The Container Store

The level of customer service and employee presence has decreased significantly in recent years: it really is quite disappointing. I have been in the store countless times this last year and I can count on one hand the number of times an employee has asked me if I needed help or even said hello. Nothing like it used to be. Trying to find an employee not engrossed in climbing ladder or cleaning is nearly impossible.
Also every single visit, there is only one person ringing at the register and the lines are outrageous! You would think they would keep a better eye on their fellow co workers and come help out when he/​she has a line seven customers deep. But no: no one ever in sight.
Like I said, huge disappointment. Used to be a fun place to shop: now I will only go there as a last resort.

Love the store in and of itself… but I get overly excited about anything that has to do with organization and cleaning up.
My complaint is the people working, soooo slow, like I spent 45mins in this store, 30 of which were spent in line, and there was only 1 women in front of me, granted she bought like 4 things, but really? That was just ridiculous, the lady checking her out just moved sooo slow, it was crazy. I think I could’ve gone behind the register, not knowing what I was doing, and be done quicker. The other cashier was no better, my mom was behind me in line and moved to that one, there were 3 people, but each only had 1 item… so that’s what? 10min a person/​item, crazy!
All in all, I’d still shop at the store, love it, but maybe I’ll try different locations with more competent staff

Store review:
Somehow a store for storage just does not excite me. I find the product selection to be very good from lockers to storage bins to tables; but the prices remind me of full price bed bath and beyond items. For college essentials, this is a great location to visit. You can deck out your entire dorm room with the items here. I just can’t give it 4 stars due to the high prices. You can also customize a Elfa shelf system online and design it.
Pros: large selection of storage/​home décor items
Cons: expensive
Hidden deals:
1. Sign up for POP and get a coupon on your birthday for free reusable bag

I love this store and everything about it. And I could not be more excited that there is one coming to Milwaukee.
They simply have nearly everything you need to organize virtually anything. Your kitchen? Check. Your suitcase? Check. Your baseball card collection? Check.
One of the cooler things they have it there website-​to-​store shopping. Right now I have to travel across state lines to shop here. I can find my items online and research whether they are in stock at the store. And if stock is low I can call and put things on hold, something many stores will no longer do.
I also like that I’ve never had to look long or hard to find an associate if I have a question. And when there are more that two people in line there always seems to be someone available to open another register, even at the busiest of time.
I sure hope the soon-​to-​open-​in-​Milwaukee store is as awesome as this one!

5 stars for the product. I get all my shoe cases from here. Good price and durable product.
5 stars for service. Everyone is always nice but not crazy pushy about the rewards plan.
My only issue is how quick I get in and out. There is never enough cashiers no matter what day or time I shop. I always wait even there is one person in front of me. I’ve never seen more than 2 cashiers at a time even on Saturdays.
Outside of my only (if not small) gripe I highly recommend this place!

I love coming to The Container Store. For me it’s just like going to the hardware store, only specializing in maximizing, «space utilization.»
Granted, it is on the costly side, but so is any specialized tool you may need. Just as I wouldn’t go to Ruth Chris’ Steakhouse to simply order a cheeseburger, I wouldn’t come to the Constrainer Store to get regular shelving or storage totes, these you can get at the big Blue or Orange box store.
I come to The Container Store when I need something unique. To help me when; I have an odd shaped item, a misshaped closet that gives cause for a corner to go unused, something that I use a lot, but want to tuck it away yet be in easy reach, stuffing more into an already packed space, kids going to college, or something precious, which needs safe packing and used but once a year. When you’re confronted with these type of situations, chances are good The Container Store has something that will help.
The neat, unique items you can find in this store are numerous and somewhat foreign for us Americans. After all, we have built in closets, most of us have garages, and basements and therefore have an abundance of space. However, most of the cool space saver items founds are common place in Europe and if you look at the branding, it’s no wonder things are a bit costly considering it is designed in places like Germany and Switzerland. But, my experience also proves that these little gadgets are built to last a long time too.
So, yea, I’m a big fan of The Container Store. I don’t come here often, but when I need to find that something unique item to help maximize the use of storage space, or having kids heading to collage, then this is a must stop by, store.

Every time I come to The Container Store, I wonder what I’m doing there; prices are high, merchandise isn’t much different (if at all) from what’s at Target or IKEA, and sometimes I think I could make what I’m looking for faster than it would take to find it. About half of the time, I end up buying something, anyway. There are some cool unique items and occasional deals to be had. Staff have always been friendly in my experience.

