There is a particular kind of restaurant that fascinates me. Not the good ones. Not even the terrible ones. But the strange middle species, places that borrow the clothing of a culture without ever understanding its soul. Welcome to SumSum Mediterranean Delights. I arrived expecting the warm chaos of the Mediterranean: the perfume of strong coffee, the clatter of cups, the quiet arrogance of good sweets that have survived centuries. Instead, I was greeted by a patio table decorated, quite unintentionally, with bird droppings and a chair that looked as if it had survived a minor flood. A promising beginning. The menu claims the Mediterranean. The execution suggests something closer to an airport kiosk that once glanced at Istanbul from a passing airplane. Let us begin with the basics. Turkish coffee. The beating heart of half the eastern Mediterranean. The ritual drink of poets, smugglers, and grandmothers who rule their families with iron patience. Not here. No Turkish coffee. A Mediterranean café without Turkish coffee is like a French restaurant that forgot wine. Technically possible. Spiritually embarrassing. Then came the halva. Now halva is not complicated. Sesame, sugar, patience. When done well, it carries the dense sweetness of the Levant and the markets of Anatolia. This halva tasted... tired. Flat. Dry. Forgettable. The kind of halva that makes you wonder if someone read the recipe on Wikipedia and decided that was good enough. And that is the real problem with SumSum. Nothing here feels lived-in. Nothing carries the weight of culture. It feels like a restaurant assembled from Mediterranean keywords rather than Mediterranean memory. A place where the idea of the region is present... ...but the spirit never arrived. Final Verdict If you want the Mediterranean, go somewhere that smells like coffee, pistachio, and stubborn old traditions. If you want a patio table with bird droppings and sweets that have lost their will to live, SumSum is waiting for you. Once you figure the origins of sumsum, you'll realize why it's a farce . A "Mediterranean" pretender. read more

SumSum - Desserts Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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I do have to agree with another reviewer here. Halvah tasted great and the customer service was very friendly. However, the prices here were OUTRAGEOUS. We ordered two "small" slices of halvah and a bag of tea, and our order came out to $85. EIGHTY FIVE US FRIGGIN DOLLARS. I have never spent that much money in a confectionery store. EVER. I felt taken advantage of given it was in Waikiki. If you are charging your products by the pound, a better more honest way of charging would've been to ask the customers how many pounds we would like to order.... I came in feeling excited and left feeling very disappointed with the whole thing. read more

SumSum samples... That's what's definitely you get once you enter this tiny shop in Waikiki the corner of Saratoga Road and Kalākaua Ave to be exact so yes parking is basically impossible or costly to visit this part of Waikiki but since I had parked at a nearby area somehow strolling around took me to this spot. The first thing you'll see is a sidewalk sign with their exclusive Dubai Chocolate so you know the curiosity has me wondering what they have and with a display case filled with various treats the staff was very knowledgeable about each item and has offered samples galore felt like it was a trap as I refused each time since I'm not really been avoiding sweets he quickly pivoted to these bits of fruits use to infuse tea as each pack comes with specific combination for various health benefits and yes it tasted great all it takes is a teaspoon per 8oz of tea and just a few minutes as though it tasted amazing with tea I planned to add it water though after looking at the ingredients it was sad to see that the fruits was coated is some sugar. I'm not quite familiar with the Middle Easter treats and the staff did worked hard to keep me trying items which was a nice but intense vibe as all I wanted to do was browse though will intend to enjoy my infused water. Thank you! read more

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In Waikiki, near the start of the strip, SumSum sits on the corner of Kalakaua. There is a sign where the name can be read and there are a few tables outside. The store itself is not very large but the store has a selection of sweets from Dubai chocolate to baklava to teas. We were greeted immediately as we came in, and the guy working was very friendly. He gave us a sample of one of the teas, which was sweet and fruity. We also got to try a sample of one of the halvas, which was pretty good. We decided to get a few different types of baklava and kadaif. We got pistachio, chocolate, and another one that may have just been regular but I don't remember. They were all yummy and sweet. Maybe a bit too sweet for us and a bit messy but overall good. The prices were a bit high for us, as the total for everything came out to about $16 for the four pieces. Overall everything was pretty good though. read more

