Mean employies

[Anonymous]

I am a teen ager, and at my lhs i constatly get bad aditude from the employes. They asume that because i am a teen ager i am up to no good, and are going to steal or break things.
I have had some say:
'CAN I HELP YOU SON!!!"
"YOU LOOK WITH YOUR EYES NOT WITH YOUR HANDS!"

A while ago my friend was going to get started in model railroading, he was looking at a n-scale bachmann silver series set and was looking for a road name he liked. When he made his decicion, a store employ ran over and yelled "STOP MESSING UP MY TRAINS!!" so we left teh store, their loss not ours, the set was around $130(canadian)

There are other stores in town, with nice people, but they are farther, so i rarly get to go. (this will probaly change when i get my lisence soon)[:D] wich means i will rarely go to this place again.[:(!]

As for my friend, he purchased n-scale kato track, and an atlas engine the next year from a diferent place.

[AggroJones]

Yeah. There is a guy at the LHS who just doesn't like me, I guess. I don't know what his beef with me is about. He was shady when I was young, and he's shady now. [V]

[Anonymous]

Rude behavior from store employees is not acceptable, period.

I would hope this never happens to you again. However, if it should, respectfully state you meant to cause no harm. If a bad attitude persists, speak with someone in charge. It the manager happens to be the person with the lousy attitude, remind him (or her) that the hostility is unwarranted and that not only will you not support his business in the future, but that you'll encourage your friends not to do so either.

You could also return to the shop in question with either of your parents in tow to help establi***hat you're not trouble-makers, but rather teens who are truly interested in establishing a mutually benefical relationship because of your love of the hobby.

Hobby shops are few and far between in comparison to other businesses (such as clothing outlets) and many of them are struggling to keep the doors open. Treating people harshly is foolish and doesn't exactly endear the owner to potential new customers. For the record, you should also know that adults have had similar experiences; you're not alone.

Best of luck to you in the future.

[Anonymous]

I'll tell you - I have a looooooong memory.

When I was 14 or so, I ordered some Kadee couplers for some n-scale trains. What I didn't know (and the owner didn't tell me - and WASN'T stated in the catalog) was that they came 2 pair per envelope. So I accidentally ordered 2x what I needed. When they came in, and I didn't want to buy all of them, he gave me a hard time about it.

Keep in mind, we're probably talking about 5 or 7 envelopes of couplers. Pocket change for him - and he could sell them later anyway. But an appreciable amount for someone on a very, VERY tight budget.

This same guy had, on other occasions, ignored me, or up-sold me something I didn't need.

Suffice it to say - this is one of the largest hobby shops in the Chicago area, and I don't patronize him - and I'm 33 now!

Honestly, I don't think the "reasonable conversation" approach will work. Many people have their pre-conceived notions, and if you challenge that by trying to talk to them, you'll just get kicked out of the store.

Find a store where people are nice to you, and patronize them. They will remember the "young, well behaved kid who buys stuff". :)

Rob

[NevinW]

I think that this issue is more important to the question of why hobby shops are on the decline than any other. It isn't just teenagers, I too have been treated rudely and and have left many an hobby shop never to return. I have been in the hobby for over thirty years and have constantly been amazed by some of the things that go on in hobby shops. I travel frequently and try to visit a hobby shop in every city and I would say about 20-25% of the time it is an unplesant experience. The most amazing thing is people treating you like you are wasting their time or interupting their lunch for asking a question. Not surprizingly, when I return a year or two later to a city, it is common to find out that hobby shop has closed. No wonder so many people go through mail order. On the other hand, when I go to a good hobby shop like Caboose Hobbies in Denver the experience is aways very pleasant and I find that my willingness to spend considerable amounts of money in increased. AB Charles in Pittsburgh is a place where I am always treated nicely.

I think that if we are going to reverse the decline of interest in our hobby, the first thing that needs to be done by the "industry" is a crash course for hobby shops in how to treat people and marketing 101. Manners and shop organization wouldn't be a bad idea either. - Nevin

[Anonymous]

I don't remember myself but my dad has.

[sparkingbolt]

Yes, only once, and I was in my teens. The owner was busy talking with a sales rep or something. Trying to get his attention, I wanted to ask a quick question. He very sharply pointed out that I was interrupting. Only once cuz that was the last time I went there. They're gone now. Wonder why...

