Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with shop

Help me get my PhD!

number9dream — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 09:38:40 -0800

Need to find a decent, quietish coffeeshop in San Francisco, near BART. I am meeting up with an academic collaborator from out of town tomorrow. We are supposed to meet in San Francisco for a couple of hours to discuss our project, and I'm in charge of finding the location. I'm familiar with SF, but not the coffeeshops so much. Requirements:

1. Close to BART.

2. Relatively quiet. Not the death-silence of a library, but I don't want to have to yell over loud music.

3. Reasonable likelihood of getting a table on a Saturday late morning/early afternoon.

Any recommendations would be appreciated.

Where to buy server hardware in Dallas?

edmz — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 09:17:23 -0800

I need to buy a custom 1U server in or around Dallas. Tomorrow. I need to buy a 1U rack server to install in a collocation facility in Dallas. Tomorrow I will be flying to Dallas and I need to buy the server once I'm there.

Ideally, the place where I can buy this server has the items in stock so that I can cherry-pick the hardware I need.

Linux will be installed on the server, in case it matters.

Thanks for any suggestions.

oh, and it needs to not look like crap.

kidsleepy — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 08:31:57 -0800

What's the best online print shop these days? Caveat: must have cheap options for small runs. I want to make some single-page, full-year calendars for gifts this year. I was thinking something poster-sized, on a lightweight cardstock, and only about 10 copies. Are there any online printing companies that can do this for me for under $100 or so? I saw this question from last year, but all the sites linked to seem to only do large (250+) runs.

Digital piano shops in Sydney

neworder7 — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 03:58:15 -0800

Looking for shops to buy a digital piano in Sydney (or if its online, Australia wide) I live in Sydney city area. The only piano shop I know is Allans music in CBD. I would like to check out other shops to buy a digital piano.

I am looking for the obvious things like variety of products to try out and good price :) Even if you are not sure about the prices that's ok too, I just need some guide where to look.

Can you suggest a shop or two in the Sydney area? Also if there are online shops Australia wide I would also be grateful.

Thank you

Anyone know of Sword Shops on Long Island?

FireStyle — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 22:11:36 -0800

Does anyone know of any sword shops on Long Island, particularly eastern Long Island? I'm looking for shops that sell mostly Japanese Swords and weapons. Also I'm mainly interested in collectors swords, not practical swords.

Help me sell stuff knowledgably

dance — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 09:03:33 -0800

I'm about to start work in an electronics shop (mobile phones, hifis, computers etc) and would love some tips. I want to make the transition as smooth as possible both for myself and my trainer. I haven't kept up to date with developments in the IBM-PC hardware area for a number of years as I now a mac and therefore lost interest. My Windows and Mac software knowledge is fine. But what about all the new acronyms and developments in the HiFi, gaming, TV, home cinema worlds? Does anyone have any reference that will help me be a good salesman?

And if anyone has any general tips for working in this field I would be grateful.

Thanks!

Muffins on the rocks

Groovytimes — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 18:58:31 -0800

Where do you donate day old coffee shop pastries? I was at my local coffee shop around closing and saw them throw out a lot of perfectly good pastries (I know I took home a few).

I was wondering who would I talk to in my community about possibly donating them to a shelter or something similar? Is it even legal or helpful?

Would some sort of "Top of the Muffin" incident ensue if I tried?

Where to buy wholesale price gold earrings

KimikoPi — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 22:40:24 -0800

Where can I get wholesale price gold hoop earrings in Los Angeles? I actually work very close to the downtown LA jewelry district, but it's kind of a mindboggling maze. Are those stores actually wholesalers or do they get their inventory from wholesale stores? Bottom line: what is the cheapest place to buy real gold hoop earrings in bulk (say, 10-20 at a time). And what do you think is the wholesale price for 18k or 24k gold hoop earrings?

Mmm, bagels...

firei — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 11:00:27 -0800

Thinking of opening up a bagel store in a town nearby where there are no bagel stores. Looking for tips, suggestions, advice, and name ideas! (First off, if you've read my previous questions, you know I'm a bit conflicted because in the past year I have graduated college, gotten two part time office jobs, and was thinking about becoming an english teacher. Sorry.)

Anyway. My father and I are pondering going into the bagel business. Yay! Before we decided whether or not this is a good idea, I am going to be getting some early morning work at a bagel shop, in order to figure out if I like it, what it really entails, and if it is feasibly for us to do. I'm also working on a business plan.

I've read a few accounts of the bagel business (like the self-proclaimed bagel guru's), and have a general idea of how it works.

