Dona's Hallmark Shop

I am forced to give this store the worst possible rating. The reasons why are nothing short of bizarre. The end result is that the store owner called the cops on a customer when the customer did nothing illegal. HUH? Read on, if you wish. The back story for this is boring, but dealt with battery swapping of the display models of Hallmark Ornaments (I needed to test if a display model for sale worked or not). The owner of the store took offense to this and started saying really rude things to me and really started going off the deep end (at least in my opinion: my daughter naturally agrees with me). It was sort of like those toy stores where the owner is really grumpy and hates kids (you've been to one of those before, I'm sure). After a few minutes of confrontation (it REALLY got weird), I went to pay at the front. There, I asked if he was an employee, and mentioned that he was really being a jerk. Uh oh, he was the owner...and the woman I complained to was his wife. She essentially called ME a jerk (fair's fair; I'll accept that), I paid and left. This is where it gets WEIRDER. The owner FOLLOWED ME OUT OF THE STORE DOWN THE BLOCK, stopped me, and said something like ""buddy, don't ever come back"", or something equally weird. I was actually quite scared; I didn't know what was going to happen next and felt the need to protect my child. To protect my kid, I yelled at him (loudly) to ""get the F_ away from me"" to bring attention to us...this is what they train you to do when you feel threatened. He kind-a smirked and went back in...I think he was ENJOYING this. So I was not allowed back: no big, there's no way I would ever go back anyway. This is where it gets EVEN WEIRDER My daughter and I were walking around town, enjoying the noontime, when a cop stopped me on the sidewalk. Simultaneously, another one walked up in that ""cop on one side, cop on the other side"" way that cops confront people. I was weirded out: my daughter was freaking out silently. Later that day, she broke down in tears over the event. Turns out the store owner had called dispatch and wanted the cops to stop me and tell me that any further contact with the store would be considered trespassing, and would result in my arrest (SAY WHAT?!?). We talked for awhile: the cop did his best Joe Friday, and I just rambled on in confusion. As if this isn't weird enough, it gets EVEN MORE WEIRD! The store owner was across the street, watching the events. Why was he there? I have absolutely no idea. But both me and my child were incredibly creeped out by this. The fact that he CALLED THE COPS on a customer and TRAUMATIZED my child makes me furious. HE MADE HER CRY. How could he do something like this? We are now removing the Hallmark Ornaments from our tree, as the sight of Hallmark Ornaments frankly weirds us out now. I hope to God that he isn't a typical face of the Hallmark organization! There are many other Hallmark stores in the area (Bishop in Hillsdale, and a Hallmark-owned store in Fashion Island)...in fact, THEY told me to go to Bishops from now on. I will definitely take their advice from now on (after all, I cannot go back there anyway!)...whether or not you also take their advice is your business. But the way he treated a long-standing and high-paying customer (I've probably dropped several hundreds of dollars there over the years) is beyond the pale. From some of the other reviews here, it appears that the owners of this store have a history of treating customers strangely. This is probably the apex of that. For their sake, I hope they chill out a bit. more

I have to address DK's review. I was there the same day that June was and heard the argument about the cell phone. No, I was not with June and I'm glad I wasn't because it was a very ugly scene. The whole staff was not involved but the woman yelling about the cell phone worked at the store. She had black hair and was loud enough for everyone to hear what she was saying. If the employee had not started yelling the customer would have bought her things and left. Rude is rude. I didn't appreciate the shouting or the language used by either woman. I do expect a store employee to show more restraint then the black haired woman did. Her response made a bad situation worse. June may be rude to be on the phone but she went to Dona's Hallmark to shop not get a lesson in politeness, much less be humiliated like she was. I was also there to shop at a store I loved but I left that day very disappointed. As for removing June's review because it is old, some of the positive ones are old. I say leave them all and let people make up their own minds. more

Dona's Hallmark is a first rate card shop. Owners/managers don't call the police without a good reason. I think Sealist needs to consider that perhaps it was his shouting profanity in his child's presence that scared the child and made them cry. Sometimes it helps to understand a situation better--and more honestly--if you examine your own behavior, and how it creates an ugly situation. Dona's has always been--and remains--the best, as well as it's ownership and staff. Pros: Great selection, gracious and helpful staff! more

Will not be going back here again - won't honor their special offers and were rude and unfriendly in their manner when they told me. There are so many other great shops in San Carlos and at Hillsdale Mall I thankfully do not have to ever go back! more

I had a terrible experience with this place and I will never go back to this Hallmark and will be sure to let everyone that I know about how horrible this place is. Never in my life have i been teated like this in a Hallmark.\r \r I walked up to the counter with my products and put it on the counter, the lady walked away from me and then came back to me about 30 seconds later or so and told me that she would not ring me up until I got off my cell phone. Beth is her name. So I proceded to go to the side of the counter so that any other customer could get rung up. They did not know that my co worker was with me and proceded to talk about me as if I was not there. Very loudly they were saying how rude I was for talking on my phone and who did I think I was!!! I been a Hallmark customer for many many years and to be treated like this is not OK, thats who I think I am!!! My co worker asked them why they would talk about me like that especially right in front of me. Its not like I made a scene about getting ringed up while on my phone, I stepped aside. So to be treated like this is unacceptable and this store is really making Hallmarks look bad. Every other Hallmark that I have been to the people are usually very pleasant and nice so this came to a very big shock for me. They defended there behavior by saying ""its just rude, its just rude to be on your cell phone"". Well I think its unacceptable to talk to customers that way! Regardless if they think its rude to be on your cell phone in line, you DO NOT tell the customer that! There names were Beth, Carole and Beverly, All horrible representations of Hallmark Stores. Also the older man with the mustache claimed to be the owner and was not much better. more

I love to shop at Dona's Hallmark because I believe they live up to their motto ""When you care enough to send the very best!"" I have always been treated wonderfully by their employees, they are always friendly and more than happy to help. I can spend $5.00 or I can spend $50.00, they always have a great selection of quality gifts for everyone! more