Forest Gems

I’ve been shopping here and bringing friends and family for years. They consistently have high quality handcrafted items. It’s true the owner can be gruff but lovable and not everyone lives to please Unilocal reviewers– it’s Port Townsend! He has interesting stories to tell of his days in Pike Place Market and as a longtime woodworker and has a good heart. Just leave the cell phone in your pocket and nobody gets hurt.

I would give 0 stars for customer service. The cashier/​owner was incredibly rude, and his products in my opinion were overpriced based on other stores I have been to offering the same type of products. Not worth anyone’s time to go into this store, due to the poor customer service. The cashier/​possible owner yelled at me to put my phone away, proceeding to tell me he has signs posted everywhere, and then continued to complain about cell phone usage to another customer. I was attempting not to be rude, as I did notice the sign, I was simply dismissing a phone call. I came in with my husband, and he was even disturbed by the cashier/​owners response to me pulling out my phone to dismiss a phone call. I understand it can be frustrating when a customer pulls out their phone, however yelling at a customer is not the way to respond in my opinion.

First off, I love the hand crafted products in this store. I have spent a lot of money, numerous times collecting 1 of a kind hand carved wooden pieces in the past. There are so many things to choose from. If you are a lover of hand crafted wood carved excellence then this place has a lot of options. He is the best wood crafter in the Pacific North West.
Secondly and sadly, the owner of this delightful shop is a bitter, unfriendly person. He makes going into the shop almost unbearable. Over the last fifteen years or more I have gone into the shop and spent large amounts of money on beautiful items, from big pieces to small but I will not support this man or his business any longer. In the past, I would enter the store and be greeted by warm and welcoming staff. They made the experience enchanting. In recent years the owner chooses to run the store himself. The owner, a grumpy man, won’t hesitate to ridicule how one must go about his store and it is down right insulting. Yes, we need to be careful while in the store He has insulted me on the last few visits when I have been in the store. A few weeks ago, while visiting the shop I had my cell phone in my hand and pointing at items I was interested in while talking with a family member and while browsing and he yelled at me, saying I was taking pictures. He yelled saying,“stop taking pictures!!! No pictures!!! There are camera’s, I can see you, put your phone away in my store!!!” He grumbled more insults at me that I didn’t understand and I was so appalled I quickly left. I felt attacked by this man who if he was nicer, would have made a hefty profit from me that day. Never again will I go into the shop and be insulted by the insensitive and mean owner. Other patrons, you have been forewarned.
Now if the man I am referring to may not be the owner but he is there most of the time. He is a large, unhappy, brown haired man who has a short pony tail. Owner or staff, whichever you are, you need to take a lesson in kindness and hospitality.
Furthermore, if this man knew anything about how to utilize social media for free exposure he would let customers photograph the one of a kind pieces. It’s not like they could be recreated. If I did happen to take pictures, which I did not, I could have posted them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, linking the shop to them and given him free advertising. Most shops, those who utilize opportunities of the 21^st. century, often encourage it. He should consider this option before yelling at customers who may or may not be photographing inside the store.
Mr. I hope you are reading this and I hope you are kinder to your customers.

I’m honored — the shop owner is willing to pay me $ 5K to take a polygraph test, and he only offers the other reviewer $ 1K. He must like me. In any case, in the over 2 years since I left my review, he’s gotten us confused with some other potential customer that he yelled out of his store.

I have been in this gallery several times. I am always amazed at the beauty and talent the artists share. I wish I could buy everything but then no one else would get to enjoy the beautiful handcrafted art. The manager Ann is always a delight and adds even more depth to this unique place. Her wit and pure enthusiasm for the artists sell the pieces every time. Thank you Ann for the great advise on gifts through out the years.

I have been to this gallery several times. I am always amazed at how beautiful all the pieces are. I wish I could buy everything but then no one else would get to experience the hand crafted beauty the artists bring out in their work. Ann is a brilliant addition to the place. Her knowledge and pure love for the pieces in the store is what brings me back time after time. Thank you so much for you great gift ideas. Forest Gems has a true gem in it’s presence.

Don’t shop here
There is something wrong with the man who owns this shop. He would rather argue with a person who had a bad experience at his store than offer an apology.
I changed my original post in hopes that it would be some sort of peace offering to a man who seems deeply disturbed. Calling my review of exactly what happened when I attempted to make a purchase at his shop «an attack» ITS A REVIEW! I can understand your hatred for Unilocal seeing as you are a hateful person. But the complete lack of any diplomacy or attempted customer service is rather unbelievable. You obviously do not know how Unilocal works. you just saw that at any point a reviewer can change their review. Instead of taking that as an opportunity to improve your relationship with the people who believe they were wronged while trying to shop at your store, and thus improving your Unilocal rating. You continue to post inane, nonsensical, rude, rambling replies. I will never understand people like you and thanks to Unilocal I can usually avoid them. Just wish I had read the other reviews before i came in your over priced TOURIST TRAP!

Me and my husband decided to make a trip up to Port Townsend. We wandered upon the Forest Gem store and my husband being an avid collector of beautiful wood projects was in heaven. He immediately walked in and pulled out his phone to take a picture of a wooden chest he was admiring (at the same time I noticed the «No pictures signs» all around the store) I turned to let him know to put the phone away but the store attendant beat me too it. He was very harsh and yelled at him from across the store. My husband immediately apologized but the man continued to scold him like a child. At that time I had heard enough and we left. I don’t understand how you can treat customers like that and continue to run a successful business. My husband made an honest mistake because he was truly excited. We will not be returning to this business.

I moved to the great Northwest 10 years ago. I fortunately found Forest Gems when I was looking for a large massive design rocking chair. I found that chair which over the years has been the center piece of my house. Every person who sees this artfully created throne is in awe of it’s beauty and comfort. In a home surrounded by collectable ceramic art and paintings this bigger than life chair made of sycamore, juniper and maple burl commands attention.
Many other wood items decorate our house from wall hangings to lamps from Forest Gems. If you like unique, one of a kind furniture you will find it in Port Townsend. As a return customer I saw the shop where the wood is dried before being used for all the treasures they have. Talk about getting a piece right from the shop! Only a shop owner who cares about you would go to that extent to help you get the exact thing you want or need. I got to choose from 7 rockers at least when I got my rocker. It felt perfect and fit my body perfectly. Some I sat in where definitely made for someone else! If you are in PT visiting be sure to visit this shop… I am glad I did!