Swain’s

If you notice the good reviews are ones that have no human interaction based on their wide selection and variety of goods which is absolutely the case. I’ve been going there for 10 years and as long as you don’t rely on human interaction especially in the realm of returns or exchanges you’re fine, their customer service lacks. new employees are usually cheerful and all smiles but after a few months The corporate culture wears them down you can see it in the face of the manager he’s never smiling always in a somber mood. For goodness sake I’ve spent a couple thousand dollars with you in the last several years the least you could do is smile and welcome me when I come in. Right?
The good news is today my exchange was effortless. Thank you.

GREAT PLACE FOR ART STUDENTS!
I’m a first term at art center college of design and new to the system of buying expensive materials but Swain’s is the only place that gave me the best deals and incredible prices! Marina was great with helping as well, I had a list and was so lost and she took care of everything! I bought some materials somewhere else and I’m returning them to buy my stuff from Swain’s. Their prices are that good!

This is my second time in the store really taking advantage of all their promotions and sales which they have quite frequently.
Once I was ready to purchase the assistant manager (mid 30’s looking Asian man named Christian with sleeve tattoos) rang me up and charged me full price for an item that was 60% off. First off, if your a manager you should really f*cking know about what’s on sale at the store you’re in charge off. Secondly, if you are in fact wrong, give your customer an incentive to come back and shop at the store, not be the rudest person ever!
This is the only reason why I came to swains was to buy that item (23×31 portfolio). After I realized that it was charged full price I immediately went back to the store and asked the assistant Manager to give me back the difference. It wasn’t possible (i have no idea why) so I had to return the item entirely and walk out of the store with that item that I truly needed!
As someone who also works in retail, i sympathize with people who make mistakes, or are genuinely having a bad day but this assistant manager was so rude and unhelpful to my situation that he basically brought upon me. So disappointed with my customer service. However the worker Amanda helped me find that item (a 23×31 portfolio) was super friendly and extremely helpful I give 5 stars to her!
Will not be returning to swains unfortunately. If you decide to just make sure you are being charged the right prices for your promotions.

I had a bad experience at the store during the second visit. I wanted to do an even exchange but the rep would not allow it. He made up an excuse to give me less. Besides having my receipt, I brought proof from the shelf with the item and still he would not acknowledge the receipt price. Bottom line, I questioned his integrity… Maybe it was the way he interacted with me, or lack of, and they way he didn’t help me at the first visit and kept me waiting for 20 minutes.
There is a small chance he was telling the truth. But then again, as I was leaving I overheard him tell his coworker I made an exchange without a receipt which was not the case.
I know customer service is only one aspect of the store. I don’t want to return because of this experience.
However, to be fair to the store I will say this: there are lots of selections and many of the toys appear to be new and in season. They have puzzles galore and toys for all ages, including art supplies, dinosaur models, trains and Legos. With their 20% off deals, when they occur, you may be paying for the items at market price. Otherwise, they do charge more.

F**k this place. They closed at 4pm on Christmas Eve for some nutty reason while the rest of the plaza was teeming with last minute shoppers. I raced to get here in heavy Armenian traffic and had one foot in the door at 3:59pm as I got checked by the dopey manager who was setting up a pick like a point guard from the Clippers as if I were going in for a lay-​up with 2 seconds left on the clock. He was adorned in this heavily ornamented apron and was jingling around this massive set of keys while fumbling the right one into proper position like prison warden at the onset of a massive riot. The entire display was aesthetically revolting.
I kindly asked of I could just buy a pen (which I needed as a gift) and as I calmly tried to explain how they were the only store around with such a wide variety of p-…I was cut off by his sweat beaded bobbling head as it croaked out a phlegm entangled, «No-we’re closed» and as four other shoppers pressed me against the glass the tumblers were engaged and the dull sliding drag of the cylindrical brass shaft lumbered along until all of it’s length became fully encased inside the cavity of the latch. Now, I understand that a business must close and that retail managers are under pressure to perform a multitude of functions within ridgid time constraints against under-​cut budgets and how keeping the store open later by as little as 5 minutes may appear as good service but leaves negative impact to the bottom line when the gross annual sales that are earned by closing at inconsistent times are lost to the annual cost of labor required to operate outside of the regular posted times. I get it, I do but it wasn’t the incident itself that necessitated this poor rated and trolling review as much as it as it was the offensive appearance of the man and the lasted impact that his listless affect had afforded my senses; everything from the apish expression upon his badly goatee’d and uncalibrated Mr. Potato Head® head to the post-​mortem texture and high impact density of the overly taught, clay-​baked tapistry of dermis that canopied the skeleton of his cumbersome frame. Other than that, would have given 5 stars…

I was so embarrassed today when I entered Swains in Glendale. I have been a devoted customer for years, always trusting Swains to have supplies I need for my work as a children’s Play and Art Therapist in Pasadena. I brought my 16 month old son with me and just happened to forget his stroller, so we grabbed a shopping cart from a nearby store on our way in. In front of a massive queue of holiday shoppers, all of them turning their heads to stare, a store clerk (didn’t catch her name but she had blue streaks in her hair) loudly proclaimed «Ma’am!» that shopping carts are not allowed in their store. Oh the dreaded «Ma’am!». Nothing more publicly shaming! Yes, I made a mistake, I take full responsibility, I took the cart right outside. But please, would it be too much to wait until a customer has entered the store and then approach her quietly and discreetly to ask her to remove the cart? I am too embarrassed to go back to Swains anytime soon. And I had regularly recommended the store to all of the families I work with who ask where I get all the great toys and art supplies. Not anymore.

