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  • King Fort Magazine


    Never got thrown out of any establishment before, but it happened today.

    One of my lunch time routines is to eat quick and then just walk around to refresh the body and the mind for hopefully some more afternoon productivity. Today I stopped by the magazines stalls on Fort Street to browse again. Well, after the last patron (a co-worker) walked out, the guy owner walked up to me and asked, "What place is this?".

    I feel puzzled and replied, "Book store?"

    He shouted at me, "THIS IS A RETAIL STORE! This is not a library, and I don't want you to come back here ever again!"

    I backed away and said "not a problem" a couple of times and walked out.

    For whatever reason, he must have a bad day or something because I do frequent that place at least once a week before. Oh well, it's true that I only bought a dozen magazines or so from them last year which amounted to probably loose change. I did not lose any money but definitely has no plan in bringing any more business to that place.

    However, although I've never talked to the owner myself, I have often seen people making conversations with him. One of the reasons I'd rather buy from them than the super bookstores, despite the discounts, is because I'm just trying to do what I can to support the Kamaaina's.

    Hopefully, this does not happen to any of you and may the locally-owned business continue to prosper.

  • #2
    Oh my...

    Like many, he's probably about to be forced out of business and isn't taking it well.
    https://www.facebook.com/Bobby-Ingan...5875444640256/

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    • #3
      Re: King Fort Magazine

      Time to take him a treat and start buying magazines!! You might make a friend (after a while....)

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: King Fort Magazine

        If you're in there regularly hanging out, and rarely buying anything, then you ARE treating it as a library. King Fort is a first-class magazine outlet, but it's not built for browsing like Borders is.
        Burl Burlingame
        "Art is never finished, only abandoned." -- Leonardo Da Vinci
        honoluluagonizer.com

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: King Fort Magazine

          Originally posted by cl0123 View Post

          Never got thrown out of any establishment before, but it happened today.

          One of my lunch time routines is to eat quick and then just walk around to refresh the body and the mind for hopefully some more afternoon productivity. Today I stopped by the magazines stalls on Fort Street to browse again. Well, after the last patron (a co-worker) walked out, the guy owner walked up to me and asked, "What place is this?".
          Is the co-worker a female? Maybe she's uncomfortable if you're hanging around the adult magazine section.

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          • #6
            Re: King Fort Magazine

            Oops! Deleted...hele on!

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            • #7
              Re: King Fort Magazine

              Originally posted by buzz1941 View Post
              If you're in there regularly hanging out, and rarely buying anything, then you ARE treating it as a library. King Fort is a first-class magazine outlet, but it's not built for browsing like Borders is.
              First class? I wouldn't call it first class (yes, I've been there, bought many magazines before I got internet).

              A "retail store"? Heck, I have browsed in legitimate retail stores like Long's just a couple blocks away.

              Pathetic.
              Beijing 8-08-08 to 8-24-08

              Tiananmen Square 4-15-89 to 6-04-89

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              • #8
                Re: King Fort Magazine

                eeehhh...used to somewhat frequent that place when I worked in town in the early 1980s, especially to look at the adult mags...know there was that sign about not staying long to read...but buy it instead...!

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                • #9
                  Re: King Fort Magazine

                  I wonder how much the Internet has cut into this guys' business?
                  http://thissmallfrenchtown.blogspot.com/
                  http://thefrenchneighbor.blogspot.com/

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                  • #10
                    Re: King Fort Magazine

                    Originally posted by SusieMisajon View Post
                    I wonder how much the Internet has cut into this guys' business?
                    Er, while King Fort has an adult magazine section, it's not a porno shop. I'm there for the British aviation magazines!
                    Burl Burlingame
                    "Art is never finished, only abandoned." -- Leonardo Da Vinci
                    honoluluagonizer.com

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: King Fort Magazine

                      Originally posted by buzz1941 View Post
                      If you're in there regularly hanging out, and rarely buying anything, then you ARE treating it as a library. King Fort is a first-class magazine outlet, but it's not built for browsing like Borders is.
                      Maybe so, but that's no reason for the proprietor to yell at anyone.

                      Many years ago, I got the third degree from the owner of the old Varsity Book Store after being inside for only 15-20 minutes. And it wasn't as if I was reading through just 1 or 2 books. I was checking out several titles. But apparently, that jerk expects his customers to buy books from him based on the cover alone.

                      When the owner testily asked me if I was going to buy something or not, I bit my tongue. Then told him, "I was going to buy the Catcher In The Rye for sure because I needed it for a school report. And if you didn't act like a jerk, I might have bought more. You blew it!" Then I stormed out.

