Back when I was growing up, the local town centre had a bunch of proper computer stores. These shops were pretty cool, all dark and cramped, but filled to the brim with cool stuff and knowledgeable, passionate staff. Some of these shops had been about since the very early 80’s, but by the late 90’s they all vanished as everyone and their dog started selling PCs and related stuff. It was something that I really missed, and I was naturally pleased when I moved here to find that there was a genuine non-chain computer shop.
Today I found myself in town (dentist appointment :-( ) so I decided to pop into the shop to see if there was anything interesting. As I walked in I spotted a poster stating that they were having a sale on older spec RAM. This was good, as I’ve been meaning to upgrade my iBook from the basic 512MB pretty much since I got it last year. The problem was that I couldn’t remember exactly what type the iBook required (after all it was an potential impulse purchase).
So I told the guy I was after RAM for an Apple iBook, but I couldn’t remember the exact type required. His reply was “That makes two of us”. Knowing full well that they had internet there, I asked him if he could possibly find out.
“I could try to check but it’d only say that it requires special Apple RAM”
UGH! The ignorance!
“You’d have to bring it in here so I could see what type it really is”
So I told him that the 512MB was soldered onto the motherboard rather than being in the slot so that would not be of any help. (plus, there was no-way I was going to let him near my computer)
At this point I should have just left it at that, but the nostalgia, or something made me persist. I threw him a bone and told him that the manual had said exactly what type it was and that I thought it could be 333MHz SO-DIMM.
But no. Launching a browser and googling for it was way too much effort for him, despite the fact he was sat at the computer as he was talking to me.
And yet I persisted. I asked if they had any RAM that olds in stock. He got up, pulled out a basket of RAM modules, flicked through it and found the right type. I asked him how much it was, and when he told me I indicated that I was willing to buy it there and then, as long as it could be confirmed as the right type.
But he still didn’t respond. There was no way he was going to check it out. He wanted me to go away and find out before coming back.
So I left, completely confused and frustrated. When I got in I googled for iBook memory, and guess what? 4th item down is a document on apple.com listing the types of memory each iBook model can be upgraded with.
Not only did the guy loose a quick and easy sale, he also lost all future business from me. In future I’ll just buy it on the web like everyone else.
R.I.P. Small computer shops. :-(
