What I miss about Amiga shops.......

[Ral-Clan]

Never had a really great experience with any computer shop.

I bought my first Amiga 500 with 1084S monitor and 2400 baud modem at the 1988 World of Commodore in Toronto from a dealer who had a booth there.  Since I was either 17 or 18 years old, and had never purchased anything that expensive before (about $1000 CAD) I asked my Dad to do the transaction for me, and I would reimburse him with the cash I had saved up.  One of the enticements to the sale was that we could visit the dealer's real store anytime and copy public domain software from his library.

Well I guess that he liked credit card bearing adults better than teenagers, because when I showed up at his real store and explained that we were here to copy the PD software as promised, he was a lot more gruff and limited the number of PD disks I could copy to something like six.

Then in the mid-1990s I would sometimes visit one of the only Amiga stores left in the Toronto area.  It was in the west end beside one of the westernmost subway stops.  One week I purchased a used Amiga multi-sync monitor from them for around $300.  The next week I purchased a high-density floppy drive (Amtek?) from them that cost nearly $200.  I told the saleperson that I had experienced problems getting HD drives to work with my A2000 in the past, and I asked if it would be a problem to return the drive if I could not get it to work.  He told me it was no problem.

Well, the drive just wouldn't work as a HD drive in my A2000 despite trying EVERYTHING (jumpers, cable swapped wires...all the jazz).  So I brought it back within 24 hours.  The owner refused to give me a refund at first, and when he finally did he said he was deducting $30 from the refund as a 24 hour "rental fee".  I argued that was unfair, especially since I had just purchased an expensive monitor from them.  Since he had my money and there was no other way to get it back I had to accept the $30 "fee".  If I had more wits about me I should have called VISA or the Better Business Bureau and complained.  But I was younger at the time and didn't have experience with these sorts of things.  I never went back there and eventually they went out of business.

But I haven't had great experience with PC shops either.  My wife was looking for something to get me that I could "actually use" this past Christmas and I suggested I could use some RAM for my slightly older PC (needed two 1GB memory modules).  I did my research and looked up the exact type of memory modules that my motherboard needed from the manufacturer's website and manual.  I wrote down the specs (an exact quote from the manual) on a piece paper for my wife.  Since these were going to be used parts, I directed her to the local "mom and pop" computer store which I normally liked to support instead of the "big box" stores.  

She went in one day after work and explained that she would like to buy some older RAM modules and that she didn't know much about much about "computer jargon" but that (her husband) had written down what he needed.  The fellow took the paper and said something like "well it looks like he doesn't know much about computer jargon either" as if what I had written down was jibberish.  He then tried to tell her that it wouldn't be compatible but that she could buy such and such a new part (this was the owner of the store who had run it for over 10 years).

I was pretty frustrated with this arrogant response.  I took the specs, went personally to ANOTHER computer store (I won't be going back to that first store again) and within 20 minutes had returned with exactly the RAM modules I needed and had my PC's memory upgraded.  As a bonus, it was cheaper at the second store.

[shaf]

Ral-Clan was that store "Computers and U" by chance? At Various Time I worked at a few Cumputer Stores in the Toronto area but not in the west end although I knew most of thre Techies.

[Bigbronc]

We used to catch the train to the Hauptbahnhof in Frankfurt Germany, across the street was this software store that sold Fred Fish and other PD programs. The thing is you placed your order and had to wait a few hours for them to copy the disk. Right behind the store was the Red light district. We would place our order, eat at Burger King ( a big deal for Americans then stationed in Europe) and cruise the whore houses, It was a fun thing to do, in one house up the stairs usually 5 floors with small rooms, each one had a different thing that was offered, we would go up and down each one, killing several hours waiting for our fish disk. Somehow going to Best Buy cannot capture the magic of a trip to the PD store in Franfurt.

[motrucker]

We were really lucky in this area. There were more than a few Amiga stores way back when, BUT we had a place called Buried Treasure out towards Rockville. They carried most of the Commodore Line - but specialized in the Amiga. They would help user groups and individual users. As good as most Amiga shops were, this one stood above most of them.
Friendly, helpful, with a huge stock and a great technical staff.
This was a great place!

[Ral-Clan]

Ral-Clan was that store "Computers and U" by chance? At Various Time I worked at a few Cumputer Stores in the Toronto area but not in the west end although I knew most of thre Techies.

Yeah, It might have been.  Hard to recall now.  It was in a strip mall (but weren't they all) and had an A600 in the window for the longest time in the mid to late 1990s.  When you went in the cash was on the left hand side and the tech part was in the right-back area (probably most stores were laid out this way too).

I might have bought the A600 too if they hadn't treated me this way.

[Kesa]

But I haven't had great experience with PC shops either.  My wife was looking for something to get me that I could "actually use" this past Christmas and I suggested I could use some RAM for my slightly older PC (needed two 1GB memory modules).  I did my research and looked up the exact type of memory modules that my motherboard needed from the manufacturer's website and manual.  I wrote down the specs (an exact quote from the manual) on a piece paper for my wife.  Since these were going to be used parts, I directed her to the local "mom and pop" computer store which I normally liked to support instead of the "big box" stores.  

She went in one day after work and explained that she would like to buy some older RAM modules and that she didn't know much about much about "computer jargon" but that (her husband) had written down what he needed.  The fellow took the paper and said something like "well it looks like he doesn't know much about computer jargon either" as if what I had written down was jibberish.  He then tried to tell her that it wouldn't be compatible but that she could buy such and such a new part (this was the owner of the store who had run it for over 10 years).

