fallacy that the business exists for them and should stay open until they decide to leave. ...

Stopped in during a recent trip to Minocqua with family and friends. The parking lot was full, and we were looking forward to checking out the store. Unfortunately, our experience was disappointing and uncomfortable.

As we walked in, instead of being greeted or welcomed, the woman at the counter immediately and loudly told my friend, “You can’t bring your purse in here, it’s too big!” She pointed to a sign on the door that stated, “Bags larger than this sign cannot be brought in.” While the tone and delivery were off-putting, my friend obliged and returned her purse to the car.

As we browsed, we couldn’t help but notice several other customers walking around the store with purses clearly larger than the posted size limit. This inconsistency raised red flags. Why was the policy only enforced with us?

The most troubling part came shortly after, when my adult daughter was looking at jewelry in a locked cabinet. The same employee approached her and told her, that if she wasn’t planning to buy anything, she needed to leave.

We left the store feeling singled out and unwelcome. It’s hard not to believe we were being profiled based on the shirt my husband and brother in law were wearing, which displayed their political views. Whether or not that was the intent, the selective enforcement and uninviting behavior left an impression. We won’t be back, and we’ll be encouraging others to think twice before...