I got really great tech support from these guys. The price was about the same if i bought it online but I decided to buy from a local Canadian company. read more

They probably have never heard of "customer service" in this place. Quite rude and dismissive.

DO NOT purchase anything online or in store. Spy Store price $199 on their website, clerk said I can give it to you for $175. NOTE: says "ALL SALES FINAL" on invoices. I asked about this and the answer was if there is something wrong with it we can exchange it for the same type of product. Came home - SAME item is $14.86 on Amazon. That's right 1,118% higher! NOT 118% - that's 1,118% higher! I called the store and the same clerk said he does not set the prices. I got scammed. DO NOT SHOP AT THIS STORE - ONLINE OR IN STORE. read more

Reflecting what the other reviews say, they guys in this store are rude and dismissive. They could care less if you're there or not. I walked around an empty showroom for a few minutes until someone barked from behind a wall, "can I help you with something?". Only after I told him what I was there for it did he come out and point me to the right display case. He then took a phone call and proceeded to tell the person in an aggressive manner that the store was extremely busy and he didn't have didn't have time answer questons. Another guy then came to help me who was a bit more attentive. Make note, there are no refunds here. You don't like a product you can only exchange it. So to be honest, just order it off Amazon. It'll be $100 cheaper, you won't have to deal with condescending staffers and you get a return policy. read more

My hopes were way, way up before I stopped in here. Yes, I've previously owned a phone record--for journalistic purposes of course. I wanted to see if they had the same handy $9 model here that I'd picked up at Staples when I was in j-school. They sure didn't. What they do have are a limited selection of overly high-tech phone recording devices. Seems I don't have enough love of gadgets to be a spy. The biggest letdown, though, were the salespeople. They looked basically like guys pining to be in the police force. But maybe they're undercover. Who knows. All in all, the glass counters and uninventive displays fell flat. The only saving grace, for me, was that the door frame sits at an odd angle, reminiscent of an alley entrance. But if you're going here for anything other than a genuine need for the gadgets the Spy Store sells, I have a suspicion you'll be disappointed. read more

Spy Store - Taken undercover - Electronics Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Sort of like the store Q would open for retired secret agents. If you're a private investigator, drug dealer, or in some other field of work that involves surveillance (and maybe even body armor), you'll want to upgrade your equipment with some of the gems sold here. Because this store is every voyeur's dream. With everything from phone recorders to night vision goggles, it sells a ton of products that seem like they would be cool to own but you could never really find a practical purpose for. Unless you were say stalking someone, or trying to find out if your partner was cheating on you. In that case you'll love the pinhole cameras that look like ordinary pens (and produce ink!). When I came in here, the place was deserted. I was left fully alone for five minutes to study the products before leaving, without talking to a single person. It actually kind of added to the mysterious and reclusive nature of the store itself, because presumably a spy store knows when someone enters their store. read more

Spy Store - Electronics Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

The worsed customer service ever!!!! I went to buy a camera but because I wasn't intersted in the expencive camera that the crappy sales guy Brady was trying to force on me, but was interested in a smaller and less expensive one, he told me to leave the store. What an asshole. I'll never buy anything from that company. read more

Pretty rude/unhelpful, to the extent that it was kind of amusing. Like a "Dick's Last Resort" for technology. Definitely a front

Unbelievably bad customer reception. I don't expect a thing but the guy actually seemed irritated that I would walk into the place. I browsed, but the browse 10min max signage definitely shouted for me to leave. I would not trust this place. Ever. The gadgets, while interesting and diverse, doesn't compete to models found online. Considering the utter lack of customer acknowledgment or service, you may as well order online and don't deal with the prickly jerk in this store. read more

Wow I guess these guys are making too much money! Rude and aggressive. No thanks I will buy my gear somewhere else. read more

