Vetreria Artistica Vivarini, Venice

Felt so uncomfortable inside this store. The man that works there follows your every step. If you walk to a different part of the store he’s right next to you watching you the whole time like you’re going to steal something. Super creepy and rude. Doesn’t even say anything or is nice, he just follows and stares. Worse place - avoid at all costs.

** BEWARE** SAVE YOUR TIME & MONEY - GO ELSEWHERE! Horrible experience at this shop. The "owner" has to be one of the rudest individuals we have ever encountered. Friday, October 25, our first trip to Venice, we stayed at a five star hotel that offers a complimentary round-trip water taxi to the island of Murano. We were excited about visiting this island, being familiar with this craft and the work of famous glass artists, we intended to shop ON MURANO for several gifts (and did). We started off with a beautiful ride through the Grand Canal and out into the lagoon, arriving at the dock in front of this establishment with a man outside waiting. Our water taxi driver said he'd be back when we were done because they are back and forth all day and were told just to show up when we're done. As we exit the taxi, we are TOLD by the man waiting, rather abruptly and in broken English, that we were there to watch an artist blow glass and to follow him. We (5 of us) went inside with another couple and watched a 20 minute glass blowing demonstration. After we were guided through several rooms of very expensive, large pieces for purchase. That was fine although it was a very hard, aggressive sell. We politely and graciously viewed their merchandise and art with praise and appreciation. Ten minutes or so before we finished browsing and walked out, the "owner" had started his "script" on the next group and ditched us, not that we expected anything from him in the first place. Thinking nothing of it, we went on our way to the next few shops and an outdoor cafe before returning to the same dock to return to our hotel. Upon doing so, the same man was at the dock and after he overheard us talking to each other about whether or not this was our taxi back (because it was a different boat & driver), he rudely interrupted us, yelled that we left without saying goodbye (or allowing him to scam us) and that he pays for that boat, not the hotel, that we didn't buy anything from him and we should be lucky he didn't make us wait another hour for a different boat. We could've easily taken a vaporetto, 50 yards away. I don't know if there was an arrangement between him and our hotel but HIS TREATMENT OF US IS NOT THE WAY TO GET BUSINESS - IT WAS OUTRAGEOUS. I honestly think we were all in shock by his behavior, just stunned by the blatant rudeness of this business owner, expecting customers. Truly unbelievable. For a business, community, economy and or country that depends on tourists and visitors to survive, these people sure don't act like it. I STRONGLY SUGGEST YOU GO ELSEWHERE, THERE ARE MANY SHOPS WHO WILL APPRECIATE YOUR BUSINESS AND TREAT YOU ACCORDINGLY. His treatment toward us was an absolute disgrace and we've made that crystal clear to our hotel.