Won't be coming back here...
One of the things that I really hate about Hobby Shops, Game Stores, etc. is the fact that you get the Owner/Counter Monkey that essentially has no customer service skills, or gets so involved in his conversation with a buddy that he ignores everything else happening.
Honestly I have been in some stores where the counter monkey and his fanboy buddy are so involved in whatever they are chatting about, that you could run the German 7th Panzer Division through the shop (with accompanying infantry and Stuka Dive Bombers), and they wouldn't notice.
And sadly enough, this seems to be one of those places.
I'm going to let you know. I've been to this shop twice.
Both times were bad experiences, but yesterday made up my mind to say "screw it" and do my business elsewhere.
Now before you rip into my lily white butt about "Well you should try working in one of these stores for a while and see!", I'll have you know that I HAVE worked in the stores before.
I believe in a certain base customer service level: And that goes like this.
1: Customer comes in.
2: Customer is greeted/acknowledged by the owner/counter monkey/store help.
3: Customer is asked if they are looking for something, or if they can be helped assisted in any way.
4: If customer says "Yes", then they are helped/assisted however they are needed.
5: If customer says "No", then let customer know where you are and that you will be happy to help them if needed.
Really folks it's not that hard.
So....
With all that being said, I was at the store yesterday.
I had money to spend.
I wanted to buy some blended turf, clear plastic glazing for windows and some O-scale stuff to do some buildings I am working on.
I walk in.
Owner is sitting behind the main counter (We'll call him "Bob") chatting with his buddy (we'll call him "Larry").
Larry has bought an item. It's in his hand with the receipt.
Larry is just leaning on the counter talking "stuff" with Bob.
I walked in and started looking at the HO stuff on the wall, looking for the O scale.
Bob doesn't say anything.
Bob is too busy talking to Larry.
Larry glances over at me and goes back to talking to Bob.
Bob ignores me.
I walk over to the model section and look at his selection, actively pulling some items out and checking their scale and prices.
Bob ignores me.
I walk around to the groundwork section, actively searching for blended turf, (The didn't have any).
By now it's obvious that I am actually looking for things.
Bob ignores me and keeps talking.
I walked DIRECTLY PAST BOB AND LARRY CHATTING AT THE EFF'ING COUNTER, and head over to where I think the O scale stuff is, and the construction plastic.
I find the O Scale stuff. (Not much of it).
Bob ignores me.
Larry leaves.
I'm still looking for items.
Bob ignores me. Looks on his computer, then goes to his phone and starts making calls.
At this time I said "Eff it."
I slowly walked by the counter to see if Bob was going to say something, (trying really hard to give him that chance to make a save and help out and MAKE A FREAKING SALE).
Bob ignores me.
So I leave.
Bob lost out on a current potential sale, AND any and all future sales because he simply couldn't be bothered to help a customer.
Honestly? This is ONE of the major reasons why B&M shops like this are closing their doors. I can sit on my butt, order what I want online and not have to be frustrated by the "Bobs" that work in these stores that are clueless to this thing called "Customer Service".
Thanks Train Central! You lost my business..... read more