Home Repair (alt.home.repair) For all homeowners and DIYers with many experienced tradesmen. Solve your toughest home fix-it problems.

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
  #1   Report Post  
Posted to alt.home.repair
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 431
Default Store Clerks "DUMBER THAN HELL"

I went to a big city "big box" home repair store yesterday. I got most
of the stuff from my list, into my shopping cart, but I could not find
an outdoor thermometer (the old one I had outside my window broke
recently). The store is busy but lacks enough staff on duty. I had
already wasted a half hour in the electrical dept. trying to locate some
special parts, because there was no one there to assist. I finally find
a guy in the plumbing dept. and ask him where I can find an outdoor
thermometer. He tells me "thats not a plumbing item" [NO ****], but says
he will get someone to help me. 10 minutes go by, and finaly some young
guy arrives. I ask him "where in the store can I find some outdoor
thermometers". He replies "WE DONT HAVE THEM THIS TIME OF YEAR, BECAUSE
THEY ARE A SEASONAL ITEM". Trying to remain calm, I said "Then find me a
seasonal thermometer for the Winter Season". He looks at me with a very
puzzled expresion and says "that's a *SUMMER ITEM*", but they might be
in the garden center. Being a little annoyed by this time, I say
"There's temperature all year long, regardless of season". He tells me
to go look in the "garden center". Then walks away.

I go to the garden center (which is unheated), and it's very dark in
there. So I go to the nearby lumber desk, and have to wait another 10
minutes to find an employee. After waving my arms and nearly doing a
dance to get a guy's attention, he finally comes over. I tell him I was
told to go to the garden center to find thermometers and it's too dark
in there to see, "could you please turn the lights on". He says "I dont
know if we have them this time of year, but I'll look on the computer".
He looks them up, even goes on the store's website, and finally finds
them, and says "it looks like we have lots of them, which one do you
want (showing me the pictures on the screen). I said "can we just go see
them on the shelf". He flips on some lights in the garden center and we
find a whole shelf full of thermometers. -FINALLY-. I grab the one I
want and go back to the last of the shopping.

That's when I went to the "Closeout Lumber" section. I always like to
look in there for bargains. In there, I found a piece of metal trim made
for metal siding, and it's something I can use. It's marhed 25 cents per
foot. I grab it, and it's 10 foot long, and walk with it, back to the
lumber desk, knowing they have to print up a "slip" for these items.
After another long wait, I finally find someone who works there and it's
another young guy. He says "what do you need". I tell him this was in
the bargain area and I just need a slip for it.

He goes to the computer, and says "how much is it". I say, "it's a
quarter a foot". He says, "but what is the price" I said "I just told
you, it's a quarter a foot". He looks very puzzled.... I say, "It's 25
cents per foot, and it's 10 feet long". (He finally seems to
understand). Thats when he says, "hold on a minute, while I find a
calculator, so I get this right". He grabs a calculator from a desk, and
starts to push buttons, a minute later, he says "wow, this cant be
right.... lets try this again......". I tell him, "25 cents times 10 is
$2.50, simple math, just take the zero from the 10 and put it at the end
of the 25". He looks me straight in the eye, and says "are you sure?".
About the same moment his calculator says $2.50, and he says "you're
right, that will be $2.50. I did not say a word, (and I wont say what I
was thinking).....

With that accomplished, he enters the price into the computer, and asks
"what is it called". I said "it just says METAL TRIM on the sign. He
enters those words. Then I tell him I also need two pieces of vinyl
siding trim, from the outside building, it looks like *and I point to a
display on the wall*. He looks at the display, and says "I'll have to
look up the item number". He goes to the computer, when I tell him to
look at the sign on the wall, right next to the display, and it's says
the item number and the price right there. He says "Oh wow, it does".
Then for the 3rd time he asks me how many of them I want. I said TWO. I
did not say another word, because I felt like saying, "Dude, you're
"DUMBER THAN HELL".....

Finally I'm done shopping, and proceed to the checkout, hoping the
checkout clerk has a brain..... (Thankfully, she checked me out with no
problems).

I've come to the conclusion that they only hire 'Kindergarten Dropouts'
at that store......

  #2   Report Post  
Posted to alt.home.repair
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 6,586
Default Store Clerks "DUMBER THAN HELL"

wrote:
I went to a big city "big box" home repair store yesterday. I got most
of the stuff from my list, into my shopping cart, but I could not find
an outdoor thermometer (the old one I had outside my window broke
recently). The store is busy but lacks enough staff on duty. I had
already wasted a half hour in the electrical dept. trying to locate some
special parts, because there was no one there to assist. I finally find
a guy in the plumbing dept. and ask him where I can find an outdoor
thermometer. He tells me "thats not a plumbing item" [NO ****], but says
he will get someone to help me. 10 minutes go by, and finaly some young
guy arrives. I ask him "where in the store can I find some outdoor
thermometers". He replies "WE DONT HAVE THEM THIS TIME OF YEAR, BECAUSE
THEY ARE A SEASONAL ITEM". Trying to remain calm, I said "Then find me a
seasonal thermometer for the Winter Season". He looks at me with a very
puzzled expresion and says "that's a *SUMMER ITEM*", but they might be
in the garden center. Being a little annoyed by this time, I say
"There's temperature all year long, regardless of season". He tells me
to go look in the "garden center". Then walks away.

I go to the garden center (which is unheated), and it's very dark in
there. So I go to the nearby lumber desk, and have to wait another 10
minutes to find an employee. After waving my arms and nearly doing a
dance to get a guy's attention, he finally comes over. I tell him I was
told to go to the garden center to find thermometers and it's too dark
in there to see, "could you please turn the lights on". He says "I dont
know if we have them this time of year, but I'll look on the computer".
He looks them up, even goes on the store's website, and finally finds
them, and says "it looks like we have lots of them, which one do you
want (showing me the pictures on the screen). I said "can we just go see
them on the shelf". He flips on some lights in the garden center and we
find a whole shelf full of thermometers. -FINALLY-. I grab the one I
want and go back to the last of the shopping.

