Lost In Time Antique Mall — Local services in Winston-Salem

UPDATE. Not AI, but the AI isn't giving an accurate picture. And I try to help others avoid wasting their own time by sharing what I've learned from mine (the point of reviews). Or even to let an owner know about any existing issues influencing customers away so that they can improve their business... if they care.

ORIGINAL (shortened for brevity) I've pretty much bought out the antique shops near me, so I'm expanding my perimeter. But there's a number of similar shops in this area, so I needed to manage my time out there. So my strategy is to begin with the photos and negative reviews (because so many businesses pay off their customers to leave positive reviews anymore that those aren't reliable). In fact, if there are no negative reviews, that's a major red flag.

So I always consider both parties' perspectives. For example, many of the negative reviews about this store have to do with the covid mask mandates. But, in my opinion, private businesses are fully within their rights to employ whatever policies they choose. Not letting in any shoppers without masks during covid was their prerogative. Let me know their policy and I'll decide whether or not to comply. No need to berate them.

Several other complaints are over the policy of turning off their lights 10-15 minutes before closing to signal to shoppers that it's time to check out. Apparently some shoppers have been confused and thought that meant the store was closed and they could not check out. Those same shoppers would have complained just as vehemently if they had arrived at the register late and found it already shut down. So, I still would have happily spent an entire day in this store (being sure to keep an eye on the time).

But sometimes the most telling review is not from the customers. It's the responses from the owner. Some businesses don't respond at all, so you just have to weigh the complaints. Others respond with empathy, and that overrides the complaint. But in this case, the owner chose to belittle all but one or two of the negative reviewers. This is a bullying tactic to try to sway reviewers to leave only positive reviews, which tells you there would likely be many more negative reviews, except that most people would rather not subject themselves to that type of attack and their desire to protect themselves overrides their desire to help other people. So when you see that, you can rest assured that there were likely at least twice as many negative experiences of that level that were not posted. But it works out, because you don't need their reviews when you can read the attitude of the owner and learn everything you need to know about that business from them.

So, while none of the complaints I read from customers would have actually deterred me (and some were extremely rude in their own right), the responses from the owner convinced me not to buy anything. After all, if I give them my money, I am condoning bullying. If that doesn't bother you, shop away. For me, I'd rather take the small chance that I'm going to miss some hidden gem at this location than financially support a bully. After all, I've been to enough antique stores over the decades to know that you will most likely find something even better at the next one... if not the...

My boyfriend and I have been frequent customers of this establishment for the better part of two years and we have had both great and disappointing experiences here. The abundance and quality of the items is eye-catching and interesting, making you want to come back for more, but the unfriendly and rude employee attitude makes you want to never return. It has been prevalent in an unsatisfactory manner on more than one occasion.

I am not alone in feeling this way towards the staff- just read some of the other reviews. It seems to be a common thread to be treated rudely here and the owners do not seem to care that multiple people have had the same account in their store. This isn’t directed towards the masks alone, but that is a cause to why I do not want to come back. I understand that this business chose to require their customers to wear a mask (“no exception”) but they refuse to acknowledge that some people may require an exception or do not believe that a mask equals their guaranteed safety. There are legitimate medical issues that prevent some people from wearing a mask and wearing them properly. Just think of those with asthma, autism, small children, and even mental disorders that prevent one from wearing a mask or knowing why they have to. Places like this are depriving those with exceptions the experience of going out because they are ignorant in believing that everyone is able-bodied and can wear a mask at any given time. A mandate is not a law.

Considering this is an antique store and it primarily runs on vendors selling their items to the public, there is going to be damage to the business that these vendors can do when the store’s employees are driving business away. That is unfair to sellers, but who thinks about that?

I believe in people and establishments having their own rules, but people need to understand that having uptight restrictions is going to make them lose business and lose a positive image in the public eye. The way you treat customers reflects deeply on the quality of a business. Believe what you wish to, but don’t complain when your business starts to suffer because of that.

For now, I will choose not to come back here until the mask requirement is lifted because I don’t want to be in a hostile environment where people are excluded from activities for thinking differently and making independent choices for themselves.

Don't feel obligated to...

I am leaving a four star review based on inventory, which was fantastic. Tons and tons of treasures. Reasonably priced, though overpriced for the area. One can find similar items for much lower prices at other stores around town. No bargaining room at all - wouldn’t even entertain it. The items I purchased were lower priced so that could be why, but most other stores in town will give a small discount if you purchase multiple items from one booth or at least call the booth owner to see if they’ll offer a tiny break. I slightly overpaid for some old books, but the prices were still reasonable enough and I really liked them, so I pulled the trigger. Unfortunately, the staff were not exactly warm and fuzzy, particularly one crochety older gentleman who was a bit nasty to me regarding my children and that really dampened the experience for me. I actually knocked into an old saw and it fell over. No big deal, it was perched there rather precariously. He didn’t see but assumed it was one of the children and came over and nastily told me “you need to watch them because if they break anything, you’re buying it”. Nope sir...not my kids, just a 38 year old woman who bumped into something in a cluttered booth, but thanks for the chiding. I get that these stores don’t like kids. I’d rather them out up a sign and just say they aren’t allowed. I’m a long time antiquer and picker and have utmost respect for these stores, their goods, etc. I’d never take my kids into a place I didn’t think they could handle nor would I tolerate them touching, running around, etc. Theyve been antiquing with me since birth and are well accustomed to proper etiquette in these stores. Might have been nice if he’d approached me a bit more courteously I made a few purchases because I found some smaller items I really liked, but I honestly feel a little badly that I gave them my money. I will focus on the fact that the booth vendors can’t be held responsible for the staff. I’ll be back I’m sure, as I’m a long time antique lover and collector, but customer service could use some work, and a quick scan through reviews below shows that I’m not the only one...