We've been having issues lately with vandalism in our car park. I thought this store might be a good place to find something to help catch them. I couldn't have been more wrong! I arrived early one morning, before they opened. I decided to wait outside til 10:30 when they were supposed to open. About 3 mins before their posted opening time, a guy uses his key to get in. I asked if he was opening in a couple of mins and he said, "I'll open in 5mins," then rushed through the door. Opening late, I wondered? Sure enough, I stood outside til 10:38 before he came to slowly flip the sign, then turn on the open light, THEN finally unlock the door. No rush. He opened the door without a word. Then turned his back on me and walked back behind his cardboard barrier (presumably for his dog behind there). In all honesty, if he didn't care enough to open on time or even offer a feeble excuse, then I couldn't be bothered to give them my business. I turned around and left. He wouldn't have noticed anyway. The other reviewers were right -- surly, rude customer service. He really did act like he was bothered/irritated that a customer was there. I hate to say it.... if you're looking for stuff, you might as well shop online (not at their website) and support a competitor instead. Not sure why this place keeps a store front. read more

They have a "10 minute browsing policy" I've never seen a store that didn't want people in it. Does anyone EVER see people in here? Maybe this is a front for something else? Who buys way over priced sun faded boxes of obsolete electronics? read more

Terrible Customer service on the phone doesn't answer questions about product descriptions and usage. Just told me if i wanted to buy the unit it was there or go somewhere else. Obviously they don't need my business as I had never been into this store and never will. I was going to by a product the was close to a $1000.00 dollars and the owner manager or sales person didn't want to take the time to discuss the product. This is the reason for the low rating obviously if you had an warranty issue after buying the unit they would treat you even worse. Buyer beware read more

Unfortunately my first Yelp review is because of the horrendous customer service experience I had here. I stopped by the Burrard Street store on Monday, May 13 and picked up a keychain camera. The service was terrible and I should have left. The sales guy seemed annoyed by our presence and was loath to answer any of our questions before immediately returning to emailing or whatever it was he was doing seated at a computer behind the desk. We decided to just buy it and get out of there without getting very much help or asking the questions we wanted to. After reading a number of other reviewers' descriptions of the exact same phenom, I see that this is a long-standing problem. When I got the camera home and tried it, I realized that I couldn't use it because it says it needs a driver but it doesn't come with one I can use. It has this piece of plastic that looks like a cross between a mini DVD and a full sized one, except that the sides are flat on both ends. I tried to use this on my Mac but it didn't work so I called the store back the next day. The gentleman who answered the phone, Johnny, told me that the keychain doesn't need a driver and should work in all PCs. I told him that I have a Mac and he told me that it doesn't work in Macs. If I had known this, I wouldn't have bought it. When I asked about returning it, I got a runaround. Johnny said that he'd email the owner and see but that generally all sales are final. He told me to call back the next day. When I did, he told me that he'd emailed the owner and the owner had asked me to email him at info@thespystore.ca about my situation. I subsequently called back to find out the owner's name so I could properly address the email and he told me it was Larry. When I asked him for a last name, he said the owner doesn't give that out. I ended up having to do my own digging in order to find it. HUGE RED FLAG! On May 17 I sent the owner, Larry Minkov, an email about the circumstances surrounding my purchase. I sent another one on June 5 after nearly three weeks without receiving a reply, asking for my issue to be addressed and warning that I would file a Better Business Bureau complaint and warn other potential customers through Yelp, etcetera if I didn't hear back. I never got a reply. I made numerous efforts to have this situation addressed, three times over the phone with staff members and once directly with Larry when I didn't get any effective response from his staff. None of this had any effect. I was just rebuffed and ignored at every turn. Do NOT waste your money here! There are other spy shops in town that will treat you better and deserve your hard-earned money. I checked out their Better Business Bureau rating and they have an F...I've never seen a score so low! How did they get that? By ignoring the BBB the same way they do their (former) customers. p.s. If you have the misfortune of ending up in similar circumstances, you should at least have the owner's full name and business address, which I had to dig up on my own: Larry Minkov 8434 120 Street, Suite 111A Surrey, BC V3W 7S2 Good luck! read more

Walked into the store with my dog and my girlfriend and was greeted by a man who emerged from the back room chewing on fried chicken. He proceeded to tell me to take my dog outside because his german shepard was at the store. My shopping experience ended right then and there. I was going to buy things for work and they dismissed my presence right away until I told him I was shopping for a Netflix production. The moment he heard that he wiped his greasy chicken stained hands off and asked how he could help. 1 out of 10 will not spend a dime in this store, would rather purchase online. read more