Even now, any store or business only gets one chance to be rude. Dan

[Anonymous]

nope never the guys at my LHS treat very good cuase i've shopped their for most of my life. They all know me by name.

[Eriediamond]

t3488g and other young people, To set the stage for this, I'm in my middle 60's and about a year ago traveled to Kentucky to visit our niece, who's husband was over in Iraq. She took me to the local hobby shop there, as she knew I was a model railroader. Upon entering the shop we realized it was geared more for the R/C car crowd but carried a little (very little) of anything else. No problem there, probabley very few train people in that town and he was catering to the R/C car people. The owner and his wife were the only ones there running the shop. He greeted us with a "good morning" when we entered and quickly went back to reading a magazine as we walked the isles looking for train things. The most conversation I got out of him was four words (we don't carry that). No offer to help us was given and quite frankly, we got the impression we were actually intruding by being there. Needless to say we promptly left with no purchases. I wrote this to show the youger people (I hate the term "teenager") that we older poeple get the cold shoulder also. Now, lets turn the paper over and look at the hobbyshops view of things for a second. Before I start, I want you to realize several things here. I don't know you personally and my comments are not aimed at you in that context and my next few comments my anger some here but thats not my intention, since it may not even apply to you. With each generation, there comes changes. Some are in the form of language, some fashion and some attitudes. My generation went through it with our 6" cuff in or jeans, and cigarettes rolled up in our white t-shirt sleeves, cool guys wrere called cats and the gals were called dames. Now days it seems the trend is still jeans but about ten sizes to big, there is competition for the guys to see how many tattoes they can get nad how many thins they can get stuck in there bodies. The language has changed which, if used here would get quikely edited. Now does all this make a young person bad? Not necessarily, but like us back in the 50's it gives the impression of someone on the shadey side to say the least. Sadley some older people may have had a bad experience with someone like that and put all teens in that catagory as wrong as it may be. Observe what walks the halls of our malls on Friday or Saturday nights and the language they use. Again, sadley all teens get put into this catagory. With this said maybe some ( I said some) shop owners immediatly go in a defense type mode when teens enter there shop. Iv'e learned not to judge a book by it's cover but still catch myself sometimes doing that. Today's young people are largly good and bright, smart young adults growing up in a world that is, I believe, too quik to judge. Like I said at the beginning (gee, that was a ways back), I'm in my middle 60's, still wear jeans, t-shirts now have pockets for my cigarets, still wear my black leather jacket, and also still ride my Harley dresser. This book was written in defense of the younger people and maybe shed a little light on the "why's" of some shop owners. Oh yeh, still get the looks and opinions that I'm a Hells Angel out to terrorize the public!! Not so, just a cool cat out enjoying life. [(-D][(-D]

[Anonymous]

The two closest hobby shops to me are very kind and helpful. There is a hobby shop in a city near by that I hate going to. They are rude and lazy but they are the only place I have to go to find certain parts. My not going there won't hurt them any and I don't know anyone else around to suggest not going there. I'm 29 years old and I get alot of the treatment that has been stated above.

I went there to get some decals and instead of them looking to see if they had them he tosed a catalog and a form for me to order. I live 45 miles from that hobby shop and gas prices are not getting any cheaper. So I decided I could live without the decals for now. I am getting sick of the holier than thou attitude from these people, but what do you do?

Thanks,
Jeremy

[Anonymous]

I've never had a LHS guy be mean to me, but there was this guy at a train show. I was holding one of his locomotives and he almost jumped at me when he saw me, "YOU PUT THAT DOWN, KID!!!!!!!" I'm like "ok, sorrrrry". Then he pointed out I was holding it wrong, blah blah blah. Man, he was a jerk.

[Anonymous]

ive never had a problem with my local hobby shop, he, and his wife run it and they are always very pleasnt people. i only visit the shop maybe once a year, but its always a good experience, and i have recomended it to many people

[Anonymous]

I know what you mean...Im also a teenager and the guys at the hobby store never take their eyes off you...which hobby stores have you had trouble with...you mentioned canadian prices and maybe ive visited or shopped at these stores.

in response to the other post about the term teenager...I understand this kind of stuff happens to older people to but in this hobby shop I go to they are always so helpful and curteous to others...except me

[preceng]

Once. To get even, I took a product to the counter (most effective when the owner is there) and asked him if they know any on-line stores that carry "this".