SumSum - Desserts Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Yes, I was in the area with fellow Yelp Elite All Star Donna O. so I took the opportunity to walk over to SumSum. Today, 08/10/25, I looked at the halva, Turkish delights and Dubai Chocolate Bars. The manager Daniel, offered samples to everyone there. After the group in front of me finished their purchase, Daniel assured me he could cut the halva selections to a total of $30. He was unable to do so in the end. Was this an upsell? Appears to be similar to other reviewers. Oh well, I still purchased the $37 plus total for two slices of halva. I picked up the Dubai chocolate halva for Donna and the Chocolate Pretzel for me. I also tried the Turkish delights, but found it too sweet for me. Upon making the purchase, I asked for the Kama'aina discount. He said he gave it to me, but the receipt does not reflect the discount. Hmmm. The store was also out of the stamp cards. So no credit for my purchase. I'll keep the receipt for later. Hopefully, the store will honor the purchase. A different experience today. read more

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I was obsessed about trying the viral Dubai chocolate. Research brought me to here, SumSum Middle East dessert place, and I was so happy that they have many Dubai chocolate. I tried three kinds- Kenaf, Nutella, and Ashta la Vista, The original Dubai chocolate- Kenaf Said is the best. Kenaf is the original Dubai chocolate. It is so rich and satisfying, I think I would die of happiness by eating too much. The Nutella version is too sweet, and the Ashta version has this white substance inside that is not tasty to me, it is not coconut. Can't figure out what it is but doesn't taste good. The cashier was very nice and sweet. They cost $34 each. Get 3 chocolates and have a $15 discount. I would buy the Kenaf original Dubai chocolate again and then try the dark chocolate version. read more

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Best Dubai chocolate on the island. It can be pricey but so worth it. They have different flavors as well. Although you cannot go wrong with the traditional Dubai chocolate with a milk chocolate shell, my absolute favorite is when the pistachio cream and kataifi mixture is encased in a dark chocolate shell! read more

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Service was top notch. Selection was beyond impressive. Prices were really good. Better deals than Vegas farmers markets and the Bay Area. Shop was really clean and cute. The man helped us by explaining very patiently, and in detail about what everything was and answers all of our endless questions. We will def be back and absolutely recommend this to anyone curious about all the desserts and treats they have to offer. read more

SumSum - Food - Desserts Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Tried the lilikoi baklava and mango tea which were really authentic and delicious! So much pistachios in the baklava too! Just very expensive, but who isn't in waikiki? Service was very nice and we didn't feel pressured to buy at all which I appreciate. Stop by for all their samples! read more

Friendly staff who took the time to introduce me to Halva letting me sample several flavors and explain this new treat I have never seen. This is a must stop when you're in Waikīkī and ready for a variety of flavors to fit your mood. read more

As far as I am concerned, sweets are a food group. Or at least they should be. When we dine out, normally something sweet is an option. But at home, we normally have lots of choices....or at least I do...lol SumSum is my choice for something sweet. This establishment has a lot offer, but I am leaving with one thing in particular...halva. Now halva can mean a lot of different things. It comes in varying levels of sweetness and consistency. But usually, it is made of sesame seeds. Yes...this sweet could be considered healthy! If this sounds unusual to you, dont worry...you are not alone. There is not a lot of it available locally. But if you are interested in learning more, visit the shop and talk to Nadav. He is 'The Man'. Knowledgeable and pleasant, Nadav will educate you on their product and give you a nice little tour of the shop. Exactly what you would want in an employee. He will explain a couple of things to you: By the way...this particular halva is much better quality than what I've eaten in the past.... -Heathier -Better consistency -Less sugar -Lasts longer in fridge -Lasts longer on tongue Next comes the best part...you get to taste and sample the product. I encourage you to start with the nutella and the cocoa nib. Those are my favorites. The first thing you may notice is the texture. It's a little different than most sweets. The best part is after you finish your taste. The flavor and richness of the halva lingers...almost like a fine whiskey does! Halva is difficult to find in Hawaii...especially high quality halva. This type of store really is a unicorn in Hawaii. The coolest part is what you realize when you get it home. If you need something sweet, you dont need a lot of it to satisfy your craving. A little goes a long way because of the flavor and mouthfeel. I will be back soon to try more flavors! read more