For the most part, the Container Store is pretty great. For the most part. This is really a 3.5 star rating, but I’m giving 4 because Unilocal won’t allow the half star, and 3 seems harsh.
If you want to clean up your mess, get organized, get more organized, or go full-​on obsessive compulsive with your organization, the Container Store is a great option. They sell almost every kind of container you could ever want, from cardboard banker boxes, to kitchen containers, to modular closet organizers, to other things like awesome trash cans and even wrapping paper. In fact, they have the best wrapping paper ever. Go here, and never return to Hallmark.
A lot of people think the Container Store is expensive, but I think that’s a bum rap. I would call the pricing ‘fair.” Prices are sometimes cheaper other places, but for the most part they’re not unreasonable. Sometimes paying a little more isn’t so bad. Keep it in perspective– when was the last time you bought silverware organizers for your kitchen drawers? Is it really that bad if you pay an extra dollar or two to go someplace that will have the right one? I would argue that it’s probably not such a big deal.
Service is very friendly, but here’s where I start having a problem with the Container Store. Is it a first world problem to complain that some of the service is just a little friendlier than I’d like? I haven’t been hit on or anything, but I just want to select my item and leave. I am a destination shopper– I came to buy something specific and then get home and put it to use. I don’t window shop to see what kinds of snazzy new containers are out there and become friends with the employees.
I’m not saying «be a jerk,» or «don’t smile,» but maybe I can just pay and go when I get to the checkout? The cashiers tend to chat it up with customers like they are an old neighbor or something. That’s fine if you’re buying a car, but when people are waiting to buy a single carafe for their orange juice, and checkout drags on and on and on because the employees really want you to have such a great personalized time at their store and come back soon, it actually has the reverse effect that it should: it puts me off. It might be nice thought to engage the customer in conversation at checkout, but in practice it eats into my time– time I could be using to organize my disastrous basement. It’s frustrating. Frustrating enough– and common enough– that there have been a few times where I said «forget it,» dumped my merchandise, and walked out. When I don’t, I do feel kind of guilty for feeling exasperated with the cashier by the time I get to the counter. This is doubly shaming because the cashier is just trying to be nice, and I’m usually nice to cashiers, having done a long stint in retail and knowing what jerks customers can be. BUT I JUST WANT TO LEAVE. And that concludes my feelings about getting tied up in line by overly friendly sales reps.
That said, when the worst I can say is that the sales reps might be trying too hard, maybe you’ll think I’m just impatient. And I might be. Regardless, if you’re not in a terrible rush, you’ll likely leave happy, fulfilled in knowing that your messes are living on borrowed time. And if not, you’ll be back to buy what you need to finish the job.

These employees have literally no customer service skills!
When I asked the 3 girls standing at the register (not doing anything… Just standing and gossiping about the «cute boy in study hall») if they could help me find desks and file cabinets they stared at me.
Just STARED at me. One girl actually had the audacity to laugh and say that all the aisles are labeled!
I just walked out. It was disgusting!

Each time I shop at the Schaumburg Container Store, I find that more times than not, their staff at the checkout counters have an attitude I just don’t appreciate. If I return an item with a receipt, and they ask for a phone number, and my response is «for what reason do you need phone number?», I expect an answer to a legitimate question. What I don’t expect is a statement of «every time we process a return, we need a phone number». That is not an answer. That’s simply telling me what they want (when did it become a rule that I have to give my phone number, if I present my original receipt and the credit card associated with the sale?) Also, how do you «police» that number given to you? I could just throw out any number. It’s nonsense, and unnecessary. Either you trust this is your merchandise and a legitimate receipt, or you don’t. Plain and simple.
This associates non-​answer to my question warranted the answer back to her as my phone number being (312) 555‑1212. I got
The evil eye from her, but sorry. I have spent a good chunk of my money over the years at The Container Store, and I expect not to be questioned about something you yourself cannot answer.
The checkout process always seems to be a pain in the ass at this location (as stated by at least one other Unilocaler here), and their checkout staff seems dopey and downright unhelpful.
On a brighter note, the Oak Brook store is wonderful. I’ve never had an issue there, and I will from now on go out of my way to drive the extra 10 – 15 more minutes to shop there instead. I haven’t given up on The Container Store, only the Schaumburg store.

