The Container Store

This location is the pits. No more popping in for me.
Every customer in front of me in line had to leave their items in the store to run get the car to pull up to the door. It’s inconvenient to take a cart out. That’s like IKEA but with higher prices.
The staff, while friendly is not at the caliber it once was. I’ve been to this location three times, and each time had to wait in line to pay for longer than I should have.
There once was kind of an upbeat fun atmosphere in the store, and that no longer is the vibe.

Wow, service is fantastic here. I ordered an elfa closet online to the Oakbrook store. I pulled up and went inside. Out comes my order within 5 minutes. That is service. Husband installed and I love it. Then went back for a more complicated design where Sarah spent a lot of time with me going over the myriad intricacies of dogs, leashes, detergent, storage, etc for a laundry room and we came up with a plan that I’m very pleased with.
Going back to pick up laundry room closet system tonight. There is nothing better than having a house where everything has a place, and is neat and organized. I’m going back for other closets to do Elfa which is SO easy to install. I’ve used their closet systems in 3 homes now and am never disappointed.

We bought and had an Elfa custom closet installed. Closet quality — 4 STARS. The installer was efficient; did an outstanding job — 5 STARS.
a 1 STAR review. Why? To catch attention and if you are considering a custom closet from The Container Store — what follows is a value read and can save you hundreds of dollars.
Closet installation price — $ 581. We were told the following by the salesperson at the time of purchase. 2 installers would be out between 8 and 9 (on the date of install) and would be there for about 5 hours. We were told how to prepare the room; the closet room was totally clear and ready. We were also told that the install price was an estimate (our read was that it may take longer than the quoted time estimate and if so, the cost may be more than the agreed ESTIMATE), .
INSTALLATION DAY — One man appeared at about 8:30 and took 15 minutes to set up. He was finished by 11:30. He did a great Job, absolutely first class — the only flaw — cost of install was $ 190/​hour for his time.
EXPLANATION — During my complaint conversation with the supervisor/​manager at the Container Store, she said that (i) one installer is routine; it is the rare project that takes two; and (ii) The price of the install = 25% of the price of the closet; and (iii) the price has ZERO to do with time or effort.
The Container store KNOWS that the price is hugely inflated; the manager was apologetic arguing that there was some miscommunication at the time of purchase. NO, there wasn’t. The install discussion at point of sale is a gross and deliberate misrepresentation.
SUMMARY: The custom closet is a decent buy. The install cost is not fraud, but it is fraud’s first cousin. If you are going to buy the closet, find a great handyman that has installed closets and save HUNDREDS of dollars.

Painfully slow lines! I cringe when I have to go there now. There are plenty of people around and somehow they have to have a certain number backup. This has happened every time I’m there, and the cashiers are slow, not IT sharp.

Nice variety but lines were very long (15 minutes on a Wednesday at 2pm) with no apology for line and no attempt to get someone else to the cash registers to help. Not much staff on floor either

So this is an ambivalent review because on the one hand I love the customer service and the quality of products that they have here. But the new location means fewer visits, so now I look to see if I can find things at competitor stores first before I’m willing to take a chance of finding parking. Also, there seems to be a greater effort from the associates to push products instead of simply being helpful and homey like when they first started.
Parking is awful. No longer can I take a fast trip to pick up things. I now have to fight mall traffic which is always awful especially given the location — by the restaurants. Who was the genius in that one? In fact, the first time I went in search I couldn’t find it because it never occurred to me it would be placed by the restaurants!
Please move and return to your original mission!

The location/​parking is a problem. I no longer frequently shop there; it’s just too time consuming. If I buy anything large or cumbersome then I have to go move my car to pull up in the busiest place of the mall (by the restaurants). Then one of the cashiers scolded me for pulling up there for my items (4 large clothes valet racks). The cashier that originally checked me out saw how heavy the racks boxes were and told me I could leave them there and pull up. I will go elsewhere to shop now. They lost a great customer.

More of the same, I’m afraid. New location is awful. No parking. You have to deal with mall traffic. No more just running in to pick up a gift. Verrrrry lonnnng lines! Nothing lasts forever. :(

Over the years, I’ve lowered the bar significantly regarding what impresses me at retail. At most places, I’m genuinely surprised and impressed when I get what would typically be considered adequate or competent customer service.
The folks at the Oak Brook Container Store just recalibrated that measure for me. Holy smokes! I haven’t been wowed by customer service in a long, long time. I can honestly say the only place where I’ve seen/​experienced consistently good, cheerful, helpful, and proactive service at this level is probably Disney.
I’m getting started on a project that’s way overdue — putting Elfa shelving up in my hobby room. I have a good amount of the shelving and hardware from a previous residence, but needed a whole lot more. It’s the kind of project that you think you’re prepared for, but as you progress, you realize you need all kinds of additional pieces.
So I made a couple trips to the store, and numerous visits online, over the last couple days. The website experience is easy as can be. But the store service is dynamite. Between my two trips, I’d say I interacted with probably seven or eight employees, and every single one was patient, super happy to help, and right on with his/​her advice.
I wish I’d gotten a few names to directly compliment, but my mind was so full of measurements and quantities that I completely forgot.
I’d not shopped at a Container Store in about 15 years. I’m sure everything was just fine back then, but certainly don’t remember this level of A+ service. I wonder if this is chain-​wide, or if the hiring manager at this location just really knows how to pick ‘em.
I should probably say that I’ll shop here more often because of all this. And I will definitely head there if I need more of their proprietary Elfa stuff. But the one major negative of this place will keep me from going there frequently — the location. Parking is particularly brutal in that section of the mall, and the parking garage is a little too far to carry the oversize home goods that people would typically be picking up there.
The prices are a bit (okay, a lot) on the high side for the majority of stuff. But frankly, if the extra money goes to the quality of the products and the training/​compensation of the staff, it’s absolutely worth it. This is a rare case where I’d say the higher prices are completely justified. If I want low prices on cheap stuff with unhelpful service, I can go just about anywhere. I’m quite happy to support the quality goods and quality people at The Container Store Oak Brook.

