Went to an old TV shop tonight...

[Carmine]

Tonight I had a few minutes to kill waiting for a friend to meet me for dinner. I had passed an old TV shop (complete with some 70s vintage consoles/table models in the window). It was open, and next door to the restaurant, so I decided to stroll inside.

Of course "customer" service has never been the hallmark of TV repairmen, so I wasn't surprised at the blank stares I received from the crew of 50-65 year old guys turning screws in the backs of flatscreens dumped around the shop like expensive black pizza boxes. When the lead tech, looking the oldest of the bunch finally looked up to ask "Whadda you need?" (Perhaps I would say "How about a cold beer and nachos? I'm here to watch the Superbowl on your flatscreens... What? This isn't a bar?)

I cautiously told him that I had an 1967 model Zenith TV, which worked, but I would like to have some of the old capacitors replaced for reliability... (Knowing I'LL never have the time.) I made sure to state it had a furniture-quality cabinet, and that was why I wanted it gone through... So as not to appear like some kind of nutcase who actually might enjoy an occasional Barney Miller episode on such an obsolete beast.

You would have thought I'd offered this guy terminal brain cancer! I mean the look of horror that came over his face was that shocking... He could barely speak. How dare I ask about getting a TV fixed at a shop which brags it has been in the same location since 1955, and has a sign that says "we fix them all, old and new". It wasn't like I propositioned his wife.

I even tried to get in a few "I don't expect you to get this done as a top priority" and "I understand you can't warranty anything this old". No dice. Someday I'd like to go back with a shoebox full of cash, just for laughs.

Oh well.