Ten Thousand Villages

Ugh… ah crap … The corn husk bicycle riding, tree hugging, Unilocalers will hate me forever after this review…
But I must be true to myself and post it…
I hate myself for this:
TEN THOUSANDS VILLAGES IS A HIGH PRICED GIFT SHOP FOR RUBES, OR THOSE WHO FEEL GUILTY OF THEIR SUCCESS AND WANT TO DUMP MONEY TO ABSOLVE THEIR SUPPOSED SINS!
Wheeey…that was hard,… anyway
The girl and walk into a smallish retail space that has all this African crap.
Drums, tins, bowls, plates, jewelry, costumes, carved wooden animals.
The prices are HUGE… expensive by Macy’s standards.
Even if I bought into this crap I could not find one item I could put in my house w/​o having to explain: «The Kingii bear soul whistle was produced by starving indigent Kenyan vegans who are saving money to attend art school in NYC next year! «
WTFFFFFFF…$ 90 for a drum I can buy at Pier One or World Market for far less…
Lesson: Supply and Demand AND Value vs Price
For Gods sake
Do I get a receipt for my taxes for a donation to some vague country if i spend this money
Am I employing African people by paying 150% more for the same goods elsewhere… Do I get a gold star?
We whisper to each other as we check out various totally non essential items… not comfortable at all in this small space as the owner suggests (think: your crazy Aunt, watching you) you pick out a cool fucking bell or hand sized fertility statue… WTF
Well the mid 50’s white, female, well coiffed, multi ring wearing, and smartly dressed shop keeper kept trying to ask us to buy… perhaps an African Shaker for $ 45.00 … hmmm charity or exploitation?
Please visit to see this place for yourself and you decide.
Peace

yep. i love the free trade worldly gifts. if you were wondering where to get those cozy wool hats, scarves and gloves made in the andes mountains by a little old woman not in a sweat shop, well, ten thousand villages is the place.
and i was. so i was good to go.
aside of the free traded cozy knitted pieces of comfy, you can pick up various other neat stuff. ornaments? yep. hand made jewelry ranging from pretty cheap (but still quality) to kinda pricey? yep. drums for that drum circle you’re planning? yep.
and very friendly service.
so wrap yourself up in your newly purchased gloves, scarf and hat, put on some fancy jewelry, and bang on your drum.
what?
i don’t know. Unilocal ate half my review. i don’t know where i was going with it.
good place. good stuff. good people. and apparently freely traded.

Women love their worldly trinkets!
THE UP-​SIDE: An interesting array of smaller gifts from around the world. Lot’s of musical instrument type stuff and fun little trinkets, etc. If you’re looking for something to buy that earthy /​spiritual type friend of yours, this just might be the place.
THE DOWN-​SIDE: Eh, this is more of a store for women than men. While I have bought great gifts here, I always feel a little out of touch being the only dude in a store full of broads! (…overly macho, 70’s style sexist language fully intended!) ;-P
THE SUM-​IT-​UP: A nice place for quirky, well-​made gifts. Give it a try; especially if you are of the female persuasion.