Dealing with Judgement as a Toy Collector (5000th post!)
Sept 23, 2015 0:17:49 GMT -5
R.A. The Rugged Man, AmericanMadeLesGold, and 1 more like this
Post by Duck Holliday on Sept 23, 2015 0:17:49 GMT -5
I make very few threads, but when I hit a landmark post count I will do something a little special...
I was wondering how you guys deal with the judgment of being a toy collector? If you are judged at all. Maybe many of the younger members here haven't really had to deal with that yet, I don't know, but I've pretty much bought toys all my life, and never totally stopped (outside of my poorer college years), and even though I started getting slight judgment in my 20's (I'm now 30), I've never really let it bother me... but my defenses are starting to wear down a bit.
So, I'm lucky enough in my day to day life amongst family, friends and my lady, I don't really get any flack (as long as I keep it reasonably in check).
However, I'm starting to let it bother me more and more when clerks at retail are obviously passing judgment. Normally, I meet it head on without shame, I never put the toy face down, or needlessly amongst other purchases, or ask for a gift receipt (as if it's for a child)--I stand tall and confident and make the purchase. When questioned about it, I just keep it real and drop the truth on them.
[It really bothers me when clerks have such poor training that they don't think to not ask personal questions, or pass very obvious judgment. As someone who's worked retail in a very successful specialty shop, it just drives me crazy]
This is almost exactly what happened to me a bit ago which really raised my ire:
Lady clerk sees me holding a Marvel Legends Wasp figure.
Lady Clerk: “Is that a girl's toy?”
Me: “Well, it's a toy of a girl, but not necessarily a 'girls toy'”
LC: “Is that for your daughter or something?”
Me: “No, it's for me.”
LC: “What!? You a collector?”
Me: “Yeah, I guess, I don't really think about it that way, though.”
LC: “You're not going to play with it, right?”
Me: “Well, I could.”
LC: “You going to!?”
Me: “No, but I could; it's mine.”
She laughs.
LC: “Do other people in you're family collect?”
Me: “No, pretty much just me.”
LC: “They think it's weird?”
Me: “No, they don't really care.”
I assume I'm coming across as annoyed now
LC: “It's ok... nothing to be ashamed of.”
(which pretty much further implies that it is)
Me: “Yeah, I'm not really worried about it.”
Transaction finishes. I walk out annoyed, even consider talking to a manager.
Here's the thing, it's important for stores to foster a safe, judgment-free atmosphere. It's ok to be friendly and ask appropriate questions, but implying that there is any wrong doing is a serious misstep. What if someone was buying adult diapers, yeast infection treatment, or several rat traps; the customer needs to feel comfortable in doing so, otherwise they may feel embarrassed and not come back.
Anyhow... The meat of the question again: “How do you deal with judgment? Or the possibility of judgment? (when buying toys)
(Now I ascend to a higher plane of existence * WF Legend Mode Activate*)
I was wondering how you guys deal with the judgment of being a toy collector? If you are judged at all. Maybe many of the younger members here haven't really had to deal with that yet, I don't know, but I've pretty much bought toys all my life, and never totally stopped (outside of my poorer college years), and even though I started getting slight judgment in my 20's (I'm now 30), I've never really let it bother me... but my defenses are starting to wear down a bit.
So, I'm lucky enough in my day to day life amongst family, friends and my lady, I don't really get any flack (as long as I keep it reasonably in check).
However, I'm starting to let it bother me more and more when clerks at retail are obviously passing judgment. Normally, I meet it head on without shame, I never put the toy face down, or needlessly amongst other purchases, or ask for a gift receipt (as if it's for a child)--I stand tall and confident and make the purchase. When questioned about it, I just keep it real and drop the truth on them.
[It really bothers me when clerks have such poor training that they don't think to not ask personal questions, or pass very obvious judgment. As someone who's worked retail in a very successful specialty shop, it just drives me crazy]
This is almost exactly what happened to me a bit ago which really raised my ire:
Lady clerk sees me holding a Marvel Legends Wasp figure.
Lady Clerk: “Is that a girl's toy?”
Me: “Well, it's a toy of a girl, but not necessarily a 'girls toy'”
LC: “Is that for your daughter or something?”
Me: “No, it's for me.”
LC: “What!? You a collector?”
Me: “Yeah, I guess, I don't really think about it that way, though.”
LC: “You're not going to play with it, right?”
Me: “Well, I could.”
LC: “You going to!?”
Me: “No, but I could; it's mine.”
She laughs.
LC: “Do other people in you're family collect?”
Me: “No, pretty much just me.”
LC: “They think it's weird?”
Me: “No, they don't really care.”
I assume I'm coming across as annoyed now
LC: “It's ok... nothing to be ashamed of.”
(which pretty much further implies that it is)
Me: “Yeah, I'm not really worried about it.”
Transaction finishes. I walk out annoyed, even consider talking to a manager.
Here's the thing, it's important for stores to foster a safe, judgment-free atmosphere. It's ok to be friendly and ask appropriate questions, but implying that there is any wrong doing is a serious misstep. What if someone was buying adult diapers, yeast infection treatment, or several rat traps; the customer needs to feel comfortable in doing so, otherwise they may feel embarrassed and not come back.
Anyhow... The meat of the question again: “How do you deal with judgment? Or the possibility of judgment? (when buying toys)
(Now I ascend to a higher plane of existence * WF Legend Mode Activate*)
ing stupid. 
