Monday, November 12, 2012
davenports and cinema
Did you hear the one about the Portugese and the davenport?
It was something that took a lot of our consideration this afternoon.
A couple came into the shop to look around.
They returned to the desk and asked Bill what the best price would be on the davenport?
It was just as well that I was at the desk too, for Bill hadn't a clue what a davenport was!
There may be a good chance that you don't know either. Later Bill said it just a desk with a fancy name.
This is very much like the one in our shop.
It is Victorian.
So we phoned the dealer for the best price. It was not a price our Portugese man wanted to hear.
He would think about it.....there were other davenports in the street.
Off they went.
Later the couple were back. Now then, what is the very best price?
So, I phoned again and he was quoted a very good price - quite a reduction. Come on Mr Portugese, nobody is in the trade to actually give you things!
He went away again.
The next I knew another man entirely was really studying the davenport. Two potential buyers in one afternoon.....can't be true.
And it wasn't. This man was from a shop along the road, which specialises in desks. He was checking it out for Mr Portugese.
It seemed it passed its inspection.
Soon Mr Portugese was back.......with a credit card, which we are not equipped to take.
"Oh, how can I pay? The bank will only allow me a certain amount at each withdrawal."
But his wife went to the bank and came back with the full amount.
By this time Mr Portugese was trying to offer even less than the very good price he had been quoted.
The dealer (yes I was on the phone again) would have nothing of the lower offer.
Eventually the money (the full amount) was in the safe and the man from the desk shop was collecting it in order to do a modification on it. And he would deliver it to Mr Portugese's daughter.
But we hadn't lost our Portugese couple yet.
They were supposed to picking up a grandson from school. They were late.
I phoned for taxis - who couldn't come immediately.
Bill actually offered to take them instead.
But they hadn't finished. They needed to go to Boots to buy a thermometer.
When they returned they asked again about a taxi.
So I phoned another company who would send a taxi as soon as they could.
After about 2 hours they were gone.
Life is never dull!
Now for some pictures to amuse those who have backgrounds in the same town as me.
Last week I shared with you a picture of the old cinema on its way to total demolition.
Today I can share 3 pictures which are steeped in nostalgia. Suddenly I felt I was there again for an evening at the pictures
It all looks so familiar. I can feel the seats, see the colours of the curtains, see the little clock which told you that minutes were ticking away to the last bus home.
The foyer.
The upstairs lounge. It felt very grand to see the films from the balcony seats.
As we see, the pictures were in a book. I don't know which book at the moment.
I will always try to share pictures that I now see on the Memories of Crawley group when I see them as particularly interesting.
But remember you ( a few of you) could be seeing all the photos, comments and memories if you were on facebook.
You could be on facebook just for this group.....you don't have to be a facebook friend with anybody.
It was something that took a lot of our consideration this afternoon.
A couple came into the shop to look around.
They returned to the desk and asked Bill what the best price would be on the davenport?
It was just as well that I was at the desk too, for Bill hadn't a clue what a davenport was!
There may be a good chance that you don't know either. Later Bill said it just a desk with a fancy name.
This is very much like the one in our shop.
It is Victorian.
So we phoned the dealer for the best price. It was not a price our Portugese man wanted to hear.
He would think about it.....there were other davenports in the street.
Off they went.
Later the couple were back. Now then, what is the very best price?
So, I phoned again and he was quoted a very good price - quite a reduction. Come on Mr Portugese, nobody is in the trade to actually give you things!
He went away again.
The next I knew another man entirely was really studying the davenport. Two potential buyers in one afternoon.....can't be true.
And it wasn't. This man was from a shop along the road, which specialises in desks. He was checking it out for Mr Portugese.
It seemed it passed its inspection.
Soon Mr Portugese was back.......with a credit card, which we are not equipped to take.
"Oh, how can I pay? The bank will only allow me a certain amount at each withdrawal."
But his wife went to the bank and came back with the full amount.
By this time Mr Portugese was trying to offer even less than the very good price he had been quoted.
The dealer (yes I was on the phone again) would have nothing of the lower offer.
Eventually the money (the full amount) was in the safe and the man from the desk shop was collecting it in order to do a modification on it. And he would deliver it to Mr Portugese's daughter.
But we hadn't lost our Portugese couple yet.
They were supposed to picking up a grandson from school. They were late.
I phoned for taxis - who couldn't come immediately.
Bill actually offered to take them instead.
But they hadn't finished. They needed to go to Boots to buy a thermometer.
When they returned they asked again about a taxi.
So I phoned another company who would send a taxi as soon as they could.
After about 2 hours they were gone.
Life is never dull!
Now for some pictures to amuse those who have backgrounds in the same town as me.
Last week I shared with you a picture of the old cinema on its way to total demolition.
Today I can share 3 pictures which are steeped in nostalgia. Suddenly I felt I was there again for an evening at the pictures
It all looks so familiar. I can feel the seats, see the colours of the curtains, see the little clock which told you that minutes were ticking away to the last bus home.
The foyer.
The upstairs lounge. It felt very grand to see the films from the balcony seats.
As we see, the pictures were in a book. I don't know which book at the moment.
I will always try to share pictures that I now see on the Memories of Crawley group when I see them as particularly interesting.
But remember you ( a few of you) could be seeing all the photos, comments and memories if you were on facebook.
You could be on facebook just for this group.....you don't have to be a facebook friend with anybody.
