Would you like to work in a train shop.?

A co-worker and I, while working our real jobs as switchmen for AT&T in NYC, would often sneak off and visit Madison Hardware. Carl & Lou would buy us lunch (always the same: liverwurst and onion on rye, a little mustard, with a big pickle, with a side of cole slaw.)  It must have been a healthy choice, since they both lived into their 90's.

Around Christmas, for a few years, they would have train sets delivered to well-to-do folks in Manhattan, along Park Avenue, 5th Avenue, etc. who had acres of apartment floor space. They hired us to show up, take all the trains, tracks, transformers, wires and accessories out of the big boxes, and set up "carpet centrals" for the rich folks' kids.

We actually got paid to play with trains, the parents were generous with gratuities, and the Brothers would toss us a few little items along with a $100 bill for each of us.

My prize one year was a David O. King boxcab electric in McGinnis colors. Obviously a fantasy depiction, but I loved it and still do. It was handed to me (for a price) on the last day of Madison's operations, as appreciation for, I guess, putting up with those two lovable (?) old f@rts over the years.

I can see where doing it for a living would have taken the joy out of it, as evidenced by the "Brothers Grimace" attitudes towards the end of their career. Lou once said "I hate all trains...all ages and all gauges."

Negative... Quick way to turn any enjoyed hobby into a chore... JM2C...

@Arthur P. Bloom posted:

A co-worker and I, while working our real jobs as switchmen for AT&T in NYC, would often sneak off and visit Madison Hardware. Carl & Lou would buy us lunch (always the same: liverwurst and onion on rye, a little mustard, with a big pickle, with a side of cole slaw.)  It must have been a healthy choice, since they both lived into their 90's.

Around Christmas, for a few years, they would have train sets delivered to well-to-do folks in Manhattan, along Park Avenue, 5th Avenue, etc. who had acres of apartment floor space. They hired us to show up, take all the trains, tracks, transformers, wires and accessories out of the big boxes, and set up "carpet centrals" for the rich folks' kids.

We actually got paid to play with trains, the parents were generous with gratuities, and the Brothers would toss us a few little items along with a $100 bill for each of us.

My prize one year was a David O. King boxcab electric in McGinnis colors. Obviously a fantasy depiction, but I loved it and still do. It was handed to me (for a price) on the last day of Madison's operations, as appreciation for, I guess, putting up with those two lovable (?) old f@rts over the years.

I can see where doing it for a living would have taken the joy out of it, as evidenced by the "Brothers Grimace" attitudes towards the end of their career. Lou once said "I hate all trains...all ages and all gauges."

That was the only thing Carl and Lou ever ate. BTW one day when I was there I started to choke so Lou gave me a drink of his coffee.......man OH man little coffee and about 90 proof !

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

The work appeals to me, the pay doesn't.

We're all glad you're right here John! Thank you and everyone else that has helped me out over the years. Merry Christmas to all! Stay safe!

@Lou N posted:

Been there, done that.  Fifty some years ago.

Started at Spark's Hobby Shop in Cleveland when I was 14.  75c per hour.  Made many friends; still have a couple of them!

Hobby House in Cleveland.  Big time pay increase to $1.40 per hour.

One Friday I had a very inebriated customer.  Dirty suit and shirt, cockeyed fedora.  Tells me he never had a train as a kid and wanted the biggest one we had.  It was a Tyco Mikado set, 81 bucks!  Reached in his sock and pulled out a roll and paid cash.  I told the boss that a set would be coming back when the customer sobers up and sees what he bought.  Didn't see him for the next few days.  Friday comes and here he is again; white shirt cleaned and pressed, sober and not disheveled.  Says to me:  I'd like to get some switches and a box car for the train you sold me!

another story...

We sold a lot of radio control stuff but there was only one customer that did RC car racing.  John Cary; a haberdasher at Bunce Brothers on Shaker Square.  Always suit and tie and fedora with a first class cigar.  We worked well together.   One day he shows up with a racing jacket with patches for every European road race you could think of.  I asked about the jacket and John said these were all of the races he participated in.  I was a little silent for a moment because John is black and I never heard of a black race car driver.  I think he detected my pause in conversation.  The next morning I hear this rumble coming down the street and it turns in to the shop.  John steps out of a Lotus Elite and opens the shop door and says:  Com'n kid, we're going for a ride!  What's that about a book and its cover????  Life lesson learned.

