Is it just me or....
Is it? Or is it everybody? This is the question I ask myself everytime I go into a retail establishment to spend my well earned money. Or, to give the shopkeeper a living. Yesterday my wife and i were going about the town and looking at this and that. We went into a store, one of the larger, better known stores, with the aim of purchasing. I was looking for a hat. We were in the men's department and I had a quick look round to see if there were any on display. I couldn't see any so the obvious thing to do is go up to the counter and ask the sales assistant. He was standing behind the counter talking to one of the female assistants. And talking. And talking. And talking...... He knew I was there. He looked at me. He went on talking. Was it me I thought. Do I look the sort of person that isn't good enough to spend my money in this store. this is the way he made me feel. I was just about to leave when he turned to me and asked me if he could be of any help. i felt like saying to him.'Yes matey, feck off and get a new job ib the sewers. You are obviously not suited for this work'. I didn't of course. I am not like that. I put my question to him about the hats, as in , do they sell any. No was the reply. Fine. And I walked off. I heard him start talking again.
In my day of retailing, if I had been caught out like that and it was reported. That would be me out of a job. Even when I had my own retail outlet, I would always have recognised the customer no matter what I was doing. It was the way I was trained all those years ago.
That was yesterday. today, something similar happened. i was in a book shop. I was looking for a particular computer book. I managed to get hold of a young assistant. I put my question to him. The answer. 'If it isn't on the shelf we don't have it'. No, 'hold on a minute, we might have one in the store' or 'there is a copy on this shelf'. No help, no interest, no nothing, no sale. I went home and ordered online and got the book cheaper, and, not only that, I ordered another book as well. Score = Shop = nil / Online = £25.00. just think. If that happened to a shop 10 times a day and that was added up over a trading year, that makes a total loss of approx. £90,000.00 per annum. That is a lot of book sales lost through the shops staff showing no interest. No wonder I like to shop in the independents, what little are left
My wife and I have just booked our summer holiday. we are off to Italy. Sorento to be precise. I am looking forward to it as I want to see Pompei and Vesuvius and all the other great attractions. My wife is looking forward to it so she can buy yet more handbags and other things that she already has. Bless. I must check the passports. Make sure that they are up to date.
Well, must go and look my shorts out. (me in shorts, what a sight)
Cheers
Posted :: Saturday 7/14/2007 7:14:00 AM
Bang your drum loud
Yes folks. It is that time of year again. The 3 B's Bonnies, bands and of course big drums. Or, another excuse to get pissed all because of heritage and/or culture. Of course there are some people who really care about their history / culture, but I think as the years advance there are fewer and fewer. Education isn't what it used to be. not by a long march, sorry, parade, walk, chance.
Onto more recent events. The gang got together again last week. Same as we did this time last year, only this year is the 36th since we all left town. Maybe in 300 years people will be having their own 3 b's in our honor. Booze, beer & booze. Who knows, who cares. Anyway, we found ourselves in my local bar and another old, sorry, long time friend comes in. He sits with us and we are chatting. All of a sudden this mate says we should try another bar at the other end of town. thats where a lot of the old crowd drink. We did, they do, we all had a bloody good time. Mr Smirnoff certainly has a lot to answer for. We had many drinks. I tried to pace myself by having coffee instead of a round every here and there. It seemed to help as I was the one who could walk on the footpath in a straight and dignified manner. not like a certain one who walked on both footpaths at the same time in a very undignified manner. We made it back to town and ended up back at my local. We heard that there was live music in the pub next door. So I went in to find out the details. Came back and we waited , with drinks, until time to go next door. Got our table, got more drinks and waited. One of the guys wanted to go on home. I think he had had enough for the day. After all, he nearly a year older than me so we let him go with an understanding wave. We might end up like him one day. Then, only 3/4 of an hour late, the band came on and started playing. Really good soul music. I was really getting into it. My friend was getting into it even more. So much more that he got himself up onto the dance floor and gave us all a lesson in sweet soul dancing. The big problem was. The bar we were in had an average age of about 21. My friend was giving them a demonstration of soul dancing that was at least 35 years old. Never mind. He was happy. i left him to it and went home myself.
Next morning my friend arrives at my house. He was staying round the corner from me at his mothers. He was sober as a judge and ready to go again. He also told us that his mother wasn't speaking to him. he had been told off just like a little boy. imagine. A member of SAGA being scolded by his mother.
Another BBQ in the offing. This time it will be a quadruple leaving / triple birthday BBQ. Can anyone beat that? This time I will buy some gas for the BBQ
Ta ta for now
Posted :: Sunday 7/8/2007 5:11:00 AM
