Sand People

What a shame. I love this store and the Ala Moana store has been no exception! However, it seems like all stores have a different return policy (or none at all) and customer service varies (a lot). Being a customer for over the last two years I have always been able to exchange something and gotten great service. And I did not ask for a refund because I always knew I would buy something else and most likely spend more money.
When my great husband asked me what I wanted for Christmas I told him go to Sand People! Well he did and bought me something that i wanted to return. When going to return the item the salesgirl at the Lahaina store mentioned that there was a strict policy for Xmas gifts and all items had to be returned by a certain date. This I could understand — the return date. What I did not agree with was that the gift wasn’t a christmas gift but was a hook to hang clothes upon (really!). The clerk did call her manager but the answer was that there was no return or budging on the fact that the gift was purchased in the Xmas season and therefore could not be returned.
When calling some other Sand People stores tonight to ask about their store location’s policy i got varied answers — some stores would have taken the gift back for an exchange.
I hate to write a review but there was no contact number/​customer service number to call or store website…
Lastly, it’s a shame because i would have spent more money and bought something i really liked. I have always liked the store but now will rethink making purchases or recommending friends and family to the store as a local resident. I would rather spend it on a local store that recognizes the salient facts locals keep business afloat in Hawaii.

NO RETURNS. NO CASH BACK. ONLY STORE CREDIT.
Which is a crappy policy especially for Christmas gifts. My boyfriend bought me some earrings here and it was exchange only. We had a $ 10 credit back and they refused to give us cash back. I ended up looking around and finally purchased another pair of earrings for $ 80! As soon as I left the store, I had a MOUNTAIN of regret. I mean, we spent almost $ 200 for two earrings– none of the sunrise shell, which is what I was looking for… but small starfish. You can get starfish earrings on etsy for $ 20 (like huge, nice ones – but these were TINY). I immediately went back into the store (like 5 seconds later) and asked for a refund. They gave me store credit, even though I JUST purchased it. I even asked her to please make an exception, but she still refused. It’s just greedy.
I mean, customer service is really catered to the international customers, not your local clientele. It’s also expensive as crap. The quality of the sunrise sea shells is really not up to par with the price. I mean, they are charging close to $ 100 for low quality, yellow-​orange, faded, sunrise shells with uneven/​broken fins.
I’m not excited about returning to use my store credit at all. Such a bad experience at Sand People.

I love this store but not sure I will go back. I returned something and they treated me like I was a thief. Not a good feeling. They only gave me a store credit. Now I have to go back! Yuck

Last night was a bad experience. Cashier lady (dark skin tall slim) was rude and her favorite word of the night was «no». Every question we asked was a simple «no» and nothing else.
«Is there another one like this in the back?»
«No»
“Can we get it gift wrapped?”
«No»
“Can we get another bag?”
«No»
Great selection of products but that one young lady needs customer service training or needs to go work at a federal building

This store was like a dream for me. So many beautiful beachy, nautical and Hawaii themed items here. I really wanted one of everything. I mean, who doesn’t need a set of cookie cutters with a shark, a surfboard with a shark bite and a surfer with a missing leg? This set should be standard in every kitchen on island right? Now only if I could find some time to bake cookies… mmmm… cookies. Shark themed cookies. :)
So the home décor section really got me… So many cute little hand painted signs for every room in your place… We all need a sign that says «On Aloha Time» right? Or what about «Sandy toes and a sunburnt nose?» You can see where my heart lies. Give me all the beach stuff!
They had a great selection of locally made jewelry – there was something for everyone! They also had a nice selection of soaps and candles. It all smelled like a little, warm, tropical piece of heaven. Who doesn’t want that in their life?!
If you live on Oahu or you are visiting, make a stop in here for some unique gifts and treat yo self to something beachy. You deserve it! And you can always send one my way too! :)

Service was horrible. The sales associate did not treat all customers equal. She would smile and asked if she could help to certain people but was not friendly to others for no reason. My guess is that she has lots of stereotypes. My husband and I felt very uncomfortable while shopping in this store.
We bought a wedding gift for our friend, so we asked her if she could remove the price before she wraps it up in tissue paper. When I unwrapped the tissue and checked the tag at home (just in case…), half of the price sticker was remaining on the tag and the tag was crumpled… I removed the remaining half of the price sticker and it easily slided off from the tag without any effort.
I would never visit or recommend this store to others again because they hire disqualified sales associate. They should at least have fine customer service if they are running business with high mark ups.