That's when I went to the "Closeout Lumber" section. I always like to
look in there for bargains. In there, I found a piece of metal trim made
for metal siding, and it's something I can use. It's marhed 25 cents per
foot. I grab it, and it's 10 foot long, and walk with it, back to the
lumber desk, knowing they have to print up a "slip" for these items.
After another long wait, I finally find someone who works there and it's
another young guy. He says "what do you need". I tell him this was in
the bargain area and I just need a slip for it.

He goes to the computer, and says "how much is it". I say, "it's a
quarter a foot". He says, "but what is the price" I said "I just told
you, it's a quarter a foot". He looks very puzzled.... I say, "It's 25
cents per foot, and it's 10 feet long". (He finally seems to
understand). Thats when he says, "hold on a minute, while I find a
calculator, so I get this right". He grabs a calculator from a desk, and
starts to push buttons, a minute later, he says "wow, this cant be
right.... lets try this again......". I tell him, "25 cents times 10 is
$2.50, simple math, just take the zero from the 10 and put it at the end
of the 25". He looks me straight in the eye, and says "are you sure?".
About the same moment his calculator says $2.50, and he says "you're
right, that will be $2.50. I did not say a word, (and I wont say what I
was thinking).....

With that accomplished, he enters the price into the computer, and asks
"what is it called". I said "it just says METAL TRIM on the sign. He
enters those words. Then I tell him I also need two pieces of vinyl
siding trim, from the outside building, it looks like *and I point to a
display on the wall*. He looks at the display, and says "I'll have to
look up the item number". He goes to the computer, when I tell him to
look at the sign on the wall, right next to the display, and it's says
the item number and the price right there. He says "Oh wow, it does".
Then for the 3rd time he asks me how many of them I want. I said TWO. I
did not say another word, because I felt like saying, "Dude, you're
"DUMBER THAN HELL".....

Finally I'm done shopping, and proceed to the checkout, hoping the
checkout clerk has a brain..... (Thankfully, she checked me out with no
problems).

I've come to the conclusion that they only hire 'Kindergarten Dropouts'
at that store......

Alternative is on line shopping. Dumber than dumber. Dummies never go to
hell.
  #3   Report Post  
Posted to alt.home.repair
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 338
Default Store Clerks "DUMBER THAN HELL"

On 2015-12-20, Tony Hwang wrote:
Alternative is on line shopping. Dumber than dumber. Dummies never go to
hell.


Another alternative is a good local hardware store that has knowledgeable
staff. Fortunately the big box guys haven't managed to put them all out
of business. In fact I'll normally go to the local hardware store first
to avoid the kind of scenario painted by the OP.

--
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Roger Blake (Posts from Google Groups killfiled due to excess spam.)

NSA sedition and treason -- http://www.DeathToNSAthugs.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
  #5   Report Post  
Posted to alt.home.repair
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 431
Default Store Clerks "DUMBER THAN HELL"

On Sun, 20 Dec 2015 15:58:53 -0700, Tony Hwang wrote:

I've come to the conclusion that they only hire 'Kindergarten Dropouts'
at that store......

Alternative is on line shopping. Dumber than dumber. Dummies never go to
hell.


You cant buy lumber, sheets of plywood, concrete blocks, plumbing pipes,
or 10 foot long pieces of metal trim online.... -OR- If you can, I would
not want to pay the shipping prices.... Nor am I willing to wait for the
shipping time to receive common items such as electrical items.

I might buy electronic/computer parts, clothing, movies, music, books
and that sort of thing online, but NOT most home repair stuff.

I WILL buy a DAMPER online, for my bathroom exhaust fan, if I can find
one (from another thread). The stores dont have them.

Online shopping is over rated in my opinion. I like to see and feel what
I buy. Plus some stuff just cant be shipped (at least not affordably).
I recently bought a computer keyboard online. When I got it, I hated the
"feel" of it. So, I'm still using my old keyboard which has most of the
letters worn off of it, while that new one sits in my closet....

Then too, last winter I bought a computer monitor online. The shipper
refused to deliver it, because my almost one mile long driveway was icy.
(I clean it as best I can, and I drive on it daily). After waiting over
2 months, I finally had to go thru a long and difficult process of
excessive paperwork to modify the shipping address, so it would be
delivered to a friends house (in town). Finally, 3.5 months later it
arrived at his house, and then I had to drive there to get it.
In the end, I saved about $25 off the shelf price of buying it at a
store, but had to spend at least 3 hours of time filling out forms,
reading emails about their refusal to deliver it, mailing stuff (which
costs postage), and then being without my monitor for 3.5 months. Then
finally driving to get it which costs me for gas.

The monitor was fine, but if my time is only worth "minimum wages" plus
my other costs incurred, it cost me more than the savings, not to
mention the annoyance factor.



  #9   Report Post  
Posted to alt.home.repair
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 431
Default Store Clerks "DUMBER THAN HELL"

On Sun, 20 Dec 2015 20:51:24 -0500, Ed Pawlowski wrote:

Simple solution that I seem to be using more and more. If you enter
"outdoor thermometer" in the search box at Amazon you get over 31,000 to
choose from. I think I placed 6 orders just this week for both gifts
and personal items not easily found elsewhere.


NOT a "simple solution" at all, when you only have dialup internet....
And I think I was clear when I said I dont care to shop online, because
I cant see or feel the items. I've shopped in REAL stores for over 60
years, and dont want or need to change now, to he hassles of online
shopping and dealing with the shipping and postage and hassled to return
stuff that is not what I wanted, or junk.

I reserve my online shopping to parts and rare items I can get no other
way, and that is a LAST RESORT. Something common, like a thermometer is
NOT something "Rare". And the store DID have lots of them. Not to
mention I bought it yesterday and am already using it. Not waiting a
week or more to get it. Additionally, everytime I order something
online, I still have to go to a store to buy a prepaid disposible credit
card, because i'm not stupid enough to give out my REAL Credit card #
over the internet. NOTHING is safe or secure on the internet, even
though these companies want you to believe it is.


  #10   Report Post  
Posted to alt.home.repair
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 4,228
Default Store Clerks "DUMBER THAN HELL"


wrote in message
...
NOT something "Rare". And the store DID have lots of them. Not to
mention I bought it yesterday and am already using it. Not waiting a
week or more to get it. Additionally, everytime I order something
online, I still have to go to a store to buy a prepaid disposible credit
card, because i'm not stupid enough to give out my REAL Credit card #
over the internet. NOTHING is safe or secure on the internet, even
though these companies want you to believe it is.


