Black & Gold - San Francisco, California

Xavier

Nicely curated shop that is completely ruined by the most rude and off putting man running the shop. If you have your phone out, he will accost you and accuse you of price-shopping online, or yell at you for taking photos of items.

For the record, I make a lot of impulsive purchases, and go out of my way to buy from local small businesses. I would have almost certainly have made a purchase, had I not been made to feel so uncomfortable by this man.

I understand running a brick and mortar business is hard, and many people are only window shopping and never buy. But that is no excuse to be so rude to people who visit your store. I will take my business to one of the many other small home goods stores on Valencia run by people who foster a welcoming environment for potential customers.

Harper Zhu

THE RUDEST EXPERIENCE I have ever had in a vintage store! As many reviews here have indicated, the owner is incredibly rude. I was simply browsing with my friend and saw this cute item and was prepared to get four of them, but thought that might be a bit too repetitive because the color patterns were the same. Then I grabbed my phone and started looking up if there were different patterns online. The owner came over and scolded me for looking at my phone in THE MEANEST POSSIBLE WAY. I told him I was looking for a different color pattern and he walked up to me, rolling his eyes, and said, "Oh, and you are going to find that on Amazon?" He didn’t even apologize after I explained my situation.

First of all, being a small business does not give you the right to treat customers this way. Plenty of stores on Valencia Street are small businesses and curate their own collections, and you don't see them having such terrible customer service. If your vintage collection is so easily imitable that one Google or Amazon search can defeat you, I don't see the point of claiming that you spent a lot of time and effort collecting vintage items because they are just one simple search away. If you’re that worried about competition and not at all confident about your own tastes and collection, why bother opening a store?

Second of all, how out of touch and low do you have to be to attack potential customers for looking up information on their phones? To burst your bubble, but it's within a customer's right to compare prices, find complementary pieces, or simply just to learn more about the product. If you are this insecure about the product in your store then I gotta say you also have some ideas about how little you have to offer.

It’s just sad to have no confidence in your own product, no decent customer service, and no respect for customers. All in all, maybe the owner should spend less time being insecure and more time creating a more welcoming shopping experience.

Jen Barnason

I’m a big fan of the 15th Street shop so I stopped into the Valencia store. It has an even larger selection of fun, unique decor and the same knowledgeable and friendly service I’ve come to expect from the other shop.

The goods are great, the man working was a gem, and the music was fantastic. I’ll be back to this location too!

Denny Smith

This gem of the Valencia Corridor offers newly crafted ceramics and glass works, vintage artifacts, great finds in art, and the best edgy, hipster home furnishings and appointments. The pricing is astonishingly reasonable. No kidding. But best of all is the smarts and smiles of the staff—you’ll feel welcome coming in, grateful to find this asset when you look around, and made to feel like you’re an asset before you leave.
Black and Gild is one of the five best shops in The City, and I’ve been shopping in San Francisco for 47 years, so don’t even think of ignoring this review. This hand-slumped glass bowl and the fusiform vases below that are characteristic of my B&G finds.

Holly A

I visited a ton of stores during my trip to SF and this is the only place I felt the need to write something about because of the man behind the counter, and I loved the place. I am totally surprised to see negative reviews. I only bought few inexpensive items, he wrapped them nicely in gray tissue paper, was genuinely friendly and warm. The only memorable experience in all my ahopping..It's a great shop I'd go back to.

Fabio J

Very tasteful as always, original and unique pieces and excellent customer service. Always on my list of shopping destinations when visiting the Mission district and Valencia Street.

Victor Lopez

I'm more disappointed with the experience (customer service) than the store itself. Last year I was shopping and couldn't get anyone to help me. In fact, they didn't ask. They DID however ask my white friend 2-3 times if he was doing ok and well, he told them I needed help (I'm indigenous POC) and then they came over to price a cocktail set they had sitting around in the back - they were dismissive and short, and moved on. So did I without spending a dime.

And I forgot (or chose to overlook) this from last year and wandered in again, and when I took my phone out to text this same friend about the same store - they asked me not to take photos (I wasn't) and that it wouldn't be allowed. Perfect, I'm out.

Purveyors of Fine Kitsch perhaps but the experience twice was nothing but sour.

Jennifer Jang

Wow ... The rudest experience I've ever had in a store. I was looking up candles online on my phone because their prices seemed kind of high (three tapered candles for $30) but I was actually gonna give them a chance because small local business and all (I live a few blocks away). One of their staff comes over and looks over my shoulder and says condescendingly "Were you looking to buy something cheaper on Amazon?" It shocked me enough that I immediately left. For the male employee who did this, please don't look over customers' shoulders and comment on what's on their phone. It's very violating. Wish I had told him that was rude but looking at the rest of the reviews I doubt he cares.