Ocean State Job Lot

The new Job Lot in Providence is roomy, clean and well lit. A big difference from the old store on Reservoir Ave.

I needed to find something and one of the employees took me to the appropriate section and helped me get the item I was looking for.

Very good beginnings....hope they can keep the store clean and well stocked.

I came for the cheap flowerpots, I left trembling, pasty and a shell of my former self. This is the creepiest, foulest, most frightening place I've ever been in my whole, entire life. I kid you not. Cheap pots aside, this place is worse than Christmas Tree Shops - in fact, it's like Christmas Tree Shop's cracked-out, bag lady, turning-tricks, eating-from-a-tin-can in weeks-old unlaundered clothing step sister... Yeah, it's that scary.

The displays are hap-hazard, the staff... I don't even know where to begin. I guess they communicate with each other, if shouting obscenities from their register booths is communicating. One of them was eating something, and another one seemed unable to do anything but grimace. Sure, you can find towels, electronics, food (frightening!), and the aforementioned flowerpots here, but is it worth it if any item you bring home is tainted with the memory of this place? Me thinks not.

I should also mention that while I was there, a flock of gnarly prostitues were, too. That may have tainted my over-all impression of this gem of a store.

Needless to say, I shant be going back. I'd rather pay full price for flowerpots than risk shattering my spirit.

Whatever you're looking for, it might be worth looking here first.

Things I've bought here: pajama pants, greeting cards and gift bags, glow in the dark sticks for a kid's birthday present, lots of cheap food (including oodles of cherry and pomegranate juice at really low prices), socks, jeans, and a plug for the bathtub. All of it is way, way cheaper than you'd find at a regular retail store.

Walking in here, I knew wouldn't be the greatest. But I didn't expect THIS.

Yes, it's cheap and you get great deals. But this place is a disheveled mess! Boxes piled high to the ceiling makes you feel slightly worried that you will be caught in an avalanche if you sneezed or moved the wrong way.

I was going to overlook the claustrophobic mess because hey, cheap stuff. I can't complain. But when I asked a service person where I could find "electric candles" she responded: "I don't have electric candles. The candles are over in that *lazily points in a miserable manner* aisle. I don't have electric candles."

First of all: That's not what I asked. Plus, telling me something I don't care to know is USELESS.
Thanks lady for your lack of concern, effort and horrendous people-skills! [/sarcasm]

Annoyed and disgruntled. I walked over to the aisle that had regular candles. When muddling through the chaos. A positive, friendly and helpful CUSTOMER showed me where I could find the electric candles three aisles down. Along with other Christmas decorations I was searching for.

It's sad when you get better customer service from the customers rather than the employees. They've clearly got it ass-backwards.

Sorry, Ocean State Job Lot of Pawtucket-- I'll be taking my business elsewhere. Perhaps the Cranston branch. At least they seem to get the basic concept of customer service.

Ocean State Job Lot, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

Thou havest thee widest selection of Bob's Red Mill products anywhere around, including Whole Foods as well as a variety of deeply discounted gluten free foods and gourmet specialty foods.

Thou havest wonderful customer service. Just moments ago the store manager installed my new Rain X wiper blades for me. The young cashiers and sales clerks were friendly and helpful, directing me towards the hardware section in the back of the store and answering my numerous queries.

Ok, so Job Lot doesn't have Barney's window dressing team to create breathtaking displays or the merchandising mix you'd find at a big box store like Target. But they do offer shockingly low prices on close-out goods. Name brand, everyday products are priced competitively with the big box stores.

Is it a dusty and a little dirty? Sure. But I can wash my hands and dust off my purchases as needed. Do interesting "characters" shop there? Absolutely. But no more "interesting" than the whacked out woman I saw at the MAC counter at the Providence Place Nordstrom a couple weeks.

It's Job Lot. It's not going to be anything fancy or special or even particularly neat. BUT, there are usually good deals to be found! Don't expect to find the same things more than once here, the stock is ever changing; one week there are no tweezers in the beauty aisle, the next there are three different brands.

If you're looking for cheap items, don't need anything brand name, and don't need a fancy (or even well put together) display, go check it out.

I go to Ocean State Job Lot when i'm not quite sure what i'm shopping for but know I need it,if that makes sense. You can't really go there with any one thing in mind as inventory changes regularly..but you find things there that you need but maybe didn't think of...all inexpensively. For example comfortable polo shirts for 8 dollars, t shirts for 3, khaki shorts for 12...it has an assortment of food,clothing,household items, garden gnomes and other bizarre oddities that you might just be looking for...

You know how people get down on Wal-Mart for being dirty or ghetto or nasty? Well, one visit to this Job Lot will have you laughing in those people's faces. Because this Job Lot is a museum/shrine to dirty, ghetto, and nasty. And I might add ratched. Yes, they have low prices and great products. But just remember what you are putting yourself through to get these low priced, quality products: a series of unkept, rude customers, displays of ratchedness, and an overall tone of terrible social dress and behaviour. The service is good but those poor workers have to suffer through these bad customers. I recommend this place for their prices and products (not ALL the products but most of them).