8916 - sunday

[scottobear]

Woke up creaking like the tin man, and my eye was aggravated by some sort of dust particle... between the swollen eye and bent over stance, I should've been ringing bells and screaming for sanctuary all morning.

Yesterday's smoothies were so terrible that we went to the grocer, got some yogurt and fruit, and BHK made some jim-dandy, extra tasty smoothies for our breakfast supplemented by hard-boiled eggs and biscuits today.

Today we went to a place that held a lot of fond memories for me as a young gamer-geek. The Compleat Strategist... There was one in Hollywood, Florida way back in the 80s... a source of many fond memories. It was a sad day about 18 years ago when it burned down... even when some supposedly smoke-damaged merchandise appeared at the new Dragon's Lair a few months later. I sometimes wonder if the "Dragon" reference was an inside joke about the fire. Rumors abounded at the time, though I don't know of any actual validity to the same.

We landed at the Strategist in Falls Church, Virginia... and... well, I've been spoiled by Aardvark, I think. I was fairly underwhelmed, even though they have a huge amount of stock... probably four or five times that of Little Aardvark's.

Nice thing about the Virginia place was that it was mostly clean - no dust on any of the good in the front, and the books were well-organized by game and title. If I'd been there looking for RPG stuff or Wargaming stuff, I'd have been set.

Unfortunately, I was looking for parlor games. The little corner in the back reminded me of the "pervy" section of old video stores. The light bulb overhead was dim, the packages heavily manhandled with cellophane and cardboard torn. The games were in semi-alpha order.... but not quite. Some stuff was on pegs, some on shelves, some boxes lay half open. I might've wept openly for the poor pente tube in the corner without a visible lid or board inside.

I can't find a thing that I want. BHK spots Treehouse and Ice Towers on the wall... I get excited, and ask about some other games, almost sure that he'll know something about one or more of these... almost all are major award winners, and have a pretty large following.

Do you have

• Classic Illuminati? Nuh, don't think so.
  
• Brawl any two decks? What's that?
  
• Cosmic Encounter?
• Playing with Pyramids?
• any Cheapass Games ?

Nope, nope and nope. We had money for a game or three more burning a hole in our pocket, and finally asked...

"OK, then... based on what we mentioned... what do you recommend? We like fun, fast-paced games with a mix of strategy and random chance. What do you have that's cute with a deck of cards and a die in it?"

The proprietor was too busy playing mechwarrior with another regular at the store to give us any more answer than "if it's not on the shelf, we don't have it..."

Not a very talkative fellow, unless he was reciting how many bonuses he had to hit the other toy robot on the board. So much for me pumping him for info regarding the old florida store or reminiscing... I suspect that the Florida CS burned down when he was maybe three years old.

That sort of disappointed us... BHK asked him about a high school clique game, and he said he'd never played it, but a guy friend did, and didn't much like it. That was the most extensive review we got from him... heck, those were the most words spoken to us at one time.

Still no other advice, so we browsed for about a half hour or so, found a few games, and noted to purchase them elsewhere. Chez Goth, Treehouse with Martian Coasters, Puerto Rico. That's like $100 or so worth of games, I'd guess. He lost the only sale it looked like he might make that day.

The best aspect of going was that we got some freebie Star Wars constructable ship-combat game as throwaway swag. We got a spare for Amy, too, for when she comes up to visit next week.

{edit - We got a response to this entry from the manager of the store, shortly after it was published. See it here}

On our way to another game store in the Virginia area, Alan rang us up, and we all went out the the Lebanese butcher for some tasty falafel, hummus with pine nutes, and baba ghanoush.

Instead of dorking around, we trundled over to his place in the city... *very* nice. Alan has a real flair for design, and his home is like a showcase... TM, BHK, and I gabbed with him for a bit about Pollack's strengths and weaknesses, including the Guggenheim dirt, and he played piano for us for a bit. He's a very talented guy, and a kind host... I'm glad to have him as part of the family.



See video of him playing here

We returned home, tired but feeling good about the day - it ended a lot better than it had begun.