Great staff! I really wish I had caught her name as she deserves the credit. Very clear & thorough in her explanations. Tons of samples. Resulted in a huge sale, lol. I was so delightfully surprised to find the new corner shop in the beginning of Kalakaua's row of shops before the Royal Hawaiian boasting Mediterranean treats, mainly the baklava, which I love. I walked out of there with a dozen baklava, over a pound of their havla, and the last bag of their mango tea. As I sit here today, 5 days later I can quite easily say, I will be back there again. But surprisingly it will be for the Havla (coconut to be specific). I will give the baklava another chance - the flavor is absolutely spot on. It has been years since I had one that was not excessively ridiculously sweet. But the crunch was missing from most of them except for the rolled one. I dare say they were soggy. I didn't got back and complain but I'm sure they would have made it right for the price. I would suggest perhaps sampling the baklava before purchasing which I didn't. I will next time. The Havla though...the texture, flavor, everything was delicious. As another reviewer said, it is rich and I wouldn't do it all the time because honestly I ate that slab faster than I should have but there was no controlling it. Only way I could is limiting the frequency of it being in my house! Hahaha The tea I bought off of the one sample in the store. It was indulgent but I don't get good tea or to Waikiki very often. These treats made my staycation that much more special. read more

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WARNING: Count your order/what you paid for before leaving the store. Check also if you get credited for Kama'aina rate. We've been to SumSum Waikiki several times. We love their authentic baklava and halva. However, the lady staff is dishonest or tricky. She charged us for the price of a whole box but she will give you less. The whole box is 15 pcs + 5 free. She only gave us 12 + 5. Each baklava is 2.99 per piece but she charged us for the price of 20 pcs instead of 15 pcs. When I told her that she gave us shortchanged, she accused me jokingly that I ate the missing 3 pcs. She is dishonest and a cheater. She also boxed our baklava without any caution. The flakes were falling and didn't use a paper underliner causing the box oil marks. We also bought SumSum Baklava at Neiman Marcus previously and experienced the same thing. The guy gave us less for what we paid for. I will never go back to this store, not because it doesn't taste good but because their staffs are dishonest and scammers! read more

Specialty store with balaclavas and spread made of sesame. They spread can hold in room temperature for six months!? Amazing. To me it's a little bit on the sweet side. But others may enjoy it. read more

Needed something to energize myself from a full day of activities and I was just walking around the strip and found this sweet corner shop. They had plentiful selection of Halva that we got to sample and they were delicious! Apparently they're keto and vegetarian friendly so that's a plus! Complimenting choices of coffee. And their Baklava! Delicious!!! Highly recommend! There's not a lot of Mediterranean cuisines here in Hawaii, this was a pleasant treat! Outdoor seating available as well. read more

SumSum - Baklava - Desserts Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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This place has nothing to do with authentic Mediterranean sweets. If you've never tried real Mediterranean desserts before--don't start here. This is not how they're supposed to taste! I've lived in Turkey and know exactly how good baklava and halva should be. What they serve here is a joke, and the prices are outrageous. The baklava was extremely dry, the nuts were soggy and tasteless. The halva tasted like it had been sitting on the counter for ages. As for the viral Dubai chocolate--I paid $35 for the worst chocolate I've ever had. It didn't even smell like pistachio. It was just sugar and oil. And it's not original Dubai Chocolate. The real one can only last for 3 days, and it costs $19, and only one shop sells it in Dubai (made my research). The one they sell - is a horrible analogy. The girl working there said it was her favorite and "the best sweet in the world." Honestly, America has no idea what good sweets are--and apparently, neither does the owner. I don't know where the owner is from, but they completely misrepresent Middle Eastern cuisine. It's deeply disrespectful to the rich tradition of Mediterranean delights. read more

SumSum - Fake Dubai Chocolate for $35 - Desserts Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Dubai chocolate and tea was good! Good customer service. A quick walk from royal Hawaiian.

