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This is a simple account of my recent visit to Ron's Custom Upholstery Ltd. in Winnipeg, Manitoba. I'd called Ron's about a week before my actual visit to ask if they could help me with having a vinyl top installed on my freshly painted 1979 Chrysler Cordoba. The man with whom I spoke seemed courteous and helpful. When I visited the busniess in person, I had a somewhat different experience. I've tried to be as accurate as possible and of course without a recording of the conversation, I can't quote what was said verbatum so there is some room for error of recollection here. I am not suggesting that anyone should or should not patronize this business based upon what I am posting here but rather I am simply sharing MY personal experience with my visit to this business.
I arrived at Ron's Custom Upholstry Ltd., 21-1500 Regent Avenue in Winnipeg, Manitoba at about 15 minutes before 12 noon on Thursday, May 4th. I thought to myself, "Good! I'm not going to catch anyone at lunch!". I went inside and these are the events that followed...
I walked into a reception area where there were no customers, only a person sitting at a desk, back facing the counter (where I was). This person will simply be referred to as "service person" from here on in.
All the while with their back turned to me...
Service Person: "Hello?"
Me: "Hi there!" (doing my best to be upbeat and friendly)
Service Person: (unintelligably muttering) "Khahelmoo!"
Me: (thinking, what was that and was it meant for me?)
Service Person: "Can I help you?"
Me: "Yes. I need to have a vinyl top put on my car."
Service Person: "Is it a Landau top?"
Me: "I'm not sure what you call a Landau top in your industry"
Service Person: (becoming obviously adjitated) "Is it a convertable? If it has a roof under the vinyl, it's a Landau top!"
Me: (smiling in amusement at the rudeness of the service person) "OK, yes, it's a Landau top."
Me: "I'd like to do two things. I'd like to match the grain of the original which I have right here and I'd like to get a small swatch of the vinyl so I can have my painter match the trim paint colour to the shade of the vinyl."
Service Person: "It's a pre-made top, there are no swatches!"
Me: "Oh, ok..." (standing quiet while I think about how I can resolve this impasse)
Service Person now makes their way off their chair and over to the counter. Service Person pulls a large sample catalog from under the counter and pounds it loudly down on the counter. Service Person then proceeds to pull a sample page from the catalog and then throw it on the counter before me.
Service Person: "That's all yer gonna git!"
Me: (smiling, still amused by this display, pausing breifly, speaking politely) "You know, there are probably lots of places in town that do vinyl, I think I'll pass." (started walking toward the door)
Service Person: "FINE! GIT OUTA HERE!!!!"
Me: Walking out the door laughing hysterically, picking up the business card of the owner near the door.
Somebody hasn't felt the bubbles melt today!
So that's it, that's what happened to me today. I had to share it because I still don't believe it myself. I plan to call Ron back and relate this to him but hey, I may never get around to it.
Just FYI, Ron's business card reads like this...
Ron's Custom Upholstery Ltd.