My blog n'at

Black Friday and I go way back. It was BF of 1998 that I worked my last day of retail at Staples and swore I would never enter retail employment again… and I haven’t. When times get rough I think back to the jagoffs I had on that day and the number one thorn in my ass, Doug Thurston, always trying to scam a deal. He was the most arrogant customer I ever had and knew I could count on him once a month to annoy the hell out of me. Ask me sometime about the story of my last customer. It was epic.

Over the years Lushie and I have become the customers but we only go out for 1 item that we need really bad. We don’t mind the cold or the lines. It’s the thrill of the hunt for us. This year I flew solo going out for Black Friday at 3am and from this day forward retail can suck it and I’m sticking to buying online.  Here’s what happened.

Best Buy
I had no problem standing in the cold to get a laptop in because I need one for school. What I have a problem with is the 20 plus high school/college aged kids who camped out to get all of the high end tickets first and then with and hour before opening start to sell them from $10-$50 a piece. We told several Best Buy employees, who were walking around about it, and the reaction was “eh, oh well” and then would proceed to try and sell us on Best Buy credit cards. People were PISSED and ready to take out these kids! I left with nothing. The only saving grace was this really nice mom and daughter who stood behind me outside that I spoke with while waiting. Apparently I was their wall from the wind whipping around.

Advise to Best Buy, the ticket system NEVER works unless you enforce the hell out of it. There’s a reason why other stores don’t practice this. Quick trying to sell your cards and pay attention to what is going on outside. I won’t even go into the mess that was check out/pick up of the ticketed items. They needed Kevin Bacon from Animal House to yell “remain calm! ALL IS WELL!”

Staples
I keep a place in my heart for Staples since I spent 2 great years working there in Erie. I first went to Staples in Cranberry and came up short. Not many customers but the staff and GM were very helpful trying to find me the correct laptop. Once I did settle on a model I liked I’m told it’s not in stock and I could have the floor model. I worked retail, I know the abuse these machines take. I ask the GM to call McKnight to see if they have one in stock. With a straight face he tells me he can’t call another store. It’s not possible. WHAT! It’s Black Friday and driving McKnight will be the sucketh. I didn’t win this fight and headed to McKnight anyways.

Since I used to live off McKnight I knew which back roads to get me to the store in 20 minutes. Same situation as Cranberry, barely anyone in the store and employees standing around waiting for someone to come in. I go over to the laptops and talk to a rep. Great guy who had me sold on a different model and balls to the wall super ultra omega warranty. Again, none in stock but said to me the GM may know if there is merch in the warehouse. I walk over to the GM (the rep got stopped by someone else who came in) and I end up meeting the winner of jerk of the day. I asked him if they had a certain laptop, he ignored me. I asked again about a laptop he wouldn’t even look at me. I ask him a third time and with arms crossed he says with a smart ass tone “you should have been here earlier if you wanted one.” Well guess what, what I wanted wasn’t the one in the ad. I was ready to buy a more expensive one with the top of the line 2 year warranty and since he didn’t seem to care, I left swearing to never do business again.

I know Black Friday is a stressful day. I’ve worked it. But at no point do you treat your customers like this. If you need to cool off, do it in a back room. Because of your little temper issue I’m not coming back. I’d rather buy online and get their warranties than deal with a smug jagoff. Your business needs people like me to continue to buy supplies and spread the word.

Looks like its time to go back to Amazon.

(photo by Rob de la Cretaz)

I’ve been slacking on my blogging duties this past week but with the holidays and job hunting… yeah I know, I’m making excuses. It’s been more motivation than anything. So here’s what happened since the last post.

Thursday
Went to my brother’s house for Thanksgiving only he and his boys weren’t there. They drove down to Duke to watch the slaughter of Duquesne basketball. Instead we spent it with my Mom (who came down), my sister in law and my niece who was home from college. The meal was nice, the wine flowed and the conversations were decent.

Friday
My Black Friday experience is coming up in the next post. Yes, there was that much drama.  Moving on… Friday night was spent with bowling, beer and buds at Lokay Lanes. Showing off their mad bowling skills along with myself were Woy, the Other White Jim, tehjim, T-ray, Fu, Claire and Justin. I was a train wreck on the lanes but no one noticed as the 103 liter beer dispenser kept everyone occupied. OK maybe a couple of refills on it. I did learn that Brunswick apparently has a music video channel of songs we never knew were made into video. I will be back to dominate.

Saturday
I love that picture above and to fully appreciate it you had to be there. It’s from the Yinz Team Turkey Bowl. I’m in the Steelers jersey, tehjim is to my left and in front of us is mini-bling. The game was Frackle (Flag/Tackle football) and this was at the point where the rush count was replaced by a line. Myself and tehjim being the line. Yes I am laughing, as you see mini-bling is only 12 and much smaller than us. Each play he got destroyed but still rose back up looking for more pain. Kinda like being a Pirates fan for the last 16 years. I wish there was video because seeing 2 grown men swat a kid down like a fly is quite comical. Our team won 6 to something. I had a TD and a sack.

Turkey Bowl Photos: Jennie’s album | Rob’s album

Saturday night was more bowling but with my league and I did better than the previous night. Lushie taunted me and I took it. Seriously, you don’t mess with a pregnant wife. You drink your beer and bowl.

Sunday
Drove mom home and made it back to Pittsburgh in a total trip of less than 4 hours so I could catch the Steelers game.  Erie had a foot of snow and Pittsburgh not even a dusting. You think I’m glad i moved?