Shopping Hell

Today I had the misfortune of having the need to go on a search for an electrical component. That type of stuff just boggles my mind. I wonder why there has to be 75,000 versions of the same thing but you have to have the exact product or it won't work. Why not just make stuff that has all of the same components?

Anyway, I was looking for a particular power cord. Since it went along with a camera, I tried shopping at a camera store first. Silly, silly me. The camera store didn't offer power cords to their cameras said the sales girl (who looked like she was 15). The lady in this picture doesn't look 15 - I know but the scowl matches the look that the salesgirl was wearing. 

Next, I tried a major electronics box store. First I went to the camera department which was 1/2 mile from the front door. A man who looked and sounded like he was 12, was very helpful. He couldn't help me but he did have a suggestion for another department. He even walked the 1/2 mile to the front of the store with me. He helped me find an associate from that department and explained to him what I was searching for.

The second associate I encountered looked to be in his early 20's with the personality and mental capacity of a 10 year old. He knew what I was looking for and suggested that I go to the computer department on aisle 26A. I walked the 1/2 mile back to the computer department to aisle 26A and guess what? It was the wrong area. I searched around by myself for a while without finding the thing I was looking for. The closest thing I found was a power cord for a computer and it was on aisle 34B. (surprise surprise)

I encountered my next sales associate in the computer department. This gentleman looked to be about 50 years old. He was pleasant, had personality and was willing to help. He explained to me that the guy in the department I had just left told me the wrong thing and that his department did have what I was looking for. He escorted me 1/2 mile back to the correct departmentat the front of the store. The young guy that had originally misled me was staring open mouthed off into space like he was in a dunce coma or something. I honestly don't think he remembered speaking to me 5 minutes prior. My helpful older gent found an associate (who had as much zest and personality as a gourd) and showed him where the item I was searching for resided. Good bye Mr. Nice Personable Older Gent!

My new surly attendant found the item I desired and opened the package so that we could make sure the cord fit into the charger. It did, but the shape of the receptacle was different from the shape of the proffered cord. I pointed this out and he growled out "it's a universal cord." I asked to plug everything in and see if the little light on it came on. It didn't. The surly man said it was probably because I didn't have the rechargeable battery in the device. Against my better judgement, I purchased the cord and guess what? When I got home and plugged it in, with a battery in the device, it didn't work. And I don't want to go back to that store with their mainly sorry service staff and have to deal with them. I'll swallow the $3.00 I wasted at that store.

I hate shopping these days. The employees are either young, uninformed and mainly apathetic, or they're paunchy middle aged guys with a chip on their shoulder. They might know how to help you but you're afraid they'll knock your block off. I'm gonna sound like my granny when I say this, but I'm saying it anyway - you just can't get good service much anymore! Doesn't anyone take pride in their work? Who cares if they're working at a cheap shoe store or a high end fru-fru store? They have a job and are earning money for Pete's sake! In this day and age, they should be happy about that!

Every single job I've had, I've tried to do my best. I will fix coffee if it needs fixing. If someone asked me to sweep up a mess, I'd sweep it. I'll do things that aren't on my list of expected duties. I want to do a good job for the money I'm earning. Whether it's a little or a lot. After my shopping trip to hell today, I'd be happy if the salesperson even cracked a smile. It'd be better than nothing.

Shopping? BLECCH!