Williams Sonoma

Shitty customer service! As a WSi associate, I know the importance of making a customer happy. They don’t do that here. I walked in last week and once the associate helped me learned I was a fellow associate, she asked me to wait to the side while she helped other people. I thought that was rude and left. The next day, I returned for some knives that were priced at 79.99, but were ringing up as $ 120. They would not price match it for me. Yes I get a discount, but I work hard for it! I went to the Williams Sonoma in Crystal Cove and they were more than happy to help me. I’ll no longer bring my business here.

Could not agree more with other reviewers who commented about how hard it is to find help here. I could walk laps around this store (and have) without anyone stopping to ask if I needed assistance or even acknowledging I was there. On several occasions I’ve gone in looking for something specific, haven’t been able to find it, and just left because no one seemed to want to help. In the home section, I watched an associate fluff blankets for five to ten minutes while I walked back and forth looking for a table I liked online. Tried Sur La Table down a few doors and instantly received help without having to interrupt someone.

We were assisted by Callie, who provided excellent customer service. We had an issue with a skillet. I was expecting to exchange the skillet and then, she showed us how to use a product (we happened to already had at home) and types of abrasives to use. While demonstrating this to us, she chatted us up about the class we took (spiralizer). Callie was awesome and was friendly, helpful and kind. In general, their customer service is outstanding at this store. We have always enjoyed the quality of their products, demos, and classes. I’m so glad they moved to the Crystal Court side.

This is the William-​Sonoma to end all William-Sonoma’s!
Believe me, I’m a newlywed and have been to the Santa Monica store and opened my registry at the Beverly Hills store, and this South Coast Plaza store blows those out of the water, both in inventory and absolutely in customer service.
I had a lengthy, long return process to do, many items without recipes. Denise greeted me with a warm smile and even helped me unload my car! No one at any other WS’s did that for me. Jacqueline then painstakingly looked up every item on my registry. She even offered me ice cream while I waited! And I was causing her the biggest most annoying return headache of all time. Finally, when it was time for a refund etc we had a sort of big hiccup. The store GM Callie stepped in and solved the problem immediately. I was able to have a Nespresso while I waited, Pat taught me how to clean my new pots, and everyone was lovely. Let me be clear I was I was in the store for over an hour. That’s how annoying my return was, and yet I had a lot of fun doing it because the staff was amazing and the store is beautiful. Start to finish this was one of the best customer service experiences I’ve ever had, anywhere.

Their customer service ratings reflect themselves. It was a particular employee Sally who made our experience unpleasant. Went in to purchase a wedding gift from the registry and immediately walked out after she made a rude comment about touching a coffee maker which is on display for use and has no ‘please ask for assistance’ sign. Sally made us feel uncomfortable and not welcome in their store. We Will not be coming back and we will also be letting the bride know about our experience there.

Save yourself the frustration and go to Newports Crystal Cove or Brea. Customer service here is terrible. They will do anything to ignore you even though youre standing in line.
I came to return a defected item off our wedding registry. The associate already agreed to the return and as i was shopping the tall man in the cutting board section found the need to come and add criticism. I had to be short with him and say i dont appreciate the criticism and that im here for my return. this store has given me issues in the past and i wont be returning.

Been here multiple times with no help, having to seek out employees who are unable to answer questions about store merch.
Today was a success though!
Finally found a kitchen gadget for removing jalapeño seeds — we have tried so many methods of removing seeds from jalapeños and end up having to soak our skin in milk to lessen the tingle of the heat. This gadget is curled like a helix and you turn it to scrape out the inside of the jalapeño. Hopefully this will work well for cooking jalapeño poppers!
Also found a natural wooden handheld citrus juicer made in Poland I think :)
Crossing our fingers that these work well in the kitchen!

My fiancé and I came in to register for our wedding gifts. This was our first stop and we were looking forward to doing it. As soon as we walked in I could tell the energy was very strange. Janet, who I believe was the manager was barking orders at everyone and being very aggressive towards customers. We asked if we could register and we were told we had to wait. We wait for about 20 minutes until we were spoken to again. I was then told I needed to downloaded the WS app as they didn’t have any scanning guns. I was a little annoyed after waiting for some time that now I needed to do that when I could have done that from the beginning. Anyway, I began to fill out the app with the annoying sales person breathing over my shoulder and looking at my personal information. We began to register for overpriced items; my fiancé was less than thrilled. Once we were finished, I wanted to review what we had decided on. When I pulled up the registry, I was shocked to see that the majority of the items weren’t on there. I asked a sales associate who wanted to pawn me off on the «manager» Janet. I told her I didn’t want to speak with her because she looked busy and she insisted anyway. Janet came over and barked an answer to a question that wasn’t asked. After the sales associate barely attempted to look it up in there system, we decided we had had enough. We left immediately and I went home to remove the registry. I would never in a million years want my guests to purchase overpriced gifts at a store who cannot service their customers. I will never come back or recommended.

Love, love, love, their cooking classes for kids – I just wish they had more that are open to 5 yr olds – most of them are for 8 – 13. Still, I’m happy they have 1 – 2 a month that can accommodate my now 5yr old.
Great selection of products, and staff is friendly too. We especially love Ms. Cindy and the chef gentleman who along with Ms. Cindy, teaches a lot of the classes.