They have the cutest stuff! Lots of locally made items. Jewelry and mermaid stuff!!! The staff is really friendly. I def recommended shopping here!

You gotta check this place out if you’re more than just «buns in da sun». You’re really lost in the décor and want to buy everything!

They have beautiful necklaces and rings that amaze me. It is very tourist oriented. Perfect for cute little things for friends and to remember Hawaii by.

Service is retarded. Asked one of the sales associates if they had one of the items on display in the back. I wanted a new one, not the fricken display. So she went in the back and got me another one. THEN when I go to pay she switched the one that was on display with the new one she gave me ! What the hell !!!

HORRIBLE service! Purchased a bag from the store and walked out. As soon as I got out of the store, I noticed that the bag had a stain on it, so i went back in to see if I could exchange it. When i asked about exchanging the bag, the lady there did not make any effort to help me, so I asked for a refund. She then said that shef would only refund me 80% of the price despite the fact that I had just purchased it 5 min prior! After arguing the point with her, that I was just inthere, and she just helped me, she reluctantly refunded my money! I will never be going there again!

Love, love, love this store! l
Having been raised in Southern California and San Diego, this Coastal living store brings me back home. If I ever win the lottery, I would buy everything in this store for myself and gifts for all my friends!
Now to their products–
The driftwood signs —
Some places can have cheesy, cheap imitations, but Sand Peoples signs are unique, one of a kind, great colors and, beautifully faded with great sayings on them. Even if your décor isn’t beachy, Hawaiiana or coastal looking, it doesn’t matter, I guarantee you will find something that you love for you or as a gift!
Blocked signs–
They range in sizes from 3×5 to place on any desk or bedside table, even in the bathroom to larger ones to hang, and they have the cutest quirkiest sayings, and affordable that I have bought several for gifts.
Local jewelry–
Love the fact that they use local artists, and the jewelry can accent our Island attire perfectly, day or night. And great for gifts as well!
Tchotchkes–
Speaking of gifts?! Looking for that perfect something or stocking stuffer?
Perhaps a silver seahorse beer opener? white starfishes? Fluffy pillows or colorful fish or cat clock wall art? Seashell picture frames or whimsical notecards and inspirational books? Or a favorite, hand painted wine glasses!
Well for me, I now can start my Mermaid collection of everything you can imagine!
And they even have a store in Kailua for us Windwarders!
Sand People, you put a smile on my face every time I walk in, and thank you for the walk on the beach without getting sand in our toes! :)
Location is on the first floor on the Macy’s side, by Ilori, and across from Apple store.
Some items may be a bit pricey, but very good quality products.

I’d never been in this store until recently because I thought it was a surf shop and I’m not much of a surfer girl. BUT I ventured in to meet up with Unilocaltern Julia S. and was pleasantly surprised at how cute everything in the store is!
There are trinkets and little tchotchkes everywhere. Jewelry, pillows, totes, and throw pillows galore! It’s a perfectly tasteful souvenir shop where you can get gifts for your friends that they’ll actually LOVE!
The store is also much bigger on the inside than it looks from the outside… (that’s what she said) I can’t wait to get paid so that I can spend a little more time shopping here!

