Saturday 9 October 2010

A Trip To HobbyCraft

Whilst our hubbies were away having fun, my Mum took me for a little shopping trip to HobbyCraft... well, while the men are away, the ladies will make them pay *lol*
I specifically wanted chipboard...
"Do you have any chipboard" I asked an assistant who was milling around.
"Ummm....." he replied
I asked again: "12 by 12 chipboard perhaps - for making mini albums and scrapbooking?"
"Ummm...." he replied.
"It's like layered paper - very popular these days... Docrafts - Papermania - sell mini chipboard albums... any inkling yet?" I was trying to be helpful.
"Ummm..." he replied - his eyes becoming a little glazed as he looked around, avoiding my gaze, and trying to figure out how to escape this mad woman who wanted an alien and rare material ...
"Look, it's like cardboard, it comes in 12 by 12 sheets - sometimes white and sometimes what the manufacturers call 'bare'... do you have any in stock do you think?" I was being polite and not too frightening - honest!
"Ummm..." he replied. Then (astonishingly) added "No". He sounded sure. "Definitely not" he said.
"You don't stock it at all?" I asked.
"Nope" was his almost grunt-like reply. "We don't sell chipboard". He said 'chipboard' like it was a foreign word that tasted funny in his mouth... like he'd never heard of it before!
"Oh, well... never mind. Thank you anyway" I sighed dejectedly.

I walked around the corner of the aisle, looked up... and saw 12x12 chipboard! I grabbed it like it was pure gold ... I may have even been muttering such words ike "My precious" as I stroked the packaging with a mad glint in my eye.

"Hmph!" I thought... loudly *lol* "Hold on a minute, Mum" I said to my poor mum, trying to keep up with the insane thing her daughter had suddenly become "I'm just going to find that rather helpful assistant" (I don't do sarcasm all that well).

I strode up in front of the young man, held aloft my precious... uh, I mean I sort of shoved the chipboard in front of his face, and declared for the whole shop to hear "LOOK!"
The poor assistant (who thought he'd shaken me off some minutes beforehand and was now rooted to the spot in sheer terror) stood dumbfounded and mute as I shook my treasured (and as yet unpaid for) chipboard around in front of him and cried "THIS is chipboard. You actually DO sell the stuff... papercrafts aisle - for your future reference". I beamed him a huge smile, turned my heels and waltzed off mumbling something under my breath about how I should be paid to be there instead of useless six foot tall teenage boys.
I then made the mistake of looking around to see if the message had hit home... and saw him giving me such a withering and hateful look that I just wanted to hide. Oops... take note ladies... this is your first lesson in how to really annoy HobbyCraft staff and risk being barred from the only such shop in your area :D

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Love your post - how could he possibly understand the value of chipboard - he's a man!My man calls my pages cutting and sticking and making a mess.

Tracee said...

How funny I'll bet if he sees you coming next time he will drag you to the "chipboard" and say I remembered LOL, or mybe he will juat run and hide.
Men aren't designed to recognise papercrafting items!!
Tracee x

misteejay said...

Problem is...Hobbycraft have failed to appreciate that it would actually be helpful to their sales if their staff knew something about the products they sell (male or female) - they insist on employing 'kids' cos it is cheap but most of them wouldn't know a clear stamp from their chipboard even if it jumped up and bit them. Both of the HC stores near me are just the same.

Toni :o)

Sian said...

I completely agree with Toni - Hobbycraft are in the wrong for not training their staff. It must be miserable to work there and not have a clue about any of the things you are selling. I would have taken it and waved it under his nose too :)

Jules said...

I've given up asking the staff in my local Hobbycraft anything, none of them appear to have a clue! Toni's right, it really would help their sales if their staff knew what they were talking about, but never mind. Sounds like you had a fun shopping trip though, and I'm glad you got your chipboard!

Anita said...

Oh Sheleen, you have just MADE my evening soooo much better! You write in such a way that I WAS there with you!!!!! I haven't laughed so much in ages....THANK YOU! I have only been to a couple of Hobbycrafts, but can totally understand this happening....they are a bit clueless. So pleased you got your chipboard though in the end. So.....what magnificent creation are you going to make with it? Can't wait to see it :)
warmest wishes Anita..xxxx