The Record Store Guy dilemma

Discussion
1

Anyone here ever met any of these in real life…?

[image]http://media.sdreader.com/img/blogs/entry_img/2011/Jul/26/2005049_t620.gif?fbf2daa044e08a86b24c9c38cd7501865a0e2373[/image]

Y’know the ones…snooty, rude comic book / record store / book store boffins, dispensing his (or her) anti social unpleasantries from the safety of his (or her) chair behind the counter where he (or she) is king (or queen) and the rest of us are just unworthy peasants?? A world where the unsuspecting customer is subject to a tirade of smug yet subtle put downs and indifference and general horrific service for the crime of merely asking a “stupid” question or daring to start a conversation about an item that is being purchased??

Sound familiar?? Good, glad you all understand cos I’m about to unload on a rant that would put even good old Grmpysmrf to shame. Bless his pointy little head.

There’s one place here in Melbourne that suits that description to a tee. Over the years I’ve thrown A LOT of business in the direction of this particular store. I’ve spent TONNES of money there as I am an avid collector whose price range knows no bounds. If an item is desirable enough, then my wallet is ALWAYS accommodating. I am a damn good customer and I am never rude or impatient, even when things go wrong as often they can.

Yet this guy continually treats me like crap. I’ve been going there for years to this same store with the same old guy behind the counter. Picture him if you can - late 40’s, thinning long blonde hair, heavy metal t shirt, pudgy chin and belly, dour, pissed off look on his face, probably a bit of a boozer and most likely unlucky with the ladies. Barely manages anything more than a disapproving grunt whenever his advice on a particular item is required or even when I offer a polite “hello, how are you today?”

He glares at me whenever I pick up a record and study it as if I am in defiance of some secret international law amongst record store guys. But what am I supposed to do? I want to have a look at the album. I want to see if it’s in good shape, that there are no tears or dings or creases in the packaging. I want to have a look at the artwork. I want to have a look at the track listing. Doesn’t that seem logical to this guy? What is his problem? Was he born a pissed off cunt?

Thou Customer Shalt Not Handle Thy Goods When Determining Whether Or Not to Make A Purchase

Is that a universal law? Pffft. Nuts to you, Charlie.

Then there’s…THE COMPLAINT!!!

Dun dun daaaaaah!!

<drumroll and audible gasp>

Thou customer shall not waste thou time with complaints against thou goods

Yeah. Woe be tide if you should make a COMPLAINT. For instance - here’s an example.

One day while perusing Record Store Guy’s goods, I score a 2 disc cd. And it’s something of a rarity that I’ve been looking for over the years but never found. Needless to say, I’m as eager as all hell to get home and whack it on. But when I finally get home and open the packaging, I find to my distinct horror that instead of a disc a and a disc b, there are 2 disc a’s.

Fuck. So I drive back to the store. It’s a 45 minute drive but what the hell. As I said it’s something I’ve been looking forward to for some time and I consider the effort as being worth it.

I tell him what has just happened. He looks at me as if I have just told him that there are maggots in the macaroni and cheese he is currently enjoying from the local take away store. With an annoyed grunt and a roll of the eyes he assures me that he will order in another copy and that it will be ready for next week.

He also looks as if he wants to add: Now get the fuck out of here at the end of his sentence. So I leave him to it. And I should mention,I was as nice and as accommodating as humanly possible despite what had just transpired. Then I make the 45 minute trip home.

Two and a half weeks later I am sitting at home enjoying a football match, when the phone rings. It’s Record Store Guy. Instructs me in his nicest possible voice - behind clenched teeth no doubt - that my cd has arrived and is ready and waiting for me to collect.

I drive the 45 minutes again and arrive at the store. I walk up to the counter and wait around a minute or so until Record Store Guy will bother to acknowledge my presence. Apparently whatever is on his laptop screen is far more worthy than serving a customer.

He looks up - Oh. Your cd he chimes. Hang on.

He disappears into the back room for what seems to be an eternity and then finally emerges with the cd firmly in hand.

There you go. He throws it down on the counter. I notice that it is still wrapped and unopened in its plastic packaging. He obviously hasn’t checked if there are even 2 different discs this time - which was my initial problem in the first place.

