Gymboree Store

It’s rare that I write a one star review but this particular Gymboree Store location at Oakridge Mall in south San Jose earned it.
I always shop at the Los Gatos Gymboree Store but went to the Oakridge location because my daughter (who is due early May 2013) had a craving for the lemonade at Hot Dog on a Stick in the food court. She wanted to check out the Gymboree store while we were there so off we went. Suffice to say it will be my first and last time…
This location is small compared to other Gymboree locations. If you had a stroller, which many of the moms had that day we visited, it would be hellish to drive your stroller without bumping into the many clothing stands that were crammed into the sardine like shop. Add in folks who were shopping because a huge sale had started and you have a recipe for a horrible shopping experience!
As it was the first day of the sale, I was wondering what management was thinking by having only TWO employees working the store that morning. There were folks shopping who had questions, trying to move their strollers about and folks who were trying to get their items rung up at the round table (set in the middle of the store) where two cash registers are posted… utter chaos!
I could not wait to get out of that store and never return. Were the employees helpful? From what I observed, not really… and it didn’t matter what your racial make up was either (Caucasian, Asian, African American, etc.)…all received either complete avoidance or arrogance by the two staffers who worked the morning we were there.
Note to Management — Make sure you have ample staff on a huge sale week! Also, train your staff in the simple courtesy of being helpful and polite to customers. After all, the customers are the ones who supply your hourly and salary pay.

I shop Gymbo for the past 6 years and have been to many locations. This particular location has staff who are not very friendly nor helpful. And god forbid you bring a return. I get cold icy looks that could kill. They don’t know their lines very well either, which is sad considering that this store is on a smallish side.
I thought smiling was part of customer service, but not for this place.
If you want a pleasant experience, go to VAlley Fair Mall. The sales staff there is superb!

Our son goes to the Play & Learn program here. Our experience thus far has been mixed. Miss Scarlet is wonderful. The classes are well structured and overall it is a fun learning experience for the children. The place is well maintained and kept clean. It is inside the Oakridge mall so there are plenty of places to shop and eat. I do have to agree with some reviewer comments that a few parents that come here are snooty. It is a tough act to blend in if you are not asian because a majority of the children are asian. Overall if you are looking for a fun experience for your child, this place is worth it. But if you are looking to network with other parents and grow your child’s friend circle, then this is probably not the right place.

When looking for baby gifts, I love getting clothes from Gymboree or BabyGap – think adorable bags and boxes. This particular location has a nice selection of clothes in all the sizes and a good amount of sale items too. The clothes are really expensive (think big people prices!) but the sales are great. Quality is also much better than at other large stores. I was mostly disappointed by the service which largely ignored me in the small store until I was ready to pay, though then was friendly.