Sometimes, I go all crazy Type-​A and need to clean and/​or organize ALL THE THINGS.
If those times coincide with a Container Store sale, all the better for me. I used to always have the perception that the Container Store was hella expensive compared to other storage options. I don’t know if it’s just because other places that sell storage stuff have come up in price or what, but prices on most of the storage stuff I actually would *use* (plastic and glass kitchen stuff, sweater and shoe boxes, etc.) seem pretty in line with everyone else. There are also so many choices that it’s great if you want all your stored stuff in a specific area to look just-​so.
(Side note: the Elfa shelving stuff, while pretty, is still CRAZY EXPENSIVE. Even when it’s on sale. Like, seriously — I know my SO and I are pretty DIY people, but he put together great shelving systems from Ikea and from Rubbermaid to organize some of our closets, one bedroom and the garage — and that stuff cost nowhere NEAR as much as the Elfa stuff while still looking quite nice. So.)
The Good: So many containers, you can find containers for your containers and your other containers and still have room for more containers to put your containers in. I like that.
The Meh: Too many weird fabric box options. Normally, I don’t criticize something just because it’s not my style, but all those fabric storage boxes have to look terrible when they get filthy. If they’re underbed storage (which many of them are), I’m sure they’re getting filthy. No one vacuums under their beds every other day, and probably not even every week. No way that stuff is staying clean. What’s the point of all that pretty fabric if it’s only going to attract filth, and then be impossible to keep clean? Plastic washes pretty easily. Just, you know, a thing I really don’t get.
The Bad: When you get an overzealous Container Store employee who interrupts your train of organizational thought and Will Not Take A Freaking Hint because they want to give you a sales spiel or make sure you’re finding everything OK? ARGH ARGH ARGH. I’ve had this happen a couple of times now. Part of the beauty of a store like this is that you can get some great ideas for how you want to put all your stuff away and make it look nice and tidy, right? If store staff won’t let those ideas actually germinate because they can’t take social cues and back off when it’s clear that their help is neither needed nor wanted, it’s SERIOUSLY OFF-​PUTTING. As in, it makes me less inclined to spend money there when that happens.
I know the Container Store consistently ranks as one of the best corporate retail environments to work in every year, according to some survey on worker happiness. That’s great. I like it when any business treats its employees well, and I like to shop in places where this occurs. But dude, SOCIAL CUES. I’m not the best at them, but I can usually tell when someone is giving me the side-​eye and wishing I’d just stop talking. Having done customer service before, I’d say that’s kind of a big thing to not be able to figure out — and I’ve had this happen at least twice at this location with different employees.
That being said, lots of good stuff here — especially when it’s on sale. Just, you know, there is such a thing as being overenthusiastic, CS employees. :)

I want to like this store, but after making some purchases and using them later, I realized I’m not a fan of over-​priced cheaply-​made items. The drying rack I got was fine, but I could have paid less for it elsewhere. The magnetic calendar dry-​erase board I bought was complete crap. I paid $ 30 for it (along with a terrible magnetic eraser with the magnet falling out, and a cheap whiteboard marker) and could never erase the markers off unless I scrubbed it with nail-​polish remover — which would then remove some of the lines on the calendar. I ended up finding a larger, gorgeous dry-​erase calendar at Target (and tons of other cute things) for less than half the price. Since I couldn’t find my Container Store receipt, I ended up tossing everything I bought from there (with the exception of the drying rack). Customer service wasn’t great, either — I had to walk around the entire store before finding someone who could help me. Why is this store even still around? Instead of buying expensive boxes to store all the crap you own that you’re not using, donate/​sell your stuff instead. Save your money.

I LOVE COLORED PLASTIC.
Ok, I probably sound like I have some serious issues. But I’m really attracted to bright colored plastic. So, the container store is awesome.
They have so many awesome things to get/​stay organized. I love kitchen stuff and have been on the look out for some small containers that would be good to store loose tea in. A friend and I have decided we should buy and share so we can try more flavors… so a bunch of little containers will be necessary. This just might be the place to get them!
They also have bright plastic hangers, incase you needed some. I know I previously got some bright green and pink myself… although I am now using those fancy felt ones that hang on to your clothes a little more.
Although they have some awesome stuff, some of it may be more expensive here than if you were to find it elsewhere, so keep that in mind and maybe shop around a bit.

I love containers, I really do. So does a good friend of mine that I happened to be spending time shopping randomly one weekend. We literally both shrieked in her car when we passed by The Container Store, probably made an illegal U-​turn, and screeched to a stop in the parking lot to run into what we thought would be a wonderland of goodies for all of our containing needs.
Our little adventure was brought to an abrupt stop by a rude employee. I happened to take out a camera (which I actually carry around with me everywhere; you never know when a good picture opportunity might come along!) to take a shot of rows of colorful coat hangers. This lovely employee rushed up hastily and informed us that there was absolutely NO photography allowed in the store. Twenty minutes to half an hour later (yes, we were perusing every single aisle), I had forgotten her mandate and took out my cell phone to snap a shot of a product that I liked. I don’t know if this lady had teleportation powers, but it seemed as though she was instantly beside me, snapping that there was NO photography allowed in the store. She even stood there and watched as I had to delete the picture from my phone. For the remainder of our time there, this woman continued to FOLLOW us. At one particular moment, we were debating whether to buy a particular product, and we saw this employee stare us down from the end of the aisle while she was pushing a cart. A few seconds later, we heard a customer yell in surprise, and the employee apologized, «I’m sorry! I didn’t see you there!» Yes, you probably rammed your cart into a customer because you weren’t doing your job and instead making it your personal mission to make sure the two of us got out of the store without another piece of photographic evidence that we had ever been there.
NOwhere in the store did we see signs saying photography was forbidden. Neither does the company website say so. We were not disturbing other customers or violating any privacy policies with other people in the background of our pictures. This woman made our entire shopping experience unpleasant, most likely due to undiagnosed obsessive-​compulsive issues. My friend and I will be certain to fulfill our containing needs at ANOTHER store — love the products, just not this particular location.

