On 11 Dec 2005 04:48:08 -0800, "
wrote:

Having read this thread with interest, and having queued for almost 2
hours on Thursday (unsuccessfully, I might add!), I can give the
following observations:-

(a) Yes, Mike Walton, the manager is VERY helpful, but constrained by
his "political masters" (his words, not mine),

He has said something similar to me.

(b) Mike Walton is very put upon, having a genuine wish to help real
enthusiasts but prevented from doing more by others (although not
expressly stated, including his staff);

I don't doubt his wish to help. I might question the rest of the remark
- he is the manager after all.

(d) A combination of T.F.L. (who disliked intensely the very concept of
commemorating the last RM) and EFE (who seem to have genuine capacity
problems) limited the TOTAL output of these 2 special RML models to
1000 of each;

You keep saying TfL dislike the concept of commemoration. They've done
some very strange things then given this apparent dislike. Where do you
get this view from?

(e) The official line is that the Shop "lacked the logistics" to either
stock more than 300 models per day or handle the sales in any other way
than have the idiotic queues that were seen on all 3 days;

Well there is a limit to their storage space but there is still storage
space in the main museum that is accessible. I know this because that is
where they held my Sunstar RMC until I was able to collect it.

(f) The Covent Garden authorities were less than pleased at the way
this was handled, since 300 or more people queuing around the gallery
of the lower-floor artistes' performing area harmed trade generally for
those 3 days;

They can't have it both ways if you take on board Ian's remarks about
exercising a lot of control of the area. If they didn't want queues
around this area they should have facilitated other arrangements. If
they weren't prepared to help then tough. As I suspect the Museum shop
is the most successful retail outlet in the whole piazza then I think
they have little to complain about. The Museum brings a considerable
"foot fall" to the area which makes it attractive to the retailers who
decide to pay the rents to have a presence in the area.

(g) It was T.F.L. who forbade firstly a stall at Streatham Bus Garage
and then at Telford Road - ostensibly because of "health and safety"
but in reality because of the point made in (d) above.

Odd then that there was a stand selling models, books and magazines at
Streatham on Thursday then. If it was banned I don't see how it was
still there by early afternoon - if it was a problem I'm sure the police
would have closed it down. As for Telford Avenue - well this is an
operational garage on a very busy stretch of road. With the best will in
the world I cannot see how a stand could be organised there without
there being congestion and accident risks or else disruption to Arriva's
operations that would ripple across an area of South London thus
inconveniencing a lot of people.

And finally, to the utter consternation of one of those same (upstairs)
"unhelpful" staff, they had their biggest sale ever just ahead of me in
the Friday evening queue: a man demanding to buy a real Routemaster:
eventually they put him through to Ensignbus on the Shop telephone and
as I left he was giving his credit card details to secure the sale!

I don't doubt the staff have difficult people to deal with but they
could be a damn sight more helpful and pleasant *consistently* than they
are. And yes I do know what it is like dealing with the great general
public at times before that particular comment is thrown back in my
face.
--
Paul C


Admits to working for London Underground!