American Greetings

I kind of have a grudge against American Greetings, probably because they swooped the start-​up company my hon of hons husband worked at years ago and put him out of work. However, I’ve let bygones be bygones, mostly because this card store is right across the street from my office.
It used to be a Carlton Cards store, which I think are now defunct. The thing I like best about this store, besides the proximity, is their selection of Papyrus cards. They are just gorgeous and feature all those special details that make the cards so unique. The thing I like least is the price. $ 5.99 for a greeting card? WTH?
That’s damn expensive for a couple of pieces of recycled paper and some glitter. I’d rather go to Patrick’s Stationery and support a locally owned business who has fabulous greeting cards from all over, and features quite a few independent artists.

On my way to Bart, I came across this store. I was very curious as I looked through the window and a couple of things caught my attention. There were a wide variety of cards, gifts, and other cute trinkets.
I had a wedding to attend the next day so what better way to kill time. I came across a cute wedding card which was amazingly cheaper than Hallmark or Papayrus. I was very pleased. I also came across some stuffed animals. There was a kid wondering around so I had fun making the kiddo laugh with the stuffed animals.
Overall, It a cool store to kill time, have fun, and cheap! — score!

Always cute and a nice large spacious atmosphere. It’s hard not to walk out with something from here.
There’s a large variety of cards, ranging from Papyrus to cheaper brands. There’s also a lot of cute trinkets and house decoration items that would make good gifts. I’ve bought trinkets for birthdays, for mother’s day, and I’ve even bought a stuffed animal here on sale for a four year old.
Especially with all the weddings I’ve been going to lately, it’s so convenient to have this place right around the corner from Embarcadero Bart. I wish their wedding section was a little bigger cause I’ve seen it all by now, but overall I’m a fan.

CHEAPER!
(3.25 stars)
My old office, we had Papayrus downstairs. My new office, we have American Greetings a block away. It’s cheaper than Papayrus, cards are a step up from hallmark, and they have little nicknacks to buy.
Finds:
— Pretty birthday gift wrapping paper $ 6
— Cute card shaped in 6 for my soon to be six yr old god daughter $ 3
Think I’ll come here more often :)

I walked into the store around 6:30, there were several people inside, and they were looking at cards. More people came in after me. Around 6:40 a employee came up to me explaining they closed at 6pm and I need to wrap up things. I thought this is was weird since the door was open at 630 and there were several people still in the store!
I decided I will come back tomorrow to select cards for my mom (so I could choose a nice one instead of being rushed). With that, I started to head towards the door.
At the door, the employee gave me a very dirty look and asked me, «you are not buying anything» I was shocked, I have never been forced to buy something from a store that I entered. I told her that I wasn’t going to buy anything today. She said some rude comments after that, so I decided to get her managers number. The entire time she made sounds like UFF, and oh god. I was really taken back by this experience and bad customer service.
I would have originally given a one star to this location, however I called up the manager and she apologized. I do not know if the employee was told to improve, but I hope so!
Ill just be going to another card store from now on…

Some times buy one and get another 50% off make the price more reasonable…

Wanted to go here today, figured I’d just get the exact location using the Unilocal iPhone app when I got close. It directed me to some pretty weird spots that were not American Greetings, like Annie St, an alley just off Market. Now I’m using the app in my living room with strong wifi connection and the correct (I think) location is showing up. I had a crappy AT&T 4G connection while I was in the area — I could see my blue dot from my GPS location floating around, which means my phone was having trouble knowing where I was.
Try to make the Unilocal location finding work better on iPhone.

I went in here yesterday to buy some packaging for a birthday present.
Linda was the associate who helped me, and she was great. She chose some great bags, bows, and tissue for the intended recipient, and even wrapped it for me! Very customer service oriented store, which is rare to see nowadays.
Would definitely recommend if you are in the area and need some last minute wrapping items.

Great selections and very convenient!

One of the best card selections in town. Multiple aisles of cards galore — definitely a gem. Bookmarking it for later!

I’m known as a guy who picks the perfect cards. 90% of the time this store makes it really easy to be that guy. Walk in, find the right section (and sub-​section) and 10-​minutes later you’ve got something that says exactly what you want.
Quantity certainly helps here, but there’s quality too. I wouldn’t go so far as to say their selection is curated, but it’s continually refreshed.
American Greetings also generally has buy X get Y free sales, so there’s even further incentive to make this your one stop shop.

I love that this place is almost exclusively dedicated to greeting cards. I’m very nitpicky when it comes to greeting cards — I need to read through dozens before I find the right one. Carlton Cards has so many cards for so many different occassions, that I can spend hours there. But most importantly, I walk out with the perfect card!
They also carry small gifts like picture frames and children’s toys, and you can even work with them to created custom invitations for weddings, baby showers, etc. Love this place!