I always enjoyed the kids and their excitement when an order would come in form Cleveland Hobby SUpply (Tuesdays).  Couldn't  unpack the stuff fast enough.  Only ever had one irate customer.

Lou N

Lou, I was in Jim Berilla’s Trading Post Train Shop in Cleveland the day after Christmas many years ago. It was crowded but that wasn’t surprising because there wasn’t much room on the floor on a normal day.  Anyway, day after Christmas so a mix of folks who had a problem with a new Christmas gift, wanted to spend some holiday money they’d received, and people returning their Christmas train for a refund.
This one fellow wanted a FULL  refund for the set he had purchased because he “didn’t want it.” So Jim says, “Ok, but there is a 15% restocking fee on all returns.” That’s when things got interesting. The guy again demanded a FULL refund and “wasn’t leaving without it.” Jim just pointed to the sign prominently displayed that said “15% Restocking Fee on All Returns.” The fellow exploded in rage at Jim, called him every name in the book (in front of some kids, too) and Jim reciprocated and told him to get out of his store and never come back ! The air was mighty blue, believe me.

Then the irate man threatened Jim that he’d “see him outside in the parking lot.” Jim simply told him “fine, I’ll see you later” and quickly ducked into the back room .

Me, I figured this was no fun and slipped away. Other customers looked flabbergasted at the whole spectacle. I guess they never actually “met up,” though…

Another time, Jim told me that some people buy a train set just to run around their tree and then return it for a refund after Christmas . He claimed it happened every year. Hence the 15% fee and “for store credit only” policy he had, too.

Besides all that, on another occasion when I was alone with him in the store, Jim said he had “insurance” against any thieves or troublemakers coming in the shop and pulled out a loaded .45 revolver from under the counter to show me his “policy.”  

God rest you, Jim, you were a great guy.  Always enjoyed our talks.

Nope to many stinky old GUYZ like me!!!😱😉😂

Just kidding, Yes it would probably be an eye opening experience dealing with what goes right and wrong with these expensive toys.  Merry Christmas 🎄!!!

I would if there were one close enough and I could make my own hours.

Wouldn't need to make a lot, enough to cover gas and pay for a few trains.

If I wanted to work in a train repair shop I would get my list or check the train shelves for posted's on/for engines, cars and accessories that need repairs.  I really do not get a kick out of ripping into a steam loco like a Lionel 1666 to clean or repair a e-unit.

Working on the showing and selling end of a train shop would be much better talking to folks about trains.

Charlie

@Dave Warburton posted:

This one fellow wanted a FULL  refund for the set he had purchased because he “didn’t want it.” So Jim says, “Ok, but there is a 15% restocking fee on all returns.” That’s when things got interesting. The guy again demanded a FULL refund and “wasn’t leaving without it.” Jim just pointed to the sign prominently displayed that said “15% Restocking Fee on All Returns.” The fellow exploded in rage at Jim, called him every name in the book (in front of some kids, too) and Jim reciprocated and told him to get out of his store and never come back ! The air was mighty blue, believe me.

Then the irate man threatened Jim that he’d “see him outside in the parking lot.” Jim simply told him “fine, I’ll see you later” and quickly ducked into the back room .

Me, I figured this was no fun and slipped away. Other customers looked flabbergasted at the whole spectacle. I guess they never actually “met up,” though…

I saw something like this happen in a hobby shop in PA (somewhere between Aberdeen MD and Gettysburg, I couldn't tell you where it was, today) in 1998. Some guy demanded a full refund for something he'd clearly stepped on. The guy behind the counter wasn't entertaining the insanity.

"Look, you dropped something on this or stepped on it. We both know there's no way you would have bought this, damaged like that," the clerk said. Even the box was in a 'V' shape. The nerve of the guy trying to return was palpable. The clerk (I think he was the owner) wasn't entertaining the insanity.

The buyer said he was going to come across the counter and 'mess him up,' and the clerk started laughing so hard, he was actually crying. The clerk said, "Two points; First, almost no train fans can or will throw down on anything. Second, I can and will." He stepped back from the counter toward the wall and it was clear he had a well-worn K-bar fighting knife on his trouser belt. He told the buyer he'd been in 'Nam and this wouldn't be the first time he used the knife on someone if the customer tried to make good on his threat.

You hear about the color draining from someone, and I've seen it a few times, but never that much. The guy turned white as a cloud!

