Speaking of inappropriate paraphernalia...

[NiaX]

Originally Posted by jitterbug13

^^^^
LOL! As a matter of fact, I'm on your website clicking on para websites.

But they could at least put some gold somewhere on the pimp cup.

YEEEAAAAHHH!

[Senusret I]

Originally Posted by jitterbug13

^^^^
LOL! As a matter of fact, I'm on your website clicking on para websites.

But they could at least put some gold somewhere on the pimp cup.

I need to update that site -- a LOT of companies seem to have closed in the past year!

[jitterbug13]

It also seem like some of them have merged with other companies. Your site has been a big help the last few days.

I'm still looking for one of those tailgating/picnic chairs with the fraternities/sororities. Someone was selling them during Regional Convention and I don't know the company's name. Greek Gear sells them in black, but the ones I saw were in the fraternity/sorority colors. If you can help a soror/sistergreek out it will be greatly appreciated!

[DSTCHAOS]

Is there any way that you can find out what vendors were at the Regional Conference? I assume it was a licensed vendor so the contact info should be on our National website.

[jitterbug13]

I remember some by name (the ones who are usually at our conferences), but I don't remember this one. And a lot of our vendors don't have websites.

[Steeltrap]

Jaysis. I remember posting something about a pimp cup a few years ago. Some of these vendors have serious balls.

[DSTCHAOS]

Members are buying this stuff so I can't blame a vendor for trying to make a buck.

[jitterbug13]

I want to share something that happened to me yesterday that made me sad. I also want to see if anyone else has experienced this.

I went to a para store in another part of the state (DSTRen knows which store I'm talking about). When I started going there almost ten years ago (when I had just joined OPA) there would be tons of stuff there and it would not be common for me to spend more than $100 there. I even when there a few months after I crossed Delta.

A friend and I drove up there yesterday. I was shocked to see how much of their inventory has gone down. The store used to be full of stuff and it wasn't the case anymore. One of the owner's husbands told us that a lot of their suppliers have gone out of business because the fraternities and sororities have been clamping down on the vendors. Just about everything I have bought from this store has been of the best quality and they had unique items that a lot of people didn't have ( I try to get stuff that a lot of people don't have).

Have any of you seen this happen in the greek stores you visited? I hate to see this happen to good stores that have had good customer service and merchandise.

[Senusret I]

Originally Posted by jitterbug13

I want to share something that happened to me yesterday that made me sad. I also want to see if anyone else has experienced this.

I went to a para store in another part of the state (DSTRen knows which store I'm talking about). When I started going there almost ten years ago (when I had just joined OPA) there would be tons of stuff there and it would not be common for me to spend more than $100 there. I even when there a few months after I crossed Delta.

A friend and I drove up there yesterday. I was shocked to see how much of their inventory has gone down. The store used to be full of stuff and it wasn't the case anymore. One of the owner's husbands told us that a lot of their suppliers have gone out of business because the fraternities and sororities have been clamping down on the vendors. Just about everything I have bought from this store has been of the best quality and they had unique items that a lot of people didn't have ( I try to get stuff that a lot of people don't have).

Have any of you seen this happen in the greek stores you visited? I hate to see this happen to good stores that have had good customer service and merchandise.

I have been to three Greek stores in my life and two college stores with extensive Greek sections.

1. The Guild in DC...... they have never had a great selection of pre-made stuff, but I have never had a problem with their made-to-order items. They once closed for a few months and moved across the street to a smaller, but nicer store. I do not believe they have done down much in inventory, but the manager did tell me that they stopped making certain items because of the high overhead (sweaters, for example.)

2. The University Shop in College Park, MD -- they are great for pre-made stuff. In the years I have supported them, they seem to be doing fine. Not my number one choice for pre-made stuff, BUT I can say this... if you've ever been annoyed that the "white" sororities have better pre-made stuff, the University Shop will erase that. Everything that Tri-Delt has, DST will have.

3. Forgot the name of the Greek store in Columbus, OH (University Spirit?) but they were really good -- on the same level as #2.

4. Howard University Bookstore -- far better than the Guild for pre-made stuff, but ONLY carries NPHC stuff, which is silly because APO, GSS, KKPsi, TBS, SAI, and PMA are also on the yard in large numbers.

5. Went to a Greek store in Athens, OH that I wasn't feeling at all.

All in all, I don't notice the actual stores declining in quality or inventory -- but I do see a LOT of online vendors disappearing.

[jitterbug13]

One thing I liked about the store was that their made to order stuff was quality and they had a good selection on all of the greeks.

I've noticed that a lot of the online vendors have been disappearing too. There would be something that I want to get and when I finally get around to it, the place has gone out of business.

[Senusret I]

^^^ That has happened to me before.

How about plain wooden paddles that used to be 15 bucks are now 30?

I make more and more stuff on my own rather than buying it. I would be a beast if I could sew.

[Angel11E01]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

I have been to three Greek stores in my life and two college stores with extensive Greek sections.

1. The Guild in DC...... they have never had a great selection of pre-made stuff, but I have never had a problem with their made-to-order items. They once closed for a few months and moved across the street to a smaller, but nicer store. I do not believe they have done down much in inventory, but the manager did tell me that they stopped making certain items because of the high overhead (sweaters, for example.)

2. The University Shop in College Park, MD -- they are great for pre-made stuff. In the years I have supported them, they seem to be doing fine. Not my number one choice for pre-made stuff, BUT I can say this... if you've ever been annoyed that the "white" sororities have better pre-made stuff, the University Shop will erase that. Everything that Tri-Delt has, DST will have.

3. Forgot the name of the Greek store in Columbus, OH (University Spirit?) but they were really good -- on the same level as #2.

4. Howard University Bookstore -- far better than the Guild for pre-made stuff, but ONLY carries NPHC stuff, which is silly because APO, GSS, KKPsi, TBS, SAI, and PMA are also on the yard in large numbers.

5. Went to a Greek store in Athens, OH that I wasn't feeling at all.

All in all, I don't notice the actual stores declining in quality or inventory -- but I do see a LOT of online vendors disappearing.

Sheedy,

The store you're talking about in Columbus is Spirit Concepts. I was sad to find out that the store had closed. I hadn't purchased nalia in a minute, and thought I was going to make a come up. Not so much.

I no longer live there, so I don't know if the store moved, or just went out of business. I can't imagine that it would be out of business, given that when I was on the yard, the D9 at OSU pretty much used that store exclusively.

[Senusret I]

http://ohiostatespiritconcepts.com/ That site says they moved to Westerville.... I have no idea where that is, but that's a mess!

[FeeFee]

Rashid, when I went to The Guild back in '06, I managed to find some pretty good AKA para.

[Senusret I]

Originally Posted by FeeFee

Rashid, when I went to The Guild back in '06, I managed to find some pretty good AKA para.

Do you remember what you got? Sometimes I forgot that they have good stuff in the cases.