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October 2024 by Grace Lin
Interesting place with certainty a lot of Halloween costumes!
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April 2024 by John Skiles Skinner
Big-box office supply and art stores didn't have an ink refill for my Japanese pen, but Payn's Stationery did. The clerk was vey knowledgable about Payn's stock; she knew immediately the type of refill needed and where it was located on the rack. This store is delightful.
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January 2024 by ミカ S.
Payn's has an awesome variety of cards, journals, and other neat things. I particularly like their stamp selection. I've been hunting for cute and unique stamps all over -- and I was super thrilled to find some here. I added three more stamps to my collection today :)
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December 2023 by Lemora M.
I love this old fashioned, small business on Solano Ave. They have what I need, the staff are great, and I hope they stay around for many years. Payn's reminds me of the businesses of my childhood, which is one of the reasons I love it.
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December 2023 by Marsha W.
Best old time stationery store in Berkeley. Everything you need in reasonable quantities. Polite, useful service.
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September 2023 by lisa s.
Payn's is a great store. Loads of stationery and artist items but also good prices on notary services and a pleasant spot for impulse gift purchases. Such a relief from the chain stores!
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August 2023 by Blasian S.
I love this place! Went there for the first time and they are the nicest people. I felt welcomed and heard as a customer. It was the best customer service I have received on Solano Ave in the last 8 years I have been working over hear. In addition they had every stationary product you could want! Their prices were fair and come support this local gem.
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June 2023 by Kurt R.
Payn's is a charming old Dash school stationary and business supply store. Prices may not be competitive with the big boxes, but it's also the kind of place that is right in my neighborhood when I'm doing a bunch of errands. Not to mention the fact that the store is charming, and the staff are nice. This is the kind of store that is a real pleasure to be in. If you need special paper for your fountain pen, need affordable quality fountain pens, want a special card, for somebody, or need file folders, Payn's a good place to go.
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June 2023 by Amy B.
Love this place! They always have the best notebooks and pens and lots of other cute and wonderful things.
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March 2023 by Coryl L.
This place is freakin' amazing! Fountain pen supplies, art supplies, calendars, journals, business supplies, every kind of stationery supplies. All different price ranges. Geared for all different work styles, both business and creative, and the needs of different generations. The feel reminds me of a really good old time general store--they have everything! And the staff know how to find it, if you don't see it yourself. Every staff member I encountered was extremely professional, helpful, and nice. And totally matter-of-fact about the quality of customer service they offered. They answered questions quickly and accurately, didn't try to convince me to buy something that didn't meet my needs, and showed me things that would work. If one staff member didn't know the answer to a question, they either figured it out or quickly found someone who did know. They were impeccable about helping people in order, and getting everyone the service they needed in a reasonable period of time. In December!
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February 2023 by D B.
While taking a stroll after picking some sweets at Lavender Bakery & Cafe, I stopped at Payn's Stationery. It's rare to find a stationery store these days so I was excited to find Payn's. It was stocked from wall to wall with just about anything you might need in your office. There were also some cute novelty items that would make for a good gift.
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January 2023 by Bijan M.
I've been going to this store for 17 years! So this review is long over due. I'd give this place 10 stars if it was an option. First off the owner is a very kind and patient man. I go here for my markers, pens, and other office/ art needs. This local mom and pop shop deserves the love! They're very knowledgeable and are here to help! Thank you Payn's for consistency and a fun place to shop!
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November 2022 by Pankaj Kapahi
Amazing place - please support for the community building
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November 2022 by Eric Archer
You find so many little unique surprises just browsing. Great for cards and more.
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October 2022 by Leif J.
What a lovely little shop. Call me a snob, but I hadn't expected to be this impressed when a friend pulled me in there during an afternoon walk. A quick stroll around the aisles, I figured, and then we'd be on our way. As it turned out, I ended up spending over $100. I suppose I just expected to find just schools supplies and the like. (Like I said, snob.) They DO have that, but they also have a selection that in some categories rivals even Maido in San Francisco, which is normally my go-to local shop for fine stationery (particularly of the Japanese variety). For the most part, I could have gotten everything I wanted in here, be it top-notch fountains pens -- I spotted a Lamy 2000 and a piano black Studio -- Mnemosyne notebooks, or even Illegal Pads. I didn't look too closely, but they also seemed to have a good selection of inks. I myself suddenly rediscovered my passion for Blacking pencils, as the knowledgeable folks behind the counter showed me the newish one-step long point sharpener and let me test the Pearl and Matte pencils, neither of which I'd handled in a few years. I ended up taking home essentially that whole stash, along with a lovely calendar featuring the shin-hanga woodcuts of Hasui Kawase. I'm not entirely sure why, but I think this item's presence impressed me most of all. These folks know their stuff. I'll definitely pop back in the next time I'm in the area. You should, too, if you have any interest in fine pens, pens, pencils, paper, or ink. Like me, you may end up walking out with far more than you had intended to.
