HUSSAIN B.
Google
I had a very disappointing experience with CB2 that completely changed how I view this brand and its customer service standards.
On Sunday, I purchased a pedestal vase and artificial greenery from the CB2 store, excited to decorate my home. Unfortunately, once I brought the items home and placed them in the space, they simply did not work aesthetically or proportionally. This is a normal part of retail shopping — sometimes items look different in-store than they do in a real living space.
Before going to the store, I did the responsible thing and contacted CB2 customer service to confirm the return process. I clearly explained that the items did not fit my home and that I no longer had the original packaging. The representative assured me that I could return the items by going back to the same Soho store where I purchased them. Based on this guidance, I made the trip back to the store expecting a straightforward return.
When I arrived, the situation took a very negative turn. The store manager, Kristine, was extremely rude and dismissive from the start. She bluntly told me that customer service “does not know store policies,” refused to process the return, and told me I should leave the store. The tone and behavior were unprofessional and unnecessary for a paying customer who was simply following the instructions given by the company.
To clarify the situation, I called customer service again while still in the store to confirm whether I had been given incorrect information. Instead of working collaboratively to resolve the issue, Kristine asked me to hang up the call. She then stated she would “do me this one-time favor” by accepting the return and added that I should not come back to the store again. Being told not to return to a retail store — especially when I had done nothing inappropriate — was shocking, disrespectful, and unacceptable.
This entire interaction made me feel unwelcome, embarrassed, and undervalued as a customer. A return over a vase and greenery should never escalate into a confrontation or personal treatment like this. If there is a discrepancy between corporate policy and store policy, that is an internal issue that should never be taken out on the customer.
CB2 positions itself as a premium brand with premium pricing, yet this experience reflected the opposite in terms of customer care and professionalism. Clear communication, respectful behavior, and basic courtesy were completely lacking in this situation.
I strongly recommend that CB2 address consistency in its return policies and provide better training for store management on how to handle customers respectfully. Based on this experience alone, I would think twice before shopping at this location again and caution others to be prepared for poor customer service.