I was lucky enough to receive a shitload of beautiful gifts for Christmas from this store. It’s my mermaid dream thrown up everywhere. I’ve never actually gone in and by the sound of the way the staff behaves, probably won’t want to go in anytime soon. There’s nothing I can’t stand more than being a nice great customer being treated like shit. I mean, we all got problems, leave it at the door.
Maybe those mermaids are just sick of breathing air and smelling like tuna all day and need to get back in the ocean ;)

If you were going to ask me how I would decorate my house, Sand People will be an integral part of it.
Why you ask? DRIFTWOOD!
For years, I stepped into homes where I smelled this wonderful aroma of driftwood but I never knew what it was. It wasn’t until I visited the store at Ala Moana that I put the two together. There when you walk in the store was a load of driftwood and the sudden familiar aroma filled my nose. I was in heaven!
Lots of Sand People’s items centers around the playful decoration of island life. Their clocks are awesome too and make a wonderful souvenir. As a guy, I can’t say much about the jewelry though.
100 Reviews, 1 Day ⁶³⁄₁₀₀
January 12, 2013

I love this store. I really do. I wish I could decorate my entire home with accents from here. And I also wish that I could own all the jewelry in their glass cases. Beautiful beach jewelry made by local designers. I also love their druzy collection. Just gorgeous.

@sandpeoplehi Shocked! We usually go to your Kailua store, love it. Tonight went to Ala Moana; were treated to EPIC rudeness from clerk.
@sandpeoplehi Clerk asked if we were looking at jewelry just so that we could rip off the design, then made ironic rude laughing noises.
@sandpeoplehi We’re an innocuous looking middle aged haole couple. Why be dishing out such rudeness? Further employee training suggested.

I’ve been looking for someplace for quite sometime now that sells cool clocks… I don’t mean your ordinary hardware story variety of clocks, I want one of those fun, conversation piece clocks. I’ve passed this store many times before while at Ala Moana and never really took much notice of it. I didn’t know how much I was missing out on! Besides some neat clocks, they have lots of neat stuff like seashells, jewelry for the ladies, books, corals, all kinds of seashore and ocean themed things. It’s one of those fun stores to browse in because you never know what you may end up finding to add to your collection. I saw several items that I’d like to use for my house when I decorate my downstairs room, ok, my man-​cave! I want it to have an ocean theme with nice blues and seafoam greens and maybe I’ll even set up my saltwater aquarium that I’ve been putting off for too long now. I’ve always been fascinated with anything to do with the ocean and the shoreline, this place has a lot to offer for someone who wants to create the ocean lifestyle at home. I’m glad I finally went in to check out Sand People, plus, I may have even found the clock I’ve been looking for!!! The ocean is such a relaxing place and it can be very soothing too. Check out Sand People and you may even find yourself holding up a seashell to your ear to hear the waves breaking on the shore…

+ My new favorite store. Lots of ocean, beach, nautical, island themed home decors and gift items, all elegantly designed and not cheesy. The store itself evokes the tranquil and relaxed feeling of a day on the beach.
+ The selections are one of the kind. I don’t find them in any other stores in Hawaii.
+ There are quite a few items that are less than $ 20, which make for perfect unique gifts or souvenirs.
+ In the sea of stores selling Hawaiian, tropical themed merchandises that all look exactly the same, this store is definitely a breeze of fresh air.
+ Lots of varieties: dining ware, books, cards, art decors, candles, toys, all of which have beach or ocean themes. I am surprised by the amount of stuff that can come in the beach flavor. Lots to explore. I spent a good hour in the store checking out the different items. It’s almost like a treasure hunt.
+ I don’t have any issues with the service and staff. Actually I like that I was left along and there was no salesperson following me around the store trying to hard sell.
— I did a price comparison of some items with
. This store is about $ 2 – 5 more expensive compared to Amazon. But not all items in the store can be found on Amazon. And I didn’t find their merchandises in other stores in Hawaii.

5 stars for products. Very nice jewelry by local artists and beach themed knick-​knacks.
3 stars for prices. The products definitely aren’t cheap.
1 star for customer service. I thought greeting customers was just a standard practice in retail. Apparently not at this store.
Much friendlier service at the Waikiki location.