If we do it, we will be using the kettling method, and we will be making them from scratch, not a starter.

And we'd be doing it on Route 6, in Carmel, NY, and the location is a good one - lots of parking, close to I-84, no other shops around, etc.

So, have you worked in, run, or owned a bagel shop?

What does your favorite bagel shop have or do that is different and awesome?

Do you have a fabulous bagel recipe?

Any other random bagel thoughts or recommendations?

And, bet of all, what clever/fun/interesting/descriptive names can you suggest? (or boring and standard, that works too!)

Local Bike Shops in Pasadena, CA

onich — Sun, 24 May 2009 18:44:32 -0800

Please recommend a bike shop near Pasadena, CA I'll be moving to Pasadena, CA and the commute to work will be about 7 miles in local roads. AskMe has convinced me to buy a bike and commute to work so my question is: Where do I go to buy a bike? I'd like to go to find a local bike shop so that I can pick someone's brain about which bike to buy. I'd appreciate recommendations of knowledgeable staff, decent prices and a good selection of bikes and parts.

I'll also appreciate it if you can also get me started with a few questions to ask. I really have no idea of what I'm looking for in a bike.

Aside from work, there will be hiking/biking trails near where I'll live so I'd like to be able use the bike for both.

I'll appreciate bike and bike trail recommendations as well. It's going to be my first bike since I was a child.

If it's relevant, I'm not in great shape, but hopefully, biking to work will help.

Thanks in advance, folks.

Where can I find mead in the Willamette Valley?

nonmerci — Fri, 22 May 2009 11:36:03 -0800

Where can I buy mead in Portland, OR or the Portland metro area? I am on a quest. Searching wine sites and even the higher end supermarkets (New Seasons, Whole Foods) is leaving me empty-handed. Any suggestions for places to check out, numbers to call, or any people that actually KNOW where I can get this stuff?

I'm hoping to avoid online shopping...I'd like to get this at a physical location. But, if you only have suggestions for great mead wineries that ship internationally or domestically, by all means, suggest those, too!

Tea, please?

InsanePenguin — Thu, 07 May 2009 09:53:31 -0800

Looking for a good tea shop around Princeton, NJ. Any suggestions? I'm willing to drive a good distance, though a shorter drive is preferable.

I need a crash course in finding good prices in Melbourne.

mosessis — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 20:26:35 -0800

What shops should I go to in Melbourne, Australia, to buy inexpensive necessities (clothes, shoes, groceries, linens, electronics)? I'm in Melbourne and I need to find the cheap places to go shopping. I'll only need these goods for six months to a year and then I'll be giving them away or tossing them out, so price definitely wins out over long term quality.

The things I will need to buy are women's clothes (shops I often use in UK: H&M, Primark; in US: Target, Marshalls, Forever21), shoes, coats, groceries, toiletries, housewares, basic electronics (burnable dvd's, usb headset, etc.), or anything else you would normally shop for during the course of a year

I have this down to somewhat of a science in the US, where I know more or less where to look - and where to avoid - for the best deals on these basic categories of goods. But I know almost nothing about Australian stores and where, for example, it will be cheapest to buy deodorant. I went into a Target in the CBD yesterday, and it looks about the same as a Target in the US, with cheaper clothes and dishes and such, so that's a start. Where else should I be looking? Any Melbourne specific details, such as which Salvation Army location is best for kitchenware vs. best for clothing, or which specific shopping centers I should look at/avoid are much appreciated.

If you're a very price conscious shopper, please share your expertise or favorite web resources with me!

What are the limit of times to buy iTunes email gift card through iTunes store?

omaralarifi — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 06:34:09 -0800

Are there limits of how many times to buy iTunes email gift through iTunes store (do not get confused with price limit)? It says "you have reached the limit for buying gift card." What do they mran of the limits? How to overcome the limit? Any trick (if possible)? Thanks

How to combine multiple physical shops and an online catalog within one website

web-goddess — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 00:12:54 -0800

Can you think of any examples of a retailer that has both a chain of physical stores and a "shop online" section? I've been helping out a friend who owns a knitting store with his website, and now that he's expanding I think we need to rethink the way his site works. I'm just wondering how other people organise things like stock levels when more than one physical location is involved. The existing setup we have is that there is one physical bricks-and-mortar, and orders for the "online shop" are filled from there. Customers know that the stock levels shown on the website are what is physically present in the Sydney store. Now we're going to throw a couple more shops into the mix. The orders will still be filled out of the main Sydney store though, so I'm unsure whether to show multiple stock levels, just the Sydney level (along with a disclaimer), or a combined stock level (again with a disclaimer).