[Hawks05]

i haven't had a problem yet. the 2 that i go to treat me very nicely. i think part of it is because my mom is usually with me and she is talking to the people working.

all the places i go to see to be very helpful and aren't very mean people.

[Anonymous]

I have had no problems with either of my two LHS'.

I'm not a "browser". I go in with a list of what I want, usually including the Walthers number, and let them find the items for me. Those not in stock they order. While they are compiling, I go through the back issues of the train magazines looking for ideas.

Once in a while, the clerk will ask what the materials are for and we strike up a conversation. All very pleasent and painless. I've gotten several bits of information and useful modeling tips as a result.

Sensibly, both shops keep the highend RTR and brass in well-lit display cases convenient to LOOK AT. Potential buyers can examine items by asking.

Randy

[Anonymous]

I suppose that I have yet to meet a hobby shop staff that mistreated me. Keep in mind that where I was raised there were many LHS's back in the 70's and 80's.. a rule was you drop it you buy it.

Therefore my father was always with me and the staffs apparently realized that there would be no problems even if I disappeared behind the Blue box and roundhouse kits. Now that I am a bit older, I enjoy the services of Hobby Stores nearby and have yet to meet a grouch. Occasionally they would be steaming about something that poped up before I walked in the door but would quickly assure me that I have no problems there.

The best chance of meeting grouches is at Train meets and shows. I find it amazing how occasionally there is a dealer who is always in a bad mood and glowers at everyone at his or her table while peeking over a newspaper and coffee; daring even one to pick up a item or ask a question. I like to walk up, pick out a item and ask questions about it after a "Sunny" greeting. Eventually they get up and deal with the situation with short and shorter answers. See if I buy that item =(

Now what is amazing to me is that occasionally you enter a store (any store mall or whatever) and find a disgrungled crew eyeing the clock, yaking on the phone or worse in the back while small items walk out the front. We have had repeated situations that we are going to get a specific item and wanted to ask questions and examine it... the cold shoulder usually kills the potential sale on the spot.

This is more common in the North east and down into some areas of the midwest. More so in urban areas (with a few exceptions) and less so in rural areas that do not experience the problems created by a "Undisciplined" younger generation.

I realize this thread will have advocates and naysayers fromm all thru the hobby. I encourage any young folks who are in the hobby store to greet the staff with eye contact and a list of wanted things in hand. Sometimes a display of willingness to do some buying of specific items over several visits may warm them up to you.

One of the issues that has been unspoken is Spray Paints. Some children use these products to get "High" and it is easy to either steal the item or actually consume it on the spot. A few stores in areas with high rates of inhalent abuse probably will be even less inclined to do business with children. Try to seek out a good store and establish a relationship. It may take several visits.

I realize this has turned into a "editorial" and a [soapbox] but these issues must be faced head on and dealt with so that the Hobby may be better for it.

Good Luck on your next visit!

Lee

[CP5415]

My LHS has never had or given ill word to me, but there is one in Toronto, on Mt Pleasant, that told me that they had a certain product in stock, so I drive an hour into Toronto to find out that they've been out of stock for a week.
MAN THAT [censored] me off!! [banghead] STUPID [soapbox]s
Needless to say I haven't been back to that shop since & probably won't again.

Gordon [:)]

[Fergmiester]

QUOTE: Originally posted by CP5415

My LHS has never had or given ill word to me, but there is one in Toronto, on Mt Pleasant, that told me that they had a certain product in stock, so I drive an hour into Toronto to find out that they've been out of stock for a week.
MAN THAT [censored] me off!! [banghead] STUPID [soapbox]s
Needless to say I haven't been back to that shop since & probably won't again.

Gordon [:)]

That's a shame as that use to be one of my favourite LHS's when I was growing up. Personally I have the "One Chance" rule, where everyone is allowed one chance, you politely inform the person why you're [censored][censored], see what reaction you get and if they haven't royaly [censored][censored] you, then you give them another chance.

As we all know we all (say it's not so) make mistakes. To date Home Despot, Crappy Tire (one particular store), two restarants and a couple of others have not had the opportunity of taking my money.