1 year ago - furniture, kevin smith & superman, pocket windows (note- add to new flash drive), coral square mall pictures, fin fang foom, algorithm march w/ninjas, girls on walls

2 years ago - broward and fed autostitch, visited kev, walkabout pictures with rastas and shirtless, tell-tale heart in street signs, overheard

3 years ago - spidey, weather, let them sing it for you, freddy vs gb

4 years ago - remembering the keys, overtime psa, comic books, workman's comp, prostate cancer

5 years ago - newt in sink, bro gets viper fins sponsor, pesky security, badly drawn images on a bumpy road, punquin finds my 125 item list

6 years ago - Evil News, bad joke, crux, random journals, nice thing poll, designer's lament, laptop space bar weird, hatt-baby, email plain text

7 years ago - Enjoyed the X-men movie, 1974 memory visiting Florida, reprint of Scooby & the occult, insomnia

Comments

[graypumpkin.livejournal.com]

Poor creaky Scotto.

Ah the Complete Strangest, fond memories for me too, the guy, Kevin I think, who ran it was a nice guy, learned somethings about GMing talking to him, some of his regulars though we my first exposure to the classic gamer stereotypes.

Ah the classic gamers to busy to help customers story, all too common, we have a few like that here too, fortunately our local Dragon's Lair and Rogue's Gallery stores are lot more professional and employees don't play in the store.

Hehe I'm such a philistine that I kept wanting your friend Alan to turn to the camera and say "I wish my brother George were here."

[blackhellkat.livejournal.com]

They should totally institute a "No playing" rule for the shopkeep.

Not only that but the gamers and shopkeep were eating a pizza so smelly that it almost turned my stomach. I swear the pizza vapors were in my clothes 10 minutes after we left the shop!

Or maybe it was just so smelly cause I was annoyed at the shopkeeper.

[kat78731.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I never liked that about the Florida Dragon's Lair .. walk in try to shop around a table full of people gaming, feels like you're interrupting or wandered in the back door of someones home. Or Thor's Hammer here has multiple gaming tables.. nice place to play I'm sure, but the few times I've been there I couldn't look at product I wanted to check out because there was a battle waging in front of it.

I'm sure Eryx isn't like that though - I bet he's all smiles and welcoming proprietor!

[kat78731.livejournal.com]

Do you like Lunch Money? I think that's a swell game... And also like Apples to Apples for small groups.

[graypumpkin.livejournal.com]

Yuck, just your description is kinda stomach turning, poor BHK being exposed the dark side of gaming. ;)
I had a similar experience once, one of guys that ran the Fl Dragon's Lair, who was normally pungent, must have been trying to go for record cause the guy had eye watering BO, I went in there and had to leave without getting what I came for because I couldn't bear the stench, I mean it was the worse case of BO I have ever encountered and I rode in crowded NYC subways as a kid.

[blackhellkat.livejournal.com]

Yeah there was some definite product blockage going on. I thought about being a mega-bitch and pushing past the gamers to look---but then it really isn't their fault that they weren't given a proper space to game. This is why Scott says we've been ruined. At Aardvark in either shop--although the second shop is SUPER small--the game tables are far from the product so mundanes like me won't have to bother players--or perhaps be frightened off by them ;D Just cool that the shops are owned by avid gamers who thought of these kinds of things before they opened.

[blackhellkat.livejournal.com]

We were in Aardvark one day when the shopkeeper there had to spray some Febreeze because of BO. I'm slowly becoming more aware of these little characteristics and learning not to breathe too deeply in the game rooms.

ALTHOUGH I have to say---gamers have nothing on DC tourists in the Smithsonian in the summertime--so its all good :D

[keethrax.livejournal.com]

I still recommend Polarity.

And really want a set (or 2 or three) of the icehouse bits.

Workers playing doesn't bother me provided they do it intelligently. Sounds like this guy did not.

Intelligently = (at a minimum) stopping when a non-playing customer comes in.

Employees playing can help to move product as well, but it has to be secondary to the more standard tasks like answering questions, being available, etc.

