Christmas Village The Original

I had fond memories of shopping in this store with grandparents but when I entered today I immediately felt unwelcome. There are signs EVERYWHERE, all of them conveying a negative message to shoppers. I was looking for specific gifts for family this year but found most of the store was blocked off by signs advising that only true shoppers were allowed any further, at the express invitation of the counter staff, NO BROWSING. How rude! I can understand having a few guidelines posted, especially for children/large groups, but to condescend to responsible adult shoppers that they are not welcome, I am sorry, but that is just plain rude and will not earn you any business. Very sad to see the spirit of Christmas has been overtaken by grinchiness.

If I could give no stars I would. The owner is rude and unpleasant--making snide remarks toward potential customers about not being able to read the signs" which litter every wall of his store.I made a special trip to this shop and was looking for a specific ornament. Unbeknownst to me

I sent this email to the store email I found online- no idea if anyone has seen it as I haven't yet gotten a reply. After reading the above reviews, I don't expect to. I guess I must have found the Christmas Nazi in all his glory... My mother arrives in Vic in a few days and will undoubtedly want to visit this store where she would have bought endless gifts for friends and families, I won't be letting her through the door which she'd undoubtedly be rudely escorted back through within moments upon mocking the ridiculous rules that line every spare inch of space throughout the 1/3 of the storefront I was permitted to view. How are these people still in business?! The email:Hello,I've just left your store with my father. I have never been so rudely treated by someone working in a retail store ever- let alone in one so incredibly infamous for its mirth and cheer.I was crossing from one section into another in search of the perfect present for my mother, Christmas' second biggest fan after you folks, and was scolded, reprimanded and told to get the hell out". I was completely confused and caught off guard

I was raised in Victoria BC. I am a tourist at heart. The Original Christmas Village on Government Street was a landmark. The owners took their business seriously. Unfortunately, due to location, the business attracted looky-loo's who just wanted to fondle all the merchandise. That is not how a business stays afloat.

I went in this store for my first time just before Christmas. This store is nice looking and someone put a lot of effort into it. They also put a lot of effort into lots and lots of signs. Don't touch this, don't touch that. There were so many don't touch signs, it was actually hard not to want to go around touching everything. Well except for the under no circumstances don't touch" signs. Those were a higher level and demanded a little more respect. Some of the signs were so big you had to walk sideways to get past them. There was even a sign that said

Someone else mentioned that if they could rate no stars they would. I would rate negative stars if I could.It's really a shame that store owners think so little of their customers, but perhaps it's the Russian (I'm guessing) culture of the owner?On a recent trip from the States I brought my wife to enjoy the Christmas spirit, but from the moment we walked into the shop there are signs everywhere with very derogatory comments, basically saying that if you're not buying get the hell out of my shop. I can understand the signs about kids as there is a lot of easily breakable stuff in this place and I'm sure it's frustrating for the owners to find broker merchandise, but isn't that part of doing business?The store itself is a winter wonderland! If you can't find what you're looking for here I don't think you'll find it anywhere in the world! The inventory is just that incredible! Too bad that the owner's attitude just destroys the place!

I had to deal with these savages when I worked for one of their suppliers. I would rather hurl myself into a snake pit than ever speak to the owner again, and I hope they go bankrupt - they deserve it. Stores should exist to provide clients with goods and services that bring them pleasure. Not terrorize them while holding products hostage. This place uses the latter as their business model.

My review won't agree with the rest of the bad reviews, quite possibly because the male shop owner wasn't present. I walked into the store ready to have to deal with some harshness, but whatever we like buying local ornaments when we travel. Yes there are a lot of signs telling you what not to do. But beyond that everyone in store was pleasant, I carried a coffee into the store even though the sign said no food or drink, nicely asked if I could leave it on the front counter and the nice lady said sure." Found what we wanted

The last straw with these people! Thanks to all you others reviewed this hell hole for helping me to see that I am not alone.Today my mother went into that store in response to a help wanted sign (she's not from here) to at first be completely ignored when she asked to being snapped at thatwe are only looking for young people and we are German and we want someone who looks like us!" (my mother is Black)... um hello illegal much. ASSHOLES. I want this place out of my city.My own first and last experience there was two years ago taking my two young Japanese homestay students. We were closely followed everywhere in the store and the owner came right up to my student as she reached up to pick something off the shelf (that she was going to buy) and shouted at her not to touch anything and of course no pictures. We immediately left and I had to apologize to my student

He's not called the Christmas nazi for nothing! I have to say, it is worth a trip for the signs alone - it is the single, most unwelcoming store I have every been in. I cannot imagine how they stay in business.