Also, there are plenty of mega-retail chains where the site is just all about the online catalog and the list of locations is relegated to a link in the corner. This business is a lot smaller than that, and we'd like to emphasize the character of the individual shops. The only good example I can find is Tessuti Fabrics. They make it clear in their online catalog that the stock levels only refer to one of their locations.

So, can anybody think of any similar examples? I'd like to see how other people tackle the issue.

(Incidentally, I wasn't sure whether to list this under "computers & internet" or "shopping." I'm guessing the "computers" folks might be more useful in terms of the UI issues.)

Baby and bike boutiques in the Big Apple

fijiwriter — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 08:11:04 -0800

Headed to New York City, and looking for toddler-geared stores and bike shops. The lovely Mrs. Writer and I are headed back to NYC for our wedding anniversary, and we need guidance on your favorite stores.

We need help finding:

1. Baby/toddler stores in Midtown, Theater, SoHo, Upper West Side, especially clothing. Nothing along the lines of a $90 couture Tshirt, but something unique that we couldn't order online. Something touristy could even count, like a small I (heart) NY shirt for our little 2-year-old girl.

2. I'd like to find a nice bike store to kill some time and support them with a purchase of a store jersey. Ideally, an LBS geared more toward road and pro cycling, if that exists in the city.

I get my house back and gain a new building!

stormygrey — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 10:17:09 -0800

Woodworkers I need you! A dream fulfilled: We are being given a new workshop! I need help ensuring we plan correctly. I asked a similar question almost a year ago, but finances have not allowed us to actually build our workshop. However my bf's grandmother (98) is unfortunately going to pass very soon. His father has volunteered to finance and help construct an outbuilding for us.

I can not express how much this will affect my life. I will have my own office back, I will have my dining room table back, there will not be sawdust on everything and most importantly it will probably save our relationship!

We would like to build the building to be around 20 x 20 or larger, but the plan we are working on right now is16 x 24 and because of tree ordinances we might have to go even more narrow and a little longer. I need advice on how to set up a narrow shop, what innovations or shop built contraptions storage you love, what advice you might have about installing plumbing even though we don't plan to actually connect it, lighting issues, heating issues, access issues, etc. I don't even know what all to plan for, but it would suck to finally get our thing built and then realize later we could have done a much better job of laying out the space. Any good advice on how to deal with the permit department and hand drawing plans would be awesome. I can do measured drawings by hand somewhat, but am not comfortable using the computer to do it yet, but if anyone highly recommends Sketchup I might be conviced to learn it.

Oh, btw it will be wood,shingled, with a concrete slab. It will need to house lots of lumber, table saw, drill press, scroll saw, a couple of lathes, grinders, air compressors, dust collectors, and lots and lots of handtools like planes, chisels, and probably lots of other random tools and finishing things.

So shoppies, what kind of windows do you like? What kind of door makes you smile? Where do you store and dry your lumber that makes your grin? Let us know...man I am so happy I think I am going to sing my Scooba song and get to work!

Retails sales are down, so where are the bargains?

abdulf — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 18:06:34 -0800

If retailers are being hit hard with a recession, then why am I not finding bargains? If retail sales are falling, and businesses are posting losses or cutting forecasts, then why am I not finding great bargains?

I guess a "bargain" is a subjective term. But surely there are deals to be had in this economic environment for the people who can spend?

For example - I am looking to buy/rent the following:
1. winter coat, boots (anything suitable an icy/windy winter)
2. point and shoot digital camera (Canon SD 750 or similar)
3. blackberry/smartphone/new cell service (currently with Sprint)
4. new apartment (Amarillo, TX)
5. car maintenance (timing belt/waterpump for 2000 Camry)

None of these good or services seem significantly discounted compared to when I saw them years ago. I've casually looked through sites like slickdeals.net and Black Friday ads. It looks like the same kind of stuff I've seen before.

So maybe I'm not buying the right kinds of goods and services in this economy?

Perhaps the discounts I seek don't come from business cycles but from events like seasonal changes and clearing old inventory.

Or maybe the items I'm buying have prices built in from before the financial crisis?

Shop Vac air-powered carpet beater?

iTristan — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 10:54:47 -0800

Does anyone have experience with an air-powered carpet beater with a Shop Vac? I've read/heard that buying an air-powered (vacuum-powered, not electrical) carpet beater designed for use with some central vacs but using it with a Shop Vac works quite well.