Credit cards are not safe in stores either. Just look at what hapened at
the Target stores last Christmas, or maybe it was the one before.
My son for one had his debit card info stolen from them.




  #12   Report Post  
Posted to alt.home.repair
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 431
Default Store Clerks "DUMBER THAN HELL"

On Sun, 20 Dec 2015 22:29:10 -0500, "Ralph Mowery"
wrote:


wrote in message
.. .
NOT something "Rare". And the store DID have lots of them. Not to
mention I bought it yesterday and am already using it. Not waiting a
week or more to get it. Additionally, everytime I order something
online, I still have to go to a store to buy a prepaid disposible credit
card, because i'm not stupid enough to give out my REAL Credit card #
over the internet. NOTHING is safe or secure on the internet, even
though these companies want you to believe it is.


Credit cards are not safe in stores either. Just look at what hapened at
the Target stores last Christmas, or maybe it was the one before.
My son for one had his debit card info stolen from them.


I rarely use credit/debit cards in stores too. I use cash, or if it's a
large priced item, I write a check.

I use my credit cards to pay utility bills, and sometimes at the local
gas station, because I KNOW them, and I dont always have enough cash in
my pocket when I need gas.

I feel much safer using a C.C at a local store than a large chain store
like Target, Home Depot, Walmart, or other such places. When I buy farm
items from our local Farm Supply, I feel pretty safe using my C.C. They
use the same bank I do, and if they were to cheat me, both I and my bank
would know right away who did it.

Another thing I wont even consider is online banking. What a stupid
idea! I may as well just post my credit card # on this newsgroup along
with all my other identity info, and say "Help Yourself".


  #13   Report Post  
Posted to alt.home.repair
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 431
Default Store Clerks "DUMBER THAN HELL"

On Sun, 20 Dec 2015 22:45:22 -0500, Ed Pawlowski wrote:

I've shopped in real stores for over 60 years too. Many have gone to
crap as you noted, thus my reason to go on line to do a lot of shopping.

As for returning things, Ive never had to. In my entire life I've only
ever had to return three or four items as I'm careful with my purchases.

There is no other solution for you, I'm afraid so you can keep
complaining and nothing will improve. It will, however, get worse.


The store had my needs, but the help was horrible. You're right, there
is nothing I can do about it, but I have complained to store management
often, and I may have a word with their main office this week. I've had
to return lots of stuff both online and at stores. I just returned a
shovel to that same store yesterday, because the handle broke off after
an hours use. I had no problem with that return.

For me to shop online requires many hours of my time. On dialup it takes
a long time to load webpages. Then I get my total and have to go buy a
disposible card. Then I place my order and wait. With any luck I wont
have hassles getting my item.

How can you say "I'm careful with my purchases", when you buy online?
You cant see the stuff or feel if it's durable... My shovel "looked"
durable, but it had a hidden defect. I might buy a book or movie or
music online. That stuff usually dont have defects, but unless the price
is WAY below the store price, I'm spending more online, by the time I
pay $5 for my disposible card and S&H and everything else. And I still
have to wait for the item. I dont mind waiting for a book or movie, but
if I have to wait for a part for my car, I cant drive it until my part
arrives..... Or i cant proceed with my home repairs while waiting for
online parts.

I could have waited for my thermometer, but I paid $8 for it. Online,
I'd already have the $5 fee for the disposible card, so the thermometer
would have to cost less than $3 to even justify it. I guess I'd rather
waste a half hour in a store, than spend 4 hours waiting for websites to
load. Even if I wanted to spend close to $100 a month MORE than I pay
now, to get FAST internet, I could not justify that amount on the
savings I may get shopping online, since I am not a big consumer.

The stores will continue to have poor workers and I'll continue to call
their main offices and complain.... This instance was much worse than
most..... Generally I'm fairly satisfied in stores!




  #14   Report Post  
Posted to alt.home.repair
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 7,157
Default Store Clerks "DUMBER THAN HELL"

On Sunday, December 20, 2015 at 4:39:24 PM UTC-6, wrote:
I went to a big city "big box" home repair store yesterday. I got most
of the stuff from my list, into my shopping cart, but I could not find
an outdoor thermometer (the old one I had outside my window broke
recently). The store is busy but lacks enough staff on duty. I had
already wasted a half hour in the electrical dept. trying to locate some
special parts, because there was no one there to assist. I finally find
a guy in the plumbing dept. and ask him where I can find an outdoor
thermometer. He tells me "thats not a plumbing item" [NO ****], but says
he will get someone to help me. 10 minutes go by, and finaly some young
guy arrives. I ask him "where in the store can I find some outdoor
thermometers". He replies "WE DONT HAVE THEM THIS TIME OF YEAR, BECAUSE
THEY ARE A SEASONAL ITEM". Trying to remain calm, I said "Then find me a
seasonal thermometer for the Winter Season". He looks at me with a very
puzzled expresion and says "that's a *SUMMER ITEM*", but they might be
in the garden center. Being a little annoyed by this time, I say
"There's temperature all year long, regardless of season". He tells me
to go look in the "garden center". Then walks away.

I go to the garden center (which is unheated), and it's very dark in
there. So I go to the nearby lumber desk, and have to wait another 10
minutes to find an employee. After waving my arms and nearly doing a
dance to get a guy's attention, he finally comes over. I tell him I was
told to go to the garden center to find thermometers and it's too dark
in there to see, "could you please turn the lights on". He says "I dont
know if we have them this time of year, but I'll look on the computer".
He looks them up, even goes on the store's website, and finally finds
them, and says "it looks like we have lots of them, which one do you
want (showing me the pictures on the screen). I said "can we just go see
them on the shelf". He flips on some lights in the garden center and we
find a whole shelf full of thermometers. -FINALLY-. I grab the one I
want and go back to the last of the shopping.

That's when I went to the "Closeout Lumber" section. I always like to
look in there for bargains. In there, I found a piece of metal trim made
for metal siding, and it's something I can use. It's marhed 25 cents per
foot. I grab it, and it's 10 foot long, and walk with it, back to the
lumber desk, knowing they have to print up a "slip" for these items.
After another long wait, I finally find someone who works there and it's
another young guy. He says "what do you need". I tell him this was in
the bargain area and I just need a slip for it.

