My 12-year-old recently decided he needed a good skateboard to do tricks and so he and I went out to see what we could find.
Our first stop was another local shop at Camelback and Central where the staff barely acknowledged our presence and when we asked about boards the employee we asked pointed at a wall of preassembled boards and said "any of those will be good."
Since that was not exactly the type of customer service that makes me want to spend $100 or more, we left and I suggested that we drive over to Sidewalk Surfer which has been around since my skating days in the late 70s.
The difference in customer service could not have been more stark. We were greeted immediately upon walking in and upon telling the staff what we were seeking they walked my son through his options in decks, trucks, wheels and bearings for a board. We decided to get a board and my son was able to pick out all of the options including the tape he wanted on the top. The staff remained engaged with him throughout the process of building the board and even gave some advice on riding and places to go. Yes, we ended up paying a bit more than I had planned (about $140) but as I told my son I'm willing to pay more to support good customer service and this board is one that he can take pride in because he picked all of the parts.
If you're looking for skate supplies, definitely check out Sidewalk Surfer. The original is still the best!