Alvin’s Island

I guess I’m the highest rating Unilocaler to date for Alvin’s Island. I’m totally not surprised. I truly do have a love/​hate with Alvin’s myself and here’s why…
I Love: How huge the store is, it’s enormous and I can spend forever there. There’s something for everyone, especially if you want to bring home fun area detailed clothing and accessories for gifting. If you forget to pack a bathing suit for your trip, lose a towel, need a hat or even a cheap pair of sunglasses to get you by, you can find it all at Alvins. There are dressing rooms here; I’ve been to tourist gift shops at other destinations where there’s no place to try on clothes at all. Lots of their stuff is really fun and we end up getting pieces that we wouldn’t expect to find. One of the times we went in, they had a promotion that if you spent over a certain amount, you got a free market tote. Who doesn’t love and use recycleable bags nowadays? Lastly, I own a pair of the most comfy shorts that I purchased from Alvin’s Island in 2009 and still, they are my favorite ever. I always kick myself for not getting more in different colors.
I Hate: The lack of customer service, or ANY employee presence at all, for that matter. You can never find assistance, whether it’s to get a fitting room, for help finding another size, or even just a body to ring you out. And when you do, 90% of the time, they’re unenthused and aggravated that they’re even speaking to you. The dreaded return policy, just know it’s horrible, so think before you buy. Bathing suits & clearance items cannot be returned OR exchanged. There’s a 7 day return policy for most everything else and I believe 30 days for an exchange.

Recently stopped in and saw that they were selling dead baby sharks in jars. I was hoping to find some information to make me think it was ethical, but the jar just says «Shark» with no description about where they came from, what kind of shark they are, or how they were produced. DO NOT support this company. I am disgusted and disappointed.

If I could give it a zero, I would. I spent a great deal of money there and when my daughter asked to use the restroom, she was told by the female clerk there weren’t any. The next day we stopped back by for another purchase and a gentleman asked to use the restroom and was directed to guest bathrooms at the back of the store. Discrimination and just plain rude. There are many other places to shop on the circle

Manager is a jerk. I bought a $ 60 swimsuit and the first time I wore it the under wire came out of both cups! When I tried to exchange it the next day he would not take it because it had already been worn. Do you know how hard it is to find a decent bathing suit for someone busty with under wire and no padding?! If I hadn’t worn it how would I know that it was defective merchandise? Do not shop here.

I don’t think it’s a grand surprise when you set eyes on this place that it’s geared toward tourists and all their kitschy needs. In addition to a HUGE array of shirts, swimsuits and other beach accoutrements, there is also lots of souvenir stuff, most of it pretty goofy.
The check-​out counter situation was weird: two registers pull from one waiting line. But some people decided to go all Marquess of Queensberry and line up at one register, which screwed up the flow. I finally just seized the opportunity and created a line at the other register since none of the staff were doing anything about it.
The guy running that register was either new or nervous or something, because it took him about ten minutes to ring up one person’s purchase.
I got some postcards and a magnet. Don’t think I’ll actively seek out this store on a future visit to town, but it’s obviously got broad appeal to visitors.

DO NOT PURCHASE ANYTHING HERE!!! Everything we bought fell apart either after wearing for only one day or after washing (on delicate cycle). NOTHING BUT JUNK!

Avoid this store as they are the rudest you will encounter! Their «manager» David was extremely unprofessional, belligerent, rude and insulted my family and I twice! He was simply a rude, punky JERK! The owner should be embarrassed to have David in their payroll!
A polite sales clerk (American young woman) spent ~10 minutes assisting my 8 yr old daughter in finding a specific style cover-​up that she has been looking for. She was extremely helpful and knew exactly what we were looking for. The cover-​up was the last of its kind in the store and happened to be on the clearance rack (which is where the associate recalled the last of them were). When we went to check out, we were charged full price. The cashier asked the manager if it could be reduced to that price per the associate and he would not honor the associates word that it was (and had been) a clearance item for several weeks. David the manager was dismissive, condescending, and boorish. He insulted my family and I as potential paying customers. I asked the clerk for the owners number to convey this horrid treatment and she said she had no idea who the owner was. I asked David and he said «I’m the boss». The owner should be ashamed to employ such an ignorant person.
With so many other professional, pleasant and welcoming retailers nearby — skip this impolite, boorish, curt and unappreciative one!!!

Two words: TOURIST TRAP! This place is just an eyesore on St. Armand’s Circle (just like Cha Cha Coconuts). Everything inside is made like crap and totally overpriced to take advantage of families vacationing in the area. Dozens of t-​shirts, sweatshirts, magnets, key chains, and shot glasses are printed with Longboat Key in various neon colors, animal print, or graffiti type designs. The store just has rows and rows of random junk… The neon green lights should be enough to keep any sensible person away. If you want a vacation souvenir try Garden Argosy or any of the other mom and pop t-​shirt shops in the area, you’ll have a much better chance of not being ripped off… Also there is zero customer service and refunds are only offered within 7 days of purchase with receipt.