The Toy Box - San Clemente, California

Johnny McGahee

The Toy Box – A Total Rip-Off! Beware of Extreme Price Markups

I recently visited The Toy Box, and I was shocked by their blatant price gouging. While it’s understandable for businesses to mark up products to make a reasonable profit, doubling the price of items is absolutely unacceptable. This isn’t just about making a couple of extra bucks — it’s clearly about taking advantage of customers who may not be aware of fair market prices.

What’s most frustrating is the lack of transparency. Many customers might assume the prices are reasonable because they’re shopping in-store, only to find out later that they paid significantly more than they would have elsewhere. It feels like a predatory approach to retail, exploiting convenience at the expense of fairness.

I strongly urge anyone thinking of shopping here to do their research and check prices online or at other retailers before making a purchase. This could save you a lot of money and frustration.

It’s disappointing to see a business operate like this. Fair pricing builds customer trust, but The Toy Box seems more focused on squeezing as much as possible out of their customers. Until they change their pricing practices, I cannot recommend this store to anyone.

Kaylie

Very disappointing shopping experience while early Christmas shopping today with a friend. We brought our children into the store to select items for their Christmas list. Each child was independently browsing the store, identifying items for their wish lists when the shopkeeper rudely ordered us to stay with our children because there were “breakable items” she didn’t want them touching. She acknowledged it was a children’s toy store but the children shouldn’t be touching any items. The whole situation was very uncomfortable and we left immediately. Very disappointing as the purpose of the trip was to identify items the children loved to come back and purchase for Christmas. Well, we will be purchasing those items elsewhere and will share our experience with friends and family as well. To the store owners- if you had been kind and polite, this situation would have been avoided completely. No need to be nasty to customers and unwelcoming towards children in your toy store, there are plenty of places to buy toys these days.

J W

This review is way overdue!!! if I could give 10 stars that’s what I would do!!!! my first time stepping into the store was last year back in December when I was searching for last minute gifts I found everything I needed….. I went back earlier this year and decided to purchase some items for my son, and to my surprise they had an incredible amount to choose from for his age range, so it made it very easy for me to locate items and even pick a few for the upcoming year as he advances in age! The third time I came to the store I was greeted by one of the owners and I wasn’t sure who it was at 1st+ I can’t see so I’m squinting and he was very helpful…. I was not informed that Tinker Bell was going to be visiting and that they were having a movie morning event and he asked if I would like to attend with my son. I of course said yes this is probably our first outing that we really needed after my husband passing away, we have not really been “out”. We had an enjoyable time and then I was able to get my 18m old to watch an entire original movie and retrieve an autographed signature with the original REAL LIFE Tinker Bell and some pictures for my sons keepsake, and then I proceeded to get some more toys for my son, which he just absolutely loves. There is no way that this toy store could ever have a negative review I am just absolutely taken aback by the lady below in her accusations of this store!! I knew that the negative review didn’t make any sense because they said that they were going to buy it. I’m sorry, but if anybody has half a brain they could realize that if you were going to “buy something” like she stated she was going to do….. ummmmm you definitely don’t want it on the dirty floor!!! That review is completely inaccurate, and I reported the post for it to be removed, because that is straight bullying and harassment of a great establishment that has community values and welcomes people with open arms!!! Have respect for other people’s items until you pay for it and then you can put it on the floor…. I can’t wait to come back and see what other goodies I can get so I can See my son smile again and again!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️. IM SO GRATEFUL THANK YOU FOR CREATING A LIFETIME MEMORY!

Sandra Oddo

The worst store in the planet! I have a 2 year old that wanted this huge elmo so her father grabbed it off the shelf to let her squeeze it and hold it and love all over it how ever this grinch of the owner told us to put it back to not let it touch the ground for it to get dirty! She then grabbed it from my daughter and put it back while my daughter started to cry and have a melt down for then my husband picked up my daughter and head out the door and I said absolutely not she made my daughter cry she will listen to her cry!!! My husband was going to buy her that elmo and this grinch of a women ruined that moment for my daughter!! Right before christmas too! We had other things we wer going to purchase instead we walked out of there slowly while my daughter was crying and I gave her rbf but I wanted to say more but not in front of my daughter she is lucky I didn't give her a peace of my mind! She should be a shame they should not have a toy store if u can't even hold the toys in this store. Pathetic toy store owners! Worst customer service in the planet! Awful people do not give them ur business at all!! Honestly so worked up over this tramic experience 2 days before christmas has to be the worst feeling ever!! Karma will come back at these owners!! Awful awful people!

Picture of my daughter with this elmo was pure joy ruined by the lady! All my daughter would say on the drive home was "mama where's elmo can I have elmo please" ....

Jaimes Rv Detailing Fernandez jaime

Nice store all kinds of toys and Christmas staff .. even I found a original wonka truck all metal original !! Prices here are not bad at all …
If u into shopping for gifts try this place …

Jamma Monareng

Terrible. Absolutely. What kind of toy shop hate children? My friends and I tried to go in and the owner of the location wouldn't let us in without an adult(We are teens). She took a picture of my friend and threatened to get us removed from the outlets. We are minors. Why is this toy shop still open? The lady was snappy and salty, and clearly didn't like children. Go find your toys somewhere else, it's not worth it.

Phillip Moon

Was in the store earlier when I noticed a group of people in wheelchairs (I think were disabled) and their caretakers were asked to leave because the wheelchairs would “take up entirely too much space in the store.” I promptly walked out when I was about to spend 200+ dollars on Christmas gifts. This is absolutely terrible, if anything they Should rearrange their store if they don’t have enough space. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a bigger failure of humanity. I Highly recommend going somewhere else for your toy needs.

Edit** I see the owners now arguing with what I believe is one of the caretakers in a review. They are trying to save their appearance. Di NOT shop here.

Tod Degray

Great to see a legit toystore in this outlet mall. I enjoyed seeing the new as well as old classic toys. Great Funko offerings too as well as some signed pieces. Terrific board games & the latest toys for the upcoming Christmas season! I for one like to get my Christmas shiping done by Halloween. Owner was kind enough to share some other similar to Lego type building blocks but, are very cool Military Issues ? ships planes tanks you name it they got it. I'm looking forward to picking up this cool Wooden Pirate ship for the Grandson for Christmas! Enjoy shopping here! Fun fun fun!