A few hours ago, I visited EB Games, a small computer/video game store fairly near my house. It is pretty small, but covered with games. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have a wide range of PC games, which are the only ones I can buy, since I have no video game system.
I mentioned once or twice that I had so little money on me that I probably wouldn’t buy anything, and indeed, I bought nothing. I asked the clerk there a few things about their merchandise, and was answered very nicely and helpfully. All I did was window-shop, but that was perfectly okay with him (the clerk there).
This was originally supposed to be just a pleasant OP in a thread that would probably never get off the ground; as it is, feel free to share your own experiences of this nature: having a perfectly delightful time shopping and getting nothing.
I don’t know if this is the type of thing you’re looking for but I constantly go shopping and end up walking out with nothing. Sometimes, it’s because I was an idiot and forgot my wallet, but a lot of the time it’s because I end up picking up much more than I intended to and as I start tallying up my total, I realize that there’s no way I can justify spending that much. I’ve spent a couple of hours in a store shopping away, only to come to that sad conclusion, and dutifully put everything away.
And the great thing is, it completely fills the shopping craving for me. Oh sure, at first I’m disappointed - having that really cool coffeemaker would have been fab - but by the time I’m in the car, I’m feeling much better for having stayed levelheaded, and at the same time I had the fun of going out and finding really neat things that I’d love to have.
Sounds like you either had a very nice clerk to deal with, or they were being sly - knowing that if they didn’t annoy you right out of the store, you’d be coming back some other time, money in hand. Seems they were effective, since you just gave that company a free ad here.
Small store-courtesy or vested interest?
It seems to be a bit of both. I suppose they are not mutually exclusive, now I stop to think of it. I know if I were the OP, I’d be thinking, “when I have money to buy a game, I shall deliberately use tht particular shop, because they are so nice”.
(Celyn HATES it when sho staff keep trying to sell one things. It is quite liekly to make me avod the shop in future, if staff try to force a sale.)
As for similar experiences, I have found that bookshops often tend to be pretty good that way.
EB Games (formerly Electronics Boutique) is the only place my daughter will go to buy games for her consoles because the clerks there actually take the time to give her customer service. There aren’t that many girl gamers I guess, and the Game Geeks that work in most of the other game stores around here pretty much ignore her when she walks in.
A vested interest but why is that wrong? “The customer is always right.” Money in hand or not. Stores (and all sellers of wares) who realize that create happy customers like dwalin.
There is a used game store I go into that likes that I’m a girl gamer. Another one, across town, treats me like dog shit unless I’m with my boyfriend. I don’t shop there.
The EB Games here in town is great, but has really high prices. Since I boycott the Best Buy across the street (as I used to work there and I’m unhappy with the way they treat their employees) I guess I pay higher prices or drive to KC for a different selection.
