rant: Sears Sucks

Been awhile since I returned a Sears tool... but the last one was an end wrench I had "assisted" with a length of pipe ;-) Bent in the middle. Replaced without even so much as a smirk.

However, in a recent trip to Sears to buy a reamer, shown on-line to be "in-stock" at my nearest Sears... it took 3 CSR's nearly 20 minutes to find it on a shelf in the store :-( ...Jim Thompson

That is nothing new. When I was a kid I tried to return a ratchet that had quit. The local store where it was bought said they don't exchange them, they rebuild them, but were out of rebuild kits. Returning a month later I was told the same thing. I had to drive to another town where the store cheerfully replaced the ratchet. The local store would have had to eat the cost and knew they could get away with it.

Well, the general theme is customer service. Sears lost a $2200 order because nobody showed up and nobody would talk to me. This happens across all industries, including electronics. Most companies are doing everything they can to make their customers talk to obtuse machines, or call centers in the Phillipines, or solve one anothers' problems on "forums." Even email contacts are unavailable.

We are having some problems with some Fujitsu sealed relays, possibly our fault. (Gohm leakage from water getting in during assembly.) The email contact and the USA sales office phone numbers are on the data sheet. I called and immediately talked to a guy, and he contacted the factory, and I got a bunch of answers the same day.

I think Don and most other people don't understand how retail sales works. The store doesn't really pick what they sell on their shelves as much as auction off the shelf space. If you want to sell a product in stores, you have to rent the shelf space. If another vendor offers more for the space, they get it and you are out. The rent includes a monthly payment plus a guaranteed sales level. So the store is taking little risk.

All the large chains do this. So as new products want to make a splash, they buy lots of shelf spaces and displace products you are happily buying. It's not just TJ and Costco that market this way. Nearly all chain stores are run this way now.

A friend bought a new model enormous GMC diesel pickup truck- the software and hardware issues would be funny if they were not so sad. He didn't even know what DEF was before buying the thing.

Seriously good & good news. Japanese companies used to be totally useless unless you were a huge customer.

--sp

This is a good policy, particularly when they aren't paying for the return. They'll return it to the manufacturer for a refund. Large chains have unbelievable clout.

I can't remember the last time I had any problem returning anything to any store. I probably wouldn't have returned the "protein drink" but I do return a fair amount of stuff.

If they keep buying it, obviously there isn't a problem.

Perhaps they're just more vigilant.

We haven't been a Costco member for over a decade (none in the area) but they had Kirkland batteries and tires when we dropped our membership. In fact that was the reason we dropped it.

I like the Kroger brand better (they sell both). Go figure.

Microsoft stores are clean and bright. I haven't noticed that their sales people are any worse. My DIL thinks Windows 10 is really good. Win-8 isn't so bad as long as you stay away from the tiled view (whatever it's called).

FPGA folks give away their software too.

Ditto Lattice. They've even written code for us (and taken us to lunch - several times ;). LT, too, and I have never used their stuff

- too expensive (I use mostly TI switchers).

People actually buy Crapsman tools these days?

In a limited way. Multicore compile capability costs more. The free software won't do the larger chips. Lots of features cost big bucks. The software, especially Xilinx, is horrible and there is no support. I guess if you're making TVs or something and plan to buy a million chips a week, you get support.

On Sat, 01 Aug 2015 08:33:24 -0700, John Larkin Gave us:

I don't think you know what the fringe is.. You're a fully immersed lunatic.

I guess the rest of the FPGA design world just muddles by somehow...

BTW, there is some open source FPGA development software now... from HDL to bitstream, so the chip vendor's software is no longer needed at all. From my post in the FPGA group...

Now you can complain about the lousy support from FOSS tools if you wish.

We design stuff. We build it. People usually buy it. We have fun. If you can think of a better way to make a living, go for it.

Sure... government service. They write laws. They create problems that generate more laws. People usually swallow the party line. They lie, cheat, steal, and tax. As long as the GUM (great unwashed masses) continue paying their