Reflections Kaleidoscopes

The kaleidoscope shop is closed it is now an art gallery. It has some of the most beautiful kaleidoscopes ever made…

How this man isn’t locked up, for his or others safety, I don’t know. And anyone who has had a good experience with him, don’t take it personally. As in, it had nothing to do with your wonderful self.
If he’s watching you, judging everything about you, then he mustve decided to skip his meds that morning. Lack of responsibility or accountability for his own actions, is not okay. In what book of civilized society is any of this, wherever his behavior lands in the parameters, okay?
There are no antecedants. He strikes even if you’re perfect in every way. One woman nearly got clobbered. In my opinion, if you read these and still go there, then you are self destructive or condone this negativity. If you had a wonderful time, then read later at home that he has two personalities… should we be grateful we didn’t get hurt or yelled at? Ridiculous.

Wandered in with my mom to look around and the owner said– verbatim– «Do you know what kind of store this is? You’re not welcome here.» My mother is inclined to be kind and call him eccentric. I call him a jackass. Absolutely astounded by the lack of professionalism and courtesy. Do not patronize this establishment!!!
Edit: I emailed a review of the customer service. The reply I received reamed me out and told me that I ought to consider my actions. My email includes the word «wicked” — a reference to the Broadway musical, mind you– and the proprietor called me out on the use of that word, implying that it was connected to me in some way. This person is not receptive to feedback, and chooses to belittle potential customers. Not a professional way to behave!

My husband and I bought a beautiful glass sculpture in this shop today. The owner couldn’t have been nicer. Please do yourself a favor and go into this shop. It has one of a kind items that will amaze you. I just wish I could afford more of them.

We purchased a beautiful bracelet, a tiled mirror, and a pretty window hangy thing. There was a sale and the prices were great.
I was totally overwhelmed by beauty when I walked in here. The owner is a character and it’s worth taking a moment to chat with him. We enjoyed the whole experience.
Love this place. We come to Mendocino often and I’ll make it a point to come here every time from now on.

While shopping in Mendocino a couple of weeks ago we decided to pop into Reflections Kaleidoscopes and check it out. When entering the store we didn’t see anyone, looked around a bit when my sister-​in-​law said she needed to get some air and walked out. If course, my friend and I were following her out when the man working there made a comment, we told him we were just browsing. He told us to not bother coming back. I was speechless! My husband and I recently purchased a house in Mendocino and frequently take our visitors into town to do some shopping. We will definitely skip this shop!

I’m glad I found this store by accident and didn’t read the Unilocal reviews before I went in, otherwise I may have been discouraged by the mixed reviews here – I was surprised when I saw them afterwards.
The shop was much larger on the inside than it appeared from the outside, and the space was well utilized. Hundreds of art glass objects, jewelry items, and most importantly, kaleidoscopes, were on display everywhere you looked. Signs posted near the entrance encouraged visitors to pick up the kaleidoscopes and try them out.
For myself, I did not experience any unpleasantness from the proprietor while in the shop. I spent a long time wandering around the store, playing with just about everything I could get my hands on, and was left to my own devices the entire time. My jeans were damp and my hair frazzled from the whale watching trip I’d just left, so if the owner had been profiling his visitors, I would have been a prime target for watchful eyes, but there were none. When I finally did find a relatively inexpensive little wand kaleidoscope that I just had to have and brought it to the front counter to check out, I was offered helpful suggestions on where to find additional wands, and where to get replacement rubber O-​rings should mine wear out.
This unique little shop is definitely worth a visit if you’re in the area, and be prepared to spend at least an hour there. If you plan on purchasing a keepsake, look around online a bit before you go so you know how much you ought to pay for the pieces. Prices may vary quite a bit depending on the complexity of the design and the materials used. As far as I could tell, the higher priced ($ 150+) items that have the artists’ names attached are priced the same as elsewhere, while the cheaper items carry quite a bit of a markup.

We popped into this store on a recent trip to the coast and Mendocino. We didn’t go into many shops, but this one looked welcoming and different.
I was enchanted by the wide variety of kaleidoscope and glass offerings. It was beautiful. The store was well lit and nicely laid out; it was inviting. We were welcome to look through the many different kaleidoscopes. The owner was there and he answered our questions; he is very knowledgeable about kaleidoscopes, how they are made and such. We found him to be very nice.
I will certainly visit this shop again on my next visit to Mendocino and will recommend it to my friends.