What everybody else said — horrible new location! I mentioned that as a passing comment to someone who works there and she said it’s best to park in the garage by Nordstroms and then take an elevator to the store. I haven’t tried that yet, but parking by the restaurants is a nightmare! I have to go back today to buy packing supplies and I’m not looking forward to it.
And in general, sometimes you wait in line forever because the check out process is very slow with how large and awkward the stuff is people buy.

Ok so I’ve been here a couple times now so I think I’m ready to write a review about this place! Mind you I have never been to their old location or any other container store but this one. When I first walked in it felt a little overwhelming there is so much stuff to see. Boxes and organizers all sizes all colors whatever you want. I mean omg!!! It was really cool, right away it made me feel like I need all of this in my life. But anyway it’s definitely worth checking out, I think even if you don’t need anything you will still end up buying something there because they have such cool stuff. Especially right now they put up all their Christmas boxes and paper out. The only problem I see there is it’s always crowded there and the check out is really really long. It kind of kills the experience at the end and makes you just want to not buy anything so you can skip the line at check out.

Like another review said, terrible location! This was my first time at the store, but will their prices, will likely be my last! I’m happy that our pantry is finally complete, but it came with a hefty price tag. The install is pricey, too, and he marked my walls and put gouges in them! In addition, I had to clean up after him!
When I went to the store to exchange my shelves, they like to bring your items out for you. I told her I was parked in their pick-​up parking spot, but she wanted me to drive around and park in front of the store. What’s the point of having these spots then? The people working there are weird!

Anyone else disappointed that Oak Brook Mall allowed the Container Store to move in? Initially I thought it was a good idea, but now having seen the outside of the store and how much smaller it is now, it’s just sad. First off, the UGLY blue signage. OC is spending quite a bit of money on renovations to make this part of the mall really beautiful, yet they allow this huge ugly blue sign to be out up and it looks EXTREMELY tacky next to the Pirch sign.
Here is my deal with the container store. I go there a lot, for very specific things and the original location was fantastic, parking was easy, I was in and out. NOW you have to find parking next to all of the restaurants. GOOD LUCK. Seriously who thought that it was a smart idea to move into here? You go to the mall to browse clothes, shoes, handbags… you don’t go to the mall to browse Elfa Shelves…
AND the store is smaller than before, aisles are more cramped, the store isn’t as fun to go into because it just feels confined.
Thanks for making your loyal customers pissed. I don’t want to even imagine what holiday parking is going to do to their customers…

Tsk, tsk, tsk, shame on you Container Store. I have written before about check out issues at your old location. I didn’t think it was possible, but the new location is WORSE.
Parking for this new location will be an issue, no easy access. New location is not nearly as bright and the only windows face north.
Looooooooooooooooooooong check out line. People were patiently waiting their turn when one of the cashiers decided to open her register on the opposite side. Now, to be fair to those in line, they wanted to be waited on in the order in which they got into that line. All the cashier had to do is call for the next person in line, but she did not want to do that, so when a woman just walked up and got behind the person being checked out, she let her stay there. She was NOT even directed to go to the entrance to that line. The cashier blamed the customers and waited on the woman who bypassed at least 7 people who had been waiting. Wait, What? It’s the customer’s fault for not wanting to wait any longer???
FIX YOUR CHECK OUT ISSUES.

This place gets an automatic 4 because it’s located in the most evil part if the mall, by ALL THE RESTAURANTS, the parking in this part is horrendous even with the 2 parking garages, there are more valet spots than handicapped (really OAKBROOK). Their old location across the street had better parking. Inside however is well organized by style and type of item. Also their staff is helpful and they try to get the line moving fast. I went on a day with an event, BIG MISTAKE, the store was full of shoppers but the staff was attentive and helpful and demonstrated their products well. Also they had some cool stuff to organize my apple
Cords so they don’t Get broken behind my bed.

Beautiful new location in Oakbrook Center. Grand Opening party was flawless & (wait for it…) well-​oganized. Have never seen so many valets & servers. Great food & drink, fun band and a dance floor. Really a nice gift to customers! A percentage of Grand Opening weekend sales goes to support Ronald McDonald House. Looking forward to shopping in this new location of one of my favorite stores!