No, seriously! I make a difference when it comes to the purchases
of people who come into the violin shop. Why? I think it's because I don't only
sell the instruments. I also play a role in repairing them.
In Looking
Backward, I totally agree that, "It was the principal business of clerks
to help people to make their selection in my day." That is the role that I
play. Now, the idea that my role can be replaced by a note card is a load of
crap.
Let me tell you
the story of scary fireman guy. For convenience, I shall call him SFG. I
was standing behind the counter at work when this tall guy walks in and says to
me, "I want to buy a cello."
I smiled, mainly
because I didn't want him to hulk out and break my spine with his teeth.
"No problem.
Is there a price range you were aiming for?"
"Price
range?" He sputters and he turns a bit pink.
"Yes, we have
cellos starting at $800 and ranging up towards $10,000." I pull out my
price book and wait.
"$800- I'm
not buying my kid an $800 piece of shit wood!"
"Uhh..."
I really had nothing to say to that. He started turning purple-ly and
I rushed right to rentals.
"I'm sorry, I
was under the impression that the instrument was for you. We do have rental
instruments in fractional sizes for students. How old is your child?"
He goes a back to
pink and in walks his kids and wife. I go through the rental program and blah
blah blah. Then he starts thinking that our maintenance and insurance system is
a scam.
"Both are
optional, of course. I just super recommend it because your kid is in
middle school and kids use bows as swords and drop kick cellos for
laughs." I totally don't say that to his face but I say roughly the same
thing.
I show him a list
of repair costs and times. He gets mad but his wife accepts the insurance and
they leave.
Guess what, they
were in two weeks later with a broken bow that they didn't have to pay for
BECAUSE THEY GOT THE INSURANCE THAT I RECOMMENDED TO THEM! IT'S NOT EVEN
HELPFUL TO MY COMPANY BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO FIX THE DAMN THING!
Okay, screaming
aside I was dead helpful. And not for commission reasons or anything.
I know people think, "Oh that's cause you work in a small business."
Okay, that might be kinda true but how many times have you gone to a bookstore
and they scan coupons for you when you don't have them. I've been to large
company arts stores and they always give me the discounts that apply. I really
don't think that clerks are out there to screw everybody. I've gotten more help
from live clerks than the back of a box every time.
So I don't think
that Utopia can exist without clerks. I know this seems pretty petty but it's a
big thing. I know much more about violins, violas, cellos,
basic carpentry, power tools, financial math, people skills, medicine, and
animal care. Seriously, all from being a clerk at a violin store. By removing
the occupation of being a clerk from the public you remove
learning opportunities. We all know how I feel about the loss of learning.
It makes me cringe inside. And outside.
Also, totally removes the only incentive I have to go shopping. I
hate just getting things. Tell me about it, give me the specs even if you think
I don’t understand. I want to see people talk about things they like, make, or
just know about. This got personal and strange. I’m just gonna stop here.
Here's an awesome video about minecraft!
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