[78-L] Dealing with the dealers

[Taylor Bowie]

My first job as teeny-teen was at the old Fillipi Book and Record Shop here 
in Seattle.  Mr. Fillipi handled the books and Mrs. Fillipi handled the 
records,  and each stayed out of the way of the other.  Mr. Fillipi was very 
gentle and sweet-natured,  but Mrs.  could be either a charmer or a real 
meanie.  She divided her record collector customers into one of two groups: 
Either you were "good people" or you were a "horse's ass."  On occasion, 
one in the former group would,  after committing some sort of usually vague 
and/or minor  transgression,  be moved to the latter group.  But they never 
got moved in the other direction,  ever.

I've not had that many dealings with retail sellers of 78s,  but my 
impression is that those who auction 78s are generally less "prickly" and 
more pleasant to be around.  Not that I didn't love the Fillipis,  but she 
could be...difficult.

Taylor





 Original Message ----- 
From: "Bill McClung" <bmcclung78 at gmail.com>
To: "78-L Mail List" <78-l at klickitat.78online.com>
Sent: Tuesday, November 16, 2010 1:08 PM
Subject: Re: [78-L] Minneapolis 78 store


> Let's just call him a curmudgeon.  He won't ever be voted retailer of the
> year.  While I was in the store he was relatively patient with a guy 
> asking
> about a phonograph and totally impatient with a college student who kept
> asking where the liner notes were for the 78s.
>
> At Alamo Records in San Antonio I have regularly seen the owner ask
> customers to leave if he sees them not putting records back where they 
> found
> them or if he sees them treating the records roughly.
>
> The first time I went to Charlie's Records in Oklahoma City I felt like I
> was being put through a hazing ritual.  Charlie is a big black guy and the
> first time I was there he was at the back of the shop playing dominoes 
> with
> a friend.  They were cussing and trash talking and slapping the dominoes 
> on
> the table and they totally ignored me until they had finished their game.
> Then he finally asked me what I wanted and I said 78s and he pointed me to 
> a
> small stack.  When I finished looking at them and asked him if he had any
> more he used an obscene phrase that didn't answer the question.  I used an
> equally obscene phrase to answer him and he burst out laughing and we've
> been good friends ever since.  In fact, I'm proud to say that I've beaten
> him at dominoes as often as he has beaten me although he is a better trash
> talker and doesn't seem to care that I have a mother.
>
> The guy in Minneapolis was spending his time working his records and
> straightening stock.  The guy at Alamo plays his guitar and reads. 
> Charlie
> plays dominoes and watches TV. I guess the answer is that they do whatever
> they do and whether you buy something or not they don't care. They're not
> trying to open a second store or franchise their concept.  They're not
> worried about the next new thing in vinyl so they can have it first. 
> They've
> got low rent or they own the building and they like working the records 
> and
> they'll be there in the store whether I'm there or not.  They're not
> there to sell me something.  I think they are where they want to be and
> doing what they want to do.  If they me sell something it's a plus.
>
>
>
> On Tue, Nov 16, 2010 at 1:36 PM, Michael Biel <mbiel at mbiel.com> wrote:
>
>> From: Bill McClung <bmcclung78 at gmail.com>
>> > But a word of advice. Don't be fooled by the owner's prickly exterior.
>> > He also has a prickly interior. He has little patience for foolish
>> > questions or the wasting of his time
>>
>> He is in the store to sell things.  WHAT ELSE CAN HE DO WITH HIS TIME
>> WHILE HE IS THERE??????????????  How is it possible to waste his
>> time?????  Where's he going???  What else would he be doing???
>>
>> Mike Biel  mbiel at mbiel.com
>>
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