Smithsonian Museum Store — Local services in Washington

Ordered a Christmas present we found that WRC were so excited about. When it didn’t arrive 6 days before Christmas I started to track it. The next day I found out the order was “lost”and had y been sent out. Now I was told that it couldn’t be sent because even though we paid for express shipping in the first place. There was a deadline for shipping by UPS and they don’t ship on Friday afternoon, Saturday or Sunday. Tough luck. Here the order was at UPS (or FedEx can’t remember which) at company than can ship in 24 hours with trucks going everywhere. BUT the Smithsonian contract has NO weekend shipping with LIMITED daily deadlines like 3pm. ! They don’t tell you that when you order. They don’t look for your order. They don’t make any effort to get it to you. They will keep the money you paid and deliver it days after Christmas when the family is scattered and the Christmas pin is post Christmas. They will do it coldly with a too-bad--for -you attitude. Watch out, this company shouldn’t be doing retail. A museum with antiquated shipping policy and no...

After receiving the Smithsonian magazine I ordered a beautiful Murano vase as a gift for someone. Murano glass isn’t cheap so imagine my surprise when this vase arrives wrapped in bubble wrap in a cardboard box. I was so surprised. I called the store and asked why the vase wasn’t in a gift box. The employee, who was really pretty rude, said they don’t do that. That’s insane. An expensive vase and no gift box. I wouldn’t buy anything else from the store. Too bad because there were several other items I was considering buying ( and shipping) as gifts for people...

The Smithsonian Museum Store has been a favorite source of unique artifacts and collectibles. I have purchased several items as gifts for friends and relatives, however it is still a way for me to add unique items to my collections. For example one of my favorite collections are my cats ceramic, hand carved wooden cats, paper machete and my favorite brass cats that I bought from the Smithsonian Museum Store! I call them Smitty and Smitty! Can you guess why? Also there is very exquisite and unique jewelry at very...