Visited Surrey Spy Store at 11:30 today (Tues, Oct. 29/19). Total waste of time. Person behind counter was as helpful and charming as an unflushed turd. Refused to answer questions about their online merchandise. Complete jerk. I will never do business with these guys. Just saying.... read more

They don't care about why your there the reasons behind why you need their product. Not the least bit interested . Just a reminder that there are no returns . I felt unwelcome and made to feel that I was bothering . My reason to be there and what I wanted is legit but the he couldn't care less just hurry up and get the hell out and remember there are no returns it's a final sale read more

Situated right at the corner of Burrard and Broadway, ironically conspicuous, is the Spy Store. An old high school friend and I used to come here... infrequently, of course... to window shop. Window shop. Yeah, that's right. The pinhole camera and bugging devices were always points of interest... if only to help us facilitate the get-to-know-you process with the objects of our affections. Harmless fun. read more

Avoid this place, as others have said their staff were rude, curt and quite aggressive. Perhaps mental health or aggression issues are at store. Oh, the place stank and smelt like someone took a dump in there. As others said, this looks like a front to something else, they clearly do not care to sell anything to any customer. read more

4 stars for the excellent range of products. But 3 stars for warranty: a full camera security system for the house $500 but only a 6 month warranty?! No thanks. It's amazing how discreet and sneaky these products can be. Got a problem with someone sneaking to your desk drawer for food? Get a computer mouse with camera and recording sounds for just$351 lol Guy was pretty helpful though you have to chase him down. Amex good. read more

I signed up for yelp to bitch about this place - the guy was ignoring everyone in the store while he was sitting on his ass playing computer games. Anytime he did happen to look up and ask if anyone needed help, he quickly got up then ran back to his computer. He just told everyone to go to the website. read more

The guy looked irritated to see me come in. But that was better service than the other spy store I went to in surrey on 120th st where the guy told us not to look at any merchandize and to stay by the door until we paid a $50 membership. In fact he told me and the 80 year old man I was with to get out in the freezing rain - in february - while we discussed whether to pay the membership!! Anyway, we were visiting spy stores because the person I was with suspected the owner of the rental suite was accessing his place without permission. I suggested to buy a hidden spy camera that he can put in his apartment and activate while gone to put his mind at ease. Back to this location on Broadway and Burrard... At least there I was allowed to look at his merchandize before paying anything. Wow. Everything was supper expensive. Spy cameras in alarm clocks were like $500!! I found them for $35 on Ebay and was able to pick it up in Richmond. The camera I picked up could be activated remotely or by motion sensors. It recorded 8 hours of HD video and 25 hours of sound. Why pay extra from creepy paranoid guys when I can get it 10 times cheaper from emotionally stable individuals. I could see why you'd pay the extra money if you were a private detective, or if you were a spy. It's not needed for the rest of us. Will never set foot there again. read more

I have no idea why most people would need a store that carries body armour and night vision apparel, but in case you do, you've found your store. Perhaps the real mystery of the store is not why someone would need such items, but why there never seems to be anyone in the store....hmmm...Anyway, it could be good fun to come in here and check out all the props you would need to create your very own private investigator drama. read more

Spy Store - Electronics Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Wow, what an arsehole of an owner/staff. He was rude, put off that we even stepped foot in his store and barked at us for having the audacity to want to ask him a question. I can't believe how rude he was. We came into the store at 2:30 p.m. and wanted to ask a question. He barked in response "make it quick, we're eating lunch, then closing". The store hours say they are open till 6:00 p.m...I guess he works on Eastern Standard Time then. I have no idea how they stay in business given all the negative reviews here on Yelp not to mention how rude, dismissive and demeaning the staff is there. I mean REALLY REALLY rude. I called the North Van store and the guy there was 100% nicer and helpful. Unbelievable. read more