Swains is one of the oldest bussines in Glendale… i love this shop because of their awsome sale that they have every year buy a tube of paint and get one free! Are u kidding thats an awsome deal! Ive never heard any where with a deal like that… also what keeps me going back is their awsome selection of mechanical pencils

My husband and I are weekly customers at Swains. It’s the perfect spot for all kinds of artists. From crafters to fine art painters. Their Toy Fun section is great for purchasing gifts for children 0 – 14 years old. The staff is always helpful if we have any questions or locating products if an item is out of stock. We love it here at Swains.

So I feel like a kid in a toy store when I come here. And I especially love coming during the sales… BOGO free for art pads! Yes please! Usually the sales are at the beginning of each semester, so it’s awesome. I love looking aisle by aisle and seeing things I didn’t think I needed! And the service is great. They have people roaming the store, offering help finding products, especially helpful when I’m new to this and don’t know where to start to find my school art supplies. When there’s a sale, be ready for the huge lines because the sale is awesome!

One of my classmates in grad school recommended Swain’s, so I made my way over this afternoon. After I regained my composure from the sweltering heat and adjusted my vision, I saw all sorts of wonderful things. Aisles of sketchpads and markers and brushes, oh my! So many beautiful supplies. Had I not had a specific agenda, I would’ve likely blown a whole lot more money on all the awesomeness that lay before me :) (I almost regret not picking up that air-​dry clay…)
Also, the toy section is amazing. They have a great collection of games, toys, books, etc. Oh, to be five again!!!
There’s currently a storewide promotional sale that lasts until September 15. If you’re taking any art classes, I highly recommend stopping by. I found everything I needed, and at a great value too :)

The best toy store in Glendale! If you are looking for a unique gift, birthday card, stationary, and art supplies this is your one stop place. I love their selection of toys!

If you need any kind of art supplies for a class or just for yourself, then I would highly recommend going here! They’ve got everything you’ll ever need for good prices. Workers over there are very helpful, and friendly.

This art store has many obscure supplies you won’t see anywhere else usually. I got glow in the dark acrylic paint! Last two. And some glue for my new collage piece! They have a wide selection and variety of all art supplies! They have excellent and attentive customer service too! Will be coming back!

Though I’m not much of an «artist» when it comes to painting and the like, I have a hankering for arts and crafts supplies — and Swain’s met every one of them. From their fun collection of Gelly Roll Pens (childhood flashbacks…), crafting textiles, spray paint and more it’s easy to get lost for an hour or two. I’ll be coming back soon and with more time to spare =)

I really like Swain’s. They are great for simple greeting cards, high-​end toys you can’t find anywhere else and great art and stencil supplies. I find myself spending a lot of time walking around in here and finding something different you can’t find anywhere else.
Although, last I’ve been here, their stock has dwindled a bit. Nevertheless, it’s still a cute shop to walk around in and grab new things you may not find in other toy or greeting card shops.
Parking is shared with Rite Aid pharmacy, Vons, IHOP, Honeybaked Ham, Pier 1 and other small shops. You won’t normal find issues with parking, just angry rude and inconsiderate drivers in the lot.

Seriously the best thing about the place is the staff. Very helpful.
Great prices, excellent selection.

Swain’s is a great art supply store, and when they run their promotional sales, their prices are hard to beat.
The selection and diverse range of merchandise of supplies they have is very robust.
I like Swain’s better than most if not all of the other art supply stores I’ve been to.
This is a place where it pays to sign up for their mailing list, since their sales are spectacular. They have 2 for 1 and 50% off pricing on certain items which are not clearance, seasonal or junk, they heavily discount popular and useful items as well as big quality brand names too.
Parking here is easy, they have a huge lot.

FIVE Stars only because of your employee LUCY.
I bought an easel a week ago and wanted the floor model as I do not have the patience to assemble my own easel. I was told I could not buy the floor model but there was one packed in the back that I would have to assemble
Lucy saw the total look of disappointment in my face and quickly said «Ill help you assemble it!!»
She went back, got my easel, and her and I put the easel together right there in the store. All the while, she smiled and we chatted like old friends.
Seriously. how awesome? Now a days its so rare to meet an employee that is willing to go above and beyond.
I will surely go back because of her positive attitude and knowledge.

Awesome selection.
An artist’s heaven.
I went in for a pencial and spent 30 minutes finding the one just for me.
The staff is extra helpful in answering questions and even going out of their way to demonstrate their products!
I could see myself going broke in this place.

I think I sold my soul to Swain’s when I was in college. No joke, seriously spent thousands, yes, thousands of dollars here. Going to Woodbury in the Interior Architecture department was not cheap. I frequent this place at least 3 – 4 times weekly. I think they gave a student discount of 10%…since it was close to my house, it would be my weekly stop for exacto blades, lots and LOTS of foamcore, like seriously, foamcore galore weekly (and they have all kinds of thickness, and black foamcore too!), markers, LOTS of balsa wood, wires, rods, everything basically to build models. It was to the point where they employees knew me by my name since I came in so frequently. Since college, I haven’t really been in there, no need for a stack of foamcore or planks of balsa wood.
They do have a good collection and inventory of stuff other art stores don’t have, but be ready to pay a pretty penny!