Tender Buttons

I should have known that the service would be bad when I called before hand to ask if they had specifically what I needed and the guy was so vague
I don’t like to be accosted when I walk into a store, but this place was the opposite.
I had a specific request and was fairly flexible but after 2 – 3 questions the older woman just blew me off and got impatient.
I guess they think they are the only game in town
When I showed her my lovely (plastic button) she gasped and tired up her nose. Its plastic…
They only have glass???
Off to the garment district for more options and more helpful people. if you can imagine
ALSO their options were limited for what I needed and it would have been nice of he had told me that beforehand

Get lost in Tender Buttons, in the boxes of hundreds of thousands rare and regular buttons from around the world. Whether or not you’re a costume designer, or have a newly-​knitted sweater that needs some, you will soon be hooked, and intrigued by these little works of art. I was once so oddly entranced that I bought a bag of various expensive French one as a gift for a friend. She totally didn’t «get» it. Now, I just collect them for myself.
Forget needing to replace a button. Think about the zen of this little store, on the ground floor of a townhouse in busy midtown. Such a calming oasis, like a little museum, the walls organized and lined with boxes of tiny buttons. It’s the perfect place to reboot and refocus your overflowing mind. The staff is aloof? Just as the original owner, Diana Epstein, a devote buttonista, would have wanted it. I appreciate the silence and being left alone. I’m here to get lost in the tiny world of these buttons. Okay, maybe it’s an acquired taste, but when your mantra just isn’t doing the trick on a busy midtown day, I suggest you give Tender Buttons a try…

My mother and I came in to purchase buttons to add to some Christmas presents we’ve been working on. I’ve never seen a selection as incredible as theirs! The young man and other staff were incredibly knowledgable and helpful. We left with beautiful Alice in Wonderland buttons and other trinkets. Great as gifts or for a favourite piece of clothing to add personalisation. Even if you’re not looking for buttons the shop itself is worth a visit, it is like a fairytale. Also purchases are cash only.

I went there today. The man in 60’s was so rude and little respect to me. Was that because I am an Asian woman who came to buy buttons for school assignment?
I was blamed by the man for arriving there 15 minutes before their closing. I left the store with a bitter feeling. One of the worst memories in NYC.

‘m in the industry and never understood the negative buzz re service — or lack of service — at Tender Buttons. In fact, the sales people have been attentive to me and my staff. Now I understand. I ran in today to help a friend pick out some buttons. I was dressed casually in black jeans and the staff did not recognize me. I was friendly. They were arrogant. Extremely arrogant. I source all over the world and am extremely selective in my choice of vendors. And yes, Tender Buttons, you are a vendor. I believe in (and am known for) treating people with respect at all times without exception. Shame on you Tender Buttons! Let the buyer beware!

Great little store. I was there 44 years ago (1970) and returned this summer with my daughter. Not sure why everyone is upset about the service. I did not feel unwelcome — but was left alone to browse. When I had a question it was answered nicely — no intent to intimidate or demean.

I went online to see the hours of this store, but after reading the reviews reconsidered. I was able to replace the button by calling the manufacturer of the garment, which may be a solution for others who want to avoid an unpleasant experience in this store.

I’m relieved to see the other reviews discussing the poor customer service at this store; at least it wasn’t just me. I was trying to find a button for a pillow, and I knew they might not have a really close match, but when I displayed the button I was trying to match and asked for help, the woman sort of sniffed and said they didn’t have buttons like THAT, and she gestured toward one small part of a wall. I looked there and found nothing really like what I was looking for, and I could accept that, but there was no attempt by anyone on staff (even though the store wasn’t particularly busy) to help me select what might work instead or to seem even slightly interested in my business. I ended up buying a couple of buttons that were ridiculously expensive because I wanted to get something, but I am not sure they will actually meet my needs and I somewhat regret the purchase already. If and when I ever need buttons again, I’ll go just about anywhere else but here first.

This shop has unique and quality buttons but I have stopped going there due to the environment. The shop is very small and there are a couple of older ladies behind the counter who talk to each other (about nonsense!) in very loud voices – so a customer who is trying to calmly select specialty buttons cannot escape the blaring cackling of these women… who, by the way… never ask the customer if they can assist you. This is a shame for a nice specialty shop… the owner should get new customer-​focused employees… who can provide a quiet enjoyable shopping environment… to justify their prices! Only go here if you come with earplugs/​earphones and do not need any assistance.

An invaluable resource, a veritable monopoly on buttons. Yet, they have the nastiest owner and employees in Manhattan. The word «attitude» pales in contrast to what you are given here.
I waited several minutes for a salesperson to offer assistance, and when I had to ask for it, she replied, «I just started my coffee,» groaned, put the cap on the coffee, and actually found exactly what I wanted within a minute. My appreciation was not acknowledged. The check-​out process was equally unpleasant. This place is a great argument against monopolies.

