Ever ask for something incredibly old fashioned and obsolete in a shop?

Esel · 13-02-2020 9:12pm

Bottle of Paregoric in a chemist.

Grab All Association · 13-02-2020 9:16pm

2017 went to Harvey’s VW in Thurles, Barlos Ford in Thurles and Templemore motorworks looking for a manual 2.0> petrol car and they only had diesels or hybrid petrols in the range. Fecking farmers

I know it’s not a shop but a 1.4ltr petrol and above is something that’s rare outside of Dublin. Had to go to Dublin to buy my Octavia RS. They must take baths in diesels for sexual pleasure as every salesperson stinks of the horrible fecking stuff. Rant over.

hgfj · 13-02-2020 9:19pm

Originally Posted by Gunmonkey View Post
Went into a chemist looking for rubbing alcohol.

mickuhaha wrote: »

They stopped selling it as people would buy it to drink. I used to use it for wooden torch's it gave a nice flame colour.

Went looking for rubbing alcohol last week and the pharmacist suggested Surgical Spirit BP. He said it was the same thing really.

Notdeco · 13-02-2020 9:33pm

cajonlardo wrote: »

Never bought anything but there was a shop on Bray main street that was stuck in a time warp.
It was like something straight out of a Stephen King novel.

It was called Ledwidges and sold hardware.
It finally closed in 2014.

Why I thought of it in connection with this thread was because it still had Rabbit snares in the window. He'd sell you cement by the pound.

That was a great shop. Think it closed because he died and none of the family wanted to run it.

Ubbquittious · 13-02-2020 9:34pm

Grab All Association wrote: »

2017 went to Harvey’s VW in Thurles, Barlos Ford in Thurles and Templemore motorworks looking for a manual 2.0> petrol car and they only had diesels or hybrid petrols in the range. Fecking farmers

I know it’s not a shop but a 1.4ltr petrol and above is something that’s rare outside of Dublin. Had to go to Dublin to buy my Octavia RS. They must take baths in diesels for sexual pleasure as every salesperson stinks of the horrible fecking stuff. Rant over.

Tis getting to the point where it's just better to bite the bullet and buy a fecking TVR

Widdershins · 13-02-2020 9:38pm

Redneck Reject71 wrote: »

I do remember the walls where the lamps were,was coated in black,heh.

I use bio lamp oil for this reason. Again its only easily found on the internet

Fr_Dougal · 13-02-2020 10:08pm

Went into the local hardware shop looking for a slash hook. I’d been in before, but this time I was coming home from work in a suit.

The owner stopped in his tracks, stared at me and said no, another customers draw dropped. You’d swear I was going to murder someone. Felt so bad I actually explained to them that it was ok, I had a back garden full of brambles. Sigh of relief from them when they knew it wasn’t for gang warfare, customer started laughing.

endacl · 13-02-2020 10:11pm

I ordered a set of gut strings for a vihuela some years back. Probably doesn’t count, as the shop specialised in old and obsolete musical instruments and accessories.

saabsaab · 13-02-2020 10:30pm

Asked for a grease gun in a DIY store. The young lad had no idea so I tried to explain that its used on the grease nipples to pump the grease in. he nearly broke out laughing!

EmmetSpiceland · 13-02-2020 10:40pm

Redneck Reject71 wrote: »

Anytime I'm in a shop or pub, at some point I ask if they carry nasal snuff. Most of the time I get a blank or confused looked and then a no.Seems only Cahill's in Limerick carries it, but I hate going into the city, it's too loco.

If you’re ever in Dublin “Mulligan’s”, on Poolbeg Street, has it. Not my cup of tea at all.

tabby aspreme · 13-02-2020 10:50pm

Potential-Monke wrote: »

I don't think so. I'm no rusk specialist, but they don't look the same. These biscuits, although big, were quite light and airy. I could be mistaken, but I'll know the second I see the packaging, and nothing with rusk is coming back with that.

Edit: Searching a bit more, they might be but they were round, and nothing matching that in an image search. Could have been cheap, knock off Liga...

I remember those biscuits, they were like a cross between a cream cracker and puff pastry, butter and strawberry jam made them edible.

Speedsie · 13-02-2020 10:56pm

EmmetSpiceland wrote: »

If you’re ever in Dublin “Mulligan’s”, on Poolbeg Street, has it. Not my cup of tea at all.

As does Barry's on South King St and O'Brien's on Leeson St.... McChrystal's Snuff both in original and menthol varieties. I went through a stage of using it about 20 years ago.

I've a number of oil lamps as well, and a dwindling supply of Aladdin mantels.

