People are strange … the Mokuba (bad) experience
There you have it, the Mokuba Barcelona shop window. What you might be surprised to find out is that, not only I was not allowed to take pictures inside (apparently it didn’t matter if I spoke to the Pope himself, nobody was going to approve my taking pictures), but when I said that I would take pictures of the window from the outside, I was told NO, I could not take pictures from the street, and was told that I could be sued by the company because that is private property. The lady did not care that I wanted to say good things about Mokuba in my blog, probably didn’t know what a blog is, who knows!
So I ask… WHAT IS THE PROBLEM WITH PEOPLE?! I just wanted to write a nice article about Mokuba, tell you guys what a nice place it is and what beautiful ribbons they have, but instead here I am, letting you know how upset I am about their silly (and honestly counterproductive) attitude.
I was unfazed by all that silliness and decided to take a couple of pictures from the outside. Unfortunately nobody inside saw me, but I will make sure to send them a link to the blog. So if you don’t hear from me for a while it’s because the police have come for me.
Oh, and I did buy some grosgrain for the sweatband of my straw hat (that was before I asked if I could take pictures otherwise I would have bought nothing). It’s a nice golden color. As you can see they pack it really nice with a heart shaped lollypop. The logo of the shop is a rocking horse, not surprising since Mokuba means rocking horse in Japanese.
The price, 5.49 euros for 65 centimeters of grosgrain… very steep! But of course, if you buy a full spool then it becomes much more reasonable.
P.S. I just found a Spanish blogger that went to Mokuba early this month and was allowed by friendly employees to take pictures (inside and out) for her blog! See the posting here.
Wow, it must be a ribbon thing because I had the same thing happen to me in a ribbon shop in Rice Village in Houston. NO PICTURES! I did get a few shots in before they pitched a fit and posted them last August.
Weird. Just weird.
Comment by Jill — July 28, 2007 @ 7:43 pm
I went over to the other blog that you linked to. Holy COW!!!! What a ribbon shop, I would need be hyperventalating if I visited. If they carried vintage ribbon as well, I would just say I had died and gone to heaven, hold the funeral for me now, cuz I want to die happy and this is how I am going to go!
I watched the new Pride and Prejudice movie, and if you watch closely, you will notice the oldest sister is always holding ribbons. In the commentary, the director said she just really got into the ribbons that were on the set as a prop.
Comment by Jill — July 28, 2007 @ 7:47 pm
I’ve learned to take pictures (as in Venetian mask shops) when no one is looking until someone stops you. Don’t always have the nerve tho’. If you ever get to New York City you must see Hyman Hendler in what is left of the millinery district. Looking forward to seeing your finished hat. K Q:-)
Comment by Kate — July 29, 2007 @ 5:11 pm
Jill, you can come and visit!! For Kate it will be too late because (as with most of Barcelonas shops, sorry!) they are closed during the month of August. Kate, sneaking with the camera only works if you don’t ask first, so from now on I will NOT ask… 🙂
Comment by cristinadeprada — July 29, 2007 @ 11:02 pm
Dear Sr/Madame,
As owner of MOKUBA BCN SHOP, I want to sincerely apologize if some of my employees has refused to let you take pictures of the shop. Possibly you came in Summertime, when the employes are in its Summer Holiday time and some eventual employe attended you. A lot of people come in at the shop every day and some of them, ask to take some picture. We never refuse it.
Obviously, I have a big stock of pictures of MOKUBA BCN SHOP, and I am ready to send you some ones. Just contact me at my mail address. It will be my pleasure.
Comment by Enrique Vera — January 19, 2009 @ 6:37 pm
Definitivamente que el servicio al cliente en la mayor parte de España deja mucho qué desear.
Pero buscando encuentras sitios con gente amable y que te ayuda muchísimo.
Definitely customer service in Spain is quite rustic so no wonder your bad experience I have I also suffered but at least there are other places where you find friendly people and that helps you a lot.
Comment by Evelyn — March 8, 2012 @ 2:58 pm
Friends in NY has similar unpleasant experience. Afraid of copycat artist/manufacturer from Asia?? The store I visited, located on W. Queen St in Toronto is v. nice, it’s big & bright w/ great display window…girl in b&w dress (made of ribbons of course) facing a
Rearing zebra (ribbon again). I get to touch & feel everything, talk to the staff on ideas…just beautiful shopping. As one Intel boss had said (Andy Grove), Only the paranoid survive!! Just No Need to be Nasty about it. I didn’t take pics inside, but I took several out, in plain view.
Comment by Anyology — January 31, 2014 @ 10:55 pm