He goes to the computer, and says "how much is it". I say, "it's a
quarter a foot". He says, "but what is the price" I said "I just told
you, it's a quarter a foot". He looks very puzzled.... I say, "It's 25
cents per foot, and it's 10 feet long". (He finally seems to
understand). Thats when he says, "hold on a minute, while I find a
calculator, so I get this right". He grabs a calculator from a desk, and
starts to push buttons, a minute later, he says "wow, this cant be
right.... lets try this again......". I tell him, "25 cents times 10 is
$2.50, simple math, just take the zero from the 10 and put it at the end
of the 25". He looks me straight in the eye, and says "are you sure?".
About the same moment his calculator says $2.50, and he says "you're
right, that will be $2.50. I did not say a word, (and I wont say what I
was thinking).....

With that accomplished, he enters the price into the computer, and asks
"what is it called". I said "it just says METAL TRIM on the sign. He
enters those words. Then I tell him I also need two pieces of vinyl
siding trim, from the outside building, it looks like *and I point to a
display on the wall*. He looks at the display, and says "I'll have to
look up the item number". He goes to the computer, when I tell him to
look at the sign on the wall, right next to the display, and it's says
the item number and the price right there. He says "Oh wow, it does".
Then for the 3rd time he asks me how many of them I want. I said TWO. I
did not say another word, because I felt like saying, "Dude, you're
"DUMBER THAN HELL".....

Finally I'm done shopping, and proceed to the checkout, hoping the
checkout clerk has a brain..... (Thankfully, she checked me out with no
problems).

I've come to the conclusion that they only hire 'Kindergarten Dropouts'
at that store......


The educational system was infested long ago by Progressive Liberal Leftist Commiecrat Freaks who's goal was to implement their agenda which was to cause,"The Dumbassification Of America". Their reason being that a poorly educated less intelligent population is more easily manipulated into falling for the nonsense Democrats are selling. How else could a completely unqualified, unvetted, Affirmative Action moron be elected President? Š™.˜‰

[8~{} Uncle Stumped Monster
  #15   Report Post  
Posted to alt.home.repair
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 8,582
Default Store Clerks "DUMBER THAN HELL"

On Sun, 20 Dec 2015 23:27:28 -0000 (UTC), Roger Blake
wrote:

On 2015-12-20, Tony Hwang wrote:
Alternative is on line shopping. Dumber than dumber. Dummies never go to
hell.


Another alternative is a good local hardware store that has knowledgeable
staff. Fortunately the big box guys haven't managed to put them all out
of business. In fact I'll normally go to the local hardware store first
to avoid the kind of scenario painted by the OP.


One thing worth knowing, the HD, which used to have a computer that
was only good for applying for a job, I think, and another that only
the staff could use, now has a computer, at least the one near me
does, that has the HD webpage. You can search for what you want and
once it finds it it shows the aisle and the bay. The bays are maked
on the posts, even if one doesn't normally notice that. It works
pretty well. And you can do this before you leave home, but many
times you don't know there's a problem until you're there.

OTOH Microcenter near me used to have computers for customers to check
their stock, but they took them out The helpful employee didnt' know
why. And it's a computer store.


  #16   Report Post  
Posted to alt.home.repair
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 8,582
Default Store Clerks "DUMBER THAN HELL"

On Sun, 20 Dec 2015 22:45:22 -0500, Ed Pawlowski wrote:

On 12/20/2015 9:57 PM, wrote:
On Sun, 20 Dec 2015 20:51:24 -0500, Ed Pawlowski wrote:

Simple solution that I seem to be using more and more. If you enter
"outdoor thermometer" in the search box at Amazon you get over 31,000 to
choose from. I think I placed 6 orders just this week for both gifts
and personal items not easily found elsewhere.


NOT a "simple solution" at all, when you only have dialup internet....
And I think I was clear when I said I dont care to shop online, because
I cant see or feel the items. I've shopped in REAL stores for over 60
years, and dont want or need to change now, to he hassles of online
shopping and dealing with the shipping and postage and hassled to return
stuff that is not what I wanted, or junk.


I've shopped in real stores for over 60 years too. Many have gone to


I don't think I started shopping in stores until I was 5, and that was
only Bush's, a corner grocery. They had two-for-a-penny candy, but I
didn't like it. I woudl get one-for-a-penny candy which truly was
twice as good. For one thing, it might be made of chocolate, which
the other stuff never was. When there was a premium in a box of
cereal, but the supermarket didnt' have any more, we'd go to Bush's.

It was only about 300 feet from my back yard. It's changed and it
sells medical supplies now.

There was also a toy store on the far corner away from the JHS. The
JHS was a long block and a half from the front yard, to their property
and another 800 feet across their lot to the school, but I only went
in when I was taking swimming. I would look in the toy store, but
even though my family had enough money, I had none, so I never bought
anything. It's changed and it sells medical supplies now.

Populatoin of the town has gone from 50,000 in 1955 to 22,000 now. No
new people moving in, no need for toys, much need for medical
supplies.

The high school is now a combination JHS/HS and the JHS is now 3 to 6,
the only school in the whole town for those grades. If I were 8
again, it would still be in easy walking distance, though my
girlfriend thinks no one would let his little kid walk their alone.
She doesn't know what small towns are like.

Though now she lives ina new expensive development in a rural county
and one mother drives her 10 year old 300 feet and then waits with him
until the school bus comes, even in warm weather. Meets him the
afternoon too. The county is the next one from me. If there were
child abductions I'd hear about it, and there aren't. It's pitiful.

crap as you noted, thus my reason to go on line to do a lot of shopping.

As for returning things, Ive never had to. In my entire life I've only
ever had to return three or four items as I'm careful with my purchases.


I've never returned anything online. I had something fail in 88 days,
but by tthe time I determined it had failed, it was 92 days and they
wouldnt' warrant it. Later I found out it hadn't failed. I'd rushed
because I knew the 90 days was close to expiring.

In person I've returned 30 or 40 or more things, just aboutr all of
them y hardware.

