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Shop Employees: Stupid things customers have asked/said to you

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JayDope
Posts: 6842 - Karma: 408
I searched barred there is a similar thread about ppl who work in retail, here is one for ski shop employees. Here is my story from this past week:

So im renting this kid some skis, i ask him to take off his shoes to measure his foot, the first thing that comes out of his mouth is "Hey do u guys sell lawnmowers here?" I looked at him stunned and said "are u serious?" he replied with "yeah, outdoor store" I looked at him again, and said "No, we just sell ski and snowboard gear" And i continued on with my routine. WHAT An idiot!

Today i was hanging out in the Snowboard section and this woman was looking to buy her daughter some boots, so she asks my co-worker about boots, and he explained to her there are different types for entry level riders etc, she looks on the wall and noticed the snowboard bindings, and she said "Oh, are those like snowboard sandals instead of boots?" we just explained to her that those are the snowboard bindings that the boots go into that connect to the snowboard....i really was in disbelief

alright shop employees, share ur stores here
Oct 11 2009 12:22AM
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double_D
Posts: 778 - Karma: 25
i worked at this local shop that sold snowboards and jackets and skate stuff and a lady called and asked if we have any child soccer cleats haha the owner told her "no we just ran out"
Oct 11 2009 12:29AM
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caucasian_chad
Posts: 4078 - Karma: 3,625
She actually thought people would wear sandals while snowboarding?  What a dumbass.
Oct 11 2009 12:30AM
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Cortez
Posts: 507 - Karma: 13
Check out this site

http://www.notalwaysright.com/
Oct 11 2009 12:33AM
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dunkaroos
Posts: 2574 - Karma: 633
haha so great
Oct 11 2009 12:34AM
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JayDope
Posts: 6842 - Karma: 408
she thought the snowboard bindings were sandals, and u used those on a snowboard instead of snowboard boots, go figure...


Oct 11 2009 12:35AM
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GayWolf420
Posts: 37352 - Karma: 119,550
i was in a ski shop the other day getting fitted for some boots, and some lady was looking to buy some skis. and she looked at the wall of powder skis and she said "you guys sell waterskis here two?"

i facepalmed
Oct 11 2009 12:43AM
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Cant-Er
Posts: 1314 - Karma: 2,244
one of my favorites i ever got while working at a shop was...one time this lady was all concerned what would happen if her son center mounted his skis. and i told her blah blah blah blah blah its great for park riding etc.  and she asks, " I hear center mouting makes you do flippy spinny things?"  and i was just like what? wow lol

but those 2 in the OP are pretty epic.
Oct 11 2009 12:50AM
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Lanceasaurus
Posts: 925 - Karma: 109
agree lol!!!
Oct 11 2009 12:52AM
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selkirks
Posts: 1978 - Karma: 59
somehow, that's believable.
Oct 11 2009 12:53AM
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Half-Blood
Posts: 1770 - Karma: 385
From my experience working in a rental shop I have learned that some people should just not leave their homes. I have never before wanted to strike little children more in my life than during the time I was working rentals. Keep your god damn kids under control fuck... I know you gave your kids to much sugar for breakfast but for christ sake that does not mean you can let them run in and out of the boot racks grabbing what ever the fuck they want. I don't want to have to deal with your 6 year old bringing down a rack full of heavy boots on his head.

Anyway.. I think some of the best jaw dropping moments with people involving rentals came during Christmas week. Keep in mind I was working up at PC during this time and it gets crazy up there over Christmas break, plus the airlines had just started charging outrageous prices for extra bags so a lot of people left their ski gear at home and decided to rent while they were on vacation.

My runins include having to get people 7 (I believe I set the shop record with 9) different sets of boots before they decide on one that works. I mean common you can only try on the same pair of boots so many times. And yes I do know how boots are supposed to feel I ski 100+ days a year, ski boots are not going to be super comfy especially rental boots. But I know what I'm doing thats why I work hear.

Mam these boots are already 2 1/2 sizes to big if I put you in anything bigger you will have no control over your skis.. (ended up giving her the next size up) Half an hour latter, who shows up asking to go back to the boots she had in the first place.

No we don't rent snowmobiles here....

Is 180 the biggest ski you have? I was looking for something around 210...?