[AntonioFP45]

I have had three rude encounters within a 20 year period that I remember. So that's not too bad. One encounter was at a train show in Sarasota, Florida where a man selling his used rolling stock would yell out a price to you and tell you to leave if you wanted to bargain. Obnoxious!

One suggestion to our young people that usually worked for me when I was in my teens. When you walk in to a shop just say hi to someone behind the counter, even if you just want to browse. Most of the time, you'll get a friendly response. Not excusing rudeness from shop reps, but some of them are automatically "on their guard" due to theft and crime. When a rep has been rude to me, I've usually smiled and before I turn to leave I say in a mellow tone: "You know I'm sorry if I'm irritating you, but I was planning on spending my $100 hobby budget on HO freight cars. I'll get out of your hair."

On one of those occasions, I was suddenly treated very "respectfully".

This is the exception as 99% of the time my experiences are positive.

[dave9999]

If anyone is ever in Pensacola, stop in at Bobe's Hobby House and talk to John. If there's ever a " Hobby shop
employee of the year contest " he'll get my vote. He is knowledgeable and more than willing to help. And if you
want to just shoot the *** about trains, he's your man. He has solve many problems for me. And if they don't have something, he will GLADLY order it. He saved me some money on my Digitrax Zephyr. And when i was
eyeballing my Allegeny, he said he would sell it to me for A LOT less than list. And when Nancy went in to get
it for my Christmas present, he knocked off even more. As for the rest of the employees, all very nice people.
They always greet me with a great attitude.

There is also another shop in town that is focused only on trains. They have a wider selection, I should say
huge selection. But I dont always get that "pensonal, glad to see you feeling" when I visit that store, although
they are very knowledgeable and helpful as well. Dave

[BRAKIE]

No,I haven't really beem mistreated..You see the hobby shops owners that know me know I look with my eyes and hands and they don't know if I will be spending $10.00 or $100.00 on this visit so they more or less let me look over their stock..Not to brag but Saturday I was at a local hobby shop and was looking over the Atlas,Walthers Athearn RTR cars..I went for decals and paint and ended up buying $108.52 worth of paint,decals and cars..Would you be rude to a customer like me? [}:)] After I will drive to other shops and get want I want and need there.[}:)]

[Anonymous]

I've never met anyone mean, really, but even worse to me are those guys who know it all, and want you to know it. When you ask them something, they roll their eyes or give a short little laugh, then talk down to you.

mike

[vsmith]

When I was younger I had a bad experience at a LHS that is no longer in business, owner retired. Something about my kitbashed engines being not being up to NMRA master craftsman specifications, and a rather insulting comment about that. That was then and in the past.

Today i find myself being very careful about saying waht I model and what I buy. Its like if I even mention a product they (various LHS's) dont carry, they get downright ruffled! I do large scale, which means that the number of stores are few, and they tend to specialize in one brand or another. I was in my LHS, which is primarily HO and N, but they carry LGB and some detail parts. I was looking for Trackside Detail or Precision Parts foran Aristo-Craft engine i was building a backhead for, as soon as I mentioned this stuff was going on an Aristo engine one of the sales rep's got visably flustered, as if I'd called his wife a bad name! I've also learned NEVER say the phrase "I got it on E-bay" in a hobby shop unless you want to get chased out by the angry villagers with torches and pitchforks!

I've never understood why LHS owners and salespersons have this attitude that if you buy something from anyone other than them, or any product other than what they sell, or if your NOT interested in that $1000 locomotive they really want to sell you but you wanted something around $100, they treat you like some kind of low-life undeserving of their service. I'm there to spend money, that should be enough to warrant a certain level of service. Granted I do pretty well at the LHS now.

[Anonymous]

This has probably been beat to death, but I have had similar experiences (although they were never at a hobby shop). Here in Utah there are only 2 good train shows...and there is never anything new and exciting at one of them. The same old people with the same old module layouts. The guys in one group are VERY unapproachable. They make it clear that they are there to play with their trains and don't want to talk to anyone about them (at least thats my experience).

I'm not a kid anymore, at least I don't feel like one! I'm 25 and it drives me crazy to go to these shows and get the cold shoulder from these guys. I've even stopped going to one of the shows. I've kinda lost the romanticism of model railroading, after years of the same treatment. It's just no fun to be treated like a idiot.

I wi***here was a informal club around here, but I have yet to find one. I don't want to have anything to do with most of the guys here...however if there is anyone out there that feels as I do, let me know!

