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October 2023 by Lizz H.
My 5 star Yelp review is primarily for the outstanding inventory. As many years as I have been coming to Gayle's Bakery in Capitola, Pacific Trading Company has been next door. Talk about a great location for them! Gayle's is like one of the busiest businesses in Santa Cruz County, so yes, potential customers are plentiful. When the time factor is right, I do enjoy popping in and doing a walk through. This is a hip and trendy shop full of cool items. Classy and quality cool stuff. Expensive cool stuff:) Clothing, jewelry, accessories, and shoes. I have to really love it to make a purchase. Today, I really loved two particular hoodies and bought them immediately. It was just cold enough in Capitola to justify these cute little numbers! Photos included. And btw...it is fall with winter not far behind. Service has always been luke warm. Nothing memorable. Unfortunately, I feel a walking on eggshells type of atmosphere during my many visits. Not sure what's up with that. (I know the return policy is pretty strict.) But today, a young woman, Isabel, greeted me immediately and came over to assist. I really appreciated that! She was helpful with her advice on which size to purchase. Thanks, Isabel. All in all, this is not a large store, but it is organized and packed with great stuff. There are always a few racks of sale items...so there is that. Next time you are in the hood, take a peek! I know you, too, will find something you just can not live without. Yeah!
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September 2023 by Lori B.
I have been shopping at PTC since I was a teenager...more than 40 years. I have probably spent thousands of dollars there. Today I went to pick up a dress that I had on "layaway." It is a dress by "Frank & Eileen" which is a rather spendy brand but I was willing to support my local business rather than buy it for cheaper online. I was excited to see that the same dress was on the SALE rack and said so to the lady helping me!!! Yay!!! It's on sale!!! She very matter of factly told me that because I had placed it on layaway before the sale, I would not be getting it for the sale price. UNBLOODYBELIEVABLE!!!!!!! From here on out, I will be buying my "Frank & Eileen" online! The business that I have supported for so many decades... DOES NOT SUPPORT THEIR LOCAL CUSTOMERS!!! Word on the street is that I'm not alone in my dissatisfaction!!! I am so sad to have to make this move, but poor customer service has its consequences??? And it's never just the one customer because I have a lot of friends!
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March 2023 by V P.
This place kind of has a "Get Out" vibe. From the lovely woman running the dressing rooms to the mutely nervous check-out staff, the employees are tense and appear micromanaged. Their return policy is ten days and even with a receipt, they go into panic mode. You know how you enter a boutique, and someone swoops on you to help you with your gift box, sets it aside, and offers to help with your exchange search? Yeah, that doesn't happen here. They avoid you and your gift box, and when you find something (all while carrying the dang box) they then inspect your return with all but a magnifying glass. I am not against inspection - by all means, take a peek, but like others have pointed out - it is an unnecessarily dramatic process and rejection seems almost preordained. I wanted to say - you realize this stuff was purchased yesterday, still has tags, AND they are pajamas? In any case, the inspection can be done with a pleasant attitude, and if the person, doesn't qualify for the return that can be handled pleasantly as well. If the customer becomes unpleasant that's on them. But treating returns as fraud is unnecessary.The joke ended up being on me, as when I got home there was a small defect in the new pajama pants. The clerk never gave me a receipt ( I noticed at the time, but shrugged, and thought, "get me out of here"), and I didn't feel like going back. That being said, the other reviews lead me to believe it would be futile. These brands are available at the Rack, Poshmark, etc. If you need something in a hurry, or in a box for a quick gift then fine. But keep in mind, their offer of a gift receipt is far from authentic (as in here ya go, evil laugh). Better yet, stick to resale. I love my pajamas and the person who gave them to me is epic, but this place is creepily uptight.
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August 2022 by Connie T.
Good selections nice quality clothing and helpful staff. God sales and elegant jewelry too.
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March 2022 by Connie B.
