William-Wayne & Co.

I’ve been shopping at William — Wayne & Co for years and I’ve never had a bad experience. The store is full of incredible gifts and home décor items that you won’t find — or won’t find merchandised like this for sure. Both of the owners have great taste and I appreciate that they are on the floor selling and merchandising like old school shop-​keeps in the best possible way. I saw negative reviews here and honestly I don’t get it. I think you must have to have a very low self esteem or feel VERY insecure to be offended by a couple of New York guys with great style and great senses of humor. Every time I’m there women are laughing and chatting with William and /​or Wayne. William is usually holding court inside or outside with super chic ladies. I look forward to stopping by whenever I need a gift for someone. or just to get inspired. There is ALWAYS something interesting to see. The downtown store is smaller, but also a GREAT gift resource for the host /​hostess that has it all.

While I have to admit this store has charming home décor and gifts, the customer service and treatment is atrocious. First let me say that I have shopped here for upwards of 5 years. I have bought many gifts for friends here, have bought things for my own home, have brought my mother here to shop and even registered for my wedding here. That being said, customers are treated like they are inferior and a nuisance. My first poor experience has been in interacting with a woman (I’ll leave her name out of it, but if you have been to this store you know who I am talking about) at the University store. She is dismissive and argumentative and orders around the junior store help in front of customers. I had to deal with her when I received a gift from my registry that I no longer wanted because it was duplicative of a gift someone sent me from somewhere else. She indicated I could not get store credit because this item is «special order.» (note: I did not want to return it, I wanted store credit to actually purchase something more expensive). How, as a customer, am I supposed to know this if there is no policy online, no label on the product, no agreement or policy associated with signing up for a registry that makes this clear? While I understand they are not a mass retailer, and cannot accept any and all returns, they also cannot expect customers to abide by a «policy» that they are never made aware of. After being told this, I phoned the uptown store and spoke to either William or Wayne. He reiterated (rudely) the «policy» and then hung up on me. Yes, hung up on me.
While I value and understand the circumstances of a small business are VERY different from a mass retailer, you cannot treat customers this way. Snobbery and rudeness are not appreciated and are no way to hold onto a client base or get recommendations. Yes, the store has lovely and unique things, but it’s not worth the infuriating treatment. It’s sad because my mother and I have purchased many lovely things for our home but we will have to search elsewhere now.

I had to write a review seeing as the others about this company seem quite unfair.
Stores have return policies & they are entitled to do so for whatever works for their business model. As a designer, I know that 95% of high end vendors will not even take returns — the few who do always give store credit. This is not unusual so check before you buy! It is your own fault if you don’t bother to read store policy at the register. Also, just b/​c they have a store on Lexington Ave doesn’t translate to cheap. There are many high-​end stores, like Mecox Gardens, on Lex that are priced similarly– to imply that it’s pricing is not worthy of it’s location is stupid — sorry! That sort of thinking is the definition of being a pretentious jerk!
On to the store itself, it is traditional and full of great accessories, furniture, mirrors & lighting in that aesthetic. While not everything is my taste, there are many beautiful items that could work for many people. Some things are expensive but I have also found many a reasonably priced item there — i.e. a beautiful glass lamp for $ 285, a lovely side table for $ 495. Bargains! The range of pricing is attainable — unless you’re used to Ikea, in which case you might balk, but hey, so is life.
Yes, the owner does put on a bit of airs, but I did not think it was that bad and he was being friendly even before he knew my profession.

I had a horrible experience with this company! They seem to confuse pretentious with class (which they lack). I asked an honest question about a very large purchase. They answered rudely and in a childish manner calling me absurd and rude. Needless to say they lost a very large sale. They seem more concerned about making others believe they are something they aren’t than their customers.

I received some pillows from William Wayne & Company for Christmas as a gift. But when I saw the receipt for $ 900, I told the store I did not want them, as they were terrible looking and ATROCIOUSLY EXPENSIVE. What do you think they cost to make by some poor child in Asia!!! This is not some antique. They did tell me and the person who bought them they’d receive a refund, because I complained, so I mailed them back on my own expense (even though this was a gift). And then they proceeded to only give store credit to the person who bought them for me!!!
I settled on buying new ones online at the widely praised luxury site One Kings Lane, where actual respected interior decorators of note sell, and has a wonderful reputation, including allowing returns. The pillows were $ 90 that were wonderful looking and just as good quality — yes that’s right ¹⁄₁₀^th of the price!!!
Let me just say in this era of Internet shopping, you can no longer not except returns. Especially on a gift. I looked at their website and it’s not a lot of people’s taste, even the 1% they so desperately try to appeal to. Reading the previous review by Louis L., I realize these snobs have and will continue to alienate wonderful customers whom can buy from many other antique and interior design firms whom usually allow returns, especially for something that’s not an antique and offensively priced. From my experience these decorators and shops, they coddle the buyers because it is such a competitive business. Customer service is the key for the industry.
NEVER EVER USE THESE TERRIBLE SNOBS! I’m going to make sure everyone I know knows never to use them, and I know some great, wealthy, potential customers in New York and elsewhere. I make great money, but demand to be treated decently. When I called they LIED to me. Unfortunately, these guys have A LOT of competition in New York and on the Internet and probably will reap the repercussions of this HORRENDOUS customer service.
Plus, how can you be a snob on Lexington Avenue? It’s not like this store is on Park, Madison, or 5^th! That’s where the antique and decorator shops of note are. Lexington is a street of grocers, dry cleaners and delis. What a joke!