I am an organizational, neat freak so naturally, Container Store is right up my alley. I adore office supplies, file folders, drawer separators… if Container Store has it, I love it!
My review is mainly about their return policy, which is excellent. Last August (yes, of 2011), I bought a bike-​pulley storage system. Last weekend was when I finally took them out of the box! Come to realize, that type of system wouldn’t work the best in my garage. I still had my receipt (of course, I organize my receipts… don’t you?!) so off to Container Store I went! I did email their customer service beforehand asking if they accepted returns over 90 days and they replied that they did. The store itself had no issues accepting my return, one of the boxes was even open and the whole time the cashier kept saying «don’t worry, not a problem». I did an exchange for a different bike storage solution and also picked up a few more organization items… this store is my crack.
Oh, and they also offer a great «store-​pickup» option. You can order online and instead of having it shipped to you, you can specify when and where you want to pick up your items. This is a great service to use if you want to swing by on your lunch break.

Their products might have been wonderful, but I will never know. I came here on TWO separate occasions and both times was completely ignored by every single employee on the floor. The employees didn’t seem to have a problem helping other people. I’m pretty sure I showered on both days and wore the appropriate look of «Please help, I need storage and organization but have no idea where to start.»
Seriously.
Both times I was so put off that I left my cart filled with items (which may or may not have been what I really needed, again, not like anyone helped me in choosing them) and walked out.
There will be no third time for me.

As an organizational freak, this store just called out to me. It is what it sounds like, a store for all things container oriented. They have every color, size, shape, anything you can imagine. Hangers, closet organizers, baskets, crates, desk organizers, etc. My only concern is it is a bit pricey, but most specialty stores are.

Nice place… friendly staff… well organized (well obviously) Just wish they had more to what I was looking for but with what I bought hopefully will work.
Some of this stuff is pricey but I guess it depends on what you want. It didnt wow me and it didn’t disappoint.
I posted pics but I didn’t take these.

Simply one of the best run retailers there is.
From their instore orderliness (what else did you expect?) to their online store front, the professionalism and thoughtfulness of the company’s leadership shines thru.
Need help with storage? Try the Container Store. Need to clean up that garage? Try the Container Store… do you see the trend?
A bit pricey — you can certainly shop around and save some money — but if you just want to get to end of job quickly and money is no object, this is the place for you.
(And — if you are like most of the population and money is an object, wait for a sale — they always seem to have the same sale at the same time of year — for example, if memory serves, Elfa shelving goes on sale in October, and maybe again in January.)
Another cool thing: you can pre-​order and pay on the website, then pop by the store to pick it up — no waiting while they serve the person before you. (Ok — I admit it — there’s a small crack in their business — it can on occasion be hard to get the attention you need/​deserve — each customer can take an extensive amount of consulting depending on what they want — if you are doing Elfa closet re-​org, you may want to book an appointment.)
(shhh — don’t tell anybody — but if you google on «container store promo» you may find an online coupon you can use for online order. Our little secret, ok?)
Would I recommend: Yes — especially to the obsessively organized. You’ll love it.
Would I return: Yes.

This was my first time in The Container Store, although I’d passed it many-​a-​time. My goal today was to locate a storage bin for wrapping paper and wrapping paper-​related items.
When I walked in, it was a bit overwhelming at first, although they had signs that clearly indicated which section was which. It was easy for me to locate a sales associate, and he was looking up and noticed my «customer cues» as I walked down the asile. I asked him where I could locate wrapping paper storage, and he stopped whatever path he was on and directed me there. He did NOT shadow me and let me shop on my own, so I didn’t feel claustrophobic by overzealous sales people trying to bump sales.
I saw several other associates during my brief shopping stint, and all looked approchable. Some were helping other customers, some were recovering merchandise.
I really liked that they had a selection of wrapping items, different colored tissue paper, gift boxes, envelopes, etc. I was cursing myself a little realizing I had just purchased padded mailing envelopes from Target for $ 1.40 each when The Container Store had their own (just not yellow) for $ 0.99.
My cashier was friendly and was very cool with me not taking a plastic bag and instead putting my tissue paper and envelopes into my wrapping paper storage box. She also gave me a coupon for a future purchase and explained it to me before I left. She did so in a way that wasn’t «I hate my job and I’ve rehearsed this same stupid line 1,000 times,» but genuine instead.
I’d definitely go back — they have EVERYTHING and the customer service was JUST RIGHT — not aloof but not overbearing.