Utopia

Beware of these weasely weasels.
This store set up shop at the local mall in Bakersfield around Christmastime 2011. I went in there and immediately thought of Christmas present ideas for my mother, and decided to get her a gift card. The friendly cashier made it a point to excitedly tell me «great choice! How much do you want on it?»
50 $. GONE. How?
A WEEK later when my mother went back to Utopia at the mall, IT WAS GONE. Nothing. The store was empty. Vanished. Did they plan this? Why would they let me purchase a gift card, then? It must have been a contractual issue or something, right? So now what to do with this gift card?
I called this Utopia hoping that we could find a solution to this gift card fiasco. I politely explained what had happened, and the employee says in an annoyed tone, «well, cant you just come spend it at our store here?» You mean travel 2 ½ hours (on a good day, 4+ hours on a bad day) through LA traffic to spend a crappy gift card? No thanks. «I’m sorry, but no. We live a few hours away.» I was aggravated at this point — don’t give me suggestions that stray away from what i initially asked for. She said, «let me talk to my manager right here and i’ll call you right back.» 6 HOURS WENT BY and no call back. I re-​dialed them, thus again explaining my situation. The woman — a different woman — says to me, «let me get your information so we can take care of this issue.» I gave her my name, number, email, and address.
It’s been 7 months, people. No response, no email, no call back, no apology. 50 $ down the drain and no Christmas present to show for my poor mother. I hope that my 50 $ was worth it, Utopia. Bad service, impolite employees, WEASELY WEASELS. I’d give it 0 stars if I could. I guess I can owe the 1 star to the conniving manner these dirtbags have to a T. Must take effort. Bravo.

This place is listed as a furniture store, and honestly, I wouldn’t have called it that. It’s more a gift shop with all kinds of things you’d put ON furniture, such as silk flowers, candles, candle holders, jeweled frames, decorative jeweled boxes, table runners, artwork, glassware, placemats, miniature lamps, things for teens, things for children, all kinds of stuff. Maybe they have a little furniture in there, but the thrust of their inventory is «stuff.» Here’s the other thing… for all their «stuff,» they boast that nothing is over $ 10.99. I kind of chuckle at that price because they’ve gone up. Until recently, nothing was over $ 10. Inflation, I suppose. If you’re in a pinch and don’t want to spend much, you might be able to find a little something. I have bought a few items here and check back periodically, but I usually walk out empty-​handed. 3 stars for a good deal, but the stuff is kinda schlocky and cheaply made.