I think the best moment of all though was a slow day so it was just me and my boss working the shop. I walk back from the retail side of the shop to the rentals to find my boss Aaron with a dumbfounded look on his face. And one of our customers coming out of the boot rack with boots for her daughter. Ok I know we only have two people working today but you couldn't wait an extra 5 mins for me to get back to help you with your boots. She ended up grabbing a pair of women's boots for her 7 year old daughter. Some people are so impatient, if you waited everything would have gone a lot faster but now I have to re-fit your children and husband because you decided you couldn't wait an extra few minutes.

That or being in the boot racks grabbing a pair of boots for someone when another customer decides they don't want to wait for you and try to find their own boots. Getting crushed by a ton of boots is always fun.
Oct 11 2009 1:06AM
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GayWolf420
Posts: 37352 - Karma: 119,550
hahah. oh wow, how did i manage to fuck that one up
Oct 11 2009 1:06AM
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moonofendor
Posts: 1484 - Karma: 14
this kid came in with his mom and a pair of un-mounted k2 extremes. now at first they weren't gonna mount them because we charged like 30 bucks. I talked them into it and ask where the kid wants them mounted. he then takes the ski and says on this side referring to the top sheet of the ski.
at this point i'm like shit some dumbass kid and his mom. what ever tho i was still kinda hung over, and my shift was over in like 45 mins.
i then ask him what kind of riding he does and hes like mostly down the hill and i'm still like damn this kid is dumb so i decided to mount them on the all mountain line. (idk what it's marked as.)

well i mount them, and like many know the graphic is the opposite on the skis so thats how i mounted them.

i finish mounting them and i'm like i'm gonna go ride. so 25 mins later i get a call from my supervisor and he's like you need to come inside. so i'm like fuck what did i do?

well the customer was there and she's bitchin at me saying that i mounted the ski upside down.
and i'm like listen lady, the graphic isn't the same on both skis.
she then makes me show her a picture online of the ski, the specs of the skis online, and measure out the ski.

then after all of that she's like "oh well sorry" in some asian accent.

bitch didn't even leave a tip. usually we quote 1 week on mountings and i got it done in 30 mins.
Oct 11 2009 2:38AM
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zagfan5
Posts: 2608 - Karma: 144
"do u sell ammo here?"
Oct 11 2009 2:46AM
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AdolfShitler
Posts: 1618 - Karma: 32
sometimes you just gotta dish out a smack
Oct 11 2009 2:51AM
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selkirks
Posts: 1978 - Karma: 59
are you fucking serious? haha
Oct 11 2009 2:58AM
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zagfan5
Posts: 2608 - Karma: 144
hha yeah. but in his defense our shop is called sports outlet (even though we only carry ski, board, and skate gear)

we get questions like that all day. but ammo is one we get pretty regularly, as well as fishing gear, soccer, baseball, softball, football, hockey, and pretty much any sport your can think of gear.

gets old after a while.
Oct 11 2009 3:15AM
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selkirks
Posts: 1978 - Karma: 59
That's ridiculous. Especially for the Sports Outlet. IMO it's pretty established in Spokane as a discount retailer for ski gear. But I don't know.
Oct 11 2009 3:29AM
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Rachy
Posts: 4355 - Karma: 2,761
Not really stupid... but...

A little boy (probably around 4) picks up a pair of superman sunglasses. "Ahh man, these don't have laser vision like the ones at home"

Cutest thing ever.

Question I hate and get all the time.

Over the phone, "What is the weather going to be like in (insert random month)?"
Answer, well, I'm no meteorologist, but there is a good chance there will be snow on the ground, and it will be cold.

Other question, "So, how do the (insert ski name here) ski?"

Answer, well they go down the hill with gravity, but if you would like to know about their performance, they are (list off specs).


Most often asked,
"Why don't you guys have snowboards?"
"we are a ski shop, why doesn't wave rave have skis?"
"cause it is a snowboard shop."
"why don't you go to the snowboard shop then?"
Oct 11 2009 11:56AM
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.Roockley.
Posts: 3864 - Karma: 4,078
so i was on my break and stood outside the ski slope when a group of about 10 people walk up to me, roughly like 14 years old and say 'ere mate you got any cigs?'

i was like 'no i dont smoke'

one replied saying 'you got a lighter then?'

i walked back inside after that
Oct 11 2009 12:02PM
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factory81
Posts: 3967 - Karma: 63
  Work  by  chosenone

  Msg0003  by  chosenone

The messages here are real. the people are real. actual voice mail left by people at my work.