[scottobear.livejournal.com]

That's true... I think that the dino-bones must set off some sort of fight or flight response, causing folks to sweat extra stinky, to fight predators!

[scottobear.livejournal.com]

I'm glad that we got to visit, but it certainly made me appreciate Aardvark that much more. I'm really glad that they've just reserved space for players in the back or on the 2nd floor, so everyone can have room to move.

[scottobear.livejournal.com]

BHK still hasn' tseen the worst play-pits in my memory... there have been some players that hosted at a home that was a frightening "what if" scenario for "filth run wild!"

I know you've played as a guest in some pretty slobby zones, too. Not as smelly, but certainly a dirty locale now and again.

My worst experience with a smelly was at a convention. I still think that he may've had some sort of biological issue - (see number 3 on this list back in the day - http://scottobear.livejournal.com/645495.html )

I run into my first Smelly in the dealers' room today. He lumbers around the corner as I'm passing the WotC castle - morbidly obese, covered with a slick of sweat, an expression on his face like he's just suffered a massive head injury and is now watching the great unknown come to him out of the lighted tunnel. One second after I pass him, his wake hits me, and I literally retch. Right there in the middle of a crowd of people, I lean against the wall and make a horrible face. It was embarrassing but completely unintentional - I just couldn't help it.

I've been very fortunate on the subways so far... no "smells like a goat toilet" encounters, yet.

[scottobear.livejournal.com]

I'm still winding BHK up to play lunch money, but I dig it.

It seems harder to find 2-player games these days.. most of the more interesting ones are for 3-6 people!

[scottobear.livejournal.com]

I agree... if people are caught up, I feel a little intrusive, and more hesitant to ask people where things are or if I can look at something, too.

I bet Eryx is a great shopkeep... I imagine folks walk out of there with stuff they never intended to buy. :)

[scottobear.livejournal.com]

At least a "no playing while non-playing customers are in the store" rule.

the pizza was pretty stinky. It didn't hurt my belly, but was an added annoyance.

[scottobear.livejournal.com]

Ah well, creaks and groans are bound to happen... my old bones weren't even very good "new bones" 20 years ago. Fortunately, I have good days as well as bad ones... more frequently good, for that matter.

The CS in hollywood was just far enough away from a 16 year old kid in boynton beach to make it a road trip... that much more fun!

Alan does have a bit of the Liberace thing going in the grin, doesn't he?

My first request was for him to play the closing theme to the hulk, so we're philistines in good company.

[scottobear.livejournal.com]

Polarity is still on our list!

Icehouse has some very nifty game possibilities.


I agree with your "intellegenly" definition, completely.

[kat78731.livejournal.com]

eck - a no playing while there's customers in the store rule would be worse... let's all sit and WAIT while you browse around - sigh, tap, tap, tap...

[scottobear.livejournal.com]

oh, yikes... good point.

The last thing anyone needs is sullen-teen gamer stare!

[ldy.livejournal.com]

My first gaming experiences were courtesy of a Compleat Strategist, too :)

follow-up

[scottobear.livejournal.com]

Received this in the mail Tuesday night, not too long after posting the day's entry. It's in regards to Sunday's entry, here.

quote:'

My name is Josh S. Talley and I manage The Compleat Strategist in Falls Church, Va. Your journal entry was brought to my attention by my boss (one of the owners) after being brought to his attention by a Looney Labs representative. First off I would like to apologize to you and your friends for the lack of customer service you received (or didn't as the case may be). I would also like you to revisit us sometime soon if possible. Second please let me assure you that my employee's behavior is and always will be unacceptable to me. Third we can always try to order something if you don't see it on the shelf and are happy to do so. We have many days that are activity days, but I have always stressed that the customer is to take priority and that product knowledge is a good thing to all my employees. I am working on rectifying the situation you experienced with the one employee and am truly sorry about your visit. I think you will find that we are a nice little store if you visit again. Granted we are not as nice as some stores, but considering the lack of "gaming" space and floor space in general, I feel we've done well. Please come visit again and as an apology for your first impression of the new Strategist, I'd like to extend a discount on any purchases when we next meet. I work any day but Wednesdays and Sunday, but will most likely be working those days soon in addition, heh.

