Pottery Barn

I’ve bought items many times online and have always been pleased by their customer service. Went into the brick and mortar store in Clarendon because I wanted to see if backordered items were actually in stock at the store. Sure enough, many of my backordered items were in stock at the store. I inquired about how I could cancel what I already ordered or switch out for the items currently in the store — no one at the store seemed to know the answer to my questions and everyone told me to call the online customer service and ask myself. That is a simple question employees should know how to assist you with and should be able to help switch the items. Not sure if the employees here are temporary holiday help — either way, it’s a tough economy and businesses need to continue to challenge themselves in every way possible to be their best at everything they do. This experience was not a good example of that.
Other side notes: I think the Pottery Barn brick and mortar stores should be more transparent with pricing for their merchandise — it was difficult to determine what the prices were (most people are on budgets, even if they can afford nicer items), and if there are not enough staff to help every single customer in the store on a one on one basis, the customer should not have to wander around looking for pricing information or wander around and wait to be able to pull items like pillow cases in original packaging without having to find someone in the store to do it for you. I don’t need pillow inserts in most cases and only want the pillow cases. Be considerate of people’s time in busy metropolitan areas — I don’t like this aspect of the merchandising at this Pottery Barn. More open stock should be available for the customer to readily purchase. The current merchandising only works well if you have tons of staff at all times to help customers on a one on one basis. We all know that’s not reality here.

I’ve bought stuff many times at this store, and their inventory control is so bad that i m starting to wonder how their employees find their shoes in the morning. When you need something from the store room, always need to double check. In my last 5 requests, they didn’t get the right product even once. They don’t know their product lines at all. I find myself explaining to them what products they carry. No, you don’t carry this product in medium size, it’s only made in small or large… etc. Online inventory control isn’t much better. Last time we ordered curtain rods, we received a pillow cover…

Water tastes better in a glass.
It’s true.
I come to you Pottery Barn not for the furniture, as I am still financing my living room and I could open a Pottery Barn for minimalists store, but I come to thee for your glassware and decorating tips.
So far you have not let me down with your displays. I am definitely influenced by your more earthen chic. I’d imagine that in another life I was a philanthropist with a drinking problem, who lived in the woods all alone.
On occasion I’d open up my winter lodge for guests and serve them only water out of my stemware.
I’d chuckle when they asked where I got the water and I’d point to the bucket under the garbage disposal.
All water tastes better in a glass.
We’d all laugh and then someone shot me, sending my spirit into next person in the avatar cycle.
Did I just skip mediums? Yes, I think I just did. Thank you Pottery Barn.

The customer service is outstanding! We had our registry here and everytime I came to this location they were very accommodating and kind. Someone was always ready to help & everyone I dealt with was very nice – it almost didn’t even seem like a huge chain.

Pottery Barn’s customer service — both at the Clarendon store and through the 1 – 800 number — greatly exceeded my expectations. I moved into a new apartment and had to find drapes for two rooms. Little did I realize how difficult a task this would prove to be. The first room wasn’t that hard. I selected a set of Pottery Barn drapes I thought would be perfect, but they didn’t work in that room as I had hoped. The second set of drapes did the trick. My second bedroom, however, took many, many tries to get right. I am embarrassed to admit how many sets of drapes I purchased only to return them because they just weren’t right for the space. Every time, the Pottery Barn staff was gracious and accommodating about the returns. I finally got it right. I sincerely appreciate the kindness and patience of the good people who work for Pottery Barn, as well as the great prices and the customer-​friendly return policies. A thousand thanks!!!

I called back another day and spoke with a different manager. This manager was able to address the problem the other manager could not.

I can’t really give this Pottery Barn more than three stars because I felt there were far too few people working for the number of customers.
I waited for a few minutes and walked around in two or three circles waiting for the employees on the first floor to be done helping customers. When it became apparent, the customers’ orders or issues were going to take awhile, I headed upstairs and encountered Jessica.
She noted that outdoor furniture was on sale and that anything that had a floor sample ticket were available for sale. The rest of the floor samples were not marked for sale. Boo. However, she did suggest calling the store to see what they have in stock and did say there is no strict schedule of marking down items.

For what feels like a fairly large store, this PB location’s selection seems kind of limited. Maybe I’m wrong about this, but it seems that way. Staff are fine, but nothing special — just doing their job. I rarely go here unless I need a picture frame or an expensive candle, but for that, PB is tops.

one star, at least until they don’t teach the middle aged Afro-​American sales person how to use their POS system and some basic people skills. hello, it is 2013…

I’m a fan of Pottery Barn, just not this store. I experience here has been just A-​okay even after visiting this store more than a few times.
The layout is a bit funky — it’s hard to know where things are. Also the sales people tho friendly, but seems to me, have their noses high up in the air. It’s Pottery Barn folks, not Maitland-​Smith — a little down to earth attitude will help!
I prefer their store at Tysons over this store.

My girlfriend and I went shopping here for our new apartment. We found a really good sale online, but the sale wasn’t advertised in the store.
The salesperson made sure that we got the exact price we would have gotten online and was really helpful throughout the process.
I would definitely go back and if you are ever shopping online and see a sale, I recommend going to the store, trying out/​seeing in person what you are interested in, and having the store price match the online sale.

I was very impressed by the staff here and especially the manager Jason. I came in near closing time one evening looking for a smaller-​sized couch and he was so willing to help me and do whatever he could to make me happy. It wasn’t about making a sale, but rather finding the right piece of furniture for me. The entire staff was courteous and polite and I was very impressed and would highly recommend shopping at this store in particular. I’ve had other experiences in area PB stores and this one was by far the best and most pleasant.