I gulp, inhale, breath and then let it all out…

Have you checked this? I mean, have you checked if there is a disc a and a disc b? It’s still wrapped. Last time it was wrapped and there were two disc a’s. I have had to drive a long way and if the problem hasn’t been resolved then it’s all been in vain. You could have checked before calling me?

Oh dear. Red rag to a bull.

Record Store Guy’s face turns a shade of people. The precise shade of purple more or less one’s face turns when one is about to glass somebody during a heated confrontation at a bar.He slams the lid of the laptop shut. Storms over to the cd. Opens it. Checks the discs. Throws it back down. Grunts. Sits back down at laptop. Ignores me.

I offer a timid Thanks and then leave, vowing never to return. By rights I should have added “See you cunt face! You’ve just lost me as a customer! I shall tell all my friends never to shop here as well. And they will tell their friends.”

But I’m too nice.

Unfortunately for me, this store is the best in Melbourne.Period. Really fucking good stuff and I really enjoy the experience of physically making a purchase at a record store. I love record stores, I always have. The smell of the vinyl, the posters, the “rarities” cabinets, the anticipation of what might be found at any minute as I leaf through the alphabetically arranged sections. I’ll always prefer this to buying online.

Hell, you can just sense how passionate I am by the length of this damn post.

But fuck. This has really got me in a tight spot. Do I give in to temptation and just keep shopping there - handing my hard earned cash over to Record Store Guy once a month, as I am prone to? Or do I give him the finger and buy my shit online instead of funding his business on principle alone?

Any advice or anyone here experience anything similar?

2

well, that’s a bummer. I’m sorry you have to deal with that. at the end of the day, the love of music conquers everything, in my eyes. so even though the dude is a prick, by supporting his business you will still be able to go there and physically buy music. unless there’s other stores,or stores you haven’t found yet that are even better.

thankfully, I haven’t really had that type of experience. one shop in my town is only open once a week and run by a really old guy- but man he knows his stuff. he can tell you EVERYTHING about the blues, doo wopp, soul and old rock and roll. he’s been in business since the 50’s I believe. I’ve only been there a few times, he charges alot for his stuf, but everytime you go in there, he will tell you stories. he recorded some artsits as well. going there I know to have at least 10 minutes or so set aside to just talk to the guy.

the other local place had a really awesome woman working in it. she was totally into awesome music, lots of underground stuff, and she was in a band as well that was somewhat similiar to throbbing gristle. she even asked for a cd of some of the stuff I’ve recorded and blasted it in the store- which also plays out to the speakers in the streets. that was an amazing feeling. she and the owner didn’t get along, so she was eventually let go. when she did, I didn’t go there.
I went back there a few weeks ago, the first time in months, and the owner was happy to see me but was questioning me if it had anything to do with her firing why I didn’t show up in a while. that made me feel uncomfortable.

by the way, I was listening to the Melvins “Eye Flys” while reading your post, and it seemed to be the perfect accompaniment.

3

Anyone here ever met any of these in real life…?

…Y’know the ones…snooty, rude comic book / record store / book store boffins, dispensing his (or her) anti social unpleasantries…

Not in “real life,” but there are a couple of dudes (I think they’re from Australia) that post on an internet board where I frequent.
[;)]

Seriously, though, My pointy head thinks you should find another record store to sate your immediate purchases and stick to online for your rarities, what does it matter if you wait 2 weeks for said cd to show up at a store or after 2 weeks it’s shipped straight to your house??

you could also fuck with him… if you’ve got a cell phone call him from within the store if he refuses to acknowledge you… you know little things.

Late,
grmpysmf

4

Personally, I refuse to do business with a-holes, especially if I’m the customer.

Is this schmuck the owner or just a lackey? If he’s not the owner I would suggest you talk to the owner. Tell him you are a regular customer and have spent $1000’s over the last few years and that, as a paying customer, you won’t accept being treated like crap and you will be taking your business elsewhere if attitudes or personnel don’t change.

I know the type of jerk you’re talking about, Peligro. They drain the friggin’ life out of you if you let them. So don’t.

I recently helped my wife buy a necklace and the saleslady was not gracious and soured the experience for my wife. So I dropped my wife off at home and then went back to the store. I returned the necklace and told the manager that I wanted to return the necklace and buy it from another clerk because the sales lady was a snotty jerk. They apologized profusely and honored my request.