Oct 11 2009 12:39PM
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Rachy
Posts: 4355 - Karma: 2,761
entirely forgot about this one.

Lady comes up to the repair window...

"I'm 7 months pregnant, and I'm just wondering would it be better to leave my skis unwaxed so that I go slower?"

I feel bad for that child assuming she still had it.
Oct 11 2009 12:59PM
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Dr.Barq
Posts: 720 - Karma: 15
holy shit what a good thread

I worked at a shop for 5 years 2 in high school and 3 over breaks through college

Anyone ever get the chatter test? where a customer picks up the ski by the edge and shakes it to see how much it vibrates (so they grab with both hands on one edge and shakes it up and down) it is amazing and i go along with it every single time.


Customer (about 45/50 in all his old going out gear from like the 80's: "Yo bro"
Me: Hows it going sir?
C: I've been searching around here and I'm stunned i cant find it
M: Whats that sir
C: Where are all your one peices?
M:::Pause for a few seconds in disbelieve::
C: you know like one piece suits there usually bright everyone wears em
M: umm i dont think we have any more
C: whys that? I just lost some weight I'm looking good and I wanted to pick up a new one
M: because they went out of style like 15 years ago and no one buys them any more
C: (In a pissed off look) This is bullshit.  (and walks out)

I couldnt believe it it just stood there and reflected lol



One time we had a lady come in ravvvveeeinngg about her new k2 skis that were like 9 hundo.  she freaked out at the guy who sold them to her saying he lied to her and wanted a full return and that she was had while making a huge scene on a busy saturday. and they reason she did this was

Lady (about early 40's maybe):  This is ridiculous I Paid 900 dollars for these there and there are scratches on the top of them! i want my money back

After trying to explain to her what caused this (by they just crossing like every other fuckin pair of skis) and that this would happen to any skis she insisted that she get her money back so we did then we had to go and try to warranty them to k2 those guys were rolling i cant remember if they ever did



Guy like 35 trying to get back in skiing Yea i havent skis in like 10 years I was gonna go with the Falcon 130's but you guys didnt have them so I went with the 120's. back when i used to ride there wasnt a black that I couldnt do in ANY of the mountains around here (I live in PA).

Me: Wow man yea thats some bullshit we dont have those 130's

for you who dont know either of those boots are stiff racing boots and easily going to break his shin




Lady with her kids looked very nice turned out to be a bitch: You guys should really turn off this music its soo loud and im sure drives out customers

Me: yes mam' your right ill turn it down

The music was from the tv playing year book, it was on the other side of the room and volume was on like 5 I think she was tripping
Oct 11 2009 1:17PM
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Nicholas.
Posts: 10905 - Karma: 60
sorry i dont work in a shop but this ones pretty good. i work at a pizza place.

i hand the guy his pizza to go(in a box) and he goes "is it in there?" no dude im just giving you the box you can come get the pizza later...the lady behind him was trying so hard not to laugh.
Oct 11 2009 1:28PM
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JayDope
Posts: 6842 - Karma: 408
BUMMMMPP i had a busy day at work today, but didnt get any stupid questions
Oct 11 2009 8:35PM
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DrZoidberg
Posts: 5675 - Karma: 4,268
Bump, keep these coming some of them are great.

I'm not an employee, but I was in a shop as a customer and one of the employees goes "why are there so many people at the ski rack" referring to like three people. Guess they are all snowboarders.
Oct 12 2009 10:51AM
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Rachy
Posts: 4355 - Karma: 2,761
I let a girl into the fitting room once, and her friend comes up to me a few minutes later and says her friend is locked in.

I walk up to the door and ask if she is alright. She says yes. I tell her to try to open the door, I watch her trying to pull the door open. I say push. She walks out with the most embarrassed look on her face. I had to try so hard not to laugh.
Oct 12 2009 11:14AM
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japanada
Posts: 13784 - Karma: 1,957
You can wrap the grip on a racket the opposite way that you would normally and it feels better for a lefty.