Speedsie · 13-02-2020 10:57pm

EmmetSpiceland wrote: »

If you’re ever in Dublin “Mulligan’s”, on Poolbeg Street, has it. Not my cup of tea at all.

As does Barry's on South King St and O'Brien's on Leeson St.... McChrystal's Snuff both in original and menthol varieties. I went through a stage of using it about 20 years ago.

I've a number of oil lamps as well, and a dwindling supply of Aladdin mantels.

Archeron · 13-02-2020 10:58pm

Potential-Monke wrote: »

Ah feck ya, you're after reminding me of biscuits I used to get at my Nan's back in the day. Can't remember the name of them, and Google is not helping.

They came in a red packet (iirc), they were about twice to three times the size (width and depth) as your normal biscuits, like they were puffed up or something.

If we're thinking of the same thing, only Barratts have decent versions of them now:

I spent a good 40 minutes one day walking shop to shop to try and find blank CD's! Eventually found the last packet in Dunnes (10 for €20!).

Farleys rusks maybe? They were liga like food and lovely

petrolcan · 14-02-2020 12:42am

blackcard wrote: »

Stripy paint and a square circle are hard to get too

Try finding a sky hook or a spirit level bubble!

Mam of 4 · 14-02-2020 12:43am

petrolcan wrote: »

Try finding a sky hook or a spirit level bubble!

Or a skirting ladder !

dreamers75 · 14-02-2020 12:50am

long weight.

.....it was heading that way

Dodge · 14-02-2020 12:57am

looksee wrote: »

I've been looking for Gram flour for ages, its not particularly 'old fashioned', I could buy it in Tesco till about a year or so ago. Been in all the local Asian shops - blank looks. Chickpea flour? 'Oh yes, no we don't have any. I could have some for you by next week', but it never seems to come in.

I could give in and buy it online I suppose.

Don’t know where you are but the Asian shop on the Fonthill Road near Liffey Valley sells it. We got some last week

byte · 14-02-2020 1:02am

Potential-Monke wrote: »

Ah feck ya, you're after reminding me of biscuits I used to get at my Nan's back in the day. Can't remember the name of them, and Google is not helping.

They came in a red packet (iirc), they were about twice to three times the size (width and depth) as your normal biscuits, like they were puffed up or something.

Butter Puffs? Might have been Jacob's?

wexfordman2 · 14-02-2020 1:13am

partyguinness wrote: »

I spent ages looking for YR sauce in England.

I had no idea it was an Irish product. I just assumed it was English. Same with Liga although I think it is Dutch- a staple growing up with young sisters but unheard of over here.

Hah,.when I first went to the UK in the very early 90's I went in to a corner shop for cigs and a packet of crsips. Went up to the nice Indian lady behind the counter and asked for 20 b&h and a packet of cheese and onion tayto (pointing to the walkers crisps) . Took me a while to figure out her confusion had nothing to do with a language barrier, and that crisps were not commonly called tayto in the UK.

monkeysnapper · 14-02-2020 1:21am

Mines kind of on the other side of this ...

In the shop I work we sell a very good mussle rub for cows with mastitis..... thing is it's udderly brilliant and a lot of doctors buy it off us by case and also physios ....

We get a lot of embarrassed people coming in looking for this supposedly cow cream that will heal there aching joints...

Millicently · 14-02-2020 8:20am

gmisk wrote: »

A coal scuttle...literally looked at me like I had two heads. I was in a big hardware store btw not topman.

Oh and Milton the disinfectant...no clue

Dunnes stores stock Milton, it's with the baby stuff usually on the bottom shelf.

Millicently · 14-02-2020 8:25am

Sorry about that wrote: »

I asked for a Roll On for my mother in law (she'd asked me to get her one) in a lingerie shop a few years ago. Nope.

They don't call them that anymore since Spanx became popular. I got a similar equivalent in Debenhams a few months back to go under a unforgiving dress, it cost me almost 50 euro for what is basically big knickers that go up to your ribs and have wire inserts. I remember my granny washing her old roll ons when she'd visit us for a week when we were little.

Millicently · 14-02-2020 8:28am

wexfordman2 wrote: »

Hah,.when I first went to the UK in the very early 90's I went in to a corner shop for cigs and a packet of crsips. Went up to the nice Indian lady behind the counter and asked for 20 b&h and a packet of cheese and onion tayto (pointing to the walkers crisps) . Took me a while to figure out her confusion had nothing to do with a language barrier, and that crisps were not commonly called tayto in the UK.

I used to confuse my English in laws at first by calling things by different names, in the end it was easier to switch to what they called them. When I said hot press they'd no idea what I was talking about, they thought it was something to do with ironing, likewise when I said something is in the press or on the shelf. So airing cupboard and worktop became the new norm.