Total scammers- I asked for the smallest slice of halva I can get and they showed me how big the 1lb slice was and said the smallest I could get was half pound cuz otherwise it crumbles so I agreed to half pound knowing it would be $17 as it is $34 a pound. When she weighed it it was over a pound and came out to $40 and said yes this is the smallest slice you can get and I felt pressure to purchasing as I had previously confirmed she cut it. What a joke $40 for a slice of halva as their smallest size you can get! Also all the flavors taste exactly the same- I love halva and wasn't impressed. Don't get scammed don't come here! read more

So this place is artisanal with the prices to match, and that's before mentioning it's in Waikiki. Baklava is around $3 a piece, but is usually sold in larger box sizes. The halva, which I bought, was $35 a pound, and the slice I got was about $26. It is very very good halva. It was spongy in hand feel, but the texture in the mouth goes from a crunchy first bite to a smooth melt in your mouth without almost any chewing. Service was fast and the staff were nice. They had two people at the register running the shop as a whole as far as I could tell, but probably had one or two more staff in the back making more. They advertised their halva as having an 8 month shelf life at room temperature, but as mine is not likely to last a month, I can't confirm that. My first experience with halva was in the UK, where it is sold for a lot less at open markets, so that does color my views budget wise. So from sumsum, I'd classify it as once or twice a year treat, unless you have a lot of disposable income to spare. But if you are a tourist in Waikiki, and want to try a very good dessert that isn't found much on island, I'd happily point you here. read more

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I love their dessert. Staff were nice and friendly. Cute spot for Mediterranean vibe! Overall a little overpriced but understandable since it's located in Waikiki. Here for the good vibes basically. read more

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We had a pleasant experience and the employees were helpful. The products all over the store re high quality and priced accordingly. If you're not quality conscious this might not be the place for you. Very tasty and real Turkish coffee. read more

SumSum is a cute shop. They have lots of halva in different flavors, tea, and some more. We selected 4 flavors of halva, buy 3 get 1 free. It is pricey. It will last 9 months on the counter or a year in the fridge. It is tasty and filling. I had a cup of Turkish coffee to go with my halva when I got home. I liked the pistachio, coconut, white chocolate and cocoa. I like it by itself. It is very oily from the ground sesame seeds. I rewrapped in parchment paper after a week. Employees were super nice. This may not be for you but you should try it. It's not Hawaiian but a great find in Hawaii. read more

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I spent almost $90 on three "1-lb" slices after clearly telling the employee I wanted 1 lb each. Instead of respecting that, he kept slicing them larger and larger. It felt deceptive and pressured, by the time I realized what was happening, I was already being overcharged. On top of that, the woman working there was extremely rude and acted hesitant to give me a small sample, even though I was about to spend nearly $100. Terrible customer service. If they weren't so rude and misleading with their pricing, I might give this place two stars, but honestly, the flavor was overly sweet after just a few bites. As a flight attendant who has traveled extensively through the Middle East and tasted authentic halva, this is not it. Save your money. Plenty of better places in Waikiki. read more

Amazing from the moment I walked in! Been passing this place since it opened many times. Finally got the opportunity to visit last night. We were greeted right away when entering by a very helpful beautiful woman. Very welcoming! Come in stay awhile come try our amazing sweets! Immediately gave me a sample of everything! She knew her shit! Maybe the owner which I love if it was! She said try this wait try this and this! Everything amazingly fresh and rich in flavor from another place in the world! I went in for the famous Dubai chocolate bar! Although pricey it is everything it is hyped up to be. I also got the fruit infusion for tea or flavored water. The Lemon & Mint, delicious! Mahalo for bringing these treats to the island! read more