There is no other solution for you, I'm afraid so you can keep
complaining and nothing will improve. It will, however, get worse.

  #18   Report Post  
Posted to alt.home.repair
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1,171
Default Store Clerks "DUMBER THAN HELL"

On 12/20/2015 9:29 PM, Ralph Mowery wrote:
wrote in message
...
NOT something "Rare". And the store DID have lots of them. Not to
mention I bought it yesterday and am already using it. Not waiting a
week or more to get it. Additionally, everytime I order something
online, I still have to go to a store to buy a prepaid disposible credit
card, because i'm not stupid enough to give out my REAL Credit card #
over the internet. NOTHING is safe or secure on the internet, even
though these companies want you to believe it is.


Credit cards are not safe in stores either. Just look at what hapened at
the Target stores last Christmas, or maybe it was the one before.
My son for one had his debit card info stolen from them.


Exactly! Folks are shy about using their credit cards on a commercial
site with SSL security and the "blessing" from MOST credit card issuers
that they will NOT be held liable for any unauthorized charges. Yet,
these same individuals will hand their credit card over to some kid
working for minimum wage and tips at a restaurant or bar, leaving the
card out of sight for several minutes not knowing that the waiter could
either copy down the information off the card or scan it and clone it.



  #24   Report Post  
Posted to alt.home.repair
SMS SMS is offline
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1,365
Default Store Clerks "DUMBER THAN HELL"

On 12/20/2015 2:36 PM, wrote:

snip

With that accomplished, he enters the price into the computer, and asks
"what is it called". I said "it just says METAL TRIM on the sign. He
enters those words. Then I tell him I also need two pieces of vinyl
siding trim, from the outside building, it looks like *and I point to a
display on the wall*. He looks at the display, and says "I'll have to
look up the item number". He goes to the computer, when I tell him to
look at the sign on the wall, right next to the display, and it's says
the item number and the price right there. He says "Oh wow, it does".
Then for the 3rd time he asks me how many of them I want. I said TWO. I
did not say another word, because I felt like saying, "Dude, you're
"DUMBER THAN HELL".....



When I was 16 I worked at McDonald's. When they found out that I knew
how to figure out sales tax and make change (no computerized cash
registers then), I was always put up front to take orders.

When I was 17 I worked at a department store. We had to take a math test
to get the job.

Many years later I was at K Mart, and was talking to the cashier,
telling her that I was going to Long's (a drug store chain later
purchased by CVS) and she said "oh, it's my dream to work at Long's." I
said "so why don't you apply there?" She said "I did, but I could not
pass their math test." Aha! Long's always had very competent cashiers,
but apparently that went away when they were bought out by CVS.

One day I was at CVS and they had 40% off all remaining summer
merchandise. I bought something marked at $10. They had not programmed
the new price into the system so the cashiers had to take 40% off.

The cashier took out a little pad of paper. She wrote $10 on it. Then
she took out a calculator and multiplied 10 by 0.4. She wrote down 4 on
the pad. Then she did 10-4=6. I told her to just multiply by 0.6, but
she helpfully informed me that it was 40% off, not 60% off. I really
wanted to come back the next week when everything was 50% off to see if
she went through the same procedure.

  #25   Report Post  
Posted to alt.home.repair
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 2,879
Default Store Clerks "DUMBER THAN HELL"

On 12/21/2015 5:52 AM, sms wrote:

One day I was at CVS and they had 40% off all remaining summer merchandise. I
bought something marked at $10. They had not programmed the new price into the
system so the cashiers had to take 40% off.

The cashier took out a little pad of paper. She wrote $10 on it. Then she took
out a calculator and multiplied 10 by 0.4. She wrote down 4 on the pad. Then
she did 10-4=6. I told her to just multiply by 0.6, but she helpfully informed
me that it was 40% off, not 60% off. I really wanted to come back the next week
when everything was 50% off to see if she went through the same procedure.


I went to HD to purchase some plywood. Wanted to have it ripped into 10"
wide strips. Kid came to the saw -- cuz customers aren't capable of
operating a saw that is *bound* to a table/rig! :-/

Told him what I wanted. He pulled out his tape rule and asked me to
show him 10 inches... Alarmed, I took it upon myself to mark the
plywood -- allowing 1/8" for each cut as I'm sure that wouldn't
occur to him!

Different occasion, I purchased two (identical) $9.99 items at grocery
store up the street. Had my $20+1+1 (cash) in my hands in anticipation of
the bill. Little girl announces $40-something dollars and looks to me
for payment.

I smile and bring my hand holding cash close to my chest (it's a routine I've
developed over years of dealing with stupid clerks):

"What's wrong with this picture?" (smiling disarmingly)
"Huh??" (clueless)
"This is $9.99" (motioning to first bottle) "let's call it $10"
"And this, too, is also $9.99" (motioning to second bottle -- same stuff!)
"so lets call it $10, too! Ten plus ten... ?" (motioning to the
$40 total displayed on the register)
"Yeah?" (still clueless)
"(sigh) Just ring it up again, please..."

Now, of course, SHE is annoyed because I'm making her do something she's
already done (and we all know how hard ringing up two items can be!)

The issue in each case is how the two individuals had no "feel" for
the numbers. I.e., seeing two items that were "about $10 each"
should, in my mind, have caused the second cashier to be puzzled
when the machine told her $40 -- instead of just parroting the
display and asking me for $40.

I can understand the first kid being overzealous and putting marks at
10, 20, 30, 40 ... 90 inches along the 8 ft plywood sheet and, in
doing so, leaving me with 9-7/8 wide strips. Or, a 10" strip followed
by a bunch of 9-7/8 strips (depending on which side of his mark he cuts).
I can understand him forgetting that the blade takes material away
and failing to allow for that -- having *knowledge* that the customer
might not!

But, I can't understand him being unable to use a ruler!




  #26   Report Post  
Posted to alt.home.repair
SMS SMS is offline
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1,365
Default Store Clerks "DUMBER THAN HELL"

On 12/20/2015 7:52 PM, wrote:
On Sun, 20 Dec 2015 22:29:10 -0500, "Ralph Mowery"
wrote:


wrote in message
...
NOT something "Rare". And the store DID have lots of them. Not to
mention I bought it yesterday and am already using it. Not waiting a
week or more to get it. Additionally, everytime I order something
online, I still have to go to a store to buy a prepaid disposible credit
card, because i'm not stupid enough to give out my REAL Credit card #
over the internet. NOTHING is safe or secure on the internet, even
though these companies want you to believe it is.


