2 /5 Katherine Fairbanks: It’s OK. I’ve been here a few times dressed in a myriad of ways (casual to dressy) and have never been greeted by the staff and have always felt a bit unwelcome/out of place, even when making a purchase. I think for myself personally this is due to age (mid 20s) as my mother has had positive experiences here.
They sometimes have some decent selection; can be hit or miss. The items are not priced competitively compared to Finders Keepers up the road in my personal opinion, and the clutter of the store is unappealing. Aside from the small designer section (which is the store’s major plus despite being incorrectly labeled as couture; I get it’s cutesy but for me it’s an eye roll when people refer to ready to wear items as “couture”), the racks are set up more like a thrift store, which doesn’t lend well to the consignment shopping experience or price point. Sometimes the clothes feel a little gross:
I was in this week and found a cute Anthropologie skirt; unfortunately it had food crusted on it in small splatters that were visible at a glance (pretty clearly from someone eating a soup/curry/what have you and dribbling). Clearly whoever brought it in didn’t wash it first and no one working either cleaned it or noticed before hanging it on one rack. It stopped me from buying an otherwise cute item and honestly made me feel like the clutter is an indictment of the cleanliness of the store. The shoe section in the back especially feels thrifty. (I love thrift stores, but not at this price!)
I wish they would change the way their purses are displayed. I’m a designer collector and our local consignment stores have some of the best deals. Queenie’s is the only one I’ve visited regularly and haven’t purchased a bag from because I’ve never even worked up the courage to ask about seeing a bag! Everything is on a back wall shelf behind a staff counter, and it tends to be staffed by the more unwelcoming people (the friendlier young ladies have always worked at the drop off counter when I’ve been in). I’ve felt stared at negatively just for approaching to look at the wall.
It’s hard to see the items when they’re on the back wall, and I feel awkward looking at all when they’re guarded by someone unfriendly. None of the prices are visible or listed until you talk to an employee about the item. With the way the staff acts, I’m just not willing to strike up a conversation to ask to look at various purses and the see prices to decide if they’re a fair deal. I honestly couldn’t even tell you if I think their bags are priced fairly as I have no idea the charge. Similar complaints about the furs. I understand concerns about theft and damage, but other stores have solved this issue with more accessible/visible secure displays and clear labeling.
I understand that some people have a perception of this unfriendly, price unlisted environment as being “designer”. As a customer I have low tolerance for that in general even when buying new, and I personally haven’t ever actually experienced this attitude when shopping at the designer boutiques in person. Maybe that’s a generational difference that Queenie’s hasn’t caught up with yet. But — and I don’t say this to sound harsh or unfair — I just don’t think that this store has earned the reputation or ambiance for that customer experience. I don’t want to have to play a game with an unfriendly salesperson to examine your purses when your displays are somehow more cluttered than Psycho Sisters. Sorry.
(Similar complaint about hanging the furs overhead too. I didn’t even look up to see they had them at all unless this most recent visit— why are they so high?! None of the other consignment or thrift stores with luxury goods seem to struggle so much with fears of damage or theft that their goods are hidden behind a 5foot barrier or gap between my head and the item.)