Millicently · 14-02-2020 8:32am

Redneck Reject71 wrote: »

Anytime I'm in a shop or pub, at some point I ask if they carry nasal snuff. Most of the time I get a blank or confused looked and then a no.Seems only Cahill's in Limerick carries it, but I hate going into the city, it's too loco.

Isn't there a shop up one of the side streets opposite William St that sells pipes and stuff like that, they probably have it.

Doctors room ghost · 14-02-2020 8:33am

Had to get a float for my daughter for swimming.asked in several sports shops.staff looking at me like I had 3 heads.not a hope of finding one.may aswell have been trying to buy a dinosaur egg.
Got one in the finish in a different swimming pool.
When we were young we had polystyrene boards for floats.they were everywhere.
All the stuff I do be looking for these days can’t be got.im often better off google imaging it and buying it online when I see the picture of what I want

Millicently · 14-02-2020 8:36am

looksee wrote: »

I've been looking for Gram flour for ages, its not particularly 'old fashioned', I could buy it in Tesco till about a year or so ago. Been in all the local Asian shops - blank looks. Chickpea flour? 'Oh yes, no we don't have any. I could have some for you by next week', but it never seems to come in.

I could give in and buy it online I suppose.

You can probably get it on Amazon. I used to make Pumpkin pies and the only place that I could get the tins of American Libby's pumpkin was from Amazon.

Widdershins · 14-02-2020 9:26am

Person looking for a roll on for their grandmother, might have some luck if you call it a girdle. Seems to be what theyre marketed as online.

nthclare · 14-02-2020 10:20am

I have an old JVC adagio and its still working.

Every now and again I play tapes from old radio shows from the 90s especially a Cork pirate radio station called "Radio Friendly" 104.6 fm in stereo

Now and again the glass fuses go, so there around a few months ago I was craving nostalgic memories.

So I turned on the stereo and not working, opened the back, glass fuses blown.

Down to the local shop reminiscent of the shop in the unbelievables.

Anyhow out the back he went, found a little paper box, faded writing on it, bingo he had the exact fuses I needed.

The box was more of an antique than the fuses.
Little faded box from the 70s or 80s id say.

Slim Charles · 14-02-2020 11:10am

My dad sent me to the shop for the yorkshire evening post early one morning many years ago...does that count ?

Doctors room ghost · 14-02-2020 11:28am

nthclare wrote: »

I have an old JVC adagio and its still working.

Every now and again I play tapes from old radio shows from the 90s especially a Cork pirate radio station called "Radio Friendly" 104.6 fm in stereo

Now and again the glass fuses go, so there around a few months ago I was craving nostalgic memories.

So I turned on the stereo and not working, opened the back, glass fuses blown.

Down to the local shop reminiscent of the shop in the unbelievables.

Anyhow out the back he went, found a little paper box, faded writing on it, bingo he had the exact fuses I needed.

The box was more of an antique than the fuses.
Little faded box from the 70s or 80s id say.

Was it mick?? He won’t get the tide table book in for me.he says the fcukers get it online now and he’s stuck with the books.

Idle Passerby · 14-02-2020 11:51am

Potential-Monke wrote: »

Ah feck ya, you're after reminding me of biscuits I used to get at my Nan's back in the day. Can't remember the name of them, and Google is not helping.

They came in a red packet (iirc), they were about twice to three times the size (width and depth) as your normal biscuits, like they were puffed up or something.

Thick Arrowroot biscuits? They're like overweight rich teas

14-02-2020 12:28pm

Ask in one of the newer "cool" bricks and mortar music stores about vinyl or cassette tape and get a blank star or furrowed brow expression.

Aisling(",) · 14-02-2020 2:02pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Ask in one of the newer "cool" bricks and mortar music stores about vinyl or cassette tape and get a blank star or furrowed brow expression.

Really??

Everywhere seems to do vinyl now.Golden Discs have a big section
Lidl/Aldi sell turntables at least once a year.Its had a big resurgence

decky1 · 14-02-2020 2:06pm

Tomato juice seems to be a thing of the past in the pubs in our town, Hmmmm with a nice drop of Vodka.

Larbre34 · 14-02-2020 3:05pm

decky1 wrote: »

Tomato juice seems to be a thing of the past in the pubs in our town, Hmmmm with a nice drop of Vodka.

That'll be why.

Cee-Jay-Cee · 14-02-2020 3:27pm

Kat1170 wrote: »

As in a "Spud Gun" that used to fire the little piece of potato ?? That's a blast from the past if it's what you mean.
Did you manage to get one anywhere ??

