Does this ever happen to anybody???
- Thread starter compamac
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Well it is most likely that you are only 13 and this country is so youth focused and if you are over the age of 20 something you are discarded like yesterday's news. you see someone that is 49 who knows all there is to know about what ever it may be,, he could be a mathematician or she could be a pianist. He could be a pilot. and flew across the ocean in a pedal powered plane no one really notices, but a 12 year old can play a piano and all the world is a rage. It is not your fault just the society's fault. And the best time of life to me was at your age. I can't stand adulthood I hate it almost as much as I hate satan! Some people hate kids they really do and he don't like kids from what you describe. The thing is, is he is the jerk not you. If he means something to you ,, win him over. Offer to work for him for old cleaners and earn his respect. usually those are the kind of guys that will take you under their wing. I was the same way. I am not a vacuum expert and I am getting more into them,, I build console stereos and when I was a kid, I would ask questions and questions to where I pissed off most of the tv shops in my home town. then I met this other shop owner and got a job working for him, he was the crustiest person I met and I was afraid of him, I earned his respect and we became friends and I learned so much about stereos and that is where I learned about McIntosh amps and all. I worked for old stereo equipment and that was when I was your age. go to the guy and earn his respect. Old people sometimes hate kids,, that is just the way it is,, I am tired of the youth focus myself and I am only in my early 40s,, It is wrong and uncharitable , but at the same time God may be wanting you in his life to start liking kids. you never know. I hated kids myself then I was forced to get a job driving school buses and now my attitude is much more adjusted. I think you need to kill him with kindness. and put yourself in his shoes. trust me when you become 20 something 30 something life is going to really suck. take my word for it. I would give all I own to be 13 again. cause adulthood really sucks and that is putting it mildly.
vintagerepairer
Well-known member
I ran a shop for many years. I did not like minors coming in on their own as it left me open to all kinds of allegations. Thankfully, minors on their own were a rarity and I discouraged them from coming into my store. Had I worked on a market stall where there were many, many adults present at all times, I would have been much more comfortable, but I didn't, I had premises into which people visited me, alone.
The man in the vacuum shop in question here has, it seems, made it clear that the person writing the messages on this forum is not welcome on his own. Whatever the reasons or motivations behind it, the facts remain. He is giving off bad vibes. Is it not too much to pick up on this and leave him alone?
The man in the vacuum shop in question here has, it seems, made it clear that the person writing the messages on this forum is not welcome on his own. Whatever the reasons or motivations behind it, the facts remain. He is giving off bad vibes. Is it not too much to pick up on this and leave him alone?
It would be nice and charitable for the vac shop owner to nicely ask the OP to not come in without adults present. It would only be fair. It is a free country (well for now anyway) and he has the right to ask politely to request the OP not to come in by himself. I can understand that the risks and allegations with this litigation society we live in.
vintagerepairer
Well-known member
Nice or not
is all a matter of opinion, but the facts are that he's making someone feel unwelcome. The person feels sufficiently unwelcome to ask the question on here. No one has once suggested that the person who is not welcome should just stay away. The rights & wrongs can be debated to the end of time, it won't change the reality. If a dog shows his teeth to someone, the someone will back away if they have any sense.
is all a matter of opinion, but the facts are that he's making someone feel unwelcome. The person feels sufficiently unwelcome to ask the question on here. No one has once suggested that the person who is not welcome should just stay away. The rights & wrongs can be debated to the end of time, it won't change the reality. If a dog shows his teeth to someone, the someone will back away if they have any sense.
I agree with you, As I get older, If I was the 13 year old, I would tell the guy to stick his vacuums where the sun don't shine and to go pound salt and never darken his doorstop ever again. But I was just saying that sometimes people like that if you work at it can actually be a great person to know. I just at my age don't feel like putting in the time and effort as I would have when I was 13 and I learned so much from a guy just like this in stereo equipment when I was 14 and I won this guy over and it was a game for me more than anything. this guy the OP is talking about could be just a piece of dog dung, and yeah the OP should walk away.
vacuumman206
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jun 17, 2012
- Messages
- 355
I never reallly had that problem, because it was in my early-mid teen years that I was at the vacuum store sometimes 2-3x a week getting parts and asking questions, and because there are only 2 stores in my area, and 1 within biking distance, I always went/go to the same place. I have never been to a vac shop with a basement or a lot of room for graveyard vacs. Anytime I see a vac I like I ask him what it's in for, and if he says it's awaiting the customer's response on disposal, I know he'll give it to me it just takes a while, because he doesn't like throwing things away b/c he knows the moment he does the person who didn't return his phone calls for 6 months about their unfixable vacuum is going to walk through the door wanting it back.