Two years ago I had a bad experience with Wells Fargo whom I’d decided to trust the word of and opened and account with. When it turned out the agent LIED to me (and hence refused to take ownership of it and basically put it all on me) I walked right back to the bank, told them exactly why I was closing my account and had them pay me all of my assets in cash . . . which I then drove to the next block with and deposited with Bank of America.

And when I’ve had terrible service at restaurants I will ask to speak to the manager and tell them exactly how their shoddy employees wrecked a nice date with my wife.

I will never PAY for bastards to take advantage of me. I will often address it directly, but, if that’s not convenient to do, or if it is the owners themselves that have failed me and I have no interest in giving them a chance to make things right I will simply write them off out of my life, wish them failure, and get on with my life.

5

I will often address it directly, but, if that’s not convenient to do, or if it is the owners themselves that have failed me and I have no interest in giving them a chance to make things right I will simply write them off out of my life, wish them failure, and get on with my life.

I wished BoA failure, and got on with my life. Make sure you get your money out of them first though of course.

6

[reply] I will often address it directly, but, if that’s not convenient to do, or if it is the owners themselves that have failed me and I have no interest in giving them a chance to make things right I will simply write them off out of my life, wish them failure, and get on with my life.

I wished BoA failure, and got on with my life. Make sure you get your money out of them first though of course.[/reply]
This is hysterical!!
couple forcloses on BoA
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-august-8-2011/the-forecloser

7

I wished BoA failure, and got on with my life. Make sure you get your money out of them first though of course.

I know a lot of people hate BofA, but they’ve always done right by me. I’m not going to be a cheerleader for them or tell other people where to put their money, but I’ve always been happy with the people I’ve worked with there.

8

Yup, but as far as I’m concerned, they own me much more than 3k. Where is my bailout money?

9

I know the store Peligro is referring to and I will gladly back up his damnation of said store. The guy there is a prick and unfortunately yes, he is the owner. So I guess complaining is out of the question. I don’t shop there any more - not that I really did shop there much in the first place.

I went there with a friend and his five year old son about a year or so ago. As we were worried about the little boy running around the store and causing havoc, we asked if he could sit at the seat beside the counter where he would be out of harm’s way.

The owner shot us an angry, almost maniacal glare and muttered something about store policy and children. I asked him if we would have to pay if the kid accidently broke something, to which the owner replied “Absolutely”. I responded by saying “Well, then wouldn’t it be better if we broke with policy for the time being and just let him sit there while we browse for half an hour? Save us the trouble and embarrassment should an accident occur.” He nodded and went back to filling out his product order form.

Later, when we left without buying anything he went out for a cigarette and glared at us while we walked off up the street.

On a side note, this guy I found out he is a huge Ministry and revolting Cocks fan. He loves Al and loves the nuMinistry stuff. One day he was playing Last Sucker in the store and I commented words to the effect that it was a shame that Ministry had been reduced to such a pathetic mess. He went into this long winded diatribe about what a great band they were and how much he loved the new stuff, especially Relapse. He seemed really enthusiastic about it and really opened up about his passion for the band. He told me I should give it another listen and perhaps try and find something in it worthwhile.

Funnily enough he can be really nice when he wants to.

But I am like Peligro and not like Gunnar. I have had shocking service before, especially in clothing store (the trendy ones) and in restaurants (the snobby ones). I usually grin and bear it but just never go back there. Not long ago, I went into an Italian restaurant with a girl I was seeing. We were dressed casually in jeans and t shirt ( I was wearing a Mr Bungle Disco Volante shirt) and the staff there did not say one word to us the entire evening. They took our order, brought the food and gave us the bill without speaking a word.

Probably won’t go back.

10

[reply]
I wished BoA failure, and got on with my life. Make sure you get your money out of them first though of course.

I know a lot of people hate BofA, but they’ve always done right by me. I’m not going to be a cheerleader for them or tell other people where to put their money, but I’ve always been happy with the people I’ve worked with there.[/reply]
Me too, i have my mortgage through them… and theyve been great, but, yeah aside from the mortgage. I don’t bank there.
Late,
grmpysmrf

11

[reply][reply]
I wished BoA failure, and got on with my life. Make sure you get your money out of them first though of course.

