Ricky’s NYC

This Ricky’s is practically at my doorstep, but caveat emptor! Convenience does not trump contemptuousness.
The male staff is extremely kind, if not entirely helpful. However, they are the only saving grace of this store.
The female staff, particularly the girl who I believe is the manager, is why this store should rightfully be closed by the board of health for grievous verbal abuse and catastrophic entitlement. She behaves as though her entire job consists of sitting behind the counter and loudly and vehemently judge, belittle, and demean every single person who dares enter the store, call the store, walk by the store, of leave a review for the store.
This girl will not rise from her self-​elected throne to help you in any way possible. She will shrug when you ask where an item is or if it is in stock at all. She will order you to go through endless racks, shelves, and poorly sorted items to find whatever beauty supply you seek. She will not give you cosmetics sold only behind the counter, no matter how politely you might inquire therein. She cannot even be bothered to stand when she checks you out.
However, she will go on, endlessly, ad nauseum, about how fabulously smart, beautiful, and wonderful she finds herself. That is to say, when she is not complaining, loudly and bitterly, as to how very stupid, inane, and idiotic (not in those words, of course) she finds each and every person who dares interrupt her very, very important job of judging, sitting, and getting paid to do nothing but maintain her claw-​like fingernails.
If you happen by this store, keep going. The city has many Ricky’s and no thermal round brush or Ben Nye powder is worth the abuse you’ll encounter here.

Carl was so helpful helping me to choose a new lipstick to help brighten my look! Really nice staff …

This has to be the most ghetto fabulous Ricky’s in the city! Not only is the staff not helpful but when I got home (after battling freezing temps), I found a giant fingerprint in the expensive candle I purchased a gift! I called and explained the situation and had to battle the cold again for no reason just to go back and exchange it. They were so non-​challant about it and said it happens all the time b/​c kids get into the candles. How about you keep candles out of reach then, geniuses?! No apology just a «show me your receipt and keep it moving» attitude. Odd.

I think I might’ve expected too much based on their website and the reviews of other locations I’ve seen, because I was severely underwhelmed.
I went in for unnatural hair coloring supplies. They had a fair amount of options in Manic Panic (not great, but not bad either) and a totally laughable amount of Special FX.
And the prices for these things? I mean, I know, I know… it’s Manhattan. but really? Almost or even more than double what they should cost?
The bleach section? Almost nothing there.
Bleach and dyes supply section? Again, almost non-​existent.
I mean, even the *natural* color dyes were minimum in options. I walk by a few hole-​in-​the-​wall beauty supplies that have natural dye sections 3−4X the size every day. Literally. I’ve stopped into almost all the ones I’ve seen as I walk around town as I’ve looked for unnatural colors in places and I’ve rarely hit a podunk beauty supply that has as little as this Ricky’s location had.
I admit fully that maybe I missed the real section for dyes or something? Because after seeing how sad the section was upstairs I just paid for my basic stuff and left without bothering further.
The only good thing I saw while I was in there was that they had a bit of a selection of Ben Nye makeup products. I give them a thumbs-​up on that one.
But no, I won’t be coming back here.