Cost Plus World Market
Reviews and Complaints

As someone who appreciates unique finds and quality products, I understand the allure of Cost Plus World Market. However, it's essential to approach your shopping experience with caution. While some customers have reported positive experiences, such as receiving fresh products promptly, others have faced significant challenges. Issues range from poor customer service interactions, like being left waiting for assistance, to receiving damaged or incomplete items. It's clear that consistency is lacking in their service quality. If you decide to shop at Cost Plus World Market, be prepared for a mixed bag of experiences.

I Had amazing experience of shopping in new World Market store in Manchester, CT. I loved service and friendly environment.
I loved the great diversity in food and kitchen supplies, loved helpful sales people. I wish to have more such experience in different stores I go.
Loved everything there.

While I usually love most of the furniture I get from World Market. The faux leather chairs and seating they sell can be a problem. I have purchased two different faux leather chairs from them and they both over time started cracking and peeling. I do think most of the other furniture is quite amazing though.

I made a mistake with an order I placed for Christmas. I called Customer Service and spoke to a very helpful, pleasant service rep and they were able to help me in a matter of minutes. She was very friendly and said she was glad to help and wish me a happy holiday. Great Customer Service experience. Thank you.

Placed my first order before the holidays, it arrived quickly, all items wrapped well and arriving as expected: total of 50+ items! I need to post a picture of the huge boxes that showed up near my door. :). Overall I am very impressed, and will order again. Also, they have great perks to members, so make sure you enroll into their saving program.

We ordered a Farmhouse Granger Table for our new condo in Saint Augustine. It was delivered today and Pilot shipping company would not carry it upstairs. In desperation I called Jacksonville World Market after 5 pm and James Clute drove all the way to St Augustine from Jacksonville to help us. He bought his wife to help too. He then helped my husband build it I no time at all... and left after 8 pm. Wow, what an amazing man and so was his wife Linda. World Market is blessed to have this gentleman as an employee

On Aug 24 at 8:48 PM PDT, I bought the Gray Emmett 5 Piece Square Modular Sectional Sofa #KIT0057SKU. I live in Liberty Lake, WA and the estimated time for arrival was Sep 1-3. I received my order by Seko Logistics on Sep 4. AWESOME!
I had purchased the sectional for $1,284.43 (that included the 15% discount and WA tax); I then saw 3 days later that World Market had lowered the price considerably. I called customer service and it took me about 15 minutes until someone was able to answer. I explained the cost difference and they said I could on get $66 dollars back on my order (actually, I should have been quoted $266 refund). I thanked her for her time and hung up and went immediately to the website chat function, was connected almost instantly to a customer service rep, explained the situation and was quoted $266 refund for my order. Five days later I had my refund back in my account. AWESOME!
The Sectional is awesome too! Very deep and about 8 out of 10 for firmness on the seat cushions. Extra cushions for the back are awesome as well and very soft. I'm 6'4" tall and this sectional is just awesome.

Shop elsewhere because World Market is untrustworthy.
I ordered 4 chairs and two out of them had broken legs. I contacted them and asked for a refund. They send a driver, who took the damaged chairs away and promised to refund within ten business day.
Now here's the most interesting thing. My chairs were picked up on the 2nd of October. Where's my money?
I called them numerous times, they don't respond...

I bought two pillows from this store Worldmarket and received only one pillow. Second one was missing and the worst part was that when I contacted Worldmarket support service they did not believe me. They claimed they shipped two pillows, but the fact was that there was only one pillow that arrived. I was hoping to get some help, but they didn't offer me anything, not even a replacement!
I tried to get a refund, but their rep said that was not their fault. They simply didn't want to do anything and said that I have to deal with that on my own. What a terrible service! These guys really didn't care!

We ordered a chair from www.worldmarket.com and when it arrived it was clearly seen that box was opened! Chair was damaged and had many scratches. We contacted Worldmarket support and they asked us to send pictures of the chair. We did as they said and they agreed that chair arrived in a bad condition. They promised to contact us back as soon as they decide what to do, and when they finally contacted us they said that was not their fault and that they were not responsible for these damages. They refused to help and said that there was nothing they could do!
Extremely poor service! We are very disappointed with Worldmarket and will never buy from them again! What a waste of money.

