argggghhhh, shopping sucks, I see why places cant get quality help!

[brucer]

ok, here goes the rant... usually i dont let this stuff bother me much, but i blew up this afternoon...

i hooked up a television out in my garage. i used one of the digital converter boxes just to see what local channels i could get.. i used one of the small booster antenna's and picked up 5 channels, and 3 of those were iffy... i have an old standard antenna that i wasnt using off the side of the house, so i decide to hook it up...

so i take off to Rural King, its 15minutes away and usually has what i need, recently they moved the store around, i have no idea why they moved it around, it had been the same for years and was easy to naviagte.. So i walk up to a young male associate and ask where are the rq6 connectors and the coaxial cable to hook up an antenna, he didnt have a clue of what i was talking about... when i said you know the thing you screw in the rear of a television to hook up your cable or satellite. his reply was oh the cable thing that comes out of the floor (genius), he has to call over the store intercom, then the assistant manager doesnt even know what it is. of all things he ended up saying we dont have those sir you'll have to go to radio shack or walmart.. which i know Rural King use to carry everything to hook up a television antenna as i had bought everything there before for my satellite install..

ok, so i go to radio shack that is clear across town.. when i walk in there the idiot associate is playing on his cell phone.. I asked him and he didnt have a clue what i was talking about, i dont think the guy even knew how to plug in a television.. he acted like he wasnt even interested in being there... i got pissed and loudly exerted my feelings (first time i have ever done this in a store in public), i said, What the hell, put the f***ing phone down, and do your job.. i got pissed to the point i said F*** 'it i'm going to Lowes. usually i'm a pretty calm guy, but that set me off for some reason, it was more his attitude than anything...

I walked in Lowes, i had a younger associate greet me near the tool area and ask me what he could help me with, i told him i was looking for coaxial cable and the small rq6 connector/adapters and a splitter to hook up an antenna.. the guy walked me back to the area where they were and actually picked them out for me.. i was in and out of a large Lowes . which is 4 times the size of radio shack or Rural King, in 5 minutes... i was amazed it went so easy... usually lowes is like walmart and you have to wait in line for 10 minutes to check out 3 items. not this time, they actually had several registers running.

So, $8 for parts, probably $10 in fuel and 1 1/2 hours later, and enough dealing with dumbass sales associates to last me the rest of the year, i have 14 digital channels in the garage..

I'm still shaking my head..

rant over

[socoj2]

It was about 2001 when radio shack made the decision they didnt need competent employees. No im serious... The thought logic went something like this

We make money on cell phones.
well our current employees are actually knowledgeable and know what transistors are.
Well we dont need that we just need people who can sell cell phones.

[Reebs]

I always look for grey haired men or women for help at home depot. They seem to have all the answers for some of my silly questions. The kids will learn in good time.

[soutthpaw]

Actually I have found Lowes to be pretty helpful, Home Depot is a total disaster. Never anyone around to help...

[DemonSpeeder]

Yeah, I had sort of the same thing happen to me a couple months ago, went to Radio Shack looking for a hydrometer/thermometer combo for my humidor, well first I had to explain to the both salesmen what a hydrometer was, neither of the two knew what I was talking about. After the explanation (and not finding one available,and asking if they could order one ) one of the salesman proceeded to give me a lecture about how only rich people were be able to smoke cigars. Well you can sort a see where this is going....

[rlitman]

Unfortunately, I don't think if you referred to it correctly as a hygrometer, they would have understood anyway.

[brucer]

i dont know how this ended up in general welding questions, guess i was wigged out so bad i thought i was in off topic when i posted....

[dumb as a stump]

Welcome to the new world, which is now run by the *me me now now* generation.Their main concern is how will this make look and how does this affect me, NOT to mention I want what I want and I demand it now.. But you sir don't fit into their concerns. Let the good times roll. Oh I find myself expressing my displeasure at being treated like I don't matter more and more loudly, so you are not alone.

[weldbead]

if you blow up at idiots, they may learn they are idiots and change.. ifthey dont learn nothing lost

[Big65mopar]

Funny you should mention radio shack because they've had a big to do going on this summer talking to people about what they want to see in the stores and besides a long list of builders components the company will be going through a major overhaul of training for their associates ( cross your fingers ). For me its not a big deal when I go in there because I know what I'm looking for and where to find it regardless of how they move the store around. Cable parts are always with car and home audio, meters and soldering irons are always with capacitors and transistors and leds, just pick one of the three back isles and you'll find what your looking for.

[larphead]

The moving the store around is an old retail trick to try and fool you into thinking they have new stuff.

Dude its not just retail stores that have really crappy service anymore. Its everywhere.

Let me tell you about my Bob Evans experience a few weeks ago. My girlfriend and I rarely ever go out to eat so when we do its kinda a treat. I get home from work and shower and neither of us really felt like cooking so we decided to go to Bobs and i was really craving a country fried steak and gravy.

We get there get seated and our waitress comes to take our order. After she takes the order she tells us that the credit card machine is down and its cash only. luckily I had some cash (I am a debit card junkie) so no big deal. That was the ONLY interaction we had with our waitress the ENTIRE time. She did bring out our drinks and bread rolls but shorted us a roll. Someone else brought out the food, my mashed potatoes was cold. I had to flag down ANOTHER waiter to get drink refills. And the straw that broke the back was, we were done eating, dishes piled on the table, and sat there for a good 10 minuets waiting for someone to either ask if we wanted dessert or bring us the check. Here I see the original waitress tell (evidently) the shift leader, who was sitting at the counter doing paper work, that she was going to step out back for a smoke. The shift leader turns and looks at our table and says 'well maybe you should take them the check first' the waitress says 'nah, I'll get them when I get back' and heads for the back door. Now remember this is a small town AND it was like Tuesday evening. There was maybe 8 tables in the entire place filled.