After he left, another customer came up and asked if the buyer realized who he was messing with. the clerk shrugged. I asked the clerk, telling him I was in the Army myself, and the clerk said he'd been in LRRP and Ranger units in Vietnam. Not the kind of guy you'd wanna mess with, in an even fight!

I'd love to learn how to repair trains, but my eyesight is diminishing.  Can't believe I used to be into N-scale!

@p51 posted:

After he left, another customer came up and asked if the buyer realized who he was messing with. the clerk shrugged. I asked the clerk, telling him I was in the Army myself, and the clerk said he'd been in LRRP and Ranger units in Vietnam. Not the kind of guy you'd wanna mess with, in an even fight!

Don't fool around with an old VN vet.  NH Joe

At Dewitt Hobbies near Orlando, I was there one day and someone came in doing what we today refer to as a "Karen" thing, demanding stuff she wasn't entitled to (long story what she was on about and it isn't really relevant). Dick Dewitt wasn't having it. She demanded to see the manager and he said he was the owner. She didn't understand the difference and demanded to see who was over him. He smiled and asked if she understood that it doesn't get higher than the owner for a small business.

This revoked her 'Karen card' and her brain was fried at the idea she couldn't complain to anyone above him.

This isn't so much a hobby shop thing as a business thing, but I was in my teens when I saw that and I never forgot it.

I have been helping my local shop with train demos throughout the Holiday season. Explaining how this stuff works can really intimidate new families so I offered to stop in from time to time and help. It has been one of my favorite things to do. Watching a child's face the first time they see an animated engine (Lionchief, Legacy, MTH - doesn't matter) with sounds is something that never gets old.

As far as working at the shop full time....that may take away some of the magic, lol.

@jim sutter posted:

Stocking shelves. Unpacking boxes and putting price stickers on new inventory that just arrived. Running the store layout for who ever comes into the store. Visiting with customers as time permits. Helping in anyway you can. Answering the phone. Keep the place clean and rid up. If this is something you would like to do, talk to your local store owner. Ask them if they are hiring. Merry Christmas.

@jim sutter-- What are the top few qualities it takes to run a successful shop? I'm guessing things like, be a good listener, be patient, be friendly and maybe be organized? Anything I missed?

Tom

Wow, there’s some scary stories here on “working for or visiting a hobby shop”, shop at your own risk so to speak. I know operating a small business, or even a large business is not what it used to be. Being retired, I expressed earlier in this cool thread that I would love to work in an upscale locally owned hobby shop, and I truly would. Possibly 3 days a week, (not worried about the money) showing the advantages that come with building a model railroad. Seeing young folks, older folks happy makes my day. It takes, learning how to do a little carpentry, using a variety of power tools, nuts and bolts, electric wiring, scenery making, track planning, art, painting, and how to create a small world for his or her trains to run through. Therefore, demonstrating the really cool new products being made by Lionel, which I’m familiar with, would be a lot of fun. Before anyone wants to build a model railroad, they first must be sold on the model train products and have visually good ideas of what they could see down the road. Yes, many of us model railroaders got our first train at Christmas, neatly set up under the Christmas tree, by our parents. Oh, what a surprise it was on Christmas morning, a Wow. That being said, one would have to listen to the customer and not offer products that are out of their budget. However, showing the Lionel Legacy System could start the thoughts and later in their life, maybe 20 plus years later, that dream could become reality. Yes, when I was a young fellow, I visited a friend that had a super nice model railroad in his basement, (an elaborate American Flyer layout)  it blew my mind and I said, “one day”, I’m going to build a model railroad. That’s a dream come true.  Thank you @Jim Sutter for Asking the Question, it’s a great thread. Happy Railroading Everyone

PRR8976. You named Four wonderful things you should have. Also, always be kind, talk to the children, always be on time, always be in good mood, always be happy and smile basically be your self.

@p51 posted:

I saw something like this happen in a hobby shop in PA (somewhere between Aberdeen MD and Gettysburg, I couldn't tell you where it was, today) in 1998. Some guy demanded a full refund for something he'd clearly stepped on. The guy behind the counter wasn't entertaining the insanity.

"Look, you dropped something on this or stepped on it. We both know there's no way you would have bought this, damaged like that," the clerk said. Even the box was in a 'V' shape. The nerve of the guy trying to return was palpable. The clerk (I think he was the owner) wasn't entertaining the insanity.