I walked into the store wanting to look at some small camera type security devices. There was a guy sitting at that the back of the store with his feet propped up on the desk with headphones on. He made no attempt to get up and offer to help. I explained what I was looking for and he just pointed to a glass cabinet near where I was standing. He remained where he was. Normally, the polite and business-like thing to do would have been to come over to the customer and help in what ever way one could to make a sale. This guy couldn't have cared less yet he claimed to be the owner! I explained that I wanted to see the product up close and touch it and inspect it. Only then did he get up and get one from the back. I asked if were the owner. Why, he asked, do you want to buy a franchise? I asked him why he was giving me attitude. He retorted that I was the one giving him attitude. This guy was either on something or he had an axe to grind. Man, his attitude was unbelievable! Why this store location is still in business is beyond me. Either this owner had plans to sell the business and could care less or if not, he will be in for a rude awakening. My advice to anyone looking to buy security equipment? NEVER, EVER give this store your business! One can only imagine what would happen if you had a problem with your purchase. Shame, shame, shame. It is too bad that I had rate this place with even one star. A big FAT ZERO for customer service and attitude is what this owner and store deserve! Thank goodness for websites like Yelp where one can warn consumers! read more

If you want to be scammed, then you should visit this store. First of all, when you walk into the store you should know better! I certainly should have. Then when you get in there and people have the amount of professionalism as cows chewing grass, you should know something is up. The only mystery with the spy store is how they ever stay in business with poor service and bad products. I purchased something for 200 dollars. It ended up not working. While searching online for some instructions (since it didn't come with any) I found the exact same product for anywhere between $39-$79. Since all sales are final, they know how to scam you. They have it figured out. This is a rip off. Go in the store, see what you want and then go buy it on amazon for about 80% less. Warning: DO NOT BUY FROM THIS STORE read more

I went here because my store has been broken into 3 times in the past month & the police suggested a high quality hidden camera. Not knowing anything about such devices, I made the huge mistake of asking for advice from the UNBELIEVABLY rude salesman. Seemed completely annoyed that I came in his store, and didn't even look up from his laptop. I was the only customer in the store for a few minutes until 2 women came in & were browsing. They were listening to me asking questions (what range do the cameras cover etc.) and listening to the irritation in his voice as he talked to me like I was complete pain in the ass. We exchanged glances that conveyed that this guy was being totally rude. I was trying to support a local small business (he is only a few blocks from my store) but left telling him he had lost a sale because he was rude. Cannot believe he is still in business with his bad attitude. read more

never seen this kind of bad service !! got into the store, never looked at me once, obviously they did not want any customer in this store !! never again . read more

Where do I begin. Absolutely one of the worst customer service experiences I have ever had. The young worker was condescending bordering on rude. There was a problem with the purchase. He was supposed to get back to us but never did. Then when we went in to talk to the manager, he wasn't much better. Feet up on desk, asked us why we came in and didn't call first. I asked why they never got back to us via email as they were supposed to. He said "oh, it must have gotten lost." Ha. I never received any email. Please stay away. The product we bought doesn't work as advertised. They don't care. If I could give no stars I would. Horrible. They should be ashamed. read more

I used to shop here a fair bit, having spent a pretty penny before I got married and had kids. Being in the area a few weeks ago with another family (with daughters) I wanted to check it out, since it had been awhile and I'd been thinking about a video surveillance system. The 4 girls were being kids, they were chatty and laughing, but they weren't being loud, weren't touching anything, and weren't running around. The other dad and I were looking at a video camera system that had my interest. The 2 guys (they weren't gentlemen) that were "working" there were huddled over a computer and completely ignoring us, until one of them rudely asked my wife to quiet the kids down. He then turned back to his co-working and said "This is not a f**king kids' store!" It was loud enough for the kids to hear it. Needless to say I will NEVER shop there again. He was rude, arrogant, and completely uninterested in customers. Avoid this overpriced hole! read more

I recently visited the spy store in order to find a motion sensor camera and was "greeted" (if you can call it that) by two surly looking guys in their late 20s who were rapidly typing on computers with their backs to each other. At first I assumed they were working on something spy-store related so I waited to ask a question. When I finally did they responded to me abruptly as though I was interrupting. I asked a few questions and with one or two word answers they replied telling me to refer to the website. I had just paid for 45 minutes of parking and had previously checked out their website but was interested in what advice they could offer to deal with my predicament. Again I tried to ask them questions but was met with irritation one-word answers. At one point I saw one of their screens and realized that they were playing a video game together. One of the employees mentioned to the other in a panic that he had to change the way he was shooting at objects in order to get more points. I made a comment about how they were treating me and they were very defensive. I went on to say I was going to call their manager and one of the clerks retorted that he was the manager and owner so good luck with that. I walked out without buying anything and encourage you to find somewhere else to get your surveillance equipment needs met. These guys are jerks. read more