Although they have a decent selection of cards, the woman behind the desk was neither helpful nor pleasant.
I was stocking up for upcoming birthdays and events and had quite a few cards. This clerk seemed put out first by my asking if they still honored the old Carlton/​American Greetings awards card (no, they don’t).
She positively balked at my asking if they then honored/​stamped the Papyrus frequent buyer cards. With scanner in hand, she retorted that Papyrus doesn’t have frequent buyer cards (okay, I guess mine are outdated on won’t be honored) and pretty much wanted to tell me I was wrong to even think they did.
I then committed the final sin of asking if they then perhaps had a new reward/​frequent buyer card. She hesitated, glared at me, then GRUDGINGLY gave me a form to will out for an awards card that would let me buy 3 cards and get 3 free. (What, did I stumble upon a secret she didn’t want me to know? That’s how she made me feel.)
I filled it out the form and she then told me that I couldn’t use the card until I was entered in the system. Since I was buying so many, I decided to wait to get them until I could get the deal. However, now that I’m out from under her baleful glare, I think I’ll go and purchase my cards from a store that treats its customers better.

Carlton Cards? American Greetings? Carlton Cards? Hm, I just know it to be the all-​American greeting card store. However, now I think it’s owned by Papyrus.
Carlton Cards is a cool card shop located right outside the Embarcadero BART station, on the corner of Market & Beale Street. Right next door is Starbucks. Mmmmm!
Once taken over by Papyrus, they did away with their frequent buyer reward system. However, they often have their mega-​special of buy 3 cards, get 3 free. Nice enough deal so you can stock up on birthday cards or note cards at one visit. They have cards for every budget– ones that are simple & cost $ 0.99 and the pricier ones, too!
The gals working behind the counter are super friendly & helpful. One time, I was looking for little supply goodies for my kid’s classroom (for 20 kids) & she pointed me to the cutest little mini-​notebooks & matching pencils. They were all seasonally discounted, too… all 20 of them. Score!
Bottom line: If you’ve forgotten that card for that special someone, well lucky you, here it is. It’s easy enough to get to before heading home on BART!

Thank goodness for this card store. It’s a lifesaver and so convenient downtown to my office.
It has everything for a last minute gift.
Cards for all occasions — check
Mylar and latex balloons in all colors and occasions — check
Non-​gender specific gifts like picture frames and stuff animals — check
Gift bags/​wraps and tissue — check
There’s always a sale such as buy three cards and get one free. Or 25−50% off past holiday gift.
Note: if you buy a lot of cards or gifts, join the card club. Anytime you buy three cards, you get three free.

I always forget that there is a card store next to my work. I don’t know why I was always getting cards at walgreens, which usually don’t have that great of a selection. I finally remembered again yesterday when I had to get a bunch of birthday cards/​mothers day cards for may. It’s nice in there! Tons and tons of cards to choose from, organized well, and if you buy 3 you get one free! I will absolutely return back in a few weeks to get my june birthday cards.

I was in a huge hurry to catch my bus and realized I only had a $ 10 bill in my wallet. I went into this little store to ask for some change, and probably seemed quite desperate for it as the bus was rolling in as I tried.
I wanted a $ 5 and five $ 1s. The lady looked at me like I just asked if I could take anything in the store I wanted for free.
And c’mon here, I wasn’t exactly asking for a stack of $ 1s and $ 5s. Very simple, small request. Do something nice for a well-​dressed professional that clearly works downtown. Maybe he’ll think of your store the next time he needs some stationary.
But no. «You want change — you make a purchase.» Uhh, really? That’s how you’re going to treat a potential customer? Especially when the price of helping that potential customer is insanely low?
No thanks.

I think these people are really getting to know how to do business. They rearranged their items. I did not know they carry different gift cards from Staples to Starbucks to even Wendy’s until this day as I was waiting at the cashier! There are probably like 15 to 30 different choices! Perfect gift if you’re in a rush or are indecisive after getting the card and do not know what to give or don’t want to give cash.
They also set up the CD collection right besides the cashier. I am a sucker of those CDs. For some reasons the songs selections are better, possibly because there are fewer choices than, say going to Virgin Megastore and they show you 9999 compilations choices…

It looks like they remodeled the store. I don’t know if it’s for the better because I have this claustrophobic feeling when I’m wandering around in here (it used to be more openly spaced during the previous incarnation).
No matters, I came here for discounted xmas goodies and I found them. You can’t get Xmas cards marked off 90% anywhere else but here (I’m looking at you Papyrus. What a disappointment in terms of pricing!). I made off with lots of cards for about $ 2 a box. Since we used up about a box and a half every year, I’m set for the next couple of years.
Yes I do buy store bought Xmas cards because I don’t like cranking out dozens of handmade Xmas cards (the ADD crafter in me prohibits me from doing the same design ad nauseum).
Staff is very nice too.

I don’t know what I’d do with out Carlton Cards right by my work. I get all my stationary supplies here. Good selection of cards, wrapping paper, and little knick-​knack gift essentials.
Make sure you sign up for one of those American Greetings frequent buyer cards. You get points with your purchases — points equals $$ to use in the store.