House of Jade

I actually want to give this place zero stars! I had never been shouted at or humiliated by a store employee until going to House of Jade! I see good reviews for this store, I assume they depend on who is in the store. Both of my experiences were with a man.
The first time I went I was interested in buying a wood bracelet. I had just come back from Taiwan and forgotten to buy one for myself there. The ones in this store looked good quality and were not too expensive. However, they were behind the counter and I couldn’t get to them myself. I, like another reviewer, searched for the owner and finally found him in the back eating dumplings and watching TV. Realizing I was interrupting him, I apologized for the disturbance then asked him if I could please see one of the bracelets. He scoffed at me and asked me «You have enough money to buy something???» I replied that I did and asked again to see the bracelet. He rolled his eyes and threw a bracelet on the counter, which was not the one I asked for. I apologized again and explained I was asking to see the bracelet on the right side of that one. He yanked the bracelet (which at the time was in my hand) right out of my palm and told me «You have money to buy something? If you don’t then get OUT!» I felt humiliated but my bruised ego caused me to buy a string bracelet on impulse to prove to him that I had «enough money» (dumb decision, I know) which fell apart LESS THAN 15 MINUTES after leaving the store. However, no way I was going to go back and be disrespected again so I just decided it was a learning experience and got over it.
The next time I went was a few months later. I still really wanted to buy the bracelet and wasn’t in the mood to wander the International District so I decided to try House of Jade again. I knew it wasn’t fair to judge a store or its products from one bad experience and went in, crossing my fingers for another employee. Guess what? It was the same guy, watching TV again. Just my luck. I stood at one of the walls looking at the bracelets quietly. A few minutes passed and he turned and asked impatiently «What do you want?» I told him thank you for your assistance but I’m just looking at bracelets. He snorted and watched me for what felt like an eternity but was probably 30 seconds. Then suddenly barked «What’s wrong with you???» Surprised, I told him nothing, I’m just deciding on a bracelet. He retorted «NO! I mean what’s wrong with your FACE? Why do you look so unhappy? I don’t want my customers looking like that! If you’re going to make that face then just leave.» I was so shocked I was speechless for a second. Then I realized maybe he thought I had been staring at him. I started to apologize and explain but he didn’t let me. He told me to to GET OUT or I’m going to CALL THE POLICE! GET OUT NOW! I backed away and kept trying to explain as he kept repeating the word «OUT!» again and again. What made his humiliating for me is I was not the only person in the store. They all heard and SAW me getting threatened for nothing.
To this day I do not know what I did to offend the guy or make him hate me so much that he would even threaten to call the police on me. Both times I walked into the store I believe I was well mannered and respectful of him. I did not walk in there behaving in any way or doing anything that would make me deserving of his insinuation that I didn’t have the money to buy anything from his shop. I still can’t believe he said that to me. I also never got the chance to buy the bracelet I wanted because I was constantly yelled at and harassed just for being there. I am also shocked only one other person had as bad an experience as me. There must be so many more who just did not write reviews.
Another reviewer said it perfectly: «No wonder his store is packed full of stuff, who would want to purchase anything from a store owner who can’t even take pride in his own salesmanship? I wouldn’t spend a penny here.»

This place is absolutely packed with stuff for sale. So much so that there’s barely room to walk around looking at it all. If there are more than two or three other people in there, it’s going to be a tight squeeze to get down the aisles without knocking anything. It might be better to stop back later.
A lot of the items seem mostly touristy but there is a wide selection of jewellery in the display cases and some of it looked quite nice. Things seem a bit on the expensive side but there were a lot of things I haven’t seen for sale elsewhere so it’s hard to say.
Maybe it was just me, but this didn’t come across as the most customer friendly place and I felt a little awkward shopping there. Still, the shop manager was happy enough to let me look at a couple things from one of the display cases and I ended up buying a pair of earrings for my girlfriend.