The guy who answered the phone, whether he's the owner or not, is just horrible. Midway through my question he hung up on me. After a few times calling back all I wanted to know was if the store had a certain audio recording device. He kept saying "I don't know I don't specialize in that, check the website." Since I genuinely thought they specialized in spy equipment I asked "So what equipment do you specialize in?" He swore at me and hung up the phone. This person should not be dealing with customers.. read more

When I visited the store, I was looking for a camera security system to secure my house. I first checked out their website and inquired for a specific model, thankfully they had it. They showed me how to operate and use the DVR system and I was extremely happy with it's quality. read more

If I can give this store a total of ZERO I would. Absolutely terrible customer service. My partner purchased a camera set and he couldn't get it to function as it was wireless and he was setting the camera in a parkade. We wanted to return it and the store told us there was no refund as all sales were final. Wish they told us this before going home and seeing on the receipt that the sale was final. The sales clerks also mislead us by telling us the product was a very popular one and that no one ever returned the item in the past...Leading us to believe then that if there was an issue, we could return it. We wrote several times to the store and asked if we could at least exchange the product if they wouldnt refund us...guess what? No reply. Stay away from this place. It is a complete rip off. I always thought it was a fun store with all their gadgets and stuff and told lots of people about them...now I regret it and will tell everyone to stay away and save your money. Just go on Ebay and buy your equipment there. A lot cheaper and you will save a lot of money as this place is over priced to begin with. Too bad and what a hard lesson for us. read more

wow, where to start. i first wanted a camera to watch over my back yard, because of theft of my bbq. i wanted to see the face of the culprits, anyway, i bought a small clock camera, here's what happened when i received it... 1: instructions were made as if it came from a chinese boy just learning english, try and follow that (ie...long press k1, short press k2) ok whatever.. 2: item did not work on my pc, no image, nothing, no matter what i tried 3: i phoned the spy store branch in vancouver, they refused to help me with the instructions, saying they didn't understand them themselves, and told me i wasn't getting a refund, because they don't do that, no reason for giving refund, it's just they don't do that. ( after the shithead was yelling on the phone of course) p.s. i bought this on the website, and no where does it say, refunds aren't allowed, not even on my receipt my advice, do not shop here, save your money, it's just junk from the motherland china, in fact i feel like taking a flight to vancouver and throwing this clock through their front window,....hmmm, just an idea read more

I find this store to be exactly what it should be a store full of surveillance high tech equipment. I can only imagine how irritating it would be to have countless lookyloos looking at merchandise but with no intention of buying day after day. For anyone going to the store . They have the best gear buy something and have the coolest gear on the Block. I would not expect to be catered to and neither should you. It's a high tech surveillance store!!! read more

I was in the store and purchased an item. The item did not work and they would not return it they said all sales are final.when i was there 2 other people came in and said their product did not work hmmmm wonder whats going on in this store I just ate the money and learned never buy dumb gadgets from a store that sell spy stuff. I should have known better the name says it all. read more

Rude, disrespectful. I walked into the store and saw a guy siting at the back of the store with feet propped up on another chair. He was wearing head phones. I said hello. He said nothing. He then asked what I was looking for. I explained and he said that "All he had was...". I asked if I could take a look. He remained seated with legs still propped up and pointed to where the merchandise was. He made absolutely no effort to get up and help me. I asked if I was disturbing him or interrupting something. Obviously i was wanting at least a little service. I asked if he was the owner. He said he was. I asked him what his name was. He told me his name and then sarcastically asked " Why, do you want to buy a franchise?" I asked him, " Why the attitude?" He told me I was the one giving him attitude. I knew then that being there was a total waste of time. I walked out of the store. Why this store is still in business is beyond me. With this attitude and lack of customer respect this store's business days are numbered. I'm sure the word will be spread that this store is the last store to do business with. If I had the option I would not give this place even a single star! With service like this one can only imagine what the follow-up customer service is like. Either this guy is going out of business and doesn't care or will soon be going out of business and doesn't know it yet. read more