SumSum - Desserts Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Friendly service in a cute little corner in the beginning of Waikiki. He offered us some tea as we browsed. I already knew what I was coming for but I didn't realize they had more selections. Bought the Dubai chocolate in milk Chocolate and dark chocolate. Other bars included cookie butter and something with yogurt they called Ashta. Pricey but more bang for your buck compared to all the other local businesses selling the bars. read more

SumSum - Dubai chocolate bar - Desserts Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

OVERPRICED!!! Be careful here. Make sure you ask for price for each item as things can add up quick. I got 12 tiny pieces of baklava and it came out to $40. I wouldn't mind paying that much if these were any good but they were way too sweet compared to others I've tried. It's really nothing special read more

SumSum - $40 for 12 small pieces. Just wow - Desserts Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Very tricky pricing buyer be aware. They don't tell you how much and if you ask them for the least amount possible it's 30$ with attitude. Very uncomfortable experience read more

Excellent cappuccino's! I enjoyed the cinnamon halva, was a tad sweet. My daughter got the white chocolate Dubai bar and I got the milk chocolate original, both were great! I'm a dark chocolate person and the white chocolate was honestly an amazing flavor combo. Very happy! read more

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Just disgusted and pissed off with this place. I reached out to their customer service with no reply! Bought almost 50$ worth of Baklava and the girl who worked there either doesn't have brains or doesn't care- but she gave us and packed a beautiful horizontal box of nicely placed baklava only to give it to us in a horizontal bag. Was giving this as a gift and had to scramble because we couldn't even give the gift due to the baklava all crumbled and turned over. Requested a refund with no response.... See photos. Like come on. How do you place a wide horizontal box of delicately packed baklava into a vertical bag!! Ambiance and inside is nice and very middle eastern themed too bad they don't think their gifting options out. read more

SumSum - Horizontal bag! - Desserts Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Food phenomenal! Service: knowledgeable professional friendly staff The teas and baklava read more

We had a wonderful experience here, very friendly worker Ryder I believe was his name helped us with sampling Halva and the fruit teas. We got some Dubai chocolate bars and tried other alternative ones they had plenty options! Really nice store and clean. Next time I have to try the baklava and delights. read more

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Although a bit pricey, the baklava was delicious and I'll return specifically for their intense halvah! It pairs well with Turkish coffee, which is also available. The fruit infused teas looked incredible, and taste testing is welcome. Sample the halvah as well, made with healthy tahini and so rich and smooth I am craving more! read more

SumSum - Ono baklava! - Desserts Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Seems like this is a place to go strictly for the halva. Unfortunately we had the baklava. The staff was a very friendly and helpful so that's a great start. Baklava is one of my favourite treats and the lady kept going on about how good theirs was so we purchased a small box of six. It was the most expensive baklava that I've ever bought, but that's not such a surprise given that we're in Waikiki. What was the real shock was how terrible the baklava was, completely soggy and stale tasting. Even the pistachios had lost all their crunch. I ate half of one, a bite of another and then tossed the box in the trash. read more

this place had bad service and bad matcha. it was probably the worst matcha i've had. this is a tourist trap, don't come here. save yourself $15. read more

Calm down SumSum...It's just baklava and halva....it's not THAT exotic. I needed a hostess gift for an event I was attending and thought...baklava would be a fun and kind of different little gift. Upon entering I was pounced on by an employee who has clearly been trained in aggressive sales tactics. I made my intentions clear that I wanted a small box of baklava for a hostess gift. I was immediately ushered to the halva and given a dissertation on the health benefits of the dish. So...redirecting....I RE-stated my intention to buy a small box of Baklava. "Are you familiar with baklava?" She quipped? Uh...yes. "Really?! Have you been to Greece? Uh...no. "How do you know about baklava?!" Uh...I'm an adult grown man who hasn't been living under a rock for the last 40 years. Finally...she grabs a box. I ask for an assortment. So proceeds to fill up the box and then ring up the order $82!!! I'm like WHAT?! $82?!!! Is this MAGIC baklava? Does this come with a foot massage too? Good lord almighty. Now I know why there are no prices listed ANYWHERE. It's like a bait and switch circus in there. It's a shame, really, it's a cute place. And could be a welcome addition to the food scene of Honolulu....instead it feels like a trap to ensnare unsuspecting tourists and locals who will only visit once. read more