I went to the website www.worldmarket.com and wanted to buy some stuff for my kitchen, as well as it was mentioned that the delivery was for free. I placed the order and paid for it immediately, but these ### charged me for the delivery as well. WTF? I sent them multiple emails and asked to return money back, but I heard only blah-blah and nothing more. They are liars and scammers, and I want to find other deceived customers, who lost money. Please we need to stop this company and return our money. Post your comments.

Have shopped at World Market for 8 years - enjoy the uniqueness and variety of products and never had any issues. Today, purchased my first piece of furniture and after my experience, will never step foot in the store again, with the exception of having to return the piece purchased today. After opening the box to begin putting the desk together, quickly realized that we were missing a major piece - inside panel that holds both sides together, along with the drawers. I called the store to let them know and to find out what I needed to do to get the missing piece. Although the person on the line was nice, didn't apologize for the inconvenience, but simply told me to come back into the store, bring the schematics and they would see what they could do. I found it hard to believe that the piece couldn't be ordered over the phone, but no one wanted to take the call to get the information. My husband decided to call back awhile later to see if there were other options by speaking with a manager. We were told that management wasn't available and they would call us back. This was about 5:30pm. About an hour later, I called to see if I could speak with someone and was told management was on the other line and that they would call back when they could. Understanding this was a surprise gift that we were putting together for a birthday party tomorrow...At this point, I am willing to drive to another store to pick up the missing part or pay to have it rush delivered, but no call back. So, knowing the store closes at 9pm, called around 8:50pm to see if a manager was available and instead of speaking with a manager, had the pleasure of speaking with a not so pleasant store clerk, who couldn't find enough ways to tell me that no manager was available and that I until the needs of the customers "in the store" were met, I shouldn't expect to hear back. So, when in the store, staff will do everything to help you when you are purchasing items, but want nothing to do with you when you get home and find that you are missing a major piece of the furniture you just bought! Of course, I would expect management to leave after their shift and don't expect any retail manager to call me after their shift. At this point, the desk is halfway put together and we have no solution as to how we are going to get the missing part. I asked to have the name of a Regional or District Manager and of course, was told they weren't in the store. I didn't expect that, but did expect a name since I was getting help in the store. All I expected was a phone call back, so we could figure out how to get the missing piece as quickly as possible. So now, suppose I'll have to take the half put together desk back to the store and continue the search at other companies. This is unacceptable and short staffed in no excuse. It's the holidays and can't imagine with the economy the way it is, that seasonal help is hard to come by. It's evident based on the short interactions with the staff that customer service is low on the priority list and repeat customers - who cares?

World Market does not allow you to cancel an on-line order, even if it is within minutes of placing the order. They do not disclose this on their website, you must search for their policy. I actually wanted this table that I had ordered, and was told I would receive it within 10 business days, not a problem. I explained that I would be moving and needed to make sure it would be delivered quickly. The customer service rep said it would be no problem. By the 15th of December, my order had not shipped out yet and I told the cust. serv. rep that I was moving and was not going to be at this address to receive the order. She told me to call the shipping company, Waybill and refuse the order over the phone, so I did. I called Waybill and they said they would send the table back to the shipper. I still have not received a credit for the table I never received and it is February 03, 2011. They continually give me the same run around when I call. The treatment that they give customers over a credit is ridiculous and makes me feel as a on-line customer, that my business is not important.

Cost Plus World Market was once an employer that I could talk positively about to anyone, until a year ago when a new supervisor was placed at our store. Shortly after this new person was placed into our store, complaints of bullying, mistreatment and even age discrimination were being talked about by both employees and managers alike. Keep in mind that ALL of this happened in less than a year.

The trouble began with this new supervisor telling a manager that she needed to tell higher-ups that she thought a certain employee who had been with the company for a few years was "useless" so she could replace him. This manager who worked with this person since he was first hired refused to comply to this request, and became the next target of bullying. The alleged "useless" employee was tipped off to what was being done to him could not deal with the stress and bullying quit shortly after.

The next to go was the manager who refused to lie. This person worked for the company for around 6 years, worked her way up to management and was never written up in her life. After months of being bullied and mistreated by the supervisor, she went to Human Resources. HR refused to help, and would not look into the complaints. After a few write-ups, the person was asked to step down to a lower pay grade and position to which she refused and was "suspended indefinitely." She received a letter saying she was fired a few days later.