I know a lot of people hate BofA, but they’ve always done right by me. I’m not going to be a cheerleader for them or tell other people where to put their money, but I’ve always been happy with the people I’ve worked with there.[/reply]
Me too, i have my mortgage through them… and theyve been great, but, yeah aside from the mortgage. I don’t bank there.
Late,
grmpysmrf[/reply]

It was the mortgage, smrfy, it was the mortgage and their deliberate delay tactics and incompetence. It took 1 year and 5 months to get rid of it, but it finally stopped 1 year and 7 months later.

12

There’s a record store in Hollywood called Amoeba Records. It is an independent, but MASSIVE (two stories, new and used, movies, music of all kinds, etc.). I’ve always been impressed by the place because even though they are staffed by an army of geeks and various sub-culture hipsters and mutants I’ve never gotten any attitude from anyone. I guess they’re too big for any bullcrap.

I suppose it’s those small and niche shops that really get the elitist pricks.

To Olsen . . . that’s kind of funny what you said about the dude warming up to you when there was some perceived common ground on Ministry. MANY of these independent shop dudes are like that. I will sometimes intentionally ingratiate myself to them by sparking a short talk on a particular band or something that I’ll know they will have interest in.

Another thing with the record store guys (I’m just referring to a certain personality type, but not the “dicks” specifically) is they are kind of always sizing everyone up. If you know a topic and can show the knowledge of it and/or demonstrate some “street cred” they’ll treat you way differently than the noob who “came in to see if they have that CD for the song being played on the radio”.

At a number of the shops I’d go to as a kid the dudes would often cut me a deal on a various rare DK record I wanted saying stuff like, “Yeah, let him have it for $15. He’s legit and will give it a good home . . .”

13

I suppose it’s those small and niche shops that really get the elitist pricks.

If you know a topic and can show the knowledge of it and/or demonstrate some “street cred” they’ll treat you way differently than the noob who “came in to see if they have that CD for the song being played on the radio”.

At a number of the shops I’d go to as a kid the dudes would often cut me a deal on a various rare DK record I wanted saying stuff like, “Yeah, let him have it for $15. He’s legit and will give it a good home . . .”

This is different. This is somebody who is almost deliberately rude to me personally, as if he has an axe to grind with me. It’s almost as if I’ve offended him or he just doesn’t like me. Which is weird because I am always jovial and friendly and never impose myself. And he knows I know my shit. He knows I’m not some noob off the street with no clue whatsoever. So it’s hardly a case of elitism. This is just nastiness.

Funny because I don’t really see him to do this to other customers. He’s generally ok with them, if a little abrupt. I can’t think of anything I might have done to tick him off. Perhaps it reverse elitism? Perhaps he has seen the shit that I buy and thinks “Look at this turkey. Thinks he’s so clever with his artsy fartsy noise stuff. I’ll show him!”"

But if that’s the case, then why does he run a store that sells artsy fartsy music? Weird. It’s hardly the first time I’ve copped attitude in a record or comic or general hipster type store but it’s certainly the worst.

I realise it’s not just me who thinks this type of thing. I mean, Matt Groening made a point of working in a Comic Book Store Guy with attitude as a regular character - so obviously there’s a stereotype there. And for good reason.

Possibly because they’re just stuck up, internet nerds with no friends and they feel it’s their duty to hate on those who aren’t.

But as I was saying I’d like to hear other people’s experience with terrible service in this industry if possible.

14

It’s pretty much everything you’ve said.
Those pricks are schmucks that don’t have any friends and probably got pushed around in school or everywhere else and they feel like they finally get to be king of the mountain for once.

I wasn’t justifying YOUR particular a-hole with my “how to level with 'em” notes, by the way. I guess I was just giving some generalizations of many such record store folk.

I think another aspect of it is that so many of these schmucks WISH they were rockstars or had ACTUAL street cred. So whether they are failed musicians (many of them) or just basement dreamers, they’ll never actually achieve actual rock status and be on a stage kickin’ ass, bangin’ groupies, wreckin’ Ferraris, so they try to be rockstars in their own little crappy world . . . or at least some idiotic hateable version of how they THINK a badass would act.

