The Rant

There's time, right now, to blog. So where are my ideas? Where are all the things to which I ascribed the statement, "I'll blog about that."? Perhaps a mishmash, or for the fancy vocabulary readers, a potpourri, is most suitable.
Like everyone else, we made it through the 4th. Dismal weather dampened spirits, fireworks, and clothes. Downtown Springfield Inc attempted to celebrate Lincoln's 200th birthday (again) in a big way, with a "taste", beer, music, all the trimmings. It was, of course, outside, and therefore, not so well-attended.
Going back to a few days earlier, we received the report that our desktop is dead. Here's my testimony AGAINST Staples...the desktop wouldn't power up. Ed packed it up and took it to Staples. He learned that the diagnosis charge was half of the normal price so was in a good mood when he came home, leaving his machine behind. He awaited the outcome, due in no more than 48 hours. At 72 hours he started calling and eventually talked to the young man who did the diagnosis and said "It runs fine." Seriously doubting that, I went along on the pick up ride. The young man was there and I asked him to tell me exactly what he did to it. "Powered it up and it started fine." Claims he did it 5 or 6 times. Not caring what we said he sent us packing and high-tailed it to the back of the store where he could continue his endeavors as a computer expert.
You know where this is going. I set everything up. Nothing happened. A real computer expert, friend, came by and checked it. It's dead. Half-priced diagnosis is still too expensive when what you're told is useless and wrong. The rest of the story is that we are going to skip a trip to Staples to buy a new desktop. Could there be a lesson there for the store employees when it comes to true diagnosis and customer service? I just wonder.
Usually we're quite happy with Staples although this is our second recent experience that has caused us extra work.
Speaking of which, I could really rag on AT & T, even as a former employee of the corporation (back when it was a business icon). Buying an iPhone is no easy thing. Suffice it to say, I am NOT on the cell phone account but we both are listed on the global account, under which the cell phone charges appear. The rep could not sell me an iPhone, first because I was not "...due for an upgrade for 3 weeks..." and the next time, when I was qualified, because I am not Ed. I have decided God doesn't want me to have an iPhone, my cell phone is fine. I advised the young man that if AT & T didn't want to take my offered cash and chose instead to send me out the door without a new phone and extended contract then I'd go. And, I did.
See, if I'd been willing, I could have jumped thru the hoops of calling Ed, having him call customer service (what?) to get me added to the cell phone listing that is all the little store can see, and then the clerk would wait and I would wait. He was certain this was a 3-4 minute process (uh-huh). The next step would be for him to see my name which would then raise my status to authorized human. I could have then bought a phone. Or, I could have driven 20 miles home and 20 miles back, this time with Ed, and he could say, "Sell us a phone.". I felt as if I was underage, way underage. I suggested he call Ed to verify my legitimacy. Nope. Can't do that. I turned heel and left.
In my previous careers I would have suggested a tactic I used to employ - solve the problem for the customer. What would it have taken for him to call Ed and do a conference call to customer service and get it taken care of right then and there with minimum effort for the customer? Silly me. Who is this about anyway? Well, I didn't mention it, until now, so he didn't do it. If and when God releases one of these phones for me to have I hope He sends me to another AT &T Corporate store (only place you can get them). First though I want to see what the hidden charges are going to be...I hear there are some. Figures.
Oh, but don't think I'm really complaining for I am not. Neither the computer nor the iPhone threatens my sense of humor let alone my quality of life. The weather on the 4th only led to contemplative time, realizing and recalling how fortunate Americans are and how we should acknowledge that with unified spirit, every day. Thank the Lord. Fly the flag. Hug your friends and family. By the time you get done wtih those things, and enjoying the uplift it puts in your life, you won't have time to cripe about people who don't think beyond minimal performance levels.