Dylan's Candy Bar

12/12/11

MAJOR DISAPPOINTMENT

by Holly Riley at Citysearch

For my daughter's 16th birthday we made a trip to NYC. I had our evening planned with the final stop for birthday dessert at Dylan's Candy Bar. Well, let me say we were majorly disappointed! I had read some negative reviews before going, but thought maybe some of it was exaggerated. Sadly, that is not the case. The customer service is terrible, prices too high, and

the restaurant is very dirty. I had to ask for prices on just about everything I was considering buying because items weren't marked. When i did find someone to ask they didn't know and had to go and ask another associate. When it came time to check out the salesperson ringing didn't know the price either and I had to tell them and also mention I was told there was a 30% discount. She rang it up wrong anyway in the end. Suprisingly, for a Saturday night during the holiday season it wasn't overly crowded but we had a little wait to order food and sit down. The tables were disgusting and I had seek out someone to clean it. Trash and spilled food was all over the place, and I saw only one person cleaning up in the food section. Something I was unaware of and wouldn't have thought much of is that the "cupcake section" advertised is ONLY if you are a bar customer. It is roped off and unless you order alcohol you cannot sit there. I had promised my daughter dessert in a cupcake booth but that did not happen. I am not sure why alcohol is in a store that probably attracts lots of kids and teens but it is available and that is how you get to sit in a cupcake. I would suggest to you if you really want to see this mega candy store then go, but be prepared for nothing too spectacular. I won't be going back ever again.

03/21/11

Hard to Sell

by artchic101 at Citysearch

I had passed dylans by on several occasions and my review is based on two visits. On my first visit I went there during this past holiday season. The store is incredibly busy!!!! There were tourists EVERYWHERE and you could barely reach the candy to even buy it because there were people everywhere! The traffic flow in the store is HORRID! I dont know who designed the layout of the store but it is absolutely terrible. The shoppers who come here definitely try to take advantage of the busy traffic and try to eat from the bins and steal merchandise. I really have to give it up to the staff who have to be there the whole day dealing with all kinds of people. Staff was running around trying to keep an eye on all customers making sure everything was sanitary and no one was putting hands in bins. It is so hard to walk around the store that I have to give it up to them for doing that. I saw so many rude customers talking to staff as if they were their personal slaves. The staff worked endlessly to help customers and restock the floor which looked like it had been hit by a bomb. I finally got together my stuff and got onto a endless line and finally when the register base came into view I saw three people behind each register working like Chinese sweatshop workers trying to ring up people as quickly as possible. Customers had all kinds of crazy requests for candy they had spent 5 bucks on and the cashiers fulfilled each request with a smile. The entire staff looked like they were in a toothpaste commercial with big smiles and just a great attitude.

On my second visit I decided to go during a much slower season (feb). I saw a guy standing outside (freezing cold) trying to get customers to come inside. When I went inside it was relatively slow but still some people in there and I really got a good look at the store. There are some aspects of the store that are good such as the giant lollipop tree in the middle of the store or the Chocolate bunny by the door however there is nothing else special about the store. The candy collection is just OK... nothing too great and it was just too over priced. I didnt even get to see that it was 13 dollars a pound!!! The tables where they had seasonal products (valentines day) looked really nice and were about the only nice displays in the entire store. The staff was very efficient even on a slow day... a bit too efficient I must say. There were two people going around handing out baskets to customers forcing them to buy things. There was a old woman who looked like Mrs Magoo with her red glasses (probably the manager) telling each staff member to hand out candy bags (bags to fill candy in) to each customer. Every five minutes someone would pop up asking to help you and I have to say it was incredibly annoying. I had about 5 people on each floor come up to me and list all the things in the store and I had to just smile and say thank you because I really cant blame them, they are just doing what the boss woman is telling them to. I actually think they were going for good customer service and turned it into bad customer service.

The two stars I gave are honestly for the workers who work like slaves to create magic for people. The store itself is very expensive, has no real product, and is an absolute nightmare.

01/19/11

Nothing Sweet Here - RIDICULOUS Customer Service!

by chiquitabanana17 at Citysearch

Like Quality, Knowledgeable Service and Common Sense? Then don't purchase something here!

So my Mom ordered my husband a birthday gift from Dylan's - "membership" in the Candy of the Month Club (yes, my husband loves candy as much as a 6 yr old) which should have been a straightforward transaction.

The gift did not come for his birthday as expected (it was already paid for well in advance), and when I called the next day they claimed they had no record at all of the order, including my or my mother's address. . .and then the day after (2 days post birthday) the box of candy showed up. Flash forward two months, I realized husband hadn't received more candy, and lo and behold when I spoke to the manager AGAIN they had no record of the candy or the address of me or my Mom! The other fun part of this is when you call them about things they sell online they say "Oh, I don't know anything about that, that's part of our online store" like there is a Chinese Wall divide that means one part of the store can't comprehend merchandise on their own company's website.

Then today my mother called and said the candy got delivered to her. . . halfway across the country! And we haven't gotten a shipment. So once again today I had to call, got the "Chinese Wall" claim of no knowledge and then was told that they ran out of stock of this month's candy but my husband will get his shipment. No explanation of why my Mom got candy (free gifts are never bad but obviously a mistake) and the totally different manager I spoke today when I asked her to confirm the info said "Is your husband named Joe" to which I had to tell her that like many people that live in Manhattan - 30 blocks from Dylans - we have a doorman and for the 4th time my husband's name is ____! Did I mention that only two calls ago did I get an apology and nothing more (not that I asked)?

Where is the 0 star rating?

10/27/10

Candy Heaven!!

by brilliantbullet at Citysearch

This store is heaven for those who have a sweet tooth!! This candy bar by Dylan Lauren is a fantastic place to find the best selection of candy. Great customer service only appropriate from the Ralph Lauren family.

04/11/10

Nope

by nomorecandy at Citysearch

If you're looking for extraordinarily overpriced candy administered by staff that far too often acts as if the customer should be honored to shop in such a cool place, Dylan's by Bloomingdale's is the store for you. I'm sorry to say that I twice ventured in, over a six week period, and both times left with a "bitter taste in my mouth." There shall not be a third.

• Pros: Pretty
• Cons: Price, attitude