                      A year later, the Varsity Book Store became Revolution Books as a new owner took over. I wouldn't be surprised if it was due to slow business. I can understand the frustration and stress that a small-business owner feels during tough economic times. But taking out your anger on potential customers is just plain suicide.
                      This post may contain an opinion that may conflict with your opinion. Do not take it personal. Polite discussion of difference of opinion is welcome.

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                      • #12
                        Re: King Fort Magazine

                        Originally posted by Random View Post
                        First class? I wouldn't call it first class (yes, I've been there, bought many magazines before I got internet).
                        I guess it depends on how you rate magazine stores. I, too, consider it a first-rate magazine shop. Its selection of literary and writing-themed magazines is just about unparalleled here, and it's got a decent puzzle-magazine section. There's a lot of stuff there you don't easily find elsewhere in town.

                        This doesn't excuse his rude treatment, of course.
                        But I'm disturbed! I'm depressed! I'm inadequate! I GOT IT ALL! (George Costanza)
                        GrouchyTeacher.com

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: King Fort Magazine

                          I rarely buy magazines anymore. Blame it on the internet (and the high price of magazines these days). But in my magazine-buying days, I visited that shop as often as I could. The variety of magazines they carried was impressive, from porno mags to literary journals to sports betting sheets.

                          Still, I don't think the owner should scold his customers. He never scolded me when I went in just to browse.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: King Fort Magazine

                            Originally posted by cl0123 View Post
                            He shouted at me, "THIS IS A RETAIL STORE! This is not a library, and I don't want you to come back here ever again!"
                            That's pretty rough. So much for a relaxing lunch time routine!


                            For whatever reason, he must have a bad day or something because I do frequent that place at least once a week before.
                            I would guess he's been irritated by your reading for a long time; he just bottled it up until he exploded (as Ron said, he's probably under a lot of financial stress).

                            People in Hawaii, especially Asians, are non-confrontational. I assume it's a survival skill for crowded countries, where open confrontation can quickly lead to dead people. In such cultures, you're expected to already know what's "right" and "wrong", so you don't have to be corrected publicly. Also you're expected to be aware of very subtle gestures and verbal cues which clue you in that you're making someone unhappy.

                            Of course the professional, and very American, thing for him to have done was to tell you politely, years ago, that it's tough to run a magazine business and that he can't afford to have people read his goods and not pay for them.

                            A lack of skill on his part, and a cultural difference.

                            As Cyleet suggested, you could apologize to him, sympathize by asking how tough it is to run a business (you'll never get him to shut up), maybe give a small gift of sorts (food works), and buy a magazine. You might make an interesting new friend.

                            Or you could just let that bridge burn and modify your lunch time routine.
                            "By concealing your desires, you may trick people into being cruel about the wrong thing." --Steven Aylett, Fain the Sorcerer
                            "You gotta get me to the tall corn." --David Mamet, Spartan
                            "
                            Amateurs talk technology, professionals talk conditions." --(unknown)

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                            • #15
                              Re: King Fort Magazine

                              Originally posted by cl0123 View Post

                              Never got thrown out of any establishment before, but it happened today.

                              One of my lunch time routines is to eat quick and then just walk around to refresh the body and the mind for hopefully some more afternoon productivity. Today I stopped by the magazines stalls on Fort Street to browse again. Well, after the last patron (a co-worker) walked out, the guy owner walked up to me and asked, "What place is this?".

                              I feel puzzled and replied, "Book store?"

                              He shouted at me, "THIS IS A RETAIL STORE! This is not a library, and I don't want you to come back here ever again!"

                              I backed away and said "not a problem" a couple of times and walked out.

                              For whatever reason, he must have a bad day or something because I do frequent that place at least once a week before. Oh well, it's true that I only bought a dozen magazines or so from them last year which amounted to probably loose change. I did not lose any money but definitely has no plan in bringing any more business to that place.

                              However, although I've never talked to the owner myself, I have often seen people making conversations with him. One of the reasons I'd rather buy from them than the super bookstores, despite the discounts, is because I'm just trying to do what I can to support the Kamaaina's.

                              Hopefully, this does not happen to any of you and may the locally-owned business continue to prosper.
                              Ha ha ha! I used to visit this bookstore when I was a kid in the early 80's, and the owners, an old white haired man and his wife used to scold me for reading the comic books. The scoldings got more intensified during the mid to late 80's, and started getting dirty looks are just 20 seconds of flipping, so I stopped going. I used to think they hated kids, cuz they picked on me more than any of the grownups around me doing the same thing.

                              I understand their son took over the business, which is probably who confronted you. I'm sure the grouchiness is in their genes, and probably needs anger management. I mean, hey, reading customers are just part of the magazine business! If the owners can't take it, then git da hell outta dodge!

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