I love House of Jade because of the owner, John! When I first moved to Seattle, being homeless, unemployed, and broke, I did nothing but wander downtown everyday to find jobs and kill time. I love turquoise jewelry so wanted to window shop House of Jade. There I met John and long story short, we traded stories of our immigrant families. He’s worked hard to start a new life in America for himself and his family. Two decades at Pike’s is nothing short of a success story. I promised myself once I was on my feet I would return to buy a piece from John. And I did. When I came back a little over a year later — he remembered me! He picked out a beautiful turquoise ring for me that he said complimented me very well and I was sold on it. I wear it everyday.
Pike’s is rampant with a rude consumerist mentality. These shop owners are more than servants to provide you with your tourist needs. If you take the time to simply say hello and talk to him like a person, you will enjoy every shop owner you meet there. John isn’t about selling you the most expensive thing and I bet he’s fully aware that most of these tourists won’t buy something, so why not take the time to enjoy his company? He would enjoy it. He’s full of stories and laughter.
Regarding the previous review by Alicia, I think it is very unfair when you were very happy with your jewelry but gave a low rating because you’re too lazy to walk there. It’s Pike’s Place, not a drive-​thru.

I wandered down here when I got bored with the Pride parade. I looked around and saw something I’ve been looking for over the last few years. I bought a beautiful Jade bear necklace. The price was reasonable for what I got, the customer service was great from a woman, and the selection was also very good. It seems there was something for everyone here. If I ever wanted more Jade jewelry I would definitely come back here. And when I did all my shopping I went back to the parade and it was still going. Yay!

Almost blazed straight past House of Jade because we all know what these stores carry. But I’m glad I went in for ONE REASON.
I have a metal allergy to cheap jewelry and earring studs will create knots in my ears if I wear a pair with any sort of agent that is not gold, silver, sterling silver, etc. Basically, I saw three pairs of earrings in the jewelry case, questioned the «owner”/“employee”/“whatever he was», and he said they were stainless steel. I figured I’d give it a shot. Not knowing if they’d work or not, I did tell him that I wasn’t confident — — he did attempt to assure me (not give me a hard sell) that these earrings were legit.
When I seemed hesitant to take all three pairs for $ 75, he offered to knock the price down to $ 65. These are small jade, pearl earrings people. I knew what I was in for at this price.
I’ve since worn the earrings for hours and can even sleep in them! YAY! No five stars: I don’t want to have to pay for parking, walk that far and deal with the crowds, JUST FOR MORE EARRINGS! But they’d get five stars just on earrings alone.

Searched for the owner within his store, once he finally appeared from the back with a bowl of dumplings I preceded to ask if I could look at a set of rings to see what they looked like on. He sat his food down and shuffled over to the case, pulled out the set of rings. I asked if they were in any size order and he snapped back that he could size anything, yanked the rings back into the case and slammed it shut. No wonder his store is packed full of stuff, who would want to purchase anything from a store owner who can’t even take pride in his own salesmanship? I wouldn’t spend a penny here.

I took my bracelet that is a family heirloom to get soldered & expanded to House of Jade. The owner who works there told me he can do the job so I left it with him. When I returned, it was done but the work was shoddy. The edges of the added part were uneven & noticeably contrasted the original sterling part of the bracelet. Also there was scripting on my bracelet and a few of the letters were melted off. When I pointed these deficiencies out to the owner, he still charged me the full $ 25. After a few days, the bracelet broke right in the area that was soldered. I would not recommend that anyone get there jewelery repaired or soldered at House of Jade, even if the price is more affordable than other places. I’m now having my bracelet re-​soldered & repaired at a more reputable jeweler.

5 stars for being CRAMMED full of kitsch. Piles and bins and shelves and walls full of crappy tourist souvenirs and cheap Asian goods and a few nice Asian pieces like carved wood boxes. Cheap paper fans sit next to yo-​yos and ceramic mugs that love Seattle. Mobiles and bamboo scrolls hang from the ceiling and pewter belt buckles share space with paper mache parrots. You’ll find ceramic frogs and an entire wall full of magnets that I swear were made 40 years ago. Glass cases hold jewelry and a few pieces are surprisingly nice. Pick up a brass Space Needle pencil sharpener while you’re there and revel in the experience. You’ve just GOTTA love a place that is so over the top.