Re Ninety Nine Cents Incorporated

With regards to 99 cent stores, this is the go-​to 99 cent store if you want to buy shampoos, hair supplies, soap or crafts. It’s large, clean and well stocked. There is a lane filled with ceramics and plastic/​steel ware that is pretty neat– the owners seem to choose attractive ware. It never gets overly crowded or messy, like most 99 cent stores and the owners are nice.

I bought a number of cooking utensils here and my bill came to $ 31.52.
One of the items was a stainless steel lunch thermos for $ 9.99.
Tried it out to discover it is not airtight and leaks like crazy.
I took it back 2 days later for a refund.
The guy at the counter refused stating that you can exchange only within 7 days and that they do not issue refunds.
I said yes, but the thermos is defective and it leaks, plus I bought several things so I just want my money back for the thermos.
So then he actually said that thermoses are not supposed to be airtight, WTF??!
I’m glad I paid with a credit card and I will dispute it.
These people are total scammers.
On close inspection of the bill I also noticed they are also juking the sales tax rate up.
Buyer beware.

Not to be outdone by it’s competitors, RE 99 Cents actually has a well maintained thrift store that is both clean and organized. I wish I could say the same about all of the other ones in the area.
For starters, there’s a parking lot. The store seems fairly large and the items are stocked in a way where it makes it easy to find things. Even if you get confused, the Korean staff is pretty good about leading you to the right area. And unlike, 99 Cents Treat (
) a few blocks away, lots of things are actually «99 cents» here. Sure most of it is plastic and cheaply made in China, but it sure beats false advertising.
What also makes this place a winner is the fact they sell food. Not just a freezer or two like 99 Cents Paradise (
), but an actual aisle dedicated to perishable goods. There is all sorts of stuff — bread, eggs, chips, hummus, butter, spices, sausages, Korean and Latin products, PowerAde, Vitamin Water, etc. This isn’t earth shattering news or anything, but it’s great to have for any 99 cents store.
Lastly, due to it’s location there is hardly anyone ever here. This means carefree thrift shopping without having to worry about lines. On the other hand, this location has been the everything from a restaurant to a furniture store. I’m hoping business picks up so this place stays alive especially since this might just be the best one in Woodside /​Sunnyside.