The Gigglin-Marlin represents the epitome of customer service.\r
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I showed up right as they were closing at 7 p.m. on a Friday night. I asked if they were still open, and they said they were closing at 7 p.m. but that they would be willing to hang around to help me. I said I did not want to impose on their free time on a Friday night and that I would return on Saturday, but they insisted that it was no imposition and that I come in and get what I needed. For the next 45 minutes, they patiently helped me select the scuba gear I needed, from booties to fins to mask to weight belt to everything else. They were incredibly knowledgeable about everything, and it was clear they had a real passion for both scuba diving and customer service. When they did not have the booties I wanted in my size, they searched their storage room for a while before ordering it for me. \r
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It was clear Gigglin-Marlin does not put profit above helpfulness. They said that, while I needed a mesh bag to put my scuba gear in (i.e., when on a boat), any cheap mesh bag would work. They showed me the mesh bags they carried, but said these were not necessary. In contrast, another scuba shop (which shall remain nameless but is located on Westheimer) tried to sell me the most expensive items they had.\r
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After I had selected everything I needed, I apologized because the floor room was a mess with everything I had tried on. I started to help clean it up, but they would not let me and said messes like this happened all the time. I said not on a Friday night after they were closed, but they said it was no big deal and that they were glad to help me.\r
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I cannot say enough good things about the employees at Gigglin-Marlin -- they were incredibly patient, friendly, and helpful... after hours on a Friday nigh! During regular business hours, I can only imagine how much more patient, friendly, and helpful they are.
Pros: nicest people on earth
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