The buyer said he was going to come across the counter and 'mess him up,' and the clerk started laughing so hard, he was actually crying. The clerk said, "Two points; First, almost no train fans can or will throw down on anything. Second, I can and will." He stepped back from the counter toward the wall and it was clear he had a well-worn K-bar fighting knife on his trouser belt. He told the buyer he'd been in 'Nam and this wouldn't be the first time he used the knife on someone if the customer tried to make good on his threat.

You hear about the color draining from someone, and I've seen it a few times, but never that much. The guy turned white as a cloud!

After he left, another customer came up and asked if the buyer realized who he was messing with. the clerk shrugged. I asked the clerk, telling him I was in the Army myself, and the clerk said he'd been in LRRP and Ranger units in Vietnam. Not the kind of guy you'd wanna mess with, in an even fight!

Great parallel kind of event. Love your story; thanks for sharing.

As a factory field service engineer for some complicated maintenance intensive equipment (that the customers never maintained) I had to take a lot of guff from customers/managers who did not understand what troubleshooting meant and why it took as long as it took.

But I needed the job and the money.

Now, retired from that and having my own car radio business, I no longer take any kind of guff from any potential customers. That's why I have a list of "retired" customers.

That reminds me...speaking of difficult customers and armed store owners...Lou Shur always carried a Beretta 9 mm in the store and was a pistol instructor. He once unloaded the pistol and he jokingly (I thought) asked me to try to disarm him. I was around 35 and in decent shape, trained in self-defense against armed assailants and in weapon retention, and he must have been pushing 85. Suffice it to say I was unsuccessful. He had remarkable strength for a guy his age.

I don't want to work, PERIOD.

@eddie g posted:

I don't want to work, PERIOD.

I recently read an article about the late singer, Dean Martin. He had a fabulously successful showbiz career including hosting a variety show on tv for a number of years. Plus stints in Las Vegas, movies, you name it.
Anyway, around the time he was seventy or so, his agent came to him with a hot proposition to do a movie (I think- some lucrative venture) which would make him like a million bucks. So Dean asked the agent, “Do I have enough money to maintain the lifestyle I live for the rest of my life without working anymore?” The fellow assured Dean that that was the case, and Dean told him that since he didn’t need to work anymore, consider him “retired,” and he passed on the offered contract.  

One thing NOT said about owning a LHS is you also need either a really good line of credit or a very large amount of money!

@jim sutter posted:

Woody, very well spoken. You said a mouth full. Merry Christmas.

I owned a store in the 70s. 6 months after I sold it, the guy went broke. Guess I was lucky.

Dick

“Buy high, sell low” has always been my motto with trains!

@eddie g posted:

I don't want to work, PERIOD.

That's the problem with you young guys!

I'de forgotten I did work in a hobby shop as a kid. Fortunately there was a Jack In The Box a half block away. I'm 74 now and can't think of any fond memories except the Jack In The Box tacos, which I still love today.

On a tangent, I worked in a record store in high school and college.  Loved music and loved the product so I considered the job more a hobby than work.  Upon graduation, I started my own record "store" as a mail order company selling pre-recorded music to customers in small towns, overseas in the military and prison inmates.  Did that for 34 years and loved every minute.  Had two long time employees and we took care of 26,000 customers.  Extremely satisfying experience.

Mr. Paris were was your record store located?

There are some really great things about working in a train (really a hobby) store.  I'm doing that right now on a part-time basis.  There's a lot to like:

• Working with some really nice people.  I love coming to work with the folks at Hobby Express.  They are always pleasant, upbeat, and looking to help people out (including each other).
• I like solving the customer's problem.  Sometimes folks come in and are confused about a specific train or scenery related item.  Often, it's possible to point them to the right item or find a solution.  They really appreciate that and it's a great feeling to make that happen. 
• I love the look on a child's face the first time they come into the store.  And we get that sense of wonder and amazement from children of all ages. 

It's not all sweetness and light, though.  Standing on your feet for long periods is hard at my age.  You won't get rich at this job.  And it's a lot of hard work (inventory, unloading pallets, moving boxes, pricing stuff), but the positives outweigh the negatives.

George

@jim sutter posted:

Mr. Paris were was your record store located?

It was a warehouse operation where customers mailed in their orders.  Company was in Los Angeles and bought product from all of the record labels.  The retail record industry saw a decline similar to that of the hobby store business, but I was happy to last as long as I did.

I used to occasionally work at Chester Holley Model RR in Tampa back in the late 70s till early 90s when he was going to a out of town train meet or other reasons such as Christmas Eve etc and also at Trains n Things for the late Gary Hughes in Clearwater around the same time and can honestly say it wasn't work at all, I really used to enjoy it.

