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Reid's
Categories: Event Planning & Services Cards & Stationery Shopping Arts & Crafts Cards & Stationery Shopping Flowers & Gifts Cards & Stationery Shopping Arts & Crafts Costumes Cards & Stationery, Costumes [Edit]
710 17 Ave SWCalgary, AB T2S 0B7
(403) 229-4400
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 9:30 am - 6 pm
Sat 10 am - 5:30 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
12 reviews for Reid's
12 reviews in English
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Review from Ernest B.
Calgary, AB
1/3/2011
Truly great place with wonderful service. Parking is a bit dodgy, but nevertheless Reid's is definitely worth a visit if you're looking for party supplies or fine writing instruments aka cool pens or really great and unique stationery (there's linnen paper, parchment paper, etc)
I recently bought a fountain pen there and the person I spoke to was one of the most helpful people I ran across in a retail environment. Seeing as this is turning out to be bit of an obsession (fountain pens are for some reason... addictive), I will be going back again and would recommend this store. -
Review from Kaeleigh E.
Calgary, AB
8/26/2010
This store has a bit of everything.
For stationary, scrapbooking, party supplies, unique birthday cards + gifts, funky household items, Reids has it all!!
Unfortunately it seems like it's been having renovations for ages now and it is a lot less pleasant to be in there with the renos going on.
Can't wait for it all to be done because the last few times I've been by it's been in shambles! -
Review from Sarah B.
7/20/2010 ROTD 2/25/2011
I love Reid's for a number of things, but I do a lot of ordering of envelopes from them. I find the email address for th estore is n-o-w-h-e-r-e to be found. So here it is:
TO GET IN TOUCH WITH REID'S BY EMAIL, YOU CAN EMAIL ORDERS@REIDSON17TH.CA -
Review from B C.
Calgary, AB
11/16/2011
The confident sense of quality service they have nurtured was undermined by their handling of a return. Suddenly it's "attitude time," replete with entitlement and elitism.
I'm sorry you were so inconvenienced for a few dollars. Now hear THIS: my partner and I have spent well over a thousand dollars, probably closer to $2k in your store over the last few years -- such is our fondness for fountain pens and the like. Great selection, by the way!
We won't be back. -
Review from Emma G.
8/27/2010
I'm not really sure how to describe Reid's - it sells all sorts of stuff? You can't just pop in to pick something up. This store is made to be browsed. There's funny gifts, holiday decorations, wedding invitations, knick knacks, office supplies - everything.
The front of the store is super cramped with silly toys and party supplies. I am enamoured with the wide selection of journals every time I go in, but I have to tear myself away before I buy all of them, haha.
They have some really beautiful greeting cards, and some funny ones if that's your thing. This is one of my favourite places to go when I need a quick present for someone.
My favourite part of the store is the back area - fancy envelopes and papers and high quality pens and notebooks and all that fun stuff. I could spend days picking out different highlighters and erasers here! They have a great selection of different papers, I love it.
The store, especially the front section, is way cramped so hopefully renos will help this?
The staff is generally friendly, though they can sometimes eagle eye you as though you're stealing. I'm sure this is a necessary measure in a store with so many small items, but it can be awkward. -
Review from Christopher W.
Calgary, AB
12/12/2008 1 photo
This Reid's is obviously run by tiny people as demonstrated by their Christmas decoration display that I had to dodge at every turn. What kind of place tries to strangle its customers?
Anyway, the girls working the front end didn't have time for those kinds of questions. They were too busy discussing the necessity of obtaining more "squirrel stuff" for a new display. I have no goddamn idea what that meant, but they seemed quite passionate about the whole thing.....
Reid's is confusing in a way. At the back is a very serious office supply shop with paper, nice pens, stationary, etc. At the front is a bunch of female junk (ornaments and figurines that possess no immediate use), mixed in with silly stuff like a "grow-your-own prostitute" and do-it-yourself drug test gum. This place is also crammed with as much stuff as could possibly fit in the place. Which means they have a decent selection of useful things and stuff that doesn't matter....
The back end offers high quality office items at slightly higher prices than some places, but it is quality. -
Review from Elizabeth N.
Calgary, AB
9/8/2010
It's hard to say what they sell, it's too all over the map. The first part of the store is all party favors and goods, with cheap toys and fun things and then the second part is all stationary and pens. They have cards, scrapbooking supplies, facepaints, candy and a whole wackdoodle of things. It's fun to go look around.
My problem is their staff. I've been there many times over my lifetime of living in south Calgary, and I've never had an employee there that was decent. Whenever I go in there, I'm usually ignored and I can't get help even when I go asking for it. I don't even get a nice hello when I walk in. I get rolled eyes and crossed arms.
I only go in when I need to. For birthdays and Christmas, it's a pretty useful all in one store for decorating, throwing parties and presents. But expect staff that think they are better than you, it is 17th ave after all. -
Review from Lindsay K.
