Service

So yesterday my wife and I made plans to go pick out some new games from one of my favorite stores, The Griffon in South Bend.  I've always loved that store.  It's a hold out from a better age.  Before every thing became hugely commercial, before Wal-Mart, before so many other things that have promised to make life better but have only served to increase its velocity, stress and complication.

I have just recently realized just how much I love these kinds of places.  Better World Books in Goshen is another place like this that I have been to that had the same feel.  It's not as mom and pop, but it's just as welcoming.  Both places have incredibly knowledgeable people working there that just love to talk to their customers about what they are looking for, make helpful suggestions and are willing to spend the time to look up anything that is not in stock and help you locate it.  You know (or maybe you don't anymore) the kind of place that you can just spend hours looking around in and not feel the least bit rushed.  Small stores that are simply packed full of interesting and unique items.

For all of the convenience, both real and false, that the mega stores offer, I think what we have sacrificed as a culture for the sake of  "ease" is reflective of our overall lack of concern for depth in relationships and genuine interaction.

Service used to be (and still is occasionally)  offered out of appreciation for the business that kept the business owner thriving.  Now it's just a gimmick most places. It's a shame that good service is so rare that it can even work as a sales gimmick.   A decision that I made casually in the past has been made more firm:  I will support places that give genuine service even if it costs me a few extra dollars.  It's worth it to not feel like a robot buying things from other robots.