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I am a Peasant. I am allowed to spend a certain amount each month on the hobby. I dont really have troubles in the local stores in my area. I am treated well and it is no problem to go thru everything examining what is recently new to the stock and sometimes choosing what to buy. There are people who have alot of money come to the store from time to time. They are taken care of the same way I am. To these storekeepers a customer is a customer. A 10 dollar customer is just as good as the 1000 dollar one. Now what I sometimes see is the loud and demanding jerks come in expecting to be waited on hand and foot and answering questions that reveals trade secrets etc... that wont work here in Arkansas. There is more than enough customer base to support a great deal of business in both of my local hobby shops and if you just wanted to browse for a hour or two and maybe inquire about a upcoming release they are happy to help you. Because you may feel that you are "Respected" as a customer and will come back at a later date to spend money. Again it does not matter if it is 2 dollars or 100-. I have seen some stores around the country that has adopted a sort of a arisocratic attitude. You would walk in and there is no acknoledgement of your presence. Indeed you are instantly noticed as a "Outsider" and a possible problem. If you were to pull a wallet out and flash 1000- maybe the atmosphere will warm up. Otherwise, you are followed everywhere. These stores dont get a repeat visit from me. Other times I have walked into hobby stores and we have several people hanging about favorite spots arguring the difference between a Alco or EMD. These debates are heated, long and loud usually involving everyone inside the store. They are not there to shop but actually enjoy talking trains and possibly helping others who have a train related problem. These are the stores I definately want to visit again. Because they usually have the good stuff. I recall a store in Gettysburg called "Gilbert's" it was a unassuming store and once you elbowed your way in and was confronted with floor to ceiling shelves crammed with everything... it is sometimes overwhelming. Eventually the owner would discover you hovering at the front door debating if want to continue deeper into the malestrom of models and detail parts etc the booming greeting and handshake dispels that fear rather quickly. You could name the most obscure lost wax superdetail part that has been OOP for 20 years and he would go straight to the proper drawer stacked onto other drawers bulging with yellowed bags (Age) holding the part you asked for. ".75 cents and will that be all?" usually it is not as you realize that you are in paradise and want to discover what else could be lurking that may be the "Must have" item for your layout. That store is no longer there. I think the greater horror would be that people will no longer open and maintain "Hobby shops" 20 years from now. To me that would be very horrifying.
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