Absolutely appalling service and attitude. I ask him to cut two keys and stamp each with the appropriate number. I asked him specifically and politely not to get the numbers wrong and on the wrong keys. After inspecting them outside the shop, he had stamped the wrong number on one key and I had to return it it be re-stamped. The stamp impressions were poor. Bob is a two-bit cobbler but is living under the distinct self image that he is a comedian live at the Apollo in his tiny little enclosure. I feel genuine pity for the man. I am a balding, age-worn, 51 year old man and he still patronisingly mistook me for a lad when I left the shop despite the fact that he wears spectacles.
I forgot to take a receipt for expenses so I returned the following day for my receipt. When I asked for a receipt, good old boy Bob refused point blank and insisted that I should have asked for one the previous day. His attitude was very serious and insistent. When I protested and assertingly insisted on the receipt he changed tack and laughed it off, basically accusing me of being too serious and uptight. He then produced a till receipt. The simple fact is that he changed tack (like he did with Morag in a previous posting) because I protested. If I had not done this, he would have refused to give me a receipt and let me walk out. I insisted that I would not be leaving the shop until I received a receipt. He tried to laugh off the whole thing and turn it into some kind misunderstanding between a jovial, laidback, life-enhancing cobbler versus an overearnest overserious customer. The previous day I had tried to open a friendly conversation with him about the ancient character of his occupation. He referred to his occupation as a pain in the ar#e. This is precisely the appropriate term for an experience at cobbler Bob's abode. My advice to shoppers is zero star, don't bother. It is not worth the hassle and a very poor service is rendered. There is a cobbler and keycutter around the corner on Ferensway. He's pleasant and helpful. My advice to Bob is just be a cobbler and do try to be yourself my old son. You don't have to be somebody you are not. The psychiatrists have a term for this abrupt, about turn, change of mind behaviour we find in characters like Bob. It is referred to as schizoid. It's rooted in inadequate parenting. I considered myself fortunate that the keys actually fitted the locks!! I got away lightly!! read more
