The Tail of the Yak Trading Company

They carry the most beautiful paper garlands I’ve ever seen!

Many negative comments are on point. I discovered TOTY years ago, drawn to their unique curated product line, beautiful interior, and creative merchandising. Unfortunately, I too experienced the very same abuse with EVERY single visit.
I am happily a long time professional retailer with a well versed background. Associate, manager, buyer, wholesale and now independent designer and seller. I have worked in well known specialty boutiques to corporate level retailers.-and I get it it’s not easy.
I would like to avoid having to «profile» myself (my ethnicity, the way I dress etc.) Rather, I would like to stress that what is important to me is that I am pleasant, and I regard manners, respect and common courtesy vital to any exchange with anyone. — and I expect the same in return.
The owners and their hired associates seem to take pleasure in staring at you, giving you the «up & down» to the opposite extreme of ignoring you all together. If you dare ask for assistance, information or *ahem* the PRICE??? Expect attitude, the icy look or a deep sigh…
I have no desire to return. Fortunately, for all of us who believe in supporting original local small retailers and the neighborhood you live in there are SO MANY other establishments I gladly do support.

I always love coming here! Such beautiful things and artistry! I always walk out inspired!

I have been in this store a dozen times. It is a charming, albeit somewhat overly precious, store and I have purchased jewelry there on occasion. They do have some nice pieces, but their prices tend to be a bit high. That said, I purchased a favorite pair of Mexican silver earrings there from the 40’s. They are awesome.
I have a BIG problem with the store, however. The women are the worst snobs and have terrible, terrible customer service. Maybe they have something against me, but I am in my mid 40’s, well dressed, live in the neighborhood and have made purchases there. I am an easy shopper in my mind. And, none of that should matter, as every customer should be treated with the same respect, no matter their circumstance.
My girlfriend has noticed this poor attitude and on a visit last night she simply turned on her heels and left. First off, one of the women nearly pushed her down to get the back room. Shortly after that I asked to see a pair of earrings in the glass case, after I was left waiting as 3 employees walked past me. When I finally had someone take the earrings out she immediately said, in what I can only describe as a bitchy tone, «These are $ 850.» I said, «Okay, can you tell me about them?» I was told where they were from and that they were old. When I asked how old or if they had a mark on them (silver jewelry like this usually has a maker’s mark), I was told, «Well, that’s what they are.» again in a tone that was just awful. I told them thank you and I’d think about them. Not one word back from them. Difficult to convey just how awful their tone and attitude was toward me, and for no apparent reason. As I said, this is not the first time I have noticed this.
Look, I can complain and complain and give similar examples of other visits, even those when I made a hefty purchase there, but the fact is that this place does not deserve my money ever again. I don’t need to deal with bitchy snobs on any given day, but it was 2 days before Christmas and I left feeling bad about myself wondering why someone would treat me like garbage. There are enough people that will be jerks for free. I don’t need to pay for it.

amazing.

The store is beautifully curated. I’ll give it that.
Otherwise, it’s pretty snotty and the people act like they are doing a favor letting you in their store. Very precious.
I bought a plastic whistle for my son, not unlike one you would buy at a party store. I thought they made a mistake when I realized I paid EIGHT DOLLARS for it. It looks like something that should be no more than 25 cents, and it was proved it should have been when I got it home and it made no sound. I would have let it go had they not so outrageously priced it, so I attempted to return it. They told me they would only exchange it as was their policy. Worse, she tested them. Put her mouth on it and gave it to my baby. Seriously?
I understand policy, but when you sell someone a proven overpriced product, make an exception.

if i could rate the merchandise only, i’d give this place 5 huge stars. gorgeous stuff. seriously, it’s like someone reached into my brain and took out all of the beautiful things from all my prettiest daydreams and put it in one store. i LOVE what they carry. beautiful collections of ribbons from france, hand-​carved wooden stamps from india, vintage and antique toys and whimsy from china, gorgeous jewelry from everywhere. i would shop here every day if i could.
but i’ve NEVER been treated well in here. i’ve worked in customer service for a LOOOONNNNNGGGGG time, and trust me when i say that i’m pretty hard to offend, because i get it. who wants to be fawning over people who see you as nothing but a service-​bot? who wants to smile in the faces of self-​entitled jerks who will treat you like crap because they can, and because they think it’s your job to sit there and take it? service is rough sometimes. i get it.
but what i DON’T tolerate is being made to feel unwelcome. i used to live half a block from there, and i’d pop in from time to time to browse. i did buy a few gifts there over the years, mostly little things. there were a lot of beautiful objects that i couldn’t really afford, but coveted. and the women who worked there couldn’t have made it plainer that they didn’t give a shit that i was there if they spat in my face. i’ve been flat-​out ignored, i’ve been sneered at, i’ve had monosyllabic answers to questions about merchandise that i had… i gave them the benefit of the doubt for literally years, and every time i went in there, it was like i didn’t exist, or like i was a nuisance. why waste your precious time on someone who doesn’t look like they sweat money, right ladies?
it doesn’t look like i’m the only person who’s had that experience. reading over these reviews, most of the negative ones say the same thing: «beautiful stuff, but goddamn it if those women don’t need to learn to put a little gratitude in their attitude.»
if i’m honest, i’ll probably be back. i love the beautiful stuff in there too much to stay away completely.
but being that i’m clearly not the only person who’s had that experience, i hope the owners and shopkeeps read this and take it to heart.
i want to love your store. please tone down the snob factor.