Received an email for their Fall Open House which prompted this latest visit. Ample parking right across from the store. Beautiful displays of fall merchandise and friendly customer service. Loved all the seasonally decorative dishes, placemats and tablecloths. The Vitamix strawberry yogurt smoothie sample tasted delicious and the sales person attentive. The Pumpkin Butter Bar samples were $ 1.00 each (charity). The young woman left to take a phone call so I left. Awesome cup of coffee at Nordstrom’s E-​Bar, tipped the sweet barista and with renewed inspiration took out my elegant WS Nordic pumpkin loaf pan to make pumpkin bread. Filled our home with the aroma of fragrant pumpkin spices in no time. Always stop at Williams-​Sonoma if in the South Coast Plaza Shopping Center relaxing, fun and full of festive entertainment ideas.

The prices are high here, but the customer service is so amazing that it makes up for it. I have never had an experience where an employee doesn’t go out of their way to help us out. Even if that means letting me know that there is a better place to get what we’re looking for! Because of that, I always start my shopping at Williams Sonoma.
They also have a great selection of little trinkets. Some of them are silly unitaskers that I personally would never use, but every once & awhile I come across an item that is just so ingenious that I can’t help but pick it up.

Didn’t like:
— overpriced
— sales staff asked what I was looking for then proceeded to ignore my description
— condescending attitudes
Liked:
+ old sales lady smelled like cookies
Casually walked in to browse coffee grinders. Spoke to sales woman and told her I was looking for a simple compact grinder. Proceeded to show me large multi-​setting machines. Told her I like to grind my beans fresh to which she replied that it wasn’t worth it. Then wasted time showing me an online catalog. The grinder she was trying to peddle had 3 stars out of 21 reviews on their website.
I understand the retail game but I find the price of goods did not reflect the level of service received. Sales tactics reminded me of old used car dealerships.

Totally overpriced with every item in the store and with service fulfilled by haughty and pretentious staff, which is a huge mistake. Get a clue and understand what customer service is and how to execute it. Avoid this store like an ebola outbreak.

I LOVE stores like this. I can browse for hours and just find cute trinkets and tools for the kitchen.
However, whenever I stop by, the employees are always looking at me like I’m gonna steal something, or as though I cant afford anything. Well, well, well, go ahead and judge a book by its cover. I’ll take my business elsewhere, like to Crate and Barrel which is diagonal from where this store is located.

I have been here numerous of times. Book signings, food demonstrations on Sundays, and some strange sales. I’ve been an avid fan of WS because my brother in law used to work for them in SF. Thus of course, I was able to take advantage of his discount from back in the day. Since they are affiliated with Pottery Barn, we got some discount from them too.
So this might be the last post you will see for this store. As sadly to say, when I was here this past Sunday, they told us they will be moving next Sunday. The good news is, they will be across the street at Crystal Court close to the Apple Store.
Crystal Court, ya know, the place that has everything under one roof for home furnishing? Not that Apple furnishes the house but I think that’s what they were aiming for.
They will be with their sister store PB and West Elm
So in the interim, you can shop at WS at Brea or at the Cove in Newport.
Currently they have some inventory at 75% off but I would say most are going to the new store, including fixtures. We were able to get some Star Wars cookie cutters and pancake molds for cheap.
You can always come here to get your knive sharpened for free, it’s one per person. Takes about 5 days. I will have to pick up my knive before they close.
So thanks for the memories William Sonoma. I will miss you and see you at the new location soon.

I really like this store. Very clean and filled with tons of interesting stuff. You can spend a long time just browsing through everything in this store. During the holidays, they have tons of themed items, which is super cute.
They sometimes have free food and drink samples here. Yummy. They also do complimentary knife sharpening at times.
My favorite thing about the store is the technique classes they offer every week or so. It’s an informal class in which the teacher demonstrates how to make a few food or drink items. You listen and take notes. At the end, you can try the samples. It’s really fun and lasts about an hour. Not too many places have a service like this.
Anyways, I definitely feel very Martha Stewart when I’m in here.

Before going into how Awesome Williams Sonoma is, I must take you on a quick detour.
Shun’s are one of my favorite knives of all time. I own a Santoku and everything cut like room temperature butter, until lover used it to cut cheese. That and lets just say we were shun noobs.
The other day, I noticed a sale on Shun Nakiri’s from WS online and just had to get it. After all the waiting and excitement, I finally took it for a test drive on our new chopping board. The first couple of cuts into mincing tomatoes felt like heaven, but after the 3^rd tomato, I felt quite a bit of resistance from the Nakiri. I realized, it was already dull! Mad that such an expensive toy was dull already, I took the Nakiri to WS and asked if an online purchase can be returned in store. After a bit of explaining, they exchanged my Nakiri and ordered me another with no qualms. They did not bat an eye and apologized the entire time. I even asked what if the second Nakiri was still dull, and one of the employees said it wouldn’t be a problem to return.
With impeccable service and quality products, I’ll definitely be back in the future.

