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April 2024 by Barbie B.
We had a terrible experience at Pleasant Surprise today. My family and I went in to browse. My 14 year old son mistakenly knocked over a display of stickers...not glass, stickers. The man working there who, I assume was the proprietor, was angry. Ok, I get it...little stickers all over the floor, but when my son tried to help him clean up he made him leave. At that point, I said "it was an accident" and he replied "I'm sure it was". I then tried to help pick up the stickers and he said to me very condescendingly "Are you still here? Are we still doing this?". Needless to say, we will not be back and I hope he learns to be nicer to his customers.
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January 2024 by Andrew Fristoe
One of the shops we have to stop by every time we are in Newport! The best cards, gifts, and everything in between!
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September 2023 by Brittany Minard
We had a horrible experience here and I can’t stop thinking about it. My well behaved 6 year old daughter and I went into the store and she was in love with the unique purses right inside the door, I mean obsessed, and I told her she could get one. They were odd shapes, displayed on shelves and did not have stable bases so they were all knocked over. We started looking at them and as we did we picked up the ones that were fallen over- when she would pick one up, another would fall- they were poorly displayed. I was picking them up behind her. This went on for a while because she couldn’t decide which one she wanted. Without a hello or greeting or even a smile the man working (maybe the owner, I’m not sure) came over and said, “I’m coming over because I hear dropping.” I immediately said, I assure you I’m picking them all up - he looked at me with a smirk and said- “I hope you know these are all 30-40 dollar bags”- I was in complete shock! I can’t even imagine that someone would speak like that and assume the worst without even watching to see what we were doing. I feel like there is a very negative attitude toward children in Newport. It’s been a damper on our trip and experience.
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June 2023 by Cinthia S.
Quite interesting that someone had a similar experience as I did (see Natalie'a review from two months ago). This is a cute store with quirky inventory - something I love and spend an embarrassing amount of money on. I wasn't planning on going to my car (which was parked nearby) after visiting this shop because I was just starting my shopping journey (I'd just spent a ridiculous amount on funny stickers nearby but that was about it so far), and the things that caught my eye here - books and cups and napkins - were going to be too burdensome to carry for a long trip. I also wanted to check with my husband if he wanted to buy his granddaughters some of the children's items, as he had not accompanied me that day. I didn't want to forget so I took a few pictures of the things I wanted to come back for or ask him about. The older person (old enough to have better manners than this) at the register came around the podium and snapped quite rudely at me to stop taking pictures. I was shocked at the rude tone and confused as to why I had been scolded in such a manner. After all, there were no posted signs that said please do not take pictures (which I strongly urge the owner post soon!) or anything of the kind! I am a professor of marketing and a PhD who publishes research specializing in frontline business. This is not how you treat a customer! Curious, I asked why he'd asked me to stop taking pictures and his response was, because I said no pictures. Perplexed and somewhat insulted, I left the store without making any purchases and with a very bad impression. Does this person not understand how commerce happens in this day and (digital) age? Not only was I planning to make a purchase, but I might have left a review somewhere with some pictures of the store or cute items that would entice others to come visit. I might have urged friends who shared they were planning a trip to Newport to be sure to visit this funny establishment! Instead, I am here leaving a review about the cute store isn't worth the horrible experience that ensured that I would never spend a penny here, and filed away an example to share in class about how not to treat customers. How short sighted. What a shame...
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June 2023 by Felicia Ferraz
So we are locals it's a beautiful Saturday so we take our kids downtown for dinner and shopping we've been doing this for 30 plus years one of our favorite things to do...until we entered "pleasant surprise". First off most of these shops have great employees friendly but there are a few in Newport who should not be working in retail. People buy from people they like. If you're rude and don't even greet a person you shouldn't be in sales..I get it every one has an off day but not when it's every time you enter the store. Anyway our last stop was anything but pleasant. We have never been so mistreated in our lives by such a person. First off the manager did not even say hello when we entered I greeted him, and as our kids were checking out all the unique gifts that we would have purchased the manager was just staring them down as if we were going to steal, then preceeded to yell at my daughter for leaving her shopping bag on the table by accident and saying "I've been picking up after people all day" I'm sorry but that's what retail is you are working with people. Then he kicked us out of the store. Never ever have I been treated this way in my life...reading all these reviews seems like this truly is a problem and if this isn't rectified then there will be action taken.
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April 2023 by Natalie D.
The man working in there today was beyond rude. Some girls took a picture of some merchandise. He asked them to stop. They apologized. It should/could have stopped there. Instead he continued to chastise them unnecessarily. Not a way to run a business sir.
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February 2023 by Linda Forbes
STRAIGHT PREJUDICE ON THAMES ST IN NEWPORT RI. THEY DON’T HIRE ANY AFRICAN AMERICANS OR OTHER RACES, BREAKS THE LAW BY NOT ALLOWING EMPLOYEES ANY LUNCH BREAKS! AND RIGGED UP COMPANY DOING ILLEGAL STUFF! THEY OWN OVER 7 STORES ON THE ISLAND GET THEM SHUT DOWN!!!!!! ESSENTIALS IS ANOTHER STORE THEY OWN AND I WILL GET THE NAME OF THE OTHER STORES! IF YOU ARE COLORED IN ANY WAY AND NOT CAUCASIAN DON’T WASTE YOUR TIME APPLYING FOR EMPLOYMENT HERE!
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December 2022 by Sarah F.
BEST PLACE TO BUY GIFTS! Family-owned and affordable and fun! Definitely recommend shopping here.
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November 2022 by Asher
Good store with some hilarious nicknacks and good people who run it
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August 2022 by Michael Lopez
Omg! What a fun and unique store! The sensitive person that gave this store a 1 star review because their feeling were hurt is hilarious. You poor little person with no sense of humor. No wonder you didn't like this store, wahhhhhhh, Snowflake.Go in this store, support small businesses! Such fun things. Great store for white elephant ideas!
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August 2022 by Alberto Smith
PLEASE READ!!!!PLEASE, PLEASE DO NOT!! WASTE YOUR MONEY HERE! Most of these reviews are honest to god fake written by the owner to put up a facade, the manager is extremely rude, likes to casually make jokes about people of color stealing merchandise as well as from the cash register (Not to mention it is EXTREMELY outdated) not only that but the day I had gone the manager had thrown keys in the face of a black employee they had, Aswell as personally disrespecting them, simply for asking why he(the manager) had the right to talk down and belittle them, and surprisingly things took a turn when it for some reason "triggered" the manager, enough to motivate him to walk up to the employee get behind them and ask "are you gonna hit me" But also take into account this was LITTERALLY while the employee was ALREADY EXITING THE STORE!!! yet the police were called for what exactly......... ... nothing, simply wanted to be a victim.
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August 2022 by Phantom Ghost
Good store with some hilarious nicknacks and good people who run it
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December 2021 by H Drouin
Cute little retail store with fun artsy things. Clothing, decor, nick nacks, adorable little gifts. I got my mother a beautfiul little vase with a quote on it.
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November 2021 by Kristen Murphy
A favorite gift shop with all sorts of fun, kitchy items. The owner is lovely and I always love saying hi.
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July 2021 by Hannah Drouin
Cute little retail store with fun artsy things. Clothing, decor, nick nacks, adorable little gifts. I got my mother a beautfiul little vase with a quote on it.