We have this big set of double glass doors to get into and out of our shop, and we even have little signs that say push right above the handles, and so many people still sit there pulling on the doors expecting them to open!
Oct 12 2009 12:53PM
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FUUUCK
Posts: 18426 - Karma: 4,888
I work at a bike shop.


One time we had this guy in his 50s come in with his $4000 carbon fiber road bike and asks for a tune up. We check the chain I find out that it has stretched (worn out).

"Your chain has stretched and needs to be replaced. It's about $40 for a new chain. If you leave it your cassette and chainrings will begin to wear faster."

"Oh, ok.... Could you guys just replace the top half of the chain? Since that's the part that takes all the stress."

We were speechless.
Oct 12 2009 1:50PM
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Tinga
Posts: 11349 - Karma: 2,333
lolz
Oct 12 2009 1:54PM
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BC.
Posts: 1551 - Karma: 86
I work at Chick's Sporting Goods now officially Dick's Sporting Goods in the Ski shop, regardless the most common questions are:

So where are your 210s? I am a super good skier and need those. Proceed to get into an argument over the length of skis. If you even that great of a skier why the fuck are you renting was just going through my mind.

Do you rent snowshoes?

Do you rent snowmobiles?

There have been more just slipping my mind.
Oct 12 2009 2:02PM
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fireballin
Posts: 392 - Karma: 13
haha i hope he meant the rollers
Oct 12 2009 2:55PM
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PAuL_Hellar
Posts: 1355 - Karma: 62
hahahahahahhaahhah is it in there what a dumb question
Oct 12 2009 3:23PM
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_CC_
Posts: 3890 - Karma: 747
i dont work in a shop but i work in ski school. get my fair share of stupid questions but this was the winner

i had this little girl in my group and she walked in with her mega gaper parents (one pieces and all) 20 fucking minutes after check in. i didnt have a group so as i was getting my stuff together gettin pumped for my day of freeskiing my boss comes over to me with this little girl and idiot parents to help her find some boots. im no boot fitter but i take her shoe off and she has these little white ankle socks on. its 15 fucking degrees. so i tell her parents that her feet are going to be freezing and her sock is gonna slide down.
but who wants to listen to a blonde female instructor who was too tired to function?
of course they don't wanna buy new socks for the kid, cause 5 bucks to keep the kid from getting frostbite would be smart. but they refuse to use our spare ones either (which are new). because they look funny with the boots. umm....what?

my favorite part. my boss hears all this, sends me off to the shop to buy the kid socks. which i do
she didnt like the color
i fucking go back and buy pink ones.
$15 and an hour later. i get to go skiing?

NOPE. i give the girl a private lesson for the price of a group one...
she sucked at everything.
Oct 12 2009 3:33PM
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Mr.Panda
Posts: 17711 - Karma: 564
See, I was a race coach for awhile and I have seen this too some.  Except, I was a volunteer, I got my tickets paid for by the mountain but when I wanted to, I wouldn't have to deal with idiot parents if I didn't want too.
Oct 12 2009 3:38PM
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JayDope
Posts: 6842 - Karma: 408
So i had this guy come in with his 11 year old son, and i size him up for boots, he measures to a 23.5, i give him a 24, so he wont bitch, so i put the boot on him, and he starts screaming that its too tight, so i explain to him to let me buckle the boot so his toes will slide off the front a little, but he doesnt wanna hear it, so his dad comes over and is like lets just look at the skis. So i size him up for skis, and i pick out a 140, its right at his chin, i say ok good, do u like these? and right away his dad flips out and is like noooooooo those are wayyy too short, i was like ok, what type of skier is he? and his dad is like well he skis everything, hes a better skier than u are. I thought he was joking so i said with a chuckle, "im a pretty good skier" thinking he would just laugh about it, but this guy was fuckin serious he was like "ohh no he keeps up with me, and I AM a better skier than you are. I said ok, here are 150's for him, lets go take care of the boots again. The boots is a whole other story i dont wanna get into to, but what pissed me off, was that this dad thinks his overweight 11 year old son is a better skier than me, ive been skiing as long as his kid has been on this earth, i was so insulted by him. fuck those parents
Oct 12 2009 4:10PM
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stickerman
Posts: 2043 - Karma: 147

i also have a pizza story.

me and my mom were in pizza pizza and going to pick up our order.  the person in front of us also had an order that she called. in.  so i guess the pizza people made it early and put it in a warmer bag.  the guy must have put the pizza in upside down cause the guy is like "here is your pizza mam" and opens the box and all of the topping was like stuck to the roof of the box!

the lady like flipped a bitch when she saw it.

