Richards Variety Store

I don't usually take the time to write reviews but my experience was so awful - I felt compelled to warn others and after reading other reviews, i see I am not alone. Like several other patrons, I had the turn off the lights experience at 5:45 pm this past Sunday - I have $50 worth of bday gifts in my hands as I hurry to the register. There is this man who I now know is Jack telling me he has to turn off lights to they can get out of the store - Whatever happened to let the customers who are in the store finish their shopping with some lighting - I found it odd and mildly rude, but we paid for our items, including a small plastic fairy that was $1.22. And off we went - Not a thank you - Hope you found everything you wanted - more like don’t let the door kick you in the ass as you leave - I had an icky feeling, but decided to let it go. So once home I open the bag to pull out the overpriced board games I had just bought for my daughter's friends and noticed there was no fairy in the bag - It was too late to call the store so the next morning I call and get Jack on the phone - This is when it gets nasty - I explain that I was in the store just the day before and the fairy did not make it into the bag - His attitude was that I was responsible for making sure I got all my items and it was not their responsibility to replace it - I am like, what? I just threw down $50 on merchandise and this ""manager"" thinks I am trying to pull a fast one and get a free plastic fairly? What? So I try to remain calm and explain that it may have not made it into in the bag - it was pretty dark - and he says he will look for the fairy at the front desk and if he finds it it's mine, if not too bad = I am seriously befuddled by this experience -I mean I know that customers can make mistakes but please to carry on like this over a $1.22 item. So he calls back and said that there's no record of a fairy being sold since Wednesday - as I am staring at my receipt - This is too much and he finally said OK - just come in and get it - This is all over a $1.22item - One might say forget it - not worth the aggravation, but on principle. I get my daughter after school today and we drive to RVS and I ask for the manger - A women named YaYa comes out and refuses to give me a replacement fairy - I am beyond outraged - She tells me that I have probably lost it in my car - No benefit of the doubt - Just sorry lady!! I am so livid I storm out and tell her that I will share my nightmare with everyone I know - on and offline - On facebook, twitter and face to face. Richard’s Variety Store is a nightmare - They do not give a flip about customers - I will never spend another cent in this story and hope they go out of business for creating such horrid customer experiences. I’ll go to Target or Amazon any day! more

Everyone who works there has stories to tell and ideas to share. Whether it's trying to find items to stuff in a gift basket for a priest, the perfect gift for a dentist, or the perfect pink cowgirl hat for the latest drag show, these people know what customer service is supposed to be: friendly, helpful, efficient and innovative. more

No doubt, you get a weird feeling in this store with how the owners treat their employees and how they are all staked out hiding to try to catch someone stealing something. However, you can find some of the coolest, ecentric to old school gifts. It's like going in the dime store when you were younger. Old games to odds and ends you need. I mainly go there for the card selection - the cards are great, unique and will make you chuckle. Ignore the staff, in fact consider it an expereince. This place will crack you up. Pros: Great card selection. more

My friend and I walked into Richard's in order to buy more of a toy he had purchased at the Midtown location. We walked in around 5: 30 (a half hour before they were scheduled to close) and my friend needed to use the facilities made his way towards the back of the store. While I was looking around, an employee locked the door through which we had entered. I figured they were just trying to control traffic as they were in the process of closing. My friend made his way back and I was going to use the restroom while he looked for this toy and could not find an employee to unlock the door. ""That's fine,"" I thought, ""They're closing soon anyway."" My friend had difficulty finding his item and we found an employee to assist us, she showed us to the toy and my friend kindly asked if she could let me use the restroom. ""It's broken,"" she says. My friend kindly lets her know that another employee let him use the restroom mere minutes before. ""It's broken,"" she says again. She walks away and he picks out a few more of the toys. The time is now 5:45. As we're picking out the toys, someone shuts off every light in the store. We begin walking up to the register and pass two more employees who already have their coats on and purses in hand even though the store doesn't close until 6. As we pass them, the one that helped us with our product says, ""Time to go, time to go, time to go."" My friend asked them what time they closed and the women told us they closed at 6 o'clock. He then asked them why they shut off all the lights so early. ""This is what we always do!"" one of the women rudely replied. She acted if we were the ones who were inconveniencing them even though we were in and out and leaving 15 minutes before closing. I understand wanting to leave quickly at the end of the day, however it was handled very poorly. We continued our trip to the register and left our toys there and walked out. This is not the first time that myself or someone I know has been mistreated at Richard's (and even by Richard himself) and, compared to the other reviews, my most recent experience certainly doesn't sound like the worst treatment customers have received at this store. I know that the customer is not always right, but as someone who works in a customer service industry as well, I understand that they certainly have to be treated like they are. All of the other negative reviews for Richard's sound all too familiar. When I was younger I used to love this store, but after the continuing awful treatment others and myself have received, we won't be coming back, and I will be asking my friends and family to do the same. Pros: None. Cons: Rude employees and owner. more

