Chintz & Company

This store makes me sad. I’m a huge Sid Dickens memory block collector and was told that Chintz in Vancouver has a lot, so I made it a destination to go when I was visiting. Wow, I could have done without. I was looking to purchase quite a few blocks, but decided to leave after standing there for 20 mins with no one offering assistance. There appeared to be a manager who was barking orders at her employees, but couldn’t even say hello to my husband and I. Turns out, Gigi B on Granville island sells Sid Dickens so I was VERY happy to not need to purchase from Chintz!

Years ago, Chintz was home to a fair selection of eclectic and tasteful, if overpriced, home décor items. Back then, there seem to be something for everyone’s taste. These days, the store seems to appeal to only one taste: it’s packed with garish, tacky home décor items. The furnishings these days are for the most part loud and gauche. A life-​sized bust of Julius Caesar painted with glossy lime-​green paint ($ 600) and an array faux-​fur cushions and animal hides to carpet your home. It’s rather like Liberace-​meets-​Napoleon on acid. The only things that still remain moderately tasteful are the greeting cards and some of the glassware. A shame that a once decent store appears to have turned into something resembling a Ripley’s Believe It or Not museum.

I bought an Astiere de villate mug on a trip from seattle and the same day it broke as i was wiping a drop of water on it.(i swear!!) So upset, ($ 109 being the cost) I had to go through «extensive» phone talk and emails with the clerk there to get a store credit. They did give me one and said it was a rare case. So here I am, three months later, at chintz and company. They’re saying they can’t do a thing about it because the clerk i talked to is not here today. They want me to go over the same exact procedure and come back again simply because there’s no evidence. Evidence? I showed them the emails, the date and time of purchase and even a lady who works there said she remembers me. One star is too generous for what their service is like. I just wanted to forget about the experience so left the shop with no compensation. When i asked for the general manager’s contact info so i could complain, they wouldnt give it to me. So i ended up here Unilocaling my anger out!!! Thank you for listening.

This isn’t a review by someone who didn’t buy anything. I hate when people do that.
I was looking at buying some chairs for my dining room table and some pillows for my couch. Needless to say everything is rather pricey in the room but that was to be expected.
The staff was just plain rude. They were short and unfriendly. We still bought the chairs and pillows and a few other decorative things but if I could have avoided shopping at Chintz & Company because someone else offered something similar I would.
Avoid this place until they learn how to smile.

Honestly, they have some nice pieces but the clutter makes it hard to appreciate any of it as your walk through the store afraid that you might knock something over. Although I will say, that the clutter is a bit better than it use to be 5 years ago.
In addition to the fact that it feels like a high end flea market as the store is stuffed to the gills and a little overwhelming; iIt also feels like your walking into a shark tank. You can’t just look around without having 3 different salespeople circling you. My guess is that they are all on still on an old fashioned commission structure.
On top of it all, I think that their prices are quite high and the fact that they don’t offer a designer discount is a deal breaker, especially when the cross is just down the street.

SO i bought some chairs from them a week ago, today they call me and say that chairs are in Victoria and they want to charge me $ 100 extra to ship them over!
What a stupid store policy, on top of that, they charge a 15% restocking fee. Maybe I was better off at a big box store.

Lovely things can be found here for the home, garden and self.
However you can save yourself a lot of money if you buy certain things elsewhere, which look identical. Sure, it’s going to take you a while to go to those different stores, but saving money is worth it for some, right?
Looking for tall glass cylinders for holding candles or what have you? Home Outfitters will sell them for cheaper. Simple, white slow burning candles? Check Ikea. Fake flowers (ew), check the dollar store. ;)
There are many things that I can not justify buying because either it’s not suited to my taste (obvious) or the quality and design of the product is not worth it – no matter who the designer may be. But this may be one of the few (if not only) place that sells furniture from MacKenzie-​Childs (one of my favourite designers… very whimsical pieces!)
What I am saying is come here for statement pieces but if you have the time check elsewhere for novelty items.
I purchased two tables for my bedroom, and had a bit of a kerfuffle buying them. I saw them about 2 weeks before I bought them (late November). The first time I asked the sales associate to tell me how much they were, and if any were in stock because there was no price tag on them. The woman gave me a price, and told me two sets were in the back, along with the floor model. Perfect. I came back a few days later (in December) and asked another employee what the price was, and she gave me a completely different price. I told her a woman had given me a different price a few days prior and she said it was only that price in May. Peculiar. The last floor model was put on hold, and I contemplated the tables.
I ultimately came back, and since the floor models were a bit scuffed I asked for some type of discount because if I ordered new ones they would have to come straight from the manufacturer and it would take two months. It was apparent that the employee had a issue when I asked, and while she was speaking to her manager – it was evident in her tone. In the end I did get a discount but against the price of the tables, the discount was basically nothing. I cleaned up the tables myself, and they look fantastic in my bedroom! They’re leather and accented with metal. ;)
C&C is a great place to look if you are trying to find something and it has been elusive or if you are trying to find something that you didn’t know existed. Like a massive $ 2800 metal cow. You know you need it.

I walked into this store in Yaletown last week and I LOVE it from the first moment I stepped in! The smell of candles and scents for the house, the look of it, the people, the things they sell! Their service is pretty great too!
They have LOTS of stuff in the store and it could take you a couple of hours just to look around.
I really like the furniture there, real wood and prices were not too bad at all. Their patio furniture was pretty nice and they have a whole downstairs full of accessories, flowers, etc for the house.
This is the kind of store where you can find nice things that you will not see everywhere and I think that was the main reason why I liked it so much.
The prices in general are moderate to expensive but it seems they have regular sales as well.
I bought a few things for the bathrooms and the patio and I would definitely go back to Chintz out of curiosity… I have the feeling I will always walk out with a little bag and happy! :)
4 and ½ stars!

Excellent, unpretentious service. The sales people really take an interest in your project and go all out to find what will suit both your budget and your space. Places like this are still in business in this economy because they listen and care about their customers. Chintz is at the top of my list when I need something for my home. Best selection of fabric in Vancouver and you can special order if you don’t see what you want in the store’s inventory. If you go during a sale, there are items they are practically giving away — an $ 800 floor model dining table marked down to $ 159. They allow exchanges and returns, so if you take something home and it doesn’t work, just bring it back.

Another good sale, bought some more vases and knick-​knacks … but why the upgrade to 4 stars?
Excellent, excellent service– their salesperson totally helped me get what I needed, and threw in a bunch of those little sticky fuzzy things you put on the bottom of furniture so it doesn’t scratch your floors.
Many of their pieces still aren’t to my taste, but this is a good store. Worth a visit.

It may be an interior decorating store, but I go there for the fabric downstairs. It’s not cheap, but there is some fantastic quality and unique patterns. I go here when I’m looking for something special, but not ready to take the next step up to gala fabrics.

I know a ton of people out there who like to go to Chintz, and a ton of designers use Chintz as a jumping off point, me however don’t know where to begin. It’s way to much, I never know where to look, I can’t see the forest from the trees, I get lost every time I go in and swore the next time I did I would bring bread crumbs with me like Hansel and Gretel did so I could find my way back to the cash desk. I find myself getting a bit overwhelmed and could honestly look for days and find nothing. I tried to keep an open mind the the other day when I went in, I said to myself «I am going to appreciate this damn it!»… and… I just can’t, sorry Chintz