Sorry again and looking forward to another visit, hopefully,

-Josh S. Talley
Manager of The Compleat Strategist in Falls Church, Va.


My reply-

Thank you for your speedy response. I appreciate your concern and desire to make things right. (I hope you don't fire the sales guy on my account... hopefully he can be salvaged with a little customer service training.) We were pretty frustrated by the lack of salesmanship and pro-activity, given that we were actively curious and asked multiple questions about items on hand.

He wasn't obnoxiously rude, he just didn't attend to us and it felt like we were more an annoyance than a customer. I understand that a lot of your business likely comes from your events, but hopefully it wouldn't preclude sales to new arrivals.

I really liked the size of your stock, and would be happy to try again in the near future... we're still looking to pick up ice towers and treehouse (we're pretty big fans of the looney labs catalog and love to support local businesses) , as well as a few other games. A discount would be greatly appreciated!

May I reprint your letter in my livejournal? I think it would please a lot of the folks that read it to know that you are interested in running a quality establishment.

Again, many thanks for your courteous reply. I have many fond memories of the Strategist in Florida, and would really like to have another one so close by to get my gaming loot from.

His last answer -

Hello again Scott, please feel free to insert my letter into your livejournal entries. I read through the comments and would love to see more people come check us out and get a good experience from their visit. You are correct though, customers come first, no matter what. I have stressed this numerous times and some get it, some don't, but what can I do? I can lead a horse to water, but can't make it swim...heh. j/k Oh and I am pretty sure that we can order the Classic Deluxe Illuminati box set from SJ Games, just let us know. As for Brawl and any Cheapass Games we have to special order those, Cosmic Encounter was supposed to be reprinted, but I haven't seen it yet. Playing with Pyramids I would have to check on but would be happy to do so. Anyways, please come see us again anytime.

[scottobear.livejournal.com]

Which location? Boston?

[ldy.livejournal.com]

Montclair, New Jersey!

Man, it was a million years ago. I miss it.

[scottobear.livejournal.com]

Pretty Keen! I didn't even know they had one there!

On the off chance this will be read...

[ldy.livejournal.com]

You are correct though, customers come first, no matter what. I have stressed this numerous times and some get it, some don't, but what can I do?

Here's what you can do!
1. You can create a clear and concise Mission Statement and Vision of your store and share it with your staff
2. You can pro-actively train every week (and it would only be appropriate to use role-playing techniques)
3. You can give public praise (as well as a cash reward, if appropriate) whenever you catch someone doing something really great
4. You can base wages and bonuses on behavior and have meaningful periodic reviews
5. You can reprimand bad bahavior (my least favorite)
6. You can court awesome customer service people from other stores (in your industry, or in any other)

And my favorite:
7. You can make certain to only hire people who clearly share your values

Since you sell games, it might seem to make sense to hire game-lovers. But take a look at Scott's experience, and tell me which sounds like a better employee: someone who loves games, or someone who loves people who love games?

Not meant to be snarky or preachy, just a few thoughts that have helped me find and create better and happier employees :)

[scottobear.livejournal.com]

Apples to Apples is a big hit with non-gamers we know, now... lunch money is a fave of mine, but not popular with the more squeamish co-gamers. "I whip you with my bicycle chain!"

[scottobear.livejournal.com]

See, that's the thing... and some folks get upset with me when I mention it. "Way to propagate the stereotype"

Well, you know, sometimes the stereotype is just simply true.

And stinky.

[scottobear.livejournal.com]

Polarity, a year later is still a hoot. Thank you again for advising it! (even though BHK whomps me at it)

[keethrax.livejournal.com]

Wow! wasn't expecting a comment from a year old reply! Glad you guys still like it.

[scottobear.livejournal.com]

I was doing my annual review, and saw this... thought it warranted a review and reprise. :D