Williams Sonoma

I am a personal assistant for a couple and oversee their 4 homes throughout the country. Shopping is part of my job, not a recreational activity, so fast, efficient, friendly and smart service is what I expect, especially knowing what I spend on behalf of the couple I work for each year on things for the home.
I have had nothing but BELOW EXPECTATION experiences recently at all of the Williams-​Sonoma companies, which include Pottery Barn, Williams-​Sonama (kitchen) or Williams-​Sonoma Home. This includes rude staff (taking phone call rather than waiting on me when I am at the counter), lack of service (W-​S Home employee on personal phone call) or unprofessional service.
From someone who shops throughout the city, I would recommend Restoration Hardware (GREAT staff), Z Gallerie, or Bed Bath and Beyond (many of the appliances at Williams-​Sonoma are available at Bed Bath and Beyond, and if you get the 20% off coupons for Bed Bath and Beyond in the mail, it is a great deal, and their people always ask if you need help and are great)

This listing of Williams Sonoma is for their home, not the kitchen and bath store. I actually like both of these stores, although they are on the pricey side. I have learned that I can go to the home store when in search of that unusual accessory item. I’ve had pretty good luck finding those types of things here. Case in point: I searched all over the Fashion Mall some time ago for the perfect paperweight. Oddly enough nobody really had anything… some stores such as Pottery Barn and Restoration Hardware didn’t even have paperweights. Right before I gave up, I wandered into Williams Sonoma and told the staff what I was looking for. Alas, they did not have paperweights either, but I did come away with a very cool 8″ crystal ball on an ebony pedestal. This was a gift for hubby, who is a finance manager — it was perfect! It looks great on his desk and some of his associates even thought the piece was humorous, given the work he does :-)
I also love all the nature-​inspired do-​dads that Williams Sonoma often carries. One of their most recent collections involved oversized renditions of shells, coral and sea urchins, all in white… simple, but very elegant.