[TheGoodTexan]

I've needed to purchase some acoustic strings for weeks now, but I never make it into any music stores anymore at all. They just don't excite me like they used to.

But last night my wife and I ate dinner at a restaurant that's in the same parking lot as Sam Ash, (Logan's Roadhouse in Rivergate for you locals). When we finished up, I decided to run into Sam Ash to get the strings. My wife went in with me. It's about 7:00pm.

I walk in, browse around for about 10 minutes, looking at the used guitars. Although this Sam Ash is about the same size as the local GC, there were only 2 other customers in the entire store...and only one of them was playing guitar....a very pleasing Stanley Jordan, two-hand style jazz things. The other customer was in the ProSound department.

A fella asked if I needed help. I told him I need two packs of strings. He promptly got them and brought them back to me and said, "When you're ready to check out, just take them to the girl at the front counter." I thanked him and walked around some more.

By the time we made our way to the front counter, the customer that had been in the ProSound department was checking out in front of us. I waited. I waited. Four or five minutes had probably passed. The cashier is encountering computer problems. She called over another employee. I waited.

Then I asked, very politely, "Can you guys ring me up for these strings?"

The cashier said, "We've only got this one computer open, and it's tied up sir." Then she called the store manager over, and all three of them were trying to resolve the computer problem.

I saw that the strings were $4 & some change per pack, so I took out a $10 bill and laid it on the counter and began to walk out.... but the "receipt n-a-z-i" at the door....who had witnessed the whole thing....would not allow me out without a receipt.

So I retrieved my $10 bill.... laid the strings at the counter and left.

I didn't cause a scene. I didn't raise my voice. I didn't even show physical signs of frustration. My wife even complimented me on the way to the car, "You handled that very well."

Problem: I still need strings. There are no mom & pop stores in the area that I'm aware of. In fact, I'm not aware of ANY other music stores on this side of town.