If there is a worse store in this area, I can't imagine. Made a "quick" trip in there to get a couple of duplicate keys made and pick up a couple of items. By the time I left I was ready to strangle someone. And I am a very mellow and patient person normally.
Wandered around as I hadn't been in the store for a long time, noting where the other things I wanted were located then went to get the keys made. Nobody was behind the counter so I pushed the customer help button to summon someone. Some dude shows up looking none too pleased and I told him I needed two keys made then handed him the two blank keys I picked out and the key to be duplicated. He looked at the keys slowly, examining them closely, then after an uncomfortable silence told me one of the blanks wouldn't work. I waited in another uncomfortable silence until he spit out that I needed 66's and the one was a 68. Okay, I have no idea what the difference is so I dutifully go around the corner to pick out a 66 with him. He grabs one FROM THE SAME PEG that I did and said this is what you need. I said that is EXACTLY where I got the other one and he just rolled his eyes at me.
So he proceeds around the counter and sloooowly fires up sparky to make the keys. More uncomfortable silence as we wait. Hear some noise from sparky and it stops. More silence. He seems to have zoned out and I clear my throat to remind him of the task at hand. He finally inserts the blank pushes a button, and the machine does its magic. He takes it out and examines it closely. Takes the original key out to compare it. Deeper perusal then he picks up a file and works intently on the key. More examination. More filing. Finally done to his sloooow satisfaction. Gets a paper envelope out to put the key in. Lays it on the counter and runs his hand over to flatten it, then opens it and slooowly puts the first duplicate key in. More uncomfortable silence as he contemplates his next move. Lather, rinse, repeat performance with key number two. By now I am looking around to see if Allen Funt is capturing this for Candid Camera.
Key #2 is finally done. Forgets he has a paper bag for the keys already, so I gently remind him. Carefully puts the other bag back. Stares at first bag in a quizzical manner, then picks it up and plops the second key in. Carefully closes the bag and more staring at it. Finally some synapse engages and he picks up a marker, then carefully (and sloooowly) finds the perfect place to write on. Writes a "2" on the bag, then stares some more. Brain cell #2 fires and he then circles the number. Admires his handiwork, satisfied he has executed his duties in his important position as key maker.
Now he remembers the original key. Slooowly pulls it out of sparky and examines it to make sure it wasn't damaged like his brain I suppose. Hands me the key and another uncomfortable silence until I look pointedly at the bag with the two freshly made keys and the perfect 2 in a circle. Brain cell #3 finally fires and he picks up the bag and sloooowly hands it to me. I thank him but he is already back in Lala-land and probably doesn't hear me.
I leave, shaking my head and wander off to get my other items.
To be continued...
Wandered around as I hadn't been in the store for a long time, noting where the other things I wanted were located then went to get the keys made. Nobody was behind the counter so I pushed the customer help button to summon someone. Some dude shows up looking none too pleased and I told him I needed two keys made then handed him the two blank keys I picked out and the key to be duplicated. He looked at the keys slowly, examining them closely, then after an uncomfortable silence told me one of the blanks wouldn't work. I waited in another uncomfortable silence until he spit out that I needed 66's and the one was a 68. Okay, I have no idea what the difference is so I dutifully go around the corner to pick out a 66 with him. He grabs one FROM THE SAME PEG that I did and said this is what you need. I said that is EXACTLY where I got the other one and he just rolled his eyes at me.
So he proceeds around the counter and sloooowly fires up sparky to make the keys. More uncomfortable silence as we wait. Hear some noise from sparky and it stops. More silence. He seems to have zoned out and I clear my throat to remind him of the task at hand. He finally inserts the blank pushes a button, and the machine does its magic. He takes it out and examines it closely. Takes the original key out to compare it. Deeper perusal then he picks up a file and works intently on the key. More examination. More filing. Finally done to his sloooow satisfaction. Gets a paper envelope out to put the key in. Lays it on the counter and runs his hand over to flatten it, then opens it and slooowly puts the first duplicate key in. More uncomfortable silence as he contemplates his next move. Lather, rinse, repeat performance with key number two. By now I am looking around to see if Allen Funt is capturing this for Candid Camera.
Key #2 is finally done. Forgets he has a paper bag for the keys already, so I gently remind him. Carefully puts the other bag back. Stares at first bag in a quizzical manner, then picks it up and plops the second key in. Carefully closes the bag and more staring at it. Finally some synapse engages and he picks up a marker, then carefully (and sloooowly) finds the perfect place to write on. Writes a "2" on the bag, then stares some more. Brain cell #2 fires and he then circles the number. Admires his handiwork, satisfied he has executed his duties in his important position as key maker.
Now he remembers the original key. Slooowly pulls it out of sparky and examines it to make sure it wasn't damaged like his brain I suppose. Hands me the key and another uncomfortable silence until I look pointedly at the bag with the two freshly made keys and the perfect 2 in a circle. Brain cell #3 finally fires and he picks up the bag and sloooowly hands it to me. I thank him but he is already back in Lala-land and probably doesn't hear me.
I leave, shaking my head and wander off to get my other items.
To be continued...