Next was a department-head who was with the company for 4 years, and also had never been written up at any job before. This person was called into the office by the supervisor one morning and was told that he could be trained to be management if he just changed his hair style. This person spoke to HR multiple times about the wrong doings at the store, and asked that they have someone do an investigation which HR refused to do because it would be "unfair to single out that store." He also spoke with each manager at one time or another, and none would speak up because they said they did not want to be the next person to go. This person was asked to do embarrassing things like walk around with a blown up picture of the toilet with red cleaning fluid in it and tell each employee that "this is not how you clean the toilets." This person was written multiple times with little evidence and sometimes for things that had nothing to do with him. He would be talked down to on the store floor often to the point that coworkers would ask him why the supervisor hated him so much. He was asked to step down or be "suspended indefinitely" like the person before, with the manager of another store (one he never worked for) as the witness.

Other things of note that happened:

One female co-worker asked not to have her wallet in her back pocket because for a woman to have something in her back pocket meant she might be stealing something. This was OK for men to have their wallet in their pocket.

An employee was fired on vacation as a no-call no-show, even though there was a paper with the supervisor's signature saying he could have those days off. She then said fine, but tried to fire him anyways. This employee had an open schedule but the boss only scheduled him one day a week for months, he often tried to get more hours but she refused. When he called to get his hours after vacation she said that since you were only working 1 day a week im firing you anyways.

Something of the same note happened to another worker...she received the "step down" speil and took it. This then lead to her getting only 5 hours a week instead of 38. Any attempts to get hours from other people were shot down even if the other person was interested. For 10 weeks this person only got 5 hours on Sundays, so she got another job, but told them she could work any day but Sunday so she could work her other job. When this woman put in a request for her new hours she was told it was unacceptable, even though the supervisor was only giving her 5 hours a week on that day.

Funnily enough, the person who complained of age discrimination to HR was never bothered again...

After being in a fatal car accident with my 2 young children I was fired due to not being able to return to work... This company let me go after 11 years of loyal employment! The accident was on April 8th 2008 and after 6 weeks I was forced to return to work. Upon returning on June 16th 2008 I came back to an unfit store and 3 new district managers with no further training upon my return. After many write ups I asked to be demoted and they told me they would look into it... later to find out it was never even mentioned! 10 years of not ONE write up and then all of a sudden they were writing me up for EVERYTHING even things that other managers did! i.e. schedule changes... poor inventory (which I wasn't even there for!) My husband and I decided to have a baby and within TWO hours of the e-mail that I sent out to HR and my District Manager they where in my building telling me I was suspended until further notice! I then had and anxiety attack (one of the many side effects from my accident) and we put out of work due to Dr.s orders. A few weeks later I got a letter stating that I no longer work for the company... Who does that? Never work for them! PLUS later I found out that my DM was talking to his hair stylist about ME AND HOW HE WAS HAPPY TO FIRE A PREGNATE WOMAN! I have proof of this all... just beware of this terrible company...

I purchased the product as an ingredient in my Thanksgiving pie and discovered that the package was broken open and product potentially spoiled when I prepared to make my pie on Thanksgiving day. When I tried to return the item today, they refused to credit my account or even give me a store credit. I'm really disappointed that this business does not stand behind their product and do the right thing for a long term customer.

While shopping during Christmas holidays I was offered a discount for opening a credit card account. I did so at that time.
I never received a statement, bill, credit card or request for payment. I never received a telephone call regarding this issue.
Last night, 9/24/08, I retrieved a message from my home phone informing me that I had been turned over to a collections company for an outstanding debt to World Market. When I had not received a bill, I assumed that in the flurry and confusion of Christmas shopping, I had forgotten that I had already paid the bill at the counter. I did wonder why I had never received a credit card, but simply forgot about it.
I immediately paid the bill over the phone last night, but my concerns are that I paid way over the amount of the actual purchases due to fees, and that this is going to now adversely affect my credit.
I have called World Market (locally and a national number), and GE Moneybank, all to no avail. No one is able to help me. I have also emailed the credit bureau to attempt to dispute this negative credit reference.
I am completely frustrated at this point. I have been shopping at Cost Plus since they first opened in Phoenix and now feel that I can no longer do so in good conscience.
I have been advised to take advantage of the legal counsel available at my place of employment. I am not sure if it will do any good or not, but I see no other avenues open to me to resolve this issue.
(WM acct 3215...today is the first time I have even had a portion of my account number).
My mailing address has not changed in 22 years. The person at the checkout counter who took the application must have been aware that only street addresses were acceptable on the application, and yet she put it through anyway. The man at the collection agency had both of my addresses and my phone number. Please advise, Jill Potter