@G3750, George, for those folks here on the forum, the store you work at is an amazing store, friendly folks, an enormous inventory, and easy access. The shopping center location is great.  When they utilize the adjacent store next door with the new train layout and display, it’s going to really draw a crowd. I’ll be back in April, 26 thru the 30th and hope to meet you. If we had a store like Hobby Express here in Clarksville, Tennessee, I’d love to be a part of the team. I can understand long hours, being on your feet for hours, (I am used to that) but like you said, the sweet smiles you see from the children is worth it all. Your in the business of making new friends and showing our next generation of train folks dreams can come true. Thanks for chiming in, it’s a fun hobby. Merry Christmas Everyone.

For all of you that would like to work in a train shop, I hope you get your wish. For all of you that wouldn't want to work in a train shop, that's fine too.

I have worked in retail, and I was not good at it.  I realize a good sales person can sell anything to anyone, no matter if the buyer needs/wants it or not.   However, of the seven so-called steps in the selling process, I found it difficult to close the sale for items I did not think were good or they needed.   

Maybe if I had worked in a train shop I would think differently.  Trains are fun and are discretionary purchases, and I would hope the buyer was staying within their budget.  However, I would probably be better in the workshop, fixing items, not on the sales floor.

@Jim Sutter, you have created a nice thread, and as you can see there’s really a lot of diversity of opinions, not everyone is created for sales, it’s a different ball game from the world of factory workers, construction engineers, even educators, Doctors, Lawyers, and even lots of store owners, sorry to say, but, I am a people person and have never met a stranger so to speak. Straight commission sales are not for everyone, it’s a different way of making a living than most folks can endure. The idea of working at a hobby shop sounds good, the owner has the headaches, pays the bills, has the liabilities so to speak, the clerks/sales associates  job is to make the Customer, (the most important product the store needs) happy and a pleasurable experience. No pressure is necessary if the sales associate does a proper demonstration and answers the customers wants, needs, questions. If a customer can’t afford a particular product, no problem, later in life they may have the money and will return to the store if the experience is satisfactory. You’ve heard the saying, “Champagne Taste, with a Beer budget, it happens and buying trains and hobby products comes from one’s money after all the family bills are paid. The sales associate needs to read between the lines to be effective to both the owner and the prospective buyer. Remember, this is a fun hobby, the customers first train is simply the beginning of a lifetime of Fun. Nuff Sayd.
Merry Christmas again, and Happy Railroading Everyone

Pictures are at Phillips Toy Mart in Nashville Tennessee, an hour and 15 minutes from Clarksville… I’ve been a customer there for 50 years, Wow….

One of the best friends I ever had was Chevrolet Mechanic. One time he told me, when people come into my store they are happy. Because, they are here to buy something new for the train. However, when they come to the Chevrolet garage, they maybe not be so happy because their brand new car has a problem.

@leapinlarry posted:

@Jim Sutter, you have created a nice thread, and as you can see there’s really a lot of diversity of opinions, not everyone is created for sales, it’s a different ball game from the world of factory workers, construction engineers, even educators, Doctors, Lawyers, and even lots of store owners, sorry to say, but, I am a people person and have never met a stranger so to speak. Straight commission sales are not for everyone, it’s a different way of making a living than most folks can endure. The idea of working at a hobby shop sounds good, the owner has the headaches, pays the bills, has the liabilities so to speak, the clerks/sales associates  job is to make the Customer, (the most important product the store needs) happy and a pleasurable experience. No pressure is necessary if the sales associate does a proper demonstration and answers the customers wants, needs, questions. If a customer can’t afford a particular product, no problem, later in life they may have the money and will return to the store if the experience is satisfactory. You’ve heard the saying, “Champagne Taste, with a Beer budget, it happens and buying trains and hobby products comes from one’s money after all the family bills are paid. The sales associate needs to read between the lines to be effective to both the owner and the prospective buyer. Remember, this is a fun hobby, the customers first train is simply the beginning of a lifetime of Fun. Nuff Sayd.
Merry Christmas again, and Happy Railroading Everyone

Pictures are at Phillips Toy Mart in Nashville Tennessee, an hour and 15 minutes from Clarksville… I’ve been a customer there for 50 years, Wow….

Wow LARRY what a beautiful mural on the wall and a nice store too.👍👍Thanks for posting Merry Christmas!