Party Basket

This shop at 51^st and Madison used to be an awesome gift shop and a Gold Crown Hallmark store. Not sure what happened but they are no longer a Gold Crown store and have the WORST card selection ever. So sad b/​c this used to be my go-​to for cards for every occasion. And the store is in shambles now. The only reason I’m giving it two stars is b/​c they still have some good toys and stuffed animals, but seem to be having a big of an identity crisis. If you’re in the area and looking for cards, head to Duane Reade. Owner –please fix your card situation and be nicer to your staff as they seem miserable.

This review is meant as a warning to small companies who plan to sell merchandise to Party Basket. We are a small privately owned company with a product line of souvenir ornaments that sell extremely well in stores. Party Basket placed an order with us in September 2012 — but has not paid for the merchandise yet, a year later. Initially, the owner claimed that the store had been hit by storm Sandy, and needed more time to pay. Of course we felt compassionate about this, and accepted the promise to pay at a later time. However, regular calls to the owner resulted always in the same promises to pay about a month later — but the payment never came through. We finally offered the store to pay in installments, but get nothing but the same promises of upcoming payments, which we have learned are not credible.
A year after shipping the merchandise to the store, we have still not been paid, and the owner hides behind «I have to talk to «him» — refusing to say who «he» is. Lately she has also changed the story from her statements in the spring that our ornaments sold very well to that she still has them in stock and wants to return them (in stores of similar size and foot traffic, the quantity of merchandise she bought sells in about 6 weeks, year-​round).
I hope this review will help other small companies from making the mistake of selling to this store, and losing a lot of money.
UPDATE: this company has now paid the bill in full