At about 10.30 this morning I stepped out of the shop. It was partly to cool down (the shop is getting pretty warm at the mo.), and also to check the window displays were looking ok. A woman went into the shop and stood at the counter with that 'lost' look on her face. I followed her into the shop and asked if I could help her. She asked for a tide table. I said we don't do them here. She looked over the counter and around the corner and said 'isn't there anybody here?' I explained patiently (honestly!) that yes, I was here, but we really didn't do tide tables. I told her where to go (no, not like that! I told her where she could go to get her tide table). Any thanks? No! She stood for a moment more, looking forlornly up and down the counter, clearly expecting that any moment a real employee would appear and furnish her with a tide timetable. Blooming cheek…
A little later a man, pulling a shopping trolley bag behind him, came to the shop. He stopped in the doorway, looked around and said what a nice shop it is. I thanked him, and he came to the counter. He said he could provide me with 'items proven to be good sellers in beach shops'. I told him I wasn't interested as our focus is the work of local people. He looked around and proceeded to tell me what a good deal he could give us. 'No, that's not for us' I told him. He looked around again and said, 'is this a charity shop?' I looked at him. 'So, it's a business' he said. I said yes. 'It's a good location' he said. I agreed, 'that's why we're here' I told him and so he began his sales pitch again. Eventually he gave up, and as he was leaving he looked back at me and said 'business is about making money'. Yes, I thought - but mass produced, imported beach stuff is not the only way! Blooming cheek…
Actually, we've had several people in this week asking for tide tables, hotel information and what's on brochures. I've lost count of the number that as they are leaving have declared loudly that they 'used to get them here' as if it's my fault that the tourist information office has moved. Blooming cheek…
The truth is that if you look it is pretty obvious that we are not tourist information (we even have a sign up letting people know where it is). A couple have just come in and politely asked if I knew where the tourist information office was. I told them where it is, and they were very grateful, and said what a gentleman I was. So, for those that think this is just me being a miserable old so and so, blooming cheek…