Don't be fooled, this deserves ZERO stars. I was browsing the store for a good 20 minutes when an older man, Jack, came up to me and said, ""Can I check your bag."" I thought he was being courteous and I told him that I was fine. He asked again, and I said no thank you. Then he got very firm with me and said it was store policy. I told him I would find my husband and I would leave. He followed me around the store and then started shouting for my husband. My husband heard him shouting and Jack told him in a very loud voice that I wanted to leave. My husband thought something was wrong. I was completely embarrassed because everyone in the store was looking. I told my husband that I was pretty much being asked to leave by the man. Jack escorted us out while repeatedly saying in a loud voice for everyone to hear that it's store policy. I get it, but I find it an insult. I told the man I'm sorry he couldn't trust his customers and that I would never take anything. He said, ""You never know."" Wow! This is a real problem when customers feel in the wrong when they absolutely have done nothing in the first place. This store needs to go out of business with management like that. Cons: The owner more

I was in town to visit my sister's family for Christmas and sent my husband to Richard's Variety Store two days before Christmas to get my nephews a funny and silly toy to go along with the books and more serious things we had already bought them. From previous experience, I knew this was a store that had all kinds of toys, and it was less than a mile from my sister's house. My husband came back with a fairly dinky set of rockets that cost about 15 dollars that I couldn't envision them using in their backyard. I decided that I would try to exchange the rockets for a better gift if I had the time the next day. On Christmas Eve, I returned to Richard's and told the woman at the front register that I wanted to exchange something. She said that was fine so I wandered around the store until I found a good replacement, an old-fashioned toy called Rock 'Em, Sock 'Em Robots that was 21 dollars. I got in line to wait. The store was literally packed with Buckhead customers doing last minute shopping. Three registers had about six customers each. As it became my turn, a man came from the back to oversee the registers. As I began to talk to the woman at the register about making the exchange, the man approached and pointed to the rocket toy and said very loudly in an incredibly aggressive tone that there was only one rocket in the package when there was supposed to be three. Confused, I told him that my husband had bought the rockets the day before and we had not opened the package. As I tried to show my receipts, the man loudly interrupted me and accused me of stealing two of the rockets and trying to return the toy with missing parts. At this point, all activity in the store had ground to a halt because of how loudly and rudely he was talking to me. Shocked beyond belief, I asked him why he was treating me this way, and he kept repeating himself, that I had stolen the rockets and could not return the toy. Never before have I been treated this way. I have never been so offended. He told me that I needed to leave and I said that I still wanted to buy the toy I had come for. I didn't want to give this tyrant any more money, but I wanted to defend myself as a paying customer who had legitimate money to spend. Don't forget that it's Christmas Eve and this had all started with an attempt to get my nephews a silly toy. After crying for 30 minutes as I related the story to my sister and husband, we decided that we needed to move on and ""not return evil with evil"" even though I had been accused of stealing and we now believed we had been sold a faulty product in the first place. Furthermore, my sister told me that she had heard this man berating his employees in a loud and aggressive tone on multiple occasions. The day after Christmas my husband decided that he would attempt to return the original toy, not to get back our measly 15 dollars, but to express his dismay at all that had happened. He was told to go to the office at the back of the store, and when he told the same man that he wanted to return the rocket, this man immediately jumped up from his chair and physically threatened my husband!!! Another employee had to restrain the man as he then accused my husband of stealing the rockets! Enraged, my husband began tearing up the packaging for the rockets, in the process, lo and behold, revealing the two missing rockets which had been there all along. At this point, you'd think that an apology or a refund would have been offered. Instead, the lunatic owner of Richard's Variety Store directed two other employees to escort my husband from the store. They seemed to consider this just another day's work. It's a shame that a great store with neat merchandise is run by a paranoid and vicious man who has no respect for his fellow human beings. Pros: Absolutely None! Cons: Store Owner Acuses Customers of Stealing more

I like the merchandise so I used to shop there every now and then. I won't tolerate it any more. On many occasions, I have been followed around the store as if I was going to shoplift. It's so obvious and irritating to say the least. The owner actually scolded me on one visit for the way I was carrying my merchandise. He's very rude and suspicious and I won't give him another cent. more