Halifax, NS
9/29/2009 1 photo
Reid's is a cute little novelty shop with many party favours and odd little gifts, as well as a bunch of office supplies. Whether you're looking for a giant card, or a rubber chicken, Reid's has got what you need.
I find it entertaining to stroll through Reid's. It's a pretty large store, but doesn't have much room to move around. If you meet someone halfway down an aisle, more likely than not you'll have to turn back and try a different one. I think it's amusing, being a tiny person myself.
Another reason I like walking through Reid's is because they have funny things to look at. Even if I'm not buying anything I'm sure to find a way to entertain myself for a few minutes... or half an hour.
They've got so much crap (I say crap because stuff and things just don't seem summarize what they offer as well as crap does), you could be looking for hours. The problem is the salespeople aren't that ambitious to help you find what you're looking for. You may very well have to spend 15 minutes in the place just to locate what you need.
Another negative is that some of the items can be a little pricey. I went in to find a giant balloon for a birthday, but was disappointed at how much it would cost me. I ended up using a regular sized balloon that I already had at home instead.
Reid's seems like it's better suited to entertain people walking down the street than it is for actually buying stuff. Stop in and goof around for a while, but don't waste your money on some over-priced item. -
Review from dinah g.
Calgary, AB
12/22/2009 3 photos
The windows of Reid's were all fogged up and my honey and I were commenting that there must have been some "action" going on in there. I half expected an erotic or adult store but what I saw instead was a store that had customer action happening.
Reid's is a mishmash of everything, office, stationary, paper items, Xmas and journals but what I really got a kick out of the most was the gag area and the corner of toy novelty items.
This is a large store; upon entering you are welcomed by some very entertaining gag gifts. How about "The Ex" knife holder which has knives stabbed through a human figure at five different angles, or a rubber like bowl with edges that looked like spilt milk.
There is a huge aisle dedicated to hundreds of journals and diaries; this is fantastic, all in different shapes and different colours.
But my favourite area which appeals to the inner child in me is the toy novelty area; I was toying between "The Giant Pipe Cleaner Party Kit" or the "Penis Cleaner" which is basically a large ring. Yes I have a warped sense of humour and yes it is just way too funny.
With all these novelty items is the juxtaposition of these glass encased cabinets, under lock and key for the more upscale designer items. Four shelves devoted to solely Allesi designs and another cabinet just solely for crystal glassware.
Reid's is mind boggling, it is quite an unusual store, but does not lack in entertaining you. There is more room to shop here than Steeling Home and Kricket which makes for more enjoyable shopping and I was definitely finding things that I didn't find in other stores.
Definitely a place I will return to if I need a unique gift for a friend. -
Review from Jollean C.
Vancouver, BC
12/12/2009
In places like NYC, window displays are an art form. Reid's is Calgary's version of those very stores -- they definitely get my gold stars for Best Window Display! Every time I drive by, I always check out what they have creativity splashed all over the front (usually it's seasonal).
Inside is one giant PERUSE waiting to happen. I mean, what is this store about? It's so jam-packed full of weird lil things that you couldn't possibly catch it all. I mean, primarily, if you're after a great card, you'll find it here. But maybe you need a gag gift? A novelty sensored lil figure that says obscenities (the things you wish you could sometimes say like 'wow, you're a _____bag'). Weird pens. Princessy things for lil girls. A costume for Halloween. Seasonal decor. Pinatas. Birthday/party/wedding invites, decorations, etc. Yeah, weirdness. Randomness. No rhyme or reason. But that's kinda fun and definitely worth a look. -
Review from Jason G.
Calgary, AB
3/28/2010 2 photos
Relationships, as we all know, require compromise.
One such compromise being shopping for Knick Knacks.
Strolling down 17th Avenue often results in us stopping to look at the Reid's window dressing, which is often following by a "I'm just going to pop in for a second..."
Reid's is a great place for buying gifts, because they have a variety of novelty gifts as well as serious gifts like crystal and leather-bound journals. I've purchased gag gifts from Reid's before, like football key covers for my brother-in-law, and some over-the-hill gag gifts for my dad's birthday.
Reid's has the best selection of cards in the city in my opinion, including serious and funny cards. It would be a great place to stop by on your way to someone's house for Christmas if you forgot to get them a gift, because it's all under one roof, even wrapping paper.
They also have a big selection of party supplies like themed napkins and plates.
It would take forever to see everything in Reid's, plus they always have a seasonal section, so the store changes everytime you go.
You are charged a premium for these one-of-a-kind gifts, though, but sometimes it's not about the money, it's about getting the gift-buying over with in one stop! -
Review from s c.
Calgary, AB
8/4/2009
i love reid's for the stationary, ribbons, wrapping paper, and moleskines (what? you don't have to buy them at chapters? who knew).
this store is also an excellent place to find gifts or sarcastic/inappropriate greeting cards.
