Tutti Frutti
Tutti Frutti is a great health food store in Kensington Market which sells a variety of bulk cereals, flours, nuts and spices.
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Honest Ed's at the corner of Bloor & Bathurst.
By Jerrold Litwinenko.
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Sunday, March 14, 2010
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good store but I find that the owners always treat me like I'm about to steal something--poor customer service.
I think the customer service is great at Tutti Frutti. The staff are kind and always know where random, obscure things are.
I don't find their staff to be knowledgable about health products--I was sold something for the wrong purpose.
I'm a little late on the ball, but I recently found this place after a friend recommended it. I normally try to buy organic products - I'm addicted to Dr. Bronner's products - and I found the prices to be unbelievably affordable. Some of their products are sold even cheaper than if you ordered it directly from the maker! The woman at the front (whom I believe was the owner) was extremely friendly and courteous, and admitted that they usually try to sell at 10-15% less than the regular retail price. Highly HIGHLY recommended!
Their bulk food selection is great, but have to agre with the first poster about being treated like you're stealing. It's not very pleasent.
I was just wondering in they sell any of lorna vanderheaghe products!
I know what you mean about it being like you stole something. Today I purchased several things in the store, we spend about $100 a week there. I bent down to put the things in my backpack and left the store. I stopped outside to re-arrange my back pack and the male owner came outside and told me the door "beeped" when I left. It was rubbish. Two other people left at the same time as me because we actually laughed that we were all trying to get through the door at the same time. He asked me to come back inside the store to which I told him no, if you want to check my bag I have it all out in front of me (there was a table outside) he can check it right then and there. He kept saying "you beeped, you need to come back inside" I was incensed, I didn't take anything and he had no reason to accuse me, which he finally said, I think you took something and I haven't searched your body so I don't know if you did. The lady who had served me inside and has served me many times came out and said no, no don't worry about it.
He was still abusing me as I walked off.
We will not shop there again. We will take our $100 a week business and shop at Essence of Life which is several doors away.
The prices are good at Tutti Frutti considering how much that stuff usually costs at other more prominent stores like Noah's, but I do agree that the staff isn't very helpful. I don't think they speak much English, so that might be the prob. Essence of Life sometimes costs a bit more for certain items, but the staff is much more helpful and able to communicate. The young girl is the best for answers.
...upon buying the stuff the man told me to go inside a room behind the cash register. he and his wife touched me in places id rather not go into detail with.so disturbing
Ok...I have shopped and several friends have and still shop at Tutti Frutti and have never had any problems. As for the "told me to go inside a room behind the cash register" there is no room behind the register! Weird!
I love their products, the service is always great, although yes I agree, I don't think they speak fluent english, and the prices are fantastic. A couple of years ago I was earning minimum wage and buying food from Tutti Frutti meant that I could actually afford to eat good food still and not resort on the trash at a lot of cheap grocery stores!
I have also been to Essence of life and really didn't like the store. But each to their own. :)
Just a note...I don't know how legitimate some of the comments above are...the store is not equipped with sensors at the door, so there is nothing to 'beep', the main staff are two middle aged women(it's family run), and there is no room behind the cash register - it is a wall full of supplements. Just a warning to readers to take everything they read with a grain of salt!
As for me, I'm a holistic nutritionist and find the prices at Tutti Frutti better than anywhere else downtown, and it's always my first stop, and then I go south to Essence of Life if I need a wider selection of frozen items, or fresh produce (which Tutti Frutti doesn't carry). I buy all my supplements and bulk food at Tutti Frutti and send my clients there, and have found they are helpful about ordering in products I need. Their markup is so little above wholesale that I find it more economical to buy everything there instead of stocking it myself.
Thank you for confirming my point about being falsely accused of stealing because the door "beeped", my point in my blog was that there are no sensors, so it couldn't have beeped. There are more than just the two middle aged women that work there, there are male helpers, and the one who accused me of stealing is a part owner, his wife is one of the main servers. In fact, she was the one who intervened on my behalf and told him to leave me alone. So before you dismiss the legitimacy of other posts, how about reading them through. I don't care how cheap they are, if they are going to falsely accuse people of stealing and try and justify it by claiming they have sensors on the doors when they don't I won't shop there and people need to be wary of the same thing happening to them. We now spend our $500 a month at essence of life, lesson learned for tutti frutti.
@ Jiffycrack, who stated:
"upon buying the stuff the man told me to go inside a room behind the cash register. he and his wife touched me in places id rather not go into detail with.so disturbing"
So is your comment. Being a frequent customer of the store in discussion, there is NO room behind the cash register at the fron of the store.
As far as being 'falsely acused'....never happened.
I used to shop at this place frequently until I was accused of shop lifting and had my bags searched. The same thing happened to me as to other posters who went outside and placed their bags in backpacks. I did that and the male owner of the store went after me, told me to get back in the store and accused me of stealing. I let him search my bag since I didn't want to create a scene but felt violated. Since their prices are good I returned a few months later and was watched. The employees there have mostly been rude to me, particularly the owners. They also own a new shop across from King's Cafe (in Kensington), so if you don't want to give business to these people, avoid that store as well.
I started frequenting Essence of Life. They are more helpful and have a better selection. Most importantly, aren't rude. I, too, spend about $200 a month at health food stores but will no longer be leaving any money at Tutti Frutti.
I shop both stores, but go to Essence of Life much more. The staff is super helpful there and I feel like I have built a relationship with them. When I move to Vancouver or Calgary, and come back years later, they always ask where I have been ?! and it feels like coming home! They answer all of my questions, make suggestions and even special order odd things they may not carry. I am really happy to see them expanding the supplement/health section. I've watched them be very patient with difficult customers and kind to everyone who comes in. I have never felt like they were watching me and my messenger bag, but will admit, I DO feel a little off at Tutti Frutti. It feels odd to be watched like a thief when you're spending good money somewhere. Essence of Life is the best shop in the 'Market to be sure!
poor thing thats horrible i was gonna go there i change my mind too