Williams-Sonoma

Yes, Williams-​Sonoma is overpriced. And yes, it’s just a touch too precious. But this is a store you go to not to find a great deal or awesome sale item, but to gain inspiration. This is a store that makes you feel good just browsing around and looking at all the expensive and completely unnecessary items — items that make you smile because you live in a country where you can get a fork just for retrieving cornichons out of a jar.
This Williams-​Sonoma in the Keystone mall is like the others: blissfully scented, cramped full of stuff and with nary a worker to be seen to help you out. But I managed to find my rosemary-​mint-​scented diffuser without anyone’s help, and was greeted by the friendly woman at the checkout counter with a smile. I’ll be back again, for sure, because the draw of Williams-​Sonoma is too great: where else am I supposed to find denim aprons, or copper egg dividers, or garam masala spice-​infused pork rubs?

It’s expensive. It’s pretentious. But it really is good cookware. Once you’ve cooked with all-​clad pots and pans, there’s no going back. They also have really high quality spices and ingredients – some of which can be bought more cheaply if you know where to look.
So long as you don’t mind paying for it, and you really enjoy cooking, this is a place to go. But do look out for sales!

The store staff were friendly and the after Halloween clearance was a great deal. I can spend an hour or so just perusing the gourmet collections of everything from spices/​candles to high end cookware. Any cook will love checking out what is new or ‘hard to find’ items sprinkled through the store. Some fun kitchen finds for xmas ideas — Star Wars cookie cutters :)
The only thing keeping this from a 4 star was the LONG wait to check out. Don’t plan a quick pop in for an item. Holiday lines are already forming in October.

I love any place that sells things for the kitchen or home and Williams-​Sonoma is a great place to find high end everything for your kitchen! This store always smells good and the staff is always ready to help with anything! It’s great to just browse and dream about what kind of amazing kithcen I’ll have someday!

Actually, I had no idea that this store would far exceed my very low expectations for an overpriced kitchen retailer, but in reality this store is quite fabulous!
The product selection is vast and varied and seasonal. The wonderful displays are perfect for forward season thinking shoppers like myself who like to be inspired by ideas to incorporate into our everyday lives. Case and point was the display of pumpkin bread mixes in appropriately thought out locales. That timely presentation worked on me as my little one had told me how she had a grand time making pumpkin bread at school.
There was also near a display for frozen hot chocolate mix and other winter time drink mixes. Next to it, there was the display for appropriate utensils, and items to compliment all that you’ve been drawn in to see. I think it is sound advice to warn that this place is intoxicating and hypnotizing all at once.
The service, although overwhelmed at times, was knowledgeable and on point. The price are high, but the end result of that delicious pumpkin bread that daddy and daughter made, was more than enough to sell me on the quality of their goods. I walked out with several Christmas gifts and nice dent in my wallet.

I ventured into this store yesterday after taking care of business at the Apple Store. Anyone who knows me, knows that I hate to shop. Therefore, if I don’t buy what I need online, and have to venture into an actual store, then I’m usually not going to browse. I probably frustrated the heck out of the sales people because I went in and told them that I was looking for a good quality fry pan but would only buy it on sale :-)
Walked out 5 minutes later with a set of Cephalon fry/​grill pans on sale for $ 99.95.
I love browsing W-​S catalogs, but the prices always deter me. Don’t get me wrong, they have quality stuff, but I spend as little time in the kitchen as humanly possible, so to buy every handy dandy kitchen gadget known to man/​woman is a total waste for me. Some things, however, are a necessity :-)

TIP: Save your money, grab a 20% off coupon for Bed Bath and Beyond and go there and get the same brands like Le Crueset, Calphalon, All-​Clad, etc.
UPDATE: So my mission was to find an Enclume hanging pot rock (retails for about $ 250 – 300). Most places don’t stock any inventory, and you have to order and wait about a month to receive. But I couldn’t wait, my job was to find one TODAY.
So I call Williams-​Sonoma, explain that I know they don’t normally stock anything, but was curious if they by chance had anything in the store (I even offered aSKU number, from the W-​S website)~I had pretty much idiot-​proofed the phone call — -or so I thought. You would they would be interested in helping me, knowing I’m ready to spend $ 300 for a pot rack. But «Cindy», who answered the phone, said, «I’m in back right now and can’t look it up». I waited for a second, for her to say something like, «but I would be happy to check and call you back». But that would be to much professionalism for W-​S. After waiting, I had to ask, «Is there someone else who can help?». She huffed, «Let me check». After putting me on hold for a minute, then came back, «No, they’re all busy». Again, stupidly, I waited for some offer of assistance. Nope. «So do you want my number so you can check and call me back?» I asked. Again, she huffed resentfully. «I guess I can check for you…» If service is important to you, go somewhere else!
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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 and brands like Le Crueset, Calphalon, etc 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)