I was pretty frustrated with this arrogant response.  I took the specs, went personally to ANOTHER computer store (I won't be going back to that first store again) and within 20 minutes had returned with exactly the RAM modules I needed and had my PC's memory upgraded.  As a bonus, it was cheaper at the second store.

I had a similar experience but not with my computer but with my mountain bike at a bike shop. I've had my mountain bike for over 13 years and have really looked after it. Most people are surprised when i tell them how old it is. She's my pride and joy. One day i took it into my local bike shop after i had an accident. I bought new handlebars, brake levers and some other things and also paid the service for them to put them on for me. When i picked up the bike and paid the money for their work i went outside so i could ride it home and it didn't take long to realise they did a dodgy job on it. Even a 10 year old could have done a better job than what they did. When i took the bike in and complained they refused to fix it making up some excuse why they didn't have to :madashell:

My point is never let strangers mess with your pride and joy. If you want something done right do it yourself

[GrizzlyAdams]

I work in a PC shop and I can tell you from experience that not all RAM of the same specs will work in the same board.  Often its a matter of going back and trying a different brand or batch of memory.  We once had two friends buying identical machines except for the memory, neither board would post.  Swapped memory between the two boards, both came up perfect and are still running today.

 The first shop sounds like they didn't have that memory in stock and really wanted to sell her a new machine.  If it was RDRAM I would probably told her that a newer used machine would be the cheaper option.

But I haven't had great experience with PC shops either.  My wife was looking for something to get me that I could "actually use" this past Christmas and I suggested I could use some RAM for my slightly older PC (needed two 1GB memory modules).  I did my research and looked up the exact type of memory modules that my motherboard needed from the manufacturer's website and manual.  I wrote down the specs (an exact quote from the manual) on a piece paper for my wife.  Since these were going to be used parts, I directed her to the local "mom and pop" computer store which I normally liked to support instead of the "big box" stores.  

She went in one day after work and explained that she would like to buy some older RAM modules and that she didn't know much about much about "computer jargon" but that (her husband) had written down what he needed.  The fellow took the paper and said something like "well it looks like he doesn't know much about computer jargon either" as if what I had written down was jibberish.  He then tried to tell her that it wouldn't be compatible but that she could buy such and such a new part (this was the owner of the store who had run it for over 10 years).

I was pretty frustrated with this arrogant response.  I took the specs, went personally to ANOTHER computer store (I won't be going back to that first store again) and within 20 minutes had returned with exactly the RAM modules I needed and had my PC's memory upgraded.  As a bonus, it was cheaper at the second store.

[coldfish]

I miss those little computer shops, there were two good Amiga shops near me one of them had a tech who built and sold adapters; RGB to VGA ect...  

On the plus side, the modern big computer shops staffed by people with zero computer knowledge sometimes make happy mistakes.

Like the time a friend went to buy a stick of RAM and the cashier thought the whole box was one unit, so sold him a box of 50 sticks for the price of one!  He shuffled out of there real quick.  

[Amiga_Nut]

Which is just as well, because the only help they would be is if you had trouble reading the label on the shelf edge, they could read it to you. That and pointing out the most expensive item in the line they have while saying "This is what you need sir!" seems to be all they're good for.

Apple staff tend to be elitist alright, but at least they know the products they're trying to sell you.

I was refused a job at PC World because I am MORE qualified than the area manager, in both management AND IT skill based degrees :roflmao:

But you are right, because PC World expect people to work ludicrous late shifts and weekends for minimum legally allowed national wage I don't actually expect staff at PC World to ever improve anyway.

[r06ue1]

I remember the first time I saw a Amiga on display and the graphics were AMAZING (this was back in the mid-80's).  All the stores also sold PC's and I remember thinking "why would anyone buy that POS, the graphics are horrid?".  
 
Never been in a Apple store and never been in a Microsoft store and I plan to keep it that way.  Just because I've been forced into using Microsoft/PC junk due to lack of competition doesn't mean I have to have any appreciation for their garbage what-so-ever.  :lol:

[save2600]

Never been in a Apple store and never been in a Microsoft store and I plan to keep it that way.

Never heard of a brick and mortar Microsoft store before this thread. Wow. Are there no boundaries to what they'll try to copy? According to Wiki, at least they only have 7 of the God forsaken places. :lol:

[Sandman]

Actually, I believe that the main Microsoft store is nearby in Bellevue, WA.  It is a really nice place... maybe they copied the Apple Store idea but I believe that they did it better.  Layed back, friendly people with no pressure... seem fairly knowledgable too.

For all the crap that gets layed out on Microsoft they have made some great products too or else they wouldn't still be around.

Apple on the other hand, for their often being praised as the savior for the individual thinking computer user sure like to trap you in their little box and force you to do it their way.

Just my opinion........

[runequester]

Apple on the other hand, for their often being praised as the savior for the individual thinking computer user sure like to trap you in their little box and force you to do it their way.
 
Just my opinion........

Its not like Microsoft are a shining beacon of openness. Same shit, different colours

[tone007]

Unless you write all of your software yourself, you're going to be doing it someone else's way.

[Amiduffer]

There was this Amiga shop in Massachusetts midway between Boston and New Bedford off the 24 back in the 1990's. The owner was a cool guy, his store was well maintained, the displays were nice, and it was cool to just go in and drool over the equipment. Always got a cover disk at least while my friend looked over what he wanted. He even had a shop in the back for repairing Amigas.

[r06ue1]

"For all the crap that gets layed out on Microsoft they have made some great products too"
 
Age of Empires and the expansions/later versions; I'll give them credit for that one (unless they stole this idea from someone like they do all their stuff).  Had way too many LAN party weekends playing that one.