So many little treasures.

What’s not to like about Tail of the Yak. They have exquisite antique jewelry cozying up to beautiful Mexican silver pieces and more modern items. There’s beautiful fabrics, interesting soaps and perfumes, stuffed birds (and live doves!) and amazing surprise balls hand made by a local artisan! I like to drop in sometimes just for the ambience… and I generally wind up taking home something delightful whether it be a few candles, a book or gorgeous piece of antique jewelry. There’s something at the Yak for everyone!

The merchandise is unique-​truly, and a feast for the eyes. Very special items, chosen with care. Yet, sadly the women, (with the exception of one or two), working there are so rude and uppity, that I no longer find it a pleasant experience to give them my business. Would it kill you women to be a little more kind, polite, respectful towards your clientele? You care about your merchandise-​why don’t you care about how to treat customers?
During the last few visits I made, it was very obvious that certain individuals who enter the premises are «cool» enough or of the appropriate ilk to merit pleasant verbal exchanges with the staff. Not so, if you’re not part of this select tribe. Truly off putting and provincial behaviour.

I love this place. My mom introduced me to it as a teenager. It is such a treat to go there. I actually used to get my hair done at Moon Shadow Salon next door, just so I had an excuse to be in the area and go to Tail of Yak. It is a great place to go to get a unique gift and such a treat to the senses to be in there.

Like no other place/​store in the world, Tail of the Yak is the most personal, exquisitely curated collection of the handmade, delicate, yet not precious that you will find. the people there are not snooty; they are private, letting you roam to your heart’s delight. Ask them a question and they will answer with all the detail you might want. In an age of, «Can I help you?» as the norm, TOTY lets you browse, contemplate and admire in privacy and quiet until you ask for otherwise.

A magical place! I’ve been going for trinkets and french perfume since I was a young woman. I took my 3 year old daughter there for the first time last week. I honestly have been waiting for this day! She was in awe! (I felt the same way.) The fabrics! The unique gifts! The jewelry– oh the jewelry! We left with a lovely wind up singing bird in a bamboo cage. So romantic! My girl named it «Lala». The 2 women who hosted the store that day were polite and lovely. I will always come back to Tail of the Yak– and so will my little girl.

This store is the most beautiful and delightful place to shop or to just take in their superbly edited inventory presented with love to delight the senses. A trip here never disappoints. The staff is equally charming and willing to take the extra effort to make your purchase special. It’s ground zero for a certain type of shop but no other does it quite as well.

Love this place! I always find some small, inexpensive items mixed in with all the pricey ones and I stock up to use those for stocking stuffers during the holidays and for small gifts. Even if I only purchase a $ 1 or $ 2 to something expensive the staff are always courteous and have never been rude. As far as being buzzed in there is a good reason… there have been issues in this area with security even though Elmwood in general would be considered upscale it still has it’s share of panhandlers and people looking to do mischief and sometimes with only one or two staff in the store it is best for them to buzz people in and that way everyone is safe and the customer’s can shop in peace.
Go and enjoy this unique shop. It is worth the parking hassle.

this is the boutique that set the standard for all of its kind! it’s truly a unique, creative environment, beautifully styled with antiques and new items in a variety of price ranges.
Everyone who works there is knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful, and they also respect those who want to quietly look around without any high pressure sales.
You have to ring the bell to get it. Having lived in the Elmwood area myself I can tell you there is a good reason for this: it’s not snotty or elitist, it’s simple security. Once inside you are treated to lovely quiet place filled with beauty. I often go out of my way to visit there.

A friend suggested that I stop in here and I didn’t mind ringing the bell to get in… but I do mind the SNOTTY ‘tude of the owner/​employees!
It just took all the fun out of it… they were talking and they were annoyed that I was interupting them!
When I commented that one of their artisitic cases was very dark and said, «I’ll bet you wish that had a light in it.» They acted as if I was absurd and NEVER offered to bring the case of earrings ‘down’ to counter level so I might actually see if I wanted to buy anything in it!
And I was all dressed up at the time!
Someone needs to go back to charm school… and it’s not moi!

The first time I entered Tail of the Yak and saw the spectacle of garlands, taxidermy animals, the jewelry – the luster – I was instantly obsessed.
Every so often when I permit myself visit the store, I am in awe of the magnificent hangings + the priceless antiques that captivate my imagination and feed the dream that I will one day own a beautiful, one-​of-​kind piece of jewelry from this store. Mainly, however, I am tempted by the seashells stuffed with treats and wrapped in sliver twine that are irreverent gifts anyone remotely concerned with fancy aesthetics can appreciate, as well as the fun, petite garlands, and decadent cards.
The wonderful ladies who work there are elegant and kind, and they are always willing to educate me about a certain piece or explain ever so briefly how one is made. There is history to even item in that store, and I consider Tail of the Yak to be an important part of my history; as the store in a connection to my own artistic aspirations and I value it highly as such.

Such a whimsical, beautiful store!
Definitely worth checking out if you’re shopping in Berkeley. This store has so many fancy things.
Ostriches, doves, mushrooms, swans, feathers, ribbons, colorful fabrics and designs, I love it!

Can you say precious? So precious you need to be buzzed in. I couldn’t tell you exactly what they have, but it does appeal to a part of me I am not so reconciled with. The effete ephemera loving part.
Still, so appealing it rates as worth a detour.
The useful: If you like Nest on Fillmore, you’ll like her more refined cousin, Tail of the Yak.