Credit cards are not safe in stores either. Just look at what hapened at
the Target stores last Christmas, or maybe it was the one before.
My son for one had his debit card info stolen from them.


I rarely use credit/debit cards in stores too. I use cash, or if it's a
large priced item, I write a check.


Bad idea.

For higher priced items, the extra year of warranty that is offered by
many credit cards is well worth the small hassle if a credit card is
compromised. And it's not like a debit card where you can lose money
from your account and then have to fight to get it back, it's just the
hassle of getting a new credit card.

I recently called Amex because a point and shoot camera with a one year
warranty had stopped working on a trip. I expected a hassle. There was
none. They looked up the transaction and they did not even want the
camera back, they just credited my account for the full cost. On higher
value items they want some verification though, a quote for the repair cost.

There's also the 2% cash back on a good credit card. It really adds up
over a year. We get back close to $1000 per year. Remember, the credit
card company's commissions are essentially built in to all retail
pricing already, so unless a company offers a cash discount it's better
off financially to pay with a credit card.

  #27   Report Post  
Posted to alt.home.repair
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 3,297
Default Store Clerks "DUMBER THAN HELL"

On 12/21/2015 12:19 AM, Uncle Monster wrote:

The educational system was infested long ago by Progressive Liberal Leftist Commiecrat Freaks who's goal was to implement their agenda which was to cause,"The Dumbassification Of America". Their reason being that a poorly educated less intelligent population is more easily manipulated into falling for the nonsense Democrats are selling. How else could a completely unqualified, unvetted, Affirmative Action moron be elected President? Š™.˜‰

[8~{} Uncle Stumped Monster


You will love this column by Walter Williams:

http://townhall.com/columnists/walte...ation-n2090157

He points out that most college students do not belong there but more
interesting is a similar comment about professors.

Most professors have never really left school. They might get a PhD and
just go to teach college with no real knowledge of the real world.
  #28   Report Post  
Posted to alt.home.repair
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 8,582
Default Store Clerks "DUMBER THAN HELL"

On Mon, 21 Dec 2015 04:52:28 -0800, sms
wrote:


The cashier took out a little pad of paper. She wrote $10 on it. Then
she took out a calculator and multiplied 10 by 0.4. She wrote down 4 on
the pad. Then she did 10-4=6. I told her to just multiply by 0.6, but
she helpfully informed me that it was 40% off, not 60% off. I really
wanted to come back the next week when everything was 50% off to see if
she went through the same procedure.


Around 1975 I worked for the federal office of workers compensation in
NYC. (Most of the injured employees were postal workers, because most
federal employees coverred were postal employees)

Some were on permanent disability and once in a while cost of living
increases had to be figured for their benfits. All 12 of us stopped
what we were doing to figure them out. We each had a caluculator,
but two of us had programmable calculators, each with an instruction
manual. One used 2" wide cardboard strips, with holes that could be
punched. I think i got that one. We also had worksheets that had
to be filled out, one for each person on disabilty, in which we wrote
down the original amont, the 3% increase, the sum. It was so
frustrating to do that by hand when I had in front of me a
programmable calculator, but when iirc I called it to his attention,
he said to continue as I was.

I stayed in at lunch, reading the manual but an hour wasn't enough. I
stayed late, even though no one stayed late, and read the manual and
started punching holes (they had a stack of strips). Finally I came
in on Saturday, even though afaik there was no procedure for coming in
on Saturday, and I didn't expect to get paid for any of this overtime,
but I didn't like being frustrated.

You could make long programs by using more than one strip in a row.
And if you made an error, you could edit the program with scissors,
cutting off the strip just before the bad instruction. One time I cut
the strip so short, I put it in the slot and it didn't come out the
other end!! I was scared, because I wasn't supposed to be there
anyhow. This was in the tall office building built where the camera
used to be for New Years Eve in Times Square, 45 and Broadway. I went
down to the street and they had a drugstore at ground level. The
drugstore sold philips screwdrivers. Whew. I went back and took the
cover off the calculator, still afraid the janitor would see me and
I'd never be able to convince anyone I knew what I was doing (since of
course I'd never seen a programmable calculator before.)

Anyhow, it only took me an hour or two longer, and I was ready for
Monday morning. I showed it to the boss, but he didnt' take my word.
He had someone calculate several of them the old way while I ran the
programmable calculator (which also printed the work sheet strip,
enough to fulfill that requirement.) After 5 or more of these, he
took everyone off calculating duty except one person with the good
calculator. He couldn't do the work of 12, but he could do the work
of 3 or 4, and we'd be done in time.

The other calculator used magnetic strips, about the same size as the
paper, but the code was invisible, and the manual was harder to
understand. Impossible without the manual. Oh yeah, it had storage
areas, and you couldn't just say X * 1.Y% = answer. You could only
move and add, no mulitiplying. But it would also print a paper strip
and I think I got that working in a couple hours.

What's really bad is that I had surgery and recuperation and didnt'
get back there adn didnt' train anyone else to do what I'd done, or
even leave notes, or return to that job. The next time the % increase
was likely different, and I'm not sure they could figure it out.
  #29   Report Post  
Posted to alt.home.repair
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 8,582
Default Store Clerks "DUMBER THAN HELL"

On Mon, 21 Dec 2015 06:07:23 -0700, Don Y
wrote:

On 12/21/2015 5:52 AM, sms wrote:

One day I was at CVS and they had 40% off all remaining summer merchandise. I
bought something marked at $10. They had not programmed the new price into the
system so the cashiers had to take 40% off.

The cashier took out a little pad of paper. She wrote $10 on it. Then she took
out a calculator and multiplied 10 by 0.4. She wrote down 4 on the pad. Then
she did 10-4=6. I told her to just multiply by 0.6, but she helpfully informed
me that it was 40% off, not 60% off. I really wanted to come back the next week
when everything was 50% off to see if she went through the same procedure.