This place is literally the Starbucks of home/​kitchenware. The atmosphere is warm and friendly and the samples don’t hurt either! The store is essentially a big circle filled with home/​kitchen goodies. While the prices can be steep, the staff is friendly and their knowledge can’t be beat.
Pros:
–GREAT STAFF
–Samples
–Good selection of products
Cons:
–Long lines for cashiers

All the problems of the world could be settled if people were only willing to think. The trouble is that people very often resort to all sorts of devices in order not to think, because thinking is such hard work — Thomas J Watson Sr
30 reviews left until I retire from Unilocal!That of course is a #Firstworldproblem when you are looking around for new time wasting hobbies. Just like Williams Sonoma is a First World Problem Solving Store.
From that bastion of unassailable information Wikipedia: «Williams-​Sonoma was founded in 1956 by Charles E. (Chuck) Williams, selling professional and restaurant-​quality kitchenwares for home use. Chuck Williams was one of the titans of the American food revolution. He had a tough childhood made even more so by the Great Depression. By the time he was a teenager he was on his own working his way through high school at a California date farm. During World War II he repaired war planes in East Africa and India. In 1953 took his first trip to France. He quickly fell in love with French kitchenware such as copper cookware, and is quoted as saying „I knew this was something that wasn’t found in America, but thought people would want.“ Soon after, he formulated a plan to import French cookware into America. He settled in Sonoma, California in 1947 and taught himself how to build houses before opening his first shop several blocks from the town square. The store quickly became a destination. In 1958, at the suggestion of customers and friends, Williams relocated the store to San Francisco. In 1971, along with – and at the suggestion of – regular customer Jackie Mallorca, Williams began publishing a mail order catalog to expand his business beyond the San Francisco Bay Area. By 1972 he was sending out thousands of catalogs, took on partners, borrowed money and opened more stores.»
The Company owns Pottery Barn, pottery Barn Kids, PB Teen, West Elm and a few other brands. As a gringo who used to live full time in master planned suburban Orange County, I can sheepishly say I have spent thousands of dollars at the Company’s various stores and like Phoebe in Friends, I’m not proud of it ;)
The most recent #firstworldproblem that I needed to solve was making a better pizza. I used to have a beautiful four burner grill that was perfect to make pizza but like most things after a divorce, I had to downsize to a Weber three burner grill (My friend James D though bucked the divorce downsizing by leaving one marriage for another with a gorgeous younger Latina who is also a lovely person inside. He’s everyone’s next marriage hero). The Weber gets too hot for pizza, even turning two burners off, so what to do?
Enter an email from WS with $ 50 off the Breville Crispy Crust Pizza Maker! Being a pliable email marketing responder, my millions from the Nigerian Prince are arriving any day now!, Mini-​me and I visited the palace of Williams Sonoma at South Coast Plaza. Thankfully, the store had the pizza display right at the front so it was easy in and easy out access. The energetic and helpful worker even offered to bring the product to the pick-​up area but as I told Mini-​me: «We are men! We carry the heavy sh*t to our cars.» (No, I did not use that exact word). Mini me just rolled his eyes embarrassingly as I knocked over dozens of wealthy SCP shoppers when I lumbered triumphantly with my prize to our car.
The device is very easy to use, very easy to clean and the initial pizzas came out very good. Adding in a couple of bottles of wine (no, mini-​me was long gone by the time we made the pizzas so he missed the slightly buzzed singing off key and dancing like a white dude Sidney) this was an excellent way to spend a Saturday night and a great alternative to yet another expensive meal out.
Good service at the store and a very good product. Hmmm, what other #firstworldproblem of mine can I solve??? Probably gotta start with that dancing like a white dude thing…

I’ve arrived! Sin City for cookers, the Toys ‘R’ Us for Chefs Anonymous members. It’s the flagship Williams Sonoma of the West Coast… the Costa Mesa store! It’s where you can buy fine china, kitchen knives, Meyer’s lemon ready cake mix, sea salts, non-​stick pans and garlic presses, while being handed some fresh made southwest chili in a paper cup smaller than Dixie.
There’s a mob of three. The peppermint bark crumbles are being reached for like manna. I smell traces of apple cider. I’m tempted to sign up for a Sunday cooking class, but I stay focused, remembering that I’m here to pick up books.
Today was the «Bouchon Bakery» book signing and Williams Sonoma managed it as perfectly as Thomas Keller manages his kitchens. Staff in front of the store to direct you to will call/​book pickup. Two staffers managing the outside line along with two mall security members. A person at the front of the table handing your books to authors Thomas Keller and Sebastien Rouxel while introducing you to them on a first name basis. Another staffer holding your camera so that they can take your picture with the authors. Thomas Keller saying hi, signing boldly and beautifully, and bridging that sometimes awkward can-​I-​get-​a-​picture gap by asking before you do, «Would you like a picture?» A third staffer at the table collecting your finished books and handing them to you.
Are we done? No! Upon exiting, another staffer loaded my hands with cookies. Cookies that Thomas Keller brought for us from Bouchon Bakery! You know what we say on the basketball court when there are good freebies (steals) to be had? Cookies! Score.