I’ve never been particularly tempted to try turning a leisure pursuit into a living, and part of the reason is that I’ve never known a cheerful hobby shop owner.
I think the guys who were cheerful in their pre-hobby shop lives must be the ones who bottom out at a sort of deliberate numbness. Our local R/C shop guy will get there, and one moment sir, and I’ll probably have to order that, and you’ll get what you’re after eventually. Don’t look for a smile, though.
On the other hand, I think the guys who already had anything of a tendency toward grouchiness can become openly hostile. We’ve got a local model railroading guy who gets irritated when he knows more than you do about what you’re looking for. He’s a mutterer, too. My supplier this. My delivery guy that.
Certainly the business side strips a lot of the romance from it, and I figure it’s resentment of the lost pleasure manifesting itself. It must be a strong force, too. In the age of the Internet, customer service is a primary distinguisher.
It really doesn’t bother me much, but it definitely makes me not want a hobby shop.
Possibly related posts (automatically generated):
- Marine aquarium is back up The boys and I went to The Aquarium Shop on Sunday. I was thinking I’d get five small (<1″) damsels to cycle my aquarium before...
- Tamiya disappoints me right out of the chute Last year Nathan got interested in radio control cars, and said interest happened to coincide with a good time for him to get a little...
- 2008 I haven’t felt any pressure to be out doing something fabulous on New Year’s Eve in several years. I guess the best time I ever...
- Maybe next year, Big Spring Jam Last night we decided we weren’t going to attend the Big Spring Jam this year. It was a tough call. The Big Spring Jam is...
- This is the post that bitches about Wal-Mart This will not be a spittle-laden rant full of breathless claims about how Wal-Mart is raping the world and destroying the merkin way of life,...
Recent Comments