I went to HD to purchase some plywood. Wanted to have it ripped into 10"
wide strips. Kid came to the saw -- cuz customers aren't capable of
operating a saw that is *bound* to a table/rig! :-/


They probably had two or three customers cut off their fingers, so
they stopped the self service.

Told him what I wanted. He pulled out his tape rule and asked me to
show him 10 inches... Alarmed, I took it upon myself to mark the
plywood -- allowing 1/8" for each cut as I'm sure that wouldn't
occur to him!

Different occasion, I purchased two (identical) $9.99 items at grocery
store up the street. Had my $20+1+1 (cash) in my hands in anticipation of
the bill. Little girl announces $40-something dollars and looks to me
for payment.

I smile and bring my hand holding cash close to my chest (it's a routine I've
developed over years of dealing with stupid clerks):

"What's wrong with this picture?" (smiling disarmingly)
"Huh??" (clueless)
"This is $9.99" (motioning to first bottle) "let's call it $10"
"And this, too, is also $9.99" (motioning to second bottle -- same stuff!)
"so lets call it $10, too! Ten plus ten... ?" (motioning to the
$40 total displayed on the register)
"Yeah?" (still clueless)
"(sigh) Just ring it up again, please..."

Now, of course, SHE is annoyed because I'm making her do something she's
already done (and we all know how hard ringing up two items can be!)

The issue in each case is how the two individuals had no "feel" for
the numbers. I.e., seeing two items that were "about $10 each"
should, in my mind, have caused the second cashier to be puzzled
when the machine told her $40 -- instead of just parroting the
display and asking me for $40.

I can understand the first kid being overzealous and putting marks at
10, 20, 30, 40 ... 90 inches along the 8 ft plywood sheet and, in
doing so, leaving me with 9-7/8 wide strips. Or, a 10" strip followed
by a bunch of 9-7/8 strips (depending on which side of his mark he cuts).
I can understand him forgetting that the blade takes material away
and failing to allow for that -- having *knowledge* that the customer
might not!

But, I can't understand him being unable to use a ruler!


Definitely a problem.

Maybe he could have used the ruler app.
  #30   Report Post  
Posted to alt.home.repair
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 3,115
Default Store Clerks "DUMBER THAN HELL"

Don Y wrote:
On 12/21/2015 5:52 AM, sms wrote:

One day I was at CVS and they had 40% off all remaining summer
merchandise. I bought something marked at $10. They had not
programmed the new price into the system so the cashiers had to take
40% off. The cashier took out a little pad of paper. She wrote $10 on it.
Then she took out a calculator and multiplied 10 by 0.4. She wrote
down 4 on the pad. Then she did 10-4=6. I told her to just multiply
by 0.6, but she helpfully informed me that it was 40% off, not 60%
off. I really wanted to come back the next week when everything was
50% off to see if she went through the same procedure.


I went to HD to purchase some plywood. Wanted to have it ripped into
10" wide strips. Kid came to the saw -- cuz customers aren't capable
of operating a saw that is *bound* to a table/rig! :-/

Told him what I wanted. He pulled out his tape rule and asked me to
show him 10 inches... Alarmed, I took it upon myself to mark the
plywood -- allowing 1/8" for each cut as I'm sure that wouldn't
occur to him!


One of the first things new (no experience) guys in the cabinet shop got
was a "big inch" , a piece of paper with an inch expanded to 8" and the 8ths
, quarters etc drawn in . A good proportion couldn't relate that to the
"regular inch" on their tape measure ... I had a helper (when I was doing
insurance repairs for a contractor) that I had writing measurements down as
I called them out . One of the measurements read "31 inches and 25 cents"
....
--
Snag




  #33   Report Post  
Posted to alt.home.repair
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1,980
Default Store Clerks "DUMBER THAN HELL"

On 12/20/2015 05:27 PM, Roger Blake wrote:

[snip]

Another alternative is a good local hardware store that has knowledgeable
staff. Fortunately the big box guys haven't managed to put them all out
of business. In fact I'll normally go to the local hardware store first
to avoid the kind of scenario painted by the OP.


There used to be a couple of local hardware stores around here. Both
old. There were good places to go when you needed to ask someone who knows.

Neither lasted long after Lowes moved in.

--
4 days until the winter celebration (Friday December 25, 2015 12:00:00
AM for 1 day).

Mark Lloyd
http://notstupid.us/

"By simple common sense, I don't believe in God." -- Charlie Chaplin
  #35   Report Post  
Posted to alt.home.repair
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1,980
Default Store Clerks "DUMBER THAN HELL"

On 12/20/2015 11:41 PM, Micky wrote:

[snip]

I forgot. Last week I returned a newspaper, at the supermarekt. I
bought it Wednesay and it was Tuesday's paper. That would be okay,
but I'd also bought Tuesday's paper, the previous day.


I bought yesterday's paper once (when that was what I wanted), and it
was free (at Kroger).

[snip]


--
4 days until the winter celebration (Friday December 25, 2015 12:00:00
AM for 1 day).

Mark Lloyd
http://notstupid.us/

"By simple common sense, I don't believe in God." -- Charlie Chaplin


  #36   Report Post  
Posted to alt.home.repair,alt.usenet.kooks,alt.war.vietnam
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1,494
Default Store Clerks "DUMBER THAN HELL"

On 12/20/2015 2:36 PM, wrote:
I went to a big city "big box" home repair store yesterday. I got most
of the stuff from my list, into my shopping cart, but I could not find
an outdoor thermometer (the old one I had outside my window broke
recently). The store is busy but lacks enough staff on duty. I had
already wasted a half hour in the electrical dept. trying to locate some
special parts, because there was no one there to assist. I finally find
a guy in the plumbing dept. and ask him where I can find an outdoor
thermometer. He tells me "thats not a plumbing item" [NO ****], but says
he will get someone to help me. 10 minutes go by, and finaly some young
guy arrives. I ask him "where in the store can I find some outdoor
thermometers". He replies "WE DONT HAVE THEM THIS TIME OF YEAR, BECAUSE
THEY ARE A SEASONAL ITEM". Trying to remain calm, I said "Then find me a
seasonal thermometer for the Winter Season". He looks at me with a very
puzzled expresion and says "that's a *SUMMER ITEM*", but they might be
in the garden center. Being a little annoyed by this time, I say
"There's temperature all year long, regardless of season". He tells me
to go look in the "garden center". Then walks away.