I tell the girlfriend 'that's it. I'm done.' I get up drop a $20 on the table and say 'come on, lets go.' and leave. I know $20 wasn't enough to cover the bill, but all I had was two 20s and a 50 and I'll be damned if I was leaving her that. They probably took it out of her check (or tips IF she had any) so that was an expensive damn smoke.

[jesusno2]

I gotta say this stuff happens everywhere. I think some of it has to do with the way employers treat employees anymore. Yea some are lazy and maybe a bit dense. I'm 32 now and I've been treated like a beaten dog just about everywhere I've worked. And I work my *** off rarley miss work and try my best at whatever I'm doing. It has jaded me somewhat to have that "I don't give a **** attitude" also. When your bustin yer *** and don't even get a thank you anymore you tend just to not care anymore. They used to give raises and other awards for making a company money. Now you get threats of your job because "the economys bad" or "we didn't profit enough" so no overtime and benefits are gonna be cut yet your boss is still driving a 50,000 dollar truck and just bought a airplane and is building a new shop for it on his 30 acre ranch is kinda discouraging when I and other hard workin dudes did all the work and I get a lecture. And it never changes. Now I'm all about workin hard for what ya got and I like working but its nice when your reconized for your dedecation in some shape or form. At least bring a fat guy a dougnut in the morning. Make your employees wanna come to work or do something to raise moral to make them feel needed and you would get more productvity and profit. Or in the case of the original poster Customer service.

[socoj2]

Originally Posted by larphead

The moving the store around is an old retail trick to try and fool you into thinking they have new stuff.

Dude its not just retail stores that have really crappy service anymore. Its everywhere.

Let me tell you about my Bob Evans experience a few weeks ago. My girlfriend and I rarely ever go out to eat so when we do its kinda a treat. I get home from work and shower and neither of us really felt like cooking so we decided to go to Bobs and i was really craving a country fried steak and gravy.

We get there get seated and our waitress comes to take our order. After she takes the order she tells us that the credit card machine is down and its cash only. luckily I had some cash (I am a debit card junkie) so no big deal. That was the ONLY interaction we had with our waitress the ENTIRE time. She did bring out our drinks and bread rolls but shorted us a roll. Someone else brought out the food, my mashed potatoes was cold. I had to flag down ANOTHER waiter to get drink refills. And the straw that broke the back was, we were done eating, dishes piled on the table, and sat there for a good 10 minuets waiting for someone to either ask if we wanted dessert or bring us the check. Here I see the original waitress tell (evidently) the shift leader, who was sitting at the counter doing paper work, that she was going to step out back for a smoke. The shift leader turns and looks at our table and says 'well maybe you should take them the check first' the waitress says 'nah, I'll get them when I get back' and heads for the back door. Now remember this is a small town AND it was like Tuesday evening. There was maybe 8 tables in the entire place filled.

I tell the girlfriend 'that's it. I'm done.' I get up drop a $20 on the table and say 'come on, lets go.' and leave. I know $20 wasn't enough to cover the bill, but all I had was two 20s and a 50 and I'll be damned if I was leaving her that. They probably took it out of her check (or tips IF she had any) so that was an expensive damn smoke.

Knowing a bunch of people who wait tables for a living. she got back took the twenty and told the manager you stiffed them.

[PapaLion]

Course, there's nuthin' on the tube anyways huh? Local news lets those same kids you were trying to work with, read it. So sad to see the low level of understanding and competence among folks about 25. As they sa y "got no clue".
I gave up cable several years ago, all infoads and religious programs and loud bloody weird movies that look like video games. Hurts my eyes, nothing more. Turner and RFD are keen but you can't just get them.

So, I did a splitter, and antenna from Lowes, great store, HD not so much. Cost me about $100 to get set up... ONE time... no monthly bill but unfortunately still nuthin' on the tube. Course the ride home through Western Kentucky must have been very pretty right now.

[AndyA]

Originally Posted by brucer

.....he acted like he wasnt even interested in being there...

No acting was involved.

The lowes here hires older folks for the helpers. Home Depot hires high school kids. The older folks at lowes actually know something, like to talk to you, and genuinely want to help you. The kids at home depot are just there to make money for the party this weekend. Guess where I shop.

[dumb as a stump]

About your post title, I have a theory and it is Women shop and men buy things. (Unless of course we are in a guy place then we shop and look at everything and root around like there is a million dollar gold mine hidden there somewhere). Meaning on average men go into a store go straight to what we want and get what we went there for and women look at EVERYTHING else and frequently don't get what they went there for.

[Broccoli1]

I've waited tables in the past- can make good money and it really isn't that hard so when I go out and I get bad service it REALLY chaps my hide

I hate having dirty plates sit at my table so if they are not cleared quickly, I just put everything on a table near by

I would not have left 20 bux- get the manager and get the entire meal comped.

[skelley521]

Another topic that has nothing to do with welding, where are the moderators?
Cry on someones sleeve for god sake.

[skelley521]

Small boys with small toys will always make big noise

[mb_welder]

The cake is a lie.

[AndyA]

Yeah, probably should be in the 'off topic' section. I never really pay attention to what section it's in since I always just hit the "new posts" button.

[Broccoli1]

Originally Posted by skelley521

Another topic that has nothing to do with welding, where are the moderators?
Cry on someones sleeve for god sake.

another post complaining about posts