The lights ain’t on and everybody’s home.
During a loud Tallahassee storm today, I decided to stop in at Ace Hardware in Killearn for a flashlight — you know, just in case the lightning struck just right.
Walking to the front door, I noticed the inside of the store was dark. It didn’t occur to me that just moments earlier, the lightning had struck just right at Ace. It looked as though they were closed, but I pulled handle anyway. The door swung open.
“Welcome to Ace!” came a woman’s voice from the register.
Honestly, it scared the crap out of me.
“Come on in. What do you need?”
“Actually, I need a flashlight.”
She laughed, and, almost as if on cue, out from the shadows came a man walking toward me with his own flashlight. He said, “Flashlights? Follow me.”
He led my to the back of the store and asked that I watch my step. The whole way, he pointed the flashlight right in front of my feet so I could actually watch each step. When we got to the flashlight display, he pointed here and there with the light, described some options, and recommended the black Mag-Lite over their own store brand. I said sure.
He grabbed the flashlight and a two-pack of C batteries: “You’re gonna need these too.” Then he pulled out a pad of paper and wrote down the stock number on both items. He led me back to the front of the store where he handed the woman behind the counter the ticket. She proceeded to write out an invoice — get this, with a pen! Knowing there was no power, I would have pulled out cash, but all I had was plastic. I handed her my debit card and she went to a drawer and pulled out the ancient shunk-shunk credit card imprint thingy.
She shunk-shunked the thingy, handed me my card, and I signed the receipt and left.
They never once mentioned the lights.
Refreshing to have an experience like this when the usual response would have been, “Sorry, sir. Can you come back later? Power’s out.” Had she said that to begin with, I would have accepted it and done just that. Now Ace Hardware has spoiled me.
Thanks to the gang at Ace Hardware Killearn. My flashlight’s ON — in your honor.
I have had noteworthy good service at ACE Hardware in several locations. Much less “corporate” feel than the big box stores… always reminds me of the good ol’ days of retail.
thanks for chiming in, hugh. they’re always so nice and helpful there — this visit took the cake. hope you’re well.
Due to recent events, the phrase “hiking the Appalachian Trail” has become a euphemism for transgressing on your marriage vows. Maybe due to you sharing this experience we can make “shunk-shunked the thingy” into short hand for putting the needs of the customer first, for recognizing that we’re in business to reduce customer anxiety, that we remain in business because of continued strong, positive, trusting relationships with our customers and we all can choose how we treat those relationships every day.
So can it be our new rallying cry? We all put our hands in the middle and yell “shunk-shunk the thingy” on three!
cracking up over here. good to hear from you ethan. hope you’ve been well! i am off to “shunk shunk the thingy” for my family (aka make dinner).