Now the other vac store I can go to is full of it. The rare trip I got to make there when I was younger was similar to what you experience compamac. The only problem is sometimes they are the people with those hard-to-find parts, because they save everything, and have it stacked and packed neatly. But what I really don't like about them is if you inquire about something over the phone, they always say "oh it's hard to tell because (brand x) made so many of those models, so bring the machine in." I remember calling for an elite brushroll and they told me that. Yeah I know they made tons of models but they all took the same part!!! I shouldn't have even needed to give them a model number to find that brushroll. It's because they want the customers to bring their machines in so they can sell the customer something else, whether it be unnecessary service or a new machine. And that's why I won't frequent places like that unless absolutely necessary. Not to mention their rediculous prices for used parts, which probably came from machines they got for free.
Now the other vac store I can go to is full of it. The rare trip I got to make there when I was younger was similar to what you experience compamac. The only problem is sometimes they are the people with those hard-to-find parts, because they save everything, and have it stacked and packed neatly. But what I really don't like about them is if you inquire about something over the phone, they always say "oh it's hard to tell because (brand x) made so many of those models, so bring the machine in." I remember calling for an elite brushroll and they told me that. Yeah I know they made tons of models but they all took the same part!!! I shouldn't have even needed to give them a model number to find that brushroll. It's because they want the customers to bring their machines in so they can sell the customer something else, whether it be unnecessary service or a new machine. And that's why I won't frequent places like that unless absolutely necessary. Not to mention their rediculous prices for used parts, which probably came from machines they got for free.
hooverman2121
Well-known member
I agree with a few other posters here. Don't take it personally, I am 25 years of age but look about 16, so whenever I go into a private vacuum store, they'll usually ask me what I need and leave me alone.
Unfortunately in this world we live in now, people are usually more interested in making money than making someone happy. Working as a car salesperson for a year I learned that a lot of the salespeople usually are driven more by how a person looks than what they are really after. We had one guy come in who looked like he could be living on the streets (no offense to anyone) and he ended up buying a $43,000 Cadillac and has been a devoted customer to that dealership; turns out he's pretty affluent.
When I bought my Miele S8 Marin last month I actually went to two stores, and bought it from the one who had a slightly higher price but a much nicer customer atmosphere. I made two trips to each store, once alone and once with my mother, and they definitely treated me much better when my mother was there, even though I was the one buying the machine. If I find a store that has crappy customer service, I usually avoid it because it's obvious they don't want my business, so why should I pay them.
My friend also found that when talking to salespeople and telling them what he knows about vacuums, they tend to feel threatened and usually do not want to talk about the machines because they do not know much about them in the first place.
As others have said before, don't take it personally, most business people tend to be judgmental and are just trying to make a living.
Unfortunately in this world we live in now, people are usually more interested in making money than making someone happy. Working as a car salesperson for a year I learned that a lot of the salespeople usually are driven more by how a person looks than what they are really after. We had one guy come in who looked like he could be living on the streets (no offense to anyone) and he ended up buying a $43,000 Cadillac and has been a devoted customer to that dealership; turns out he's pretty affluent.
When I bought my Miele S8 Marin last month I actually went to two stores, and bought it from the one who had a slightly higher price but a much nicer customer atmosphere. I made two trips to each store, once alone and once with my mother, and they definitely treated me much better when my mother was there, even though I was the one buying the machine. If I find a store that has crappy customer service, I usually avoid it because it's obvious they don't want my business, so why should I pay them.
My friend also found that when talking to salespeople and telling them what he knows about vacuums, they tend to feel threatened and usually do not want to talk about the machines because they do not know much about them in the first place.
As others have said before, don't take it personally, most business people tend to be judgmental and are just trying to make a living.
ned_flanders
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 26, 2012
- Messages
- 129
I remember when I first started collecting and I brought a Kirby in from goodwill for a guy to look at. He wasn't that friendly, and if someone else walked in, he would give attention to them first...making me wait. He did give me a quote for free, but I passed on him. He probably has to waste time on people like me all the time. BUT because of that, I'm happy to buy bags and belts online, which probably isn't an option for you.
What bothers me is that you're actually giving the guy business. If he's being rude like that, he's obviously not hurting for business or expecting to stay open. If you are truly unhappy, find a way to get your vacuum needs taken care of some other way. I think Americans have come to accept bad customer service as 'just the way it is'. You must decide if you will accept that, or not. You should not have to win someone over.
I am definitely willing to pay a little more for good customer service, because it is a rarity.
What bothers me is that you're actually giving the guy business. If he's being rude like that, he's obviously not hurting for business or expecting to stay open. If you are truly unhappy, find a way to get your vacuum needs taken care of some other way. I think Americans have come to accept bad customer service as 'just the way it is'. You must decide if you will accept that, or not. You should not have to win someone over.
I am definitely willing to pay a little more for good customer service, because it is a rarity.
sebo_fan
Well-known member
If I was young now I'd just do a local review online of the company - I agree with VR - whilst it doesn't make business sense to have minors in a shop that sells vacuums - the owner should know better - especially in this day and age, no matter if they get a sale or not.