Looking for a taste of something yummy and different? This is the place. I was immediately greeted by a very cute *DK* with dark curly hair and a smile that would melt the most stoic of people. He is engaging and encouraged me to sample just about everything! He shared his favorite choices and was personable and genuine. I was not planning on buying a thing! I left with pounds of treats and it wasn't because I needed or wanted them. It was because of *DK*! What a sweet human! read more

SumSum - Yummy Treats! - Desserts Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

This is a cute, personable little store selling many flavors of house-made halva, tea, and a few other middle eastern pantry foods - more for snacking and special occasions than your pantry. Halva comes in big chilled blocks that they slice off for you by the pound - the way it should be. Many flavors of nuts, sweets, and chocolate. The teas, all sold in loose packages, are infusions of dried or candied fruit, spices, and leaves that you can steep in water or iced tea, probably make a nice mulled wine out of them too. read more

SumSum - Tea cabinet with samples and a view of the park. - Desserts Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Been here a couple of times - and I have to be honest: Both times, I got this very uneasy uncomfortable feeling when I'm dealing with the employees here. (1) No price or price list. Why? (2) Very expensive (don't be shocked at the register - make sure you ask how much BEFORE you agree to buy anything) (3) Tiny Tiny Tiny baklavas - they're about an inch x inch square (4) Pretty pushy, hard sell - # in a box gets you #free, 10 in a box gets you #free, 20 in a box will get you #free.... I'm not going to a potluck or some office meeting, I didn't need 20 of them. (5) Just an awkward, odd feeling. The worker(s) are friendly, but they're just in this "salesman/woman mode" that I'm not used to. I got 10 Baklavas + # free. I paid something like $39.90 (after tax) for 10 Baklavas, so that would make each baklava $3.99? And that is a better deal than buying them individually? I'm afraid to ask how much each would be if I just wanted a couple of them. (6) Asking for email/phone number, then asking if I would leave a positive review about the store - to benefit the worker? Workers says the store is still new and needs reviews. They also want me to mention their name because the owner said they get to go on some trip or something if their name is the most mentioned...? Huh? (1st time I went there, they told me I would get a free piece of baklava if I left a positive review right then and there and I would need to show them before I get a free one. How can I leave a review if I haven't had a chance to taste what you selll?) The baklavas taste "good", but I'm used to ones that aren't this dry and crispy. The inside should be a bit more moist no? I just want to walk in to your store, look at a price list, determine how many tiny baklavas I would like to buy, not be asked to leave a positive review to help your worker go on a trip, and leave with my tiny tiny Baklavas. read more

My wife and I were fortunate enough to try SumSum tonight and it was a delight! Pamela from Peru was a joy and walked us through all of the various flavors of Halva and Baklava and offered great recommendations! Very clean and well laid out store with a very comfortable outdoor lounge area! As locals, we are always looking for new places to try and we were both very impressed with the flavors and quality of this new delicatessen! SumSum is just what Waikiki needed! We picked out a few vegan friendly treats for Father's Day, some of the herbal tea and pistachio covered hazelnuts! We will be back soon! Highly recommend! read more

SumSum - Store Entrance on Kalakaua in Waikiki - Desserts Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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High pressure sales, rude employees!! Basically selling sugary desserts stating pop has sugar as well. Very disappointed I hope things go well for them. I have attached a video where I was quoted a price, then charged about double followed by a nervous laugh, and stating I have bad math. I've been there several times, and they seem to be consistent with their bad math!! Very rude and disrespectful appearing to be FRAUD!!! read more