Thanks guys and good luck in your travels...

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Fergmiester

QUOTE: Originally posted by CP5415

My LHS has never had or given ill word to me, but there is one in Toronto, on Mt Pleasant, that told me that they had a certain product in stock, so I drive an hour into Toronto to find out that they've been out of stock for a week.
MAN THAT [censored] me off!! [banghead] STUPID [soapbox]s
Needless to say I haven't been back to that shop since & probably won't again.

Gordon [:)]

That's a shame as that use to be one of my favourite LHS's when I was growing up. Personally I have the "One Chance" rule, where everyone is allowed one chance, you politely inform the person why you're [censored][censored], see what reaction you get and if they haven't royaly [censored][censored] you, then you give them another chance.

As we all know we all (say it's not so) make mistakes. To date Home Despot, Crappy Tire (one particular store), two restarants and a couple of others have not had the opportunity of taking my money.

Ya I know the one you guys are talking about and thats the one that I mentioned earlier....I like Credit Valley much more plus they have a way better selection...its worth the drive to streetsville. Which store do you guys prefer in the GTA?

[CP5415]

My local haunt is Horizon Hobbies in Whitby.
I've never been to Credit Valley, too far for me to go.
If Bob doesn't have it, I order it.
If he can't get it, I'll wait.

Gordon

[Anonymous]

My favorite hobby shop is Sky Sport Hobbies in Salem, OR. I have shopped their since I was a small Train-Master and they have always been kind and courteous to me.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by vsmith

When I was younger I had a bad experience at a LHS that is no longer in business, owner retired. Something about my kitbashed engines being not being up to NMRA master craftsman specifications, and a rather insulting comment about that. That was then and in the past.

Today i find myself being very careful about saying waht I model and what I buy. Its like if I even mention a product they (various LHS's) dont carry, they get downright ruffled! I do large scale, which means that the number of stores are few, and they tend to specialize in one brand or another. I was in my LHS, which is primarily HO and N, but they carry LGB and some detail parts. I was looking for Trackside Detail or Precision Parts foran Aristo-Craft engine i was building a backhead for, as soon as I mentioned this stuff was going on an Aristo engine one of the sales rep's got visably flustered, as if I'd called his wife a bad name! I've also learned NEVER say the phrase "I got it on E-bay" in a hobby shop unless you want to get chased out by the angry villagers with torches and pitchforks!

I've never understood why LHS owners and salespersons have this attitude that if you buy something from anyone other than them, or any product other than what they sell, or if your NOT interested in that $1000 locomotive they really want to sell you but you wanted something around $100, they treat you like some kind of low-life undeserving of their service. I'm there to spend money, that should be enough to warrant a certain level of service. Granted I do pretty well at the LHS now.

Funny story on a related note--my primary LHS is closed on Sunday's but another shop was open on Sunday, I had the day off so I figured I'd check it out. Who do I run into there? A clerk from the store which was closed on Sunday!!! We acted like each other had Typhoid and to this day neither of us have ever mentioned that encounter!!!

[Anonymous]

This hobby store snobbiness is a total mystery to me. I don't understand why (some) hobby shop people act this way.

As a kid, I'd often feel like I was treated like a silly little kid who didn't know anything. Now, at 29, I recently went into a hobby shop and couldn't find their Athearn stock. I asked where their Athearn locomotives were. The guy replied, "well, what do you want?". He was totally irritated.

Then he proceeded to tell me in a totally talking down manner, "Our cheap plastic locomotives are over here..." - referring to $100 plastic locomotives, then finally to the blue box Athearns.

After approaching the counter with about $90 worth of stuff, I asked for a kadee coupler height gauge. He nearly threw a tantrum for making him look for it (he was quite dissapointed that I didn't know the kadee part number off hand).

In the shop's defense, another guy behind the counter was looking at me in an apologetic way, as if to say, "sorry... we don't like him any more than you do..."

Great shop, bad employee.

No offense to anyone out there, but I think some, and yes I said *some* of these super duper die hard model railroaders have no life, and act like you're nothing if you're not dumping half your salary into model railroading like they are.

The very next weekend I had a totally pleasurable experience at another shop - where it was as if the owner just wanted to chat model railroading all day with me. He just got a returning customer for sure.