Anyway . . . back to the original topic at hand and “Have I met Comic-Book-Store-Guy?” Yes, Sir. A number of times. But let me tell you about one that I remember specifically . . .

GUNNAR V. COMIC BOOK STORE GUY

About 10 years ago I was up in Seattle on business and after wandering the fish market I found some stores underground, including a comics/ collectibles shop. I don’t remember what prompted me to go in as I’m completely apathetic about all that superhero faggitry and can’t stand to hear people talking about it.

But I saw some EDDIE (Iron Maiden) toy that I thought was kind of amusing (I think it was Eddie breaking out of a box and it sang ‘Run to the Hills’ or some such idiocy). So I asked them about it . . .

“Excuse me, Sir. How much are the Eddie dolls?” I asked politely.

He snarled back with a look of disgust, “Excuse me?”

“These Iron Maiden dolls. I’d like to know a price, please.”

“We don’t play with DOLLS! They are ACTION FIGURES!” he chastised me, the cloddish customer that had the nerve to use non-geek-approved lingo in the store.

I’d had about enough of this, and looked him in the eye as his buddy sat on a stool watching . . . “You are 40 year old men who watch cartoons and play with childrens’ toys. If calling this crap ‘action figures’ makes you feel tough, more power to ya, but the rest of the world knows you are just a couple of fags with a doll collection.”

16

Last time I was in a comic book store I had a weird sort of run in. I picked up a Frank Frazetta art book, some horror graphic novels and some Star Wars comics. The chubby guy with the goatee and the David Bowie Aladdin Sane shirt behind the counter, looked at the Star Wars comics and asked me what I thought about the fact that three new Star Wars films had been planned. I told him I didn’t really care as I thought the last three were abysmal and I had little interest in watching any more.

“Oh, so you’re just a casual fan then” he mocked. “It seems a waste to be buying Star Wars comics when you don’t care for the films. That’s unusual.”

I shrugged my shoulders and gave him my best death stare.

“Mate” I responded “I really don’t care either way. Thanks for asking though. Enjoy the rest of your weekend.”

17

I’d say that if you have not experienced one of these types then you are probably doing your record shopping wrong…

18

I want this guy to join Prongs. That’d be fun.

19

I’ve had plenty of experience with the comic book store guy. One of my favorites: A friend and I went to a local comic store just to look around. We knew the guy was a tool, but we had some time and wanted to just look around and maybe pick up a few cheap back issues. It was in the early 2000s, but the guy’s stock was still at 1993 prices. So my friend decides he’d like to get a few Wildcats issues from the early 90s, which were (and still are) worth exactly nothing. He picks up about 10 issues all marked $3-4 each and takes them up to the from. He asks if the guy would be willing to take $1 each for them. The comic store guy takes the books from him and looks at each one. He proclaimed the one at the top of the pile “crap.” and laid it on the counter and did the same for all of them. “crap. crap. crap. crap.” Then he said ok and sold them to my friend for $1.

20

Stand your ground Flordia style Peligro and do not give this dude your money.

By all means visit the store and browse and when you see something awesome…write it down and buy it online…do not interact with him at all and do not buy ever aain in there and I’m sure he’ll get themessage loud and clear.

www.discogs.com is your friend.

21

Rude Record Store Guy sounds like a prick, Peligro. And no, you are not alone with your experience. I can think of at least three or four horrendous episodes at record stores off the top of my head without even trying.

Don’t put up with it. Go somewhere else if you can. I know that it’s slim pickens when it comes to record stores in Melbourne as I’m also a pretty rabid collector. I’ve probably crossed paths with this guy before. I think I know who you are referring to. And I don’t like him. He’s a depressing bore. It’s a real shame his store is so damn good. But there you go.

The only thing worse than Rude Record Store Guy is Rude Office Guy. I’m sure everyone here knows Rude Office Guy? He’s the one you always walk past in the corridor, smile and nod at, yet he pretends not to notice. You’ve been smiling and nodding at him for years, so there’s no excuse. It’s not like you’re new or something. You see him now and then at the coffee machine, try and make polite chit chat, but he can’t be bothered responding. He doesn’t just ignore you, he makes a point of ignoring you.

He’s that guy!