I seen those for sale very recently, think it might have been in that Gadget store in Dundrum shopping centre.

cnocbui · 14-02-2020 3:29pm

I asked for a siege engine, once.

nthclare · 14-02-2020 3:35pm

Doctors room ghost wrote: »

Was it mick?? He won’t get the tide table book in for me.he says the fcukers get it online now and he’s stuck with the books.

I know Mick in fanore alright, but its that small shop in Corofin on the right hand side in the Kilfenora direction.

He's really old school, a real gent.

I go in sometimes to buy the odd light bulb and maybe a few snacks etc

But when you go up to the counter he'll look at what you have give you the price, say 3 euros 20

He'll say 3:20 will cover you...

Feels like a bargain every time I leave..

Doctors room ghost · 14-02-2020 6:09pm

nthclare wrote: »

I know Mick in fanore alright, but its that small shop in Corofin on the right hand side in the Kilfenora direction.

He's really old school, a real gent.

I go in sometimes to buy the odd light bulb and maybe a few snacks etc

But when you go up to the counter he'll look at what you have give you the price, say 3 euros 20

He'll say 3:20 will cover you...

Feels like a bargain every time I leave..

Mick is as sound as you’ll get.im in east Galway and I do often ring him to see what way his place is fishing and see is it worth going.hes a gentleman.he runs a good little shop too.
There’s some great rock marks near him there for a days fishing.
I love the place.

Dodge · 14-02-2020 6:23pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Ask in one of the newer "cool" bricks and mortar music stores about vinyl or cassette tape and get a blank star or furrowed brow expression.

This is someone who hasn’t been in a music shop in a fair few years. There’s more vinyl than CDs on sale now

chin nuts · 14-02-2020 6:31pm

Cee-Jay-Cee wrote: »

I seen those for sale very recently, think it might have been in that Gadget store in Dundrum shopping centre.

I bought 3 of them spud guns for a pound each on sports direct recently for the kids. Thought thed love them like I did as a kid. They didn't. ðŸ˜

Asked for a pair of chords in a shop the other day for work. Got a big smile from the dude working there. Eh no he says as he tried to walk away in his skinny jeans

Redneck Reject71 · 14-02-2020 6:33pm

Dodge wrote: »

This is someone who hasn’t been in a music shop in a fair few years. There’s more vinyl than CDs on sale now

There is a great record shop in town here I go to about 3 times a week,called Steamboat.

Esel · 14-02-2020 6:34pm

chin nuts wrote: »

Asked for a pair of chords in a shop the other day for work. Got a big smile from the dude working there. Eh no he says as he tried to walk away in his skinny jeans

Was it a music shop? You should have asked for three, not two.

Doctors room ghost · 14-02-2020 6:35pm

Dodge wrote: »

This is someone who hasn’t been in a music shop in a fair few years. There’s more vinyl than CDs on sale now

The music shops are gone scarce.there used to be maybe 8 one time in Galway.theres one now if you could even call it that.
One of the best places now to get a cd or dvd is the charity shops.

14-02-2020 6:39pm

Last year I asked for Iodine in a pharmacy - just a dropper bottle full. It's not sold anymore in any quantities, but was easy to buy online.

nthclare · 14-02-2020 6:59pm

Doctors room ghost wrote: »

Mick is as sound as you’ll get.im in east Galway and I do often ring him to see what way his place is fishing and see is it worth going.hes a gentleman.he runs a good little shop too.
There’s some great rock marks near him there for a days fishing.
I love the place.

Mick is a gentleman alright, he's well up on the local history and John Donohoe etc

His prices match the mail order stuff from the UK.

Always has a new toy in stock.

Best thing I bought off him was the rapalas max rap, caught huge pollock and the odd bass on them.

Or the savage gear standeels

Staying on topic you can't beat the German sprat, pure old school and goes out far...

Redneck Reject71 · 14-02-2020 8:06pm

Millicently wrote: »

Isn't there a shop up one of the side streets opposite William St that sells pipes and stuff like that, they probably have it.

Yeah that is Cahill's on Wickham street. Only place I know who stocks it. Absolutely love that shop.

Esel · 14-02-2020 8:21pm

Redneck Reject71 wrote: »

Yeah that is Cahill's on Wickham street. Only place I know who stocks it. Absolutely love that shop.

I'd be surprised if Petersen's at the bottom of Grafton Street (opposite Trinity College) don't stock it.

Redneck Reject71 · 14-02-2020 8:25pm

Esel wrote: »

I'd be surprised if Petersen's at the bottom of Grafton Street (opposite Trinity College) don't stock it.

They do but only way for me to get it is online as they are in Dublin,I'm in Limerick.I've ordered from them before but they are a euro dearer than Cahill's.

Ever ask for something incredibly old fashioned and obsolete in a shop?

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