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[quote user="jsoderq"] Formerly a hobby shop manager, I will make a case for the other side. First, YOU were not the customer, so "the customer is always right" does not apply. Second, much as you may believe in your own expertise, you are not always right. This is a real problem with  some model railroaders who think they are experts in the hobby. Unless you know the shop owner well, it is never proper to stick your nose in his business. Unfortunately in model railroading, many think they must have the latest and greatest which is not always the case. Many times "butt-in customers" will extole the virtues of "x, y, or z" when such is not required for the actual customer. Upgrading a beginner to Red Caboose kits may well not be in the best interest of the customer. You might be surprised at how many times that actually happens. In fact, this seems to be a fatal flaw in model railroading, that so many are "experts". Remember, in any situation, "your mileage may vary".  Things do not always have to be "your way or the highway".As for as " so and so does the trains" it is often the case that a certain employee has knowledge in a certain area, and rather than disseminate wrong information, it is better to leave  the opportunity to the person  with the proper knowledge. In fact many shop employees are put to work because they are quite knowledgeable in certain areas. You would not want to buy a new car from the janitor of a car dealership. As far as mentioning the car dealership, try sticking your nose in a transaction there and see how fast you are given the "bum's rush" or another salesman will  leap in to separate you from the real customer. In any business, it is never proper to butt in.While I agree the situation seems harsh, think of the other side. Try butting in the preacher's sermon on Sunday, or giving advice to a doctor who is consulting with a patient.[/quote]Don't matter what side of the counter you're on. I've worked in quite a few service jobs myself and was part owner of a contract cleaning service and I can tell ya acting like that will get you into one of several scenarios running the gamut in unplesantness. At best the customer will never come back, at medium you'll get sued, at worst you may have just found someone about to go triple postal and will come back and splatter your guts allover the floor with a pump action Mossberg. If you wish to deal with the public, engage patience. In the words of Sun Tzu "Choose your battles wisely and choose only battles you can win" because in reality you can't win them all and sometimes victory may be a pyrrhic victory. Trust me I've dealt with plenty of people who make me want to punch the wall or rip my hair out and call them every profanity or applicable ethnic slur in the book too. Sometimes you have to hold your tongue in life.
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