Hi everybody. Let�s end the vendor thread. I was a vendor in bicycles � and
finally realized I had to leave retail when I started referring to my
customers as �the vermin customers.�
Sadly, most people have NO idea how hard it is to run a business or even a
clue at all about retail, business or capitalism. Markups? You mean you sell
it for more than you paid for it?
The customer is NOT always right. I told one fellow to never come back and
if he had any friends to tell them not to come either. You�d be amazed at
what people want �warrantied� � just thinking about retail and dealing with
vermin . . . err . . . I mean customers makes me apoplectic. A lot of it has
to do with your customer base � I was dealing with customers in the �Happy
Valley� (Amherst, MA area). Lots of ex hippies, hippie wannabees and general
malcontents. An example would be one baked trustafarian who droned on for
about an hour and  half while I worked and he was asking about different
derailleurs for his bike. When he finally wore himself and everybody else in
earshot out he said �well I can get that for 20% less from Bike Nashbar� and
left.  Imagine my surprise when he showed up a month or so later with the
same derailleur we were talking about � now in his hand and a mangled piece
of fecality. Why was he coming to my shop? To have it warrantied by us, or
so he thought . . . (that sizzling sound you now hear is my brain
overheating again).
Bicycle business on Cape Cod was a different story � loads of happy
customers, friendly people (which you would NOT expect in a tourist trap
area).
So, folks, let's cut the vendors some slack.