I shop here often- and always find the staff very helpful and knowledgeable. They have a great selection of all kinds of media and surfaces. I have to know just what i want, get it and get out- otherwise I'm a kid in a candy store there!

2 days ago, My Daughter (who is visiting from California) wanted to go to Dakota Art, in Bellingham WA. As she was looking around the store, I decided to purchase a pencil sharpener for 60 cents (because I needed 1). I handed the sharpener to the Clerk/ Manager (?) ...who had a beard & glasses ...& he held the item up to me & said (very rudely): Out of all the stuff that is in the store, this is all you're gonnah buy?! I couldn't believe it! & I'm thinking: What the Hell did he just say to me?!?! & then, there was this uncomfortable silence. I was so humiliated, that I felt the need to reveal that I was broke (which is the truth). In all my years, as a Visual Artist, having lived all over the United States, I have never felt SO OFFENDED in an Art Store! His behavior was so agregious, that if he was on My Staff, I would've given him a Final, Written Warning ...or if he had a poor Work History, I would've terminated him at the end of the work day. In retrospect, all I can discern from this experience is that: he must've been the Owner of the Store ...because the rest of the Staff was friendly & his behavior was completely, uncalled for! I highly recommend against using this store! I would rather go to a Michaels, or a Hobby Hive, than to be so demeaned, as I was at Dakota Art/ Bellingham!Byron Lloyd von PriebeBellingham WA