I bought a beautiful ring at this interesting store last Fall, and when I got home from vacation regretted not buying the matching earrings. When I phoned to inquire, the owner, Skip, was very helpful. He contacted the artist to have a pair made, and then he shipped them. There was one element that turned out not to be quite what I liked, so Skip took them back, had another pair made to my liking, and shipped them off to me, all with much graciousness and ease. I am SO happy with the results, and pleased with the customer service Skip provided. I definitely plan to visit the store on my next trip to my beloved Mendocino in May.

This is unique shop with items you likely won’t find anywhere else. Lots of amazing items, but the big seller must surely be kalidoscopes of all shapes and sizes — amazing, breathtaking gadgets that will make you feel like a child again! The owner was very sweet and friendly even though I didn’t buy anything. I watched and listened as he patiently explained the intricate workings to the lady next to me who did buy a rather expensive item. Stop by this shop if you are looking for something really unique!

While staying in Mendocino, avoid this mean, nasty man’s shop.
I’ve been ill recently, and my oldest friend and I were looking for a keepsake to commemorate the road trip we were finally able to take after talking about if for so many years.
As I said, I’ve had an illness which makes me particularly susceptible to heat. If there is not circulating air, or if it is too hot in a room, I’ll pass out.
We walked into this man’s shop, and he does have very lovely things made from a myriad of glass, but the room was so stuffy and hot that I thought I’d faint if I stayed any longer… and heaven knows, passing out in a shop full of glass is bad.
When we exited the store, there was a man, who I now know to be the owner, watering plants in front.
He made a comment along the lines of:
«Well, that was a world record!» implying that we’d been in and out of his establishment quickly. At first, we both thought he was kidding around.
I told him, I’d just felt too warm in his shop and had to leave. I was smiling, I was not indignant or mean in any way.
He responded with: «Well, I guess I ought to just close up for the day then.»
My friend had been looking at the very unusual kaleidoscope on his front deck, which had lovely pansies set below a large, heavy metal viewing kaleidoscope. She asked me to take a look.
Remember, large, heavy metal object, people.
He approached me at my side as I was looking at it, and I remarked about how pretty it was.
I said there were so many things to see, and how nice the flowers looked, and I mentioned we had to get going to avoid traffic, and he said,
‘Well why don’t you get in your car and leave.“
I said, «Yes, we ought to, it’s true, but there are just so many things to look at, like these pretty flowers here,» And I leaned over to look into the kaleidoscope. (LARGE, HEAVY) and began looking. He barged over, and said;
«Well firstly, you are doing it wrong.» Then began spinning the bowl of flowers. I started to try to look through the kaleidoscope to see them spin, and had my face right over it, when he grabbed the shaft of that heavy metal piece, and yanked it right out of it’s holder, causing me to jump back. If I had have hesitated by one second, I’d have had giant bashed in face from the swift, angry movement.
I was stunned.
Anyway, this mean man then grabbed his OPEN sign, and went into his store and slammed the door behind him, flipping it to CLOSED.
My friend and I were left to wonder what in god’s name just happened there to make this old dude so inappropriately angry at us both.
Later on, we asked about his shop at one of the other local shop keepers, and were told with a heavy sigh: «Ohhhhh…him…yes, he’s been a problem in town for AGES… just LOOK at his body language… we are so sorry you had that happen and hope you’ll visit us in town again.»
So at least, at LEAST we weren’t some isolated incident with this man.
To add insult to injury, when we finally did make it into our car to head out of town, we took a gander at Mr. I’m Closed-​Crankypants, and of course, he was open once again.
Now, I understand we all have bad days, we all get crotchety some times, but in all my days, I’ve never had such unfounded bad manners tossed my way from a shop keeper. Nor have I ever been nearly smacked by a heavy object.
Frankly, he was mean, ill-​tempered, and utterly out of line. Mendocino is a beautiful town. It is a town that is helped along financially by the albeit, slightly annoying tourist trade. As such, one would tend towards the line of thought that your average Joe Shopkeeper person would want to be nice in order to engender a visitor’s desire to both spend time in their shop, AND purchase something! If not that day, another, and if not at all, perhaps to tell a friend about the nice man in the kaleidoscope shop in Mendocino and what a wonderful experience it had been to look at all of his pretty wares.
In retrospect, I sort of wish he had clobbered me so I’d have the unmitigated pleasure of suing his mean old self.
No folks… were I you, I’d avoid this little nook in the splendid town of Mendocino. There are plenty of wonderful places to spend your money if you must have a memento.
But if you simply must see his place, my advice is to take some kind of helmet because he’s likely to smack you with a kaleidoscope.