I go to the garden center (which is unheated), and it's very dark in
there. So I go to the nearby lumber desk, and have to wait another 10
minutes to find an employee. After waving my arms and nearly doing a
dance to get a guy's attention, he finally comes over. I tell him I was
told to go to the garden center to find thermometers and it's too dark
in there to see, "could you please turn the lights on". He says "I dont
know if we have them this time of year, but I'll look on the computer".
He looks them up, even goes on the store's website, and finally finds
them, and says "it looks like we have lots of them, which one do you
want (showing me the pictures on the screen). I said "can we just go see
them on the shelf". He flips on some lights in the garden center and we
find a whole shelf full of thermometers. -FINALLY-. I grab the one I
want and go back to the last of the shopping.

That's when I went to the "Closeout Lumber" section. I always like to
look in there for bargains. In there, I found a piece of metal trim made
for metal siding, and it's something I can use. It's marhed 25 cents per
foot. I grab it, and it's 10 foot long, and walk with it, back to the
lumber desk, knowing they have to print up a "slip" for these items.
After another long wait, I finally find someone who works there and it's
another young guy. He says "what do you need". I tell him this was in
the bargain area and I just need a slip for it.

He goes to the computer, and says "how much is it". I say, "it's a
quarter a foot". He says, "but what is the price" I said "I just told
you, it's a quarter a foot". He looks very puzzled.... I say, "It's 25
cents per foot, and it's 10 feet long". (He finally seems to
understand). Thats when he says, "hold on a minute, while I find a
calculator, so I get this right". He grabs a calculator from a desk, and
starts to push buttons, a minute later, he says "wow, this cant be
right.... lets try this again......". I tell him, "25 cents times 10 is
$2.50, simple math, just take the zero from the 10 and put it at the end
of the 25". He looks me straight in the eye, and says "are you sure?".
About the same moment his calculator says $2.50, and he says "you're
right, that will be $2.50. I did not say a word, (and I wont say what I
was thinking).....

With that accomplished, he enters the price into the computer, and asks
"what is it called". I said "it just says METAL TRIM on the sign. He
enters those words. Then I tell him I also need two pieces of vinyl
siding trim, from the outside building, it looks like *and I point to a
display on the wall*. He looks at the display, and says "I'll have to
look up the item number". He goes to the computer, when I tell him to
look at the sign on the wall, right next to the display, and it's says
the item number and the price right there. He says "Oh wow, it does".
Then for the 3rd time he asks me how many of them I want. I said TWO. I
did not say another word, because I felt like saying, "Dude, you're
"DUMBER THAN HELL".....

Finally I'm done shopping, and proceed to the checkout, hoping the
checkout clerk has a brain..... (Thankfully, she checked me out with no
problems).

I've come to the conclusion that they only hire 'Kindergarten Dropouts'
at that store......

Funny that. I applied to Home Cheapo just for ****z and giggles.
Apparently they weren't interested in an old wornout Army Colonel who
knows just about everything about being a handyman.
Managers there are so young themselves, they look like they're about 15
to me. Anywho, **** 'em and Home Cheapo.
LOL

  #37   Report Post  
Posted to alt.home.repair
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 4,228
Default Store Clerks "DUMBER THAN HELL"


"sms" wrote in message
...
I recently called Amex because a point and shoot camera with a one year
warranty had stopped working on a trip. I expected a hassle. There was
none. They looked up the transaction and they did not even want the camera
back, they just credited my account for the full cost. On higher value
items they want some verification though, a quote for the repair cost.

There's also the 2% cash back on a good credit card. It really adds up
over a year. We get back close to $1000 per year. Remember, the credit
card company's commissions are essentially built in to all retail pricing
already, so unless a company offers a cash discount it's better off
financially to pay with a credit card.


Up to about 5 years or so ago I used to either do cash or checks for almost
everything and seldom used a credit card. Then I found out about the cash
back. Some cards even give from $ 20 to $ 50 just for getting their card
and using it a few times. It is almost a pain to keep up with the cards as
they give different ammouts depenting on where I shop. "Had" to get a Lowes
card just to get the 5% off. I do pay off the cards each month so no
interist to be paid. With many of the cards charging from 10 to 25 % I
sure don't want to pay any extra.



  #39   Report Post  
Posted to alt.home.repair
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 11,640
Default Store Clerks "DUMBER THAN HELL"

On 12/21/2015 12:19 AM, Uncle Monster wrote:


The educational system was infested long ago by Progressive Liberal Leftist Commiecrat Freaks who's goal was to implement their agenda which was to cause,"The Dumbassification Of America". Their reason being that a poorly educated less intelligent population is more easily manipulated into falling for the nonsense Democrats are selling. How else could a completely unqualified, unvetted, Affirmative Action moron be elected President? Š™.˜‰

[8~{} Uncle Stumped Monster


Back in the 60s if you went to school to be a teacher, you evaded the
draft. Now those teachers are in the administration.
  #40   Report Post  
Posted to alt.home.repair
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 539
Default Store Clerks "DUMBER THAN HELL"


"Mark Lloyd"
4 days until Christmas (Friday December 25, 2015 12:00:00
AM for 1 day).

Mark Lloyd


Reply
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules

Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
What is wrong with Store Clerks? [email protected] Home Repair 50 April 10th 15 01:57 AM
OT - Nothing funnier or dumber than a conservative saying "I don't have a job because of Obama" Steve B[_10_] Metalworking 3 September 12th 11 09:48 PM
OT Obama's "Pass this Bill" == "Spend this money" was Nothing funnier or dumber than a conservative saying "I don't have a job because of Obama" F. George McDuffee Metalworking 0 September 11th 11 07:30 PM
I am looking for a local source for "Rockwool" / "Mineral Wool" /"Safe & Sound" / "AFB" jtpr Home Repair 3 June 10th 10 06:27 AM
FS: "To Hell With The Consequences" t-shirt........ Savvy Wit Home Repair 0 May 31st 06 03:12 AM


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 08:41 AM.

Powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2004-2024 DIYbanter.
The comments are property of their posters.
 

About Us

"It's about DIY & home improvement"