"" You Wont be able to Shop with Your Purse ""\r I am in Atlanta, Georgia with my fiance who is working on a film called The Blind Side with Sandra Bullock. We are proud owners of an Art Gallery called STASH GALLERY in Miami, Fl. When your out of town working - people on the set refer you to go to certain restaurants, clubs, stores etc. Richards Variety Store was one of the stores we were excited to go to... Upon arriving, They have a woman at the door who takes your bags. ( shopping bags and puts them behind the counter which is customary in most stores) But I wasn't asked for my shopping bags, I was asked for my purse... I became very upset when I saw a woman with the same size purse as I had walking through the store. Let me add here that this woman was white - I am mixed\r Puerto Rican, German, & black foot native american indian. When asked why the lady was allowed to shop with her purse and I was not, the owner added that she slipped by... I am almost positive the woman who held the purse slipped by because she was WHITE. I was highly upset and highly disturbed by this incident. \r This place treats its customers like people who steal if you are other than white. It makes your whole expierence there very unpleasant. To make matters worse the owner apologizes to my fiance ( who's french & white ) instead of apologizing to me... the colored girl. On top of that, he employs black people to check in bags and mop floors and has a couple of white girls manning the registers. What bothered me most was the stereo - typing that was going on... I was made to feel like I look like a person who steals. It really messed with my self esteem. Especially when you have shopped all over town and no one has done this to you. I am staying in BUCKHEAD which is a pretty expensive place to live. Instead of spending a couple of hundred dollars - I spent $80.00. ( i go to these kind of stores because I am an artist who uses a lot of nic-nac's in my pieces of art. ) After everything was said and done - I will never go to this store again\r and My fiance and I will be telling every one on set not to go there unless they are white. ( oh let me add - on top of taking my purse I was followed around the store ) To me, this was crazy... I have never stolen anything in my life - I believe in Karma and being a business owner I know how I feel when something gets stolen from me. So you can only imagine how I felt when I was being profiled and targeted. Let me also add that I travel all across america and the world and I do a lot of shopping. This was the first time I was asked for my purse. I hope if anything this review gets back to the owner, maybe it will teach him a BIG lesson. He just lost a lot of good customers, our whole film crew.... I would recommend going to Urban Outfitters or Junkmans Daughter or An Old American Store if your in Atlanta... you will have a much better time nor will you be followed like a criminal. \r Love & Luck, Evo Love - evoloveunlimited or myspace/Stashgallery miami Pros: cool knick knacks Cons: race more

I thought Richards might be a nice place to go and look at eclectic things and enjoy a trip down memory lane, maybe drop a few bucks here and there on some fun stuff. Then, I went to checkout. The price on the item was $2 lower than what rang up in the computer. The owner explained this was a mistake and refused to sell the item at the price shown on the sticker. I was with a friend who left their intended purchase on the counter after the treatment I received. I will not return, I was treated extremely poorly. In the case of Richards Variety Store, the customer is not always right. Cons: The customer is not always right more

Comparing Richard's Variety Store to Ace Hardware is like comparing caviar to fish sticks!\r \r Ace has a much higher quality of merchandise, and as smarter shoppers know, when it comes to tools--you get what you pay for. You haven't saved a dime or spent wisely by buying tools that will break or rust after one or two uses. Moreover, selling junk puzzles and Halloween costumes does not merit distinction as being a true hardware store. Ace has over 65,000 products, with a sales staff trained to advise you on issues pertaining to plumbing, electrical, carpentry, painting, etc. Thus, the only similarity between the two stores is that they are both inside the Peachtree Battle Shopping Center. Pros: One attractive saleslady Cons: Outdated 1950's junk more

Richard's has the best selection of greeting cards--even some ""adult"" cards. They compete directly, undercutting prices of the Ace Hardware a few doors down on many items (as well as the Rite Aid drugstore on the other side), so be sure to compare prices. They have a good selection of household cleaning products, tons of sewing notions, kids' party favors, picture frames and seasonal items. They invested heavily in the Beanie Baby craze and still have lots of Ty products. Their toy selection will save you an annoying trip to Toys 'R' Us. They have a wonderful selection of puzzles. Lots of toddler toys, too. Very interesting collection of household items. I love browsing at Richard's. Plus, I really do try to support independent merchants whenever I can, but in this case, it's not even a sacrifice. more

I recently visited Richard's for the first time and fell in love! The service was outstanding, great selection and prices. The only problem I had was not being able to leave! Every turn you take you'll find something you never know you needed and toys from your childhood and from your parent's childhood. Great place for fun gifts. more

Yes we were out early today, looking for holiday decorations, as we both combine Chanukkah/Christmas. Richards is always a first stop. Located in Peachtree Battle, along with our favorite lunch stops, Pasta Vino and Jalisco. This place is just part of our hood. The quirky staff, makes it even more fun. And we are in the store all the time. Such bargins are everywhere, kitchen gadgets, toys, cards/wrappings, and even Asian decor, although it's always the same, and nobody really buys it. But it's really such fun, when you know you are getting a bargain. And one of the owners is always in the store putting out new merchandise daily. This is a combination of the old five/dime and variety store. An Atlanta original, and not a chain. Go! Pros: Terrific Card & Gift Selections! Staff! Cons: n/a more

And Richard's is an allspice. I recently went on a little shopping spree to buy gifts for a coworker leaving the job. What a fun place. As I turned every corner, I was pleasantly surprised to find even more quirky stuff--from beach gear, to children's toys to kitchen and bar accessories to funky greeting cards. A lot of the items in the store are below what you'd find at a chain place. If you don't know what to get someone, you just might find it here. more