Oct 12 2009 8:04PM
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zagfan5
Posts: 2608 - Karma: 144
i;d laugh if i saw that haha
Oct 12 2009 8:29PM
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coop-son
Posts: 783 - Karma: 28

I work in a kayak shop and this one lady called and wanted to know whether or not she could paddle around on the river and come back to the spot she started. No mam there is a current and rapids.

Wait it isnt calm?

No. so it doesnt run in a circle.

OH wow. nvm then

Oct 12 2009 9:09PM
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daytripper67
Posts: 681 - Karma: 11
thats not that weird, someone who hasnt skied in a few years wouldnt necessarily know that skis arent really that long too often anymore
Oct 12 2009 9:34PM
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KFRADtheLaxBro
Posts: 632 - Karma: 10
I work in a coffee shop and a couple of times people ask me what a free wify is. they are refering to our sign saying "free WIFI"
Oct 12 2009 10:27PM
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OhMyBosh
Posts: 5056 - Karma: 171
Too many kids in this thread hating on guys wanting to ski on 210s.
Oct 12 2009 10:36PM
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cct_222
Posts: 1526 - Karma: 141
i work at a surf/skate shop in the summer at the jersey shore that is in the middle of town on a street corner (not near the beach or bay) one day i was behind the counter and i had a guy walk into the store and ask if we had jet ski rentals or if we sold any jet skis
Oct 12 2009 10:39PM
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k-rob
Posts: 14217 - Karma: 2,891
my threads for more lulz.
Oct 12 2009 10:48PM
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fireballin
Posts: 392 - Karma: 13
where is this?
Oct 12 2009 10:53PM
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daytripper67
Posts: 681 - Karma: 11
thats not thaaaat stupid. you could keep the jetskis near the beach and deal with the money and shit at the shop..
Oct 12 2009 10:57PM
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ski_ENDUB
Posts: 2535 - Karma: 86
reminded me of working rentals, which suck major cock. boot fitting for someone who doesn't know how uncomfortable boots really are is one of the most annoying things i've done. BTW my story:
Lady comes in looking to rent a snowboard with an "expert" guy friend, first i get boots and the laces are frayed on the outside but the laces are still good, more cosmetic than anything. boots fit the lady fine, guy asks for new boots, don't care i just go back and try and find a slightly less frayed pair. next is the board, i size her up and go and grab a board and bring it out, guy takes the board and examines the bottom and asks for a new board because of the few small scratches in the base (nothing serious of p-tex worthy), I tell him that it's fine all of our rental boards have some scratches. he responds with a firm "NO, I WANT A NEW BOARD", to which i just say whatever, I'm not going to argue with some guy who claims to be an expert snowboarder yet he's wearing a womens Dakine visor beanie (white with pink logo). So then I sent them on their way. definitely got asked for 210 skis a lot though
Oct 13 2009 12:28AM
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JayDope
Posts: 6842 - Karma: 408
i cant fuckin stand it when i am fitting ppl for boots, and right when i put their foot in they start telling me its too tight when i continue to tell them u need to wait until the boots are buckled and u flex in it!! 9/10 ppl say its too tight but i usually end up convincing them to get the right size
Oct 13 2009 1:00AM
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Dan.
Posts: 7201 - Karma: 1,126
I used to work in the best ski shop in boulder until it closed in april. the worst question I ever dealt with was why we didn't sell armada or salomon, or when we would get more bibby pros in. the most annoying was trying to constantly explain to kids that jiberish was sold out and that no, we weren't going to get more in until next fall.
Oct 13 2009 3:51PM
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YooperSteeze
Posts: 1248 - Karma: 45
New page and my threads
Oct 13 2009 5:32PM
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