Rare Device

Last second shopping for a baby party and Rare Device helped me out. The woman behind the counter was helpful. Plenty of stuff for kids here and the rest looks mostly for women.

Ehhh — whatevs.
Just another boutique full of hipster-​inspired crap that makes me wonder how they pay the rent every month. Wouldn’t say that this place is full of «beautiful» things as they claim. Lots of random stuff that I swear I see other places. Definitely *NOT* a jewel box. And by the way, nothin’s cheap!
But what gets to me is that for such a cozy little boutique, this place lacks any warmth and ambiance (Not at all like «Ambiance», which is a neighboring boutique that I ADORE). It’s literally a room filled with stuff.
Gotta make mention of the fellow Unilocaler Tanka K, who called out the staff for being cold and inattentive. Um, YES! I walked into that place — there were two people at the front who didn’t even say hello or even look up. Then after I stood around for 5 minutes looking for something (stickers to decorate my holiday cards), one of the workers came out of the back and I had to stop her. It went a little something like this…
ME: «Do you work here?»
HER: «Yes»
ME: (Holding my shopping bag from «Just for Fun»). «I’m looking for stickers. Do you carry them?»
HER: Something something…“We have Body Art Stickers”.
ME: «No — I mean, just plain stickers that you use to stick on paper.»
HER: «Oh, why don’t you go to ‘Just for Fun’?»
ME: (holding up my shopping bag) «I just came from there».
HER: «But they have stickers.»
ME: «I know, and I just came from there.»
HER: «But they have racks of stickers»
ME: «Yes, I saw them, and didn’t like them. That’s why I’m here!
HER: (confused). «Oh — Yeah, we don’t have that. You can try Wink down the street».
I guess common sense isn’t a requirement for working retail anymore? Anyway, besides that —
I have to say that I remember Rare Device from my New York Days! That’s a LONG time ago.
Sadly, this store has tainted my memory.

The sister location to Nopa’s store boasts of a bigger space, but has the same modern minimally designed aesthetic. The walls and shelving are all white to really showcase the products.
Expect to find locally designed wares (also from other States like Colorado, Seattle and NY), unique gifts, paper goods, kids clothing and accessories for your home. The saltbox with wooden lid from Japan is really cute. Personally, I like their collection of hand poured, 100% soy candles here.
When you get hungry after shopping, you can go to Noe Vally Bakery or chocolate covered next door.

I walked into this store for the first time. Two women were working in the shop & did not greet me, acknowledge me or ask if I needed any help. It was not even busy because I was the only customer. They were cold & unfriendly which gave me a bad, first impression of the store, which will be my last impression. The staff @ Wink or Just For Fun are much nicer.

Sparsely decorated, yet filled with a diverse offering of cards, gifts, and tiny baby clothes. It’s a one stop shop for upper income Noe Valley inhabitants looking for a quick, modest housewarming gift for the hipster friend with good taste that you met a while ago but don’t know well enough to know their favorite anything.
You know… the friend of a friend that you bonded with at a wine bar baby shower over hating Gwyneth.