I come here every trip to NYC. This time the man in front of me paid with a Visa card. I was next and handed the woman my Visa card and she said, «we do not take cards.»
This is while the man is signing his receipt!!! What a b@#$tch. Clearly she could care less what people think of her and her service so this review is pointless.
NEVER again, keep your buttons, maybe you can be buried with them. If you don’t want to sell to the public, close your doors.

I just went there again yesterday. Despite the fact that I asked for assistance at least five times, the 3 people in the shop could not have cared less. A 45 drive to NYC wasted. In addition, when I arrived there was a lady who had been trying to get service to match some buttons. The gentleman didn’t even know the term for the grommet at the top of the jeans or that the jeans needed buttons, not grommets. I went in there with a hand knitted coat and wanted a fantastic button. One of the men sat at the desk reading a newspaper and the female kept on complaining about the heat. Any assistance was very grudgingly given. I predict that this store may not be long for this competitive world. Nice button selection, but unless you don’t need help reaching the top box or heaven forbid, asking to see the buttons under glass, avoid this one. Mood and others in the garment industry, although the buttons come on cards, are much more interested in helping and have equal or even better merchandise.

Giving this store 1 star because I can’t give it a negative star. I saw the reviews for bad customer service prior to going, but took it with a grain of salt. I quickly found that its more like ‘selective service.’
When I entered a guy was working with someone, so I started browsing while I waited. After he finished, he came to the area where I was, walked around me, then put a box away. He walked back to the front without even a simple hello. I would have been fine with that, if he’d ignored the next person that came in the store.
Well that didn’t happen, he stopped what he was doing walked directly to the woman immediately, and asked if he could her. She was barely in the store 60 seconds.
The sad thing about it… I went in there with the intention to buy 2 sweaters & a coat worth of buttons. Oh well, guess they didn’t want my business.

Needing some «signature» buttons for a couple of knitting projects I came here and, well, yes, I can see why others have written what they have about the service but I didn’t have a problem with it. I appreciated the fact that no one leapt on me the moment I walked in & that I had plenty of time to make my own decision without anyone peering over my shoulder trying to influence my choice.
I’d read Nicole W.‘s review but went up to the front desk to double check that it was OK to take down the boxes I was interested in. I took the boxes to the front, told the lady how many of each I wanted, she fished them out and totted up the total for me. I paid and left. Honestly you don’t need a lot more out of a shop now do you !,
Basically, to my mind the service was very «French» — they know they have a good range of quality products, they trust you to be able to make your own decision about what you want (and I’m guessing if they don’t have what you do want they don’t feel guilty about it — you chose to go into their shop after all, they didn’t drag you in). You’re a customer not a friend.
I would have liked to have seen prices on all the boxes but I understand why this might be impractical.

Charming shop that has the refinement and organization of Olivander’s Wand Shop. Perhaps it’s magical too. Thousands of buttons to browse and purchase. As for the staff, while not effusive, they are by no means rude, perhaps just introverted.

I was sent on an errand by my wife, who knits. They were pretty helpful in making sure I brought her home a button.

To the incredibly rude, condescending and unhelpful shopkeeper:
Sorry for breathing in your airless button chamber and disrupting the delicate button ecosystem you have so carefully cultivated. You really need to learn some manners, button nazi.

A button mortuary where you will feel as if you have entered a private «button club».
Nasty, condescending attitudes. It was like the «Adams Family» of button stores running this place. Very strange.
Bad service, bad attitude.

Come for the buttons, not the customer service.
This store is a great place for crafsters looking for buttons for their projects. They have all sorts of buttons at a variety of price points, and you might feel spoiled for choice.
The people who own/​work in this store seem more comfortable with buttons than humans, so let me help you out:
1) You can take down any box of buttons that interests you (especially if you need to count what they have on hand to see if they have enough for what you need).
2) What you see is what they have.
3) Bring the entire box up to the front when you’re paying for your selection.
Finding this store is a lifesaver, because I was not looking forward to ordering buttons off the internet. Some things just have to be done in person.

Imagine stumbling upon a world where magical treasures are hidden in thousands of little boxes. When creativity strikes and you want to do a makeover on an old garment sitting in your closet, tender buttons is probably the best and easiest solution to pull of a possible «Project Runway»…
I discovered this nook on the Upper East side on a rainy Saturday afternoon. It has a fairly small storefront, but it can’t be missed with the oversized button signage hanging over its entrance. Closed on Sundays and it only accepts cash or check. Has the biggest selection of anything one can imagine that could be shrunk to button size form, from plastic animals for children to rhinestone encrusted baubles for the elite or faux elite (which the City is FULL of…)