I have no intention of buying yet another vacuum cleaner (as we're getting rid our our carpet soon enough) but have some carpet that could use better than just Shop Vac-sucking power so would love to hear if any MeFi's have experience with this.

Help me duplicate this unique trophy

Flying Saucer — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 09:48:25 -0800

I am trying to duplicate a unique trophy any way possible. I recently won this trophy.

I'd like to share it with some other people involved in my success by making as close a copy as possible -- multiple copies, in fact.

I'm asking Mefites for any method they can think of, from creating it myself to hiring a trophy manufacturer. Cheap, reasonable, or expensive; it doesn't matter. I'd like to hear all options.

Thanks.

Cool things. I needs them.

Bakuun — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 01:36:17 -0800

I'm looking for interesting and fun online stores similar to ThinkGeek, PerpetualKid, etc. Something that has unique, unusual gadgets, or home/office decorations. What are some such stores I might not be familiar with, or maybe previous threads that mention them?

Recommendations for Marketing/Advertising on a Limited Budget in the UK?

gadha — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 18:53:38 -0800

Does anyone know how to effectively (and economically) market a women's shoes and accessories retail store in London, UK? A friend has recently opened a store on South Molton street (just off Bond Street in London). She is selling shoes and bespoke handbags, jewellery and other related items.

Everybody who comes into the store seems to like it and she's doing okayish. People who come in love the store and get stuff but there doesn't seem to be enough traffic to sustain her without advertising.

Unfortunately, she's on a very limited budget (approx 10K) so she needs it to go as far as possible as long as possible. If anybody is in marketing/advertising in the UK I'd love to hear how she could make the most of her money.

If it helps, shes targeting 25-45/women slightly fancier items (shoes + handbags) and a whole range of cheap and affordable everyday items such as earrings and necklaces.

He's the one they Dr. Smellgood

ian1977 — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 16:22:33 -0800

Help me find a replacement cologne! I am extremely picky about cologne. My biggest complaint is that most smell too 'frat boyish' or 'Speed sticky' or 'douchey.'

But once upon a time I found Javari cologne at the Body Shop (Shoppe?). Its spicy, not a hint of pine, kinda citrusy, gingery, woody. I love that stuff. I am on my 3rd bottle. But alas, it is out of production...

Any Javari fans out there find a suitable replacement? I've smelled guys that have cologne on that I would like, but thought it would be weird to ask some random dude what cologne he is wearing.

Camera Recommendations

Admira — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 16:30:53 -0800

My digital camera (HP PhotoSmart 945) broke recently and I'm looking for some recommendations for a replacement, and also where to buy in Sydney Australia. I really liked the pictures my HP Photosmart 945 took, despite its age. But yesterday the battery casing refused to close which means I can't take photos with it, and I think its time to replace it.

Things I liked about the HP Photosmart:
- Colour of images (nice rich colours compared to other peoples shots of the same scenes - I know it probably exaggerated the colours, but I like that)
- Long Exposure shots (especially at night time)
- Level of detail in photos

Things I didn't like
- The UI, I found it slow and at times unintuitite
- Sometimes would refuse to take photos
- Always reported incorrect battery levels
- Having to use Up/Down buttons for the zoom rather than twisting a dial for rapid zooming
- The LCD eyepiece was often laggy, low in detail, and the external screen had the same problems and was often impossible to see in daylight.

I'm currently thinking hard about the Pentax K100D Super /Sigma 18-50mm Kit (link to cnet review here) but I'm interested in other peoples recommendations.

I should point out I'm not a pro photographer and more often that not I use the default settings (landscape, portrait, macro) etc though I do like to be able to change them as suits me. I don't want to carry lenses around and have to worry about attaching them etc.

Also, if anyone can recommend some good stores in Sydney, Australia for advice from the staff and also the ability to try them out in the shop that would be great too.

Thanks!

Australian Gift Card

mai — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:33:15 -0800

How do I acquire a gift card to an Austrailian home-goods retailer for a friend who is moving there? My friend is getting married and will soon be moving to Australia. Because it is so expensive to ship things there, she doesn't want anything material, but I would really like to give her a gift.

I thought it would be nice to give a gift card to a store in Australia that sells home things (dishes, etc.) that I know they will need, so that they can choose something when they get there.

However, I know nothing about the Australian retail landscape. Please recommend a nice store that would sell a gift card to me, paying from here in the U.S. My budget is between $50 and $100.