I love this store and whether I buy something or not, I find the staff friendly, helpful and not the slightest bit pushy so I am absolutely ASTOUNDED at the negative comments from other shoppers. What I love about this store is they they have a good eye for the way they merchandise their inventory so I never feel overwhelmed which is a big deal for me. (For that reason I actually vastly prefer this store to the one in Santa Cruz.) I also think they have some pretty classic yet trendy fashion and jewelry choices. It is a must stop every time I head over the mountain to the Aptos/Capitola/Santa Cruz area.
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November 2021 by Georgette M.
A very good friend, who also has quite the fashionable taste, first recommended this women's clothing store to me some time ago. Having a busy schedule like most other "Working Moms," I wasn't able to check it out at the time that it was originally suggested to me. I do suspect however that the store has changed hands--so too has the "Sales Staff." I've gone in several times as of date and each experience has been basically the same: Very basic/plain/uninteresting clothing options that you can buy from pretty much anywhere else (I.e., other retailers such as Mother, Sanctuary, Eileen Fisher, just to name a few), and probably for less; not very helpful/"style-savvy" employees; and, a management team that hovers over customers who are just trying to study/look at the merchandise. In short, there's nothing special at this women's clothing store; unless the sales associates start to be on their "A-game" and try (without hurting themselves, of course) to be least a bit more friendly, I would not recommend this store to anyone, and I say this so as to help individuals to keep from wasting any more of their hard-earned money and/or time.
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November 2021 by stephanie h.
I have shopped here for many years. They always have a great selection of jeans at all price points that fit well, comfy sweaters and unique casual accessories. They also always have a good selection of modern scarfs and pjs. They are always super helpful but never pushy. My 21 year old daughter has also enjoyed shopping here and has great service. They also have another larger store in downtown Santa Cruz if they are out of your size in Capitols
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February 2021 by Cyndi S.
Absolutely terrible customer service and I see based on reviews that they don't seem to care about that, it's been going on for years. I've actually shopped here a couple of times because they carry Sundry and PJ Salvage, two brands I like but prefer to try on and buy in person to be sure of fit. The two other times I was in, the customer service was lacking but I do prefer to be left alone while I shop, so I just shrugged it off. This past weekend I went in, and another lady came in right behind me to return an item she had been gifted. She brought in a necklace that very clearly belonged to a line of jewelry they carried, in a box from the store. She approached the counter and mentioned she'd like to exchange it for something that suited her better and the gal at the counter said "Um, I have to get my manager". Her manager was LITERALLY right behind her, 1 foot away. Then the gal and the manager proceeded to do that thing where they had a conversation ABOUT THE CUSTOMER two feet from her, as if she (and the rest of us) couldn't hear. The manager looked at her staff member and said "Well ask her if she has the name of the person who gave it to her". OMG SHES TWO FEET FROM HER, BE RESPECTFUL AND JUST TALK TO HER DIRECTLY. This is one of the most OBNOXIOUS retail things ever, and it was maddening to see, and I was just browsing! Ultimately, the manager DID talk to this lady directly and refused the exchange saying "Well, we really have no idea of if this actually came from us or not" in a super snotty way. LIke......implying this woman was a liar? Implying the person who gifted it to her lied about where they got it? I don't know, but it was SH*TTY. It was pretentious and obnoxious. The manager also went on, vaguely alluding to the gift giver maybe forging the box. OMG. It was unreal. At this point, I had grabbed a Sundry hoodie I'd been eyeing for a few weeks and was near the register and peeked at the necklace and realized it CLEARLY was from their store. It matched a line of jewelry in the case they were talking over. I'm sorry, but if you've ever worked in a little retail shop, then you know your inventory. That "we have no idea if it actually came from here" is ABSOLUTE bullsh*t and they know it. I went and put my hoodie back on the hanger and exited as quickly as I could. I felt so bad for that lady just trying to exchange that necklace. How shady and rude and obnoxious of PTCo. I agree with other reviewers.....they have SUCH garbage service they clearly rely on one-time tourists who will never come back for the bulk of their revenue. I'll absolutely never shop here again. I MAY go in and try on items just to get sizing and then order elsewhere.
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June 2020 by Valerie Kazansky
I drive a distance to shop in the Capitola store. Great jewelry! Wonderful customer service! Clothes vary enough to please everyone, and they carry enough to find your size and taste.
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June 2020 by Valerie K.
I come from Carmel to buy my clothes here at the Capitola Pacific Trading Company. I always receive friendly, helpful customer service. They go out of their way to bring me the correct size and to help me find what I'm looking for. I love their clothes.
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November 2019 by Teri K.
Love this store. Quality clothing!! These negative reviews astound me. I've never had a bad experience shopping here. I stop in nearly every time I'm over at the coast. I don't always buy but when I do the sales staff is lovely. Going today actually to look at some new jeans. Location in Santa Cruz is larger. I actually like the smaller shop by gayles.
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September 2019 by Kat Z.
DO NOT SHOP HERE!! After Gayles, my mother and I stopped into this shop yesterday. Looked cute, thought we'd have a look. At least 3 sales people in the store, not one said hello or asked if we needed help after being in the store for 10 minutes. Mind you, we were the other customers in the store. After collecting 3 items my mother looked for someone to help her, FINALLY one of the women stopped gossiping with her co-worker long enough to walk her to a fitting room. Without saying a word to my mother, she pulled back the curtain to a room and mumbled "we have a 10 item maximum per room'. My mother has 3 leggings in her hand. 3...not 30!! The salesperson didn't say another word...didn't ask if she needed help...nothing. She never came back to check on her. I ran to get her sizes and a couple of tops to go with the leggings. Still NO HELP from anyone that worked there. I asked a sales person if one of the styles came in an XS, she said "I don't know". Literally, that is what she said. While my mother was in the fitting room, I tried on a Sundry Hoodie and a few other items. I laid them on the counter and let the person behind the counter know that I was going to purchase these items with what ever my mother picked out. Still NO ACKNOWLEDGEMENT from the women behind the counter. NOT. ONE. WORD. My mother passed on the items she was trying on because she could not get any answers about sizes...so she gave up. I walked back to the counter and informed the non-talking woman behind the counter that I was ready to pay. STILL NOT A WORD..she just began to rip the duplicate price tags off my items and write numbers on the tags. This totally mystified me. Not only was she moving in a silent SLOW MOTION, but she acted as though the clothes were going to poison her, because she only touched the clothes with her pencil, not her hands. When I asked if I could help in any way, maybe help fold the clothes... she spoke for the first time!! Wait for it..... she said "I don't need the attitude." I looked around because there is NO WAY she could possibly be saying that to me... I said "I'm sorry, I'm not sure if I heard that correctly" She repeated "I don't what's going on, but I really don't need the attitude." SWEAR ON MY LIFE. I am in the store for 30 minutes....no help or acknowledgment from anyone in the store...I'm about to spend $500 on clothes that I only picked out because I was bored while waiting for my mother to try on clothes....and this 'employee' says that?? GTFO.... I said "no worries...I take back my offer to help fold the clothes I was about to buy"..I turn to leave and she has the audacity to say "great, makes my job easier if I don't have to ring them up." WOW. Someone please tell me who owns this store.....
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June 2019 by Gina E.
Extremely disappointed with the customer service! The one sales associate was more concerned with taking my cup of coffee out of my hand than helping me purchase an item. Also there was a ripped skirt on the sales rack for 50.00 and was told it was being sold "as is." First of all, why would you be selling a ripped skirt at a boutique store of this caliber???? To top it off, when I asked another sales associate if they could lower the "as is" sales price because of the tear, she didn't even have the courtesy to give me an answer after supposedly asking a manager. Gina F. Walnut Creek
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May 2019 by Brenda T.
This is a great little shop located in Capitola. Helpful service, lots of selection and a fun place to wander into and out of with a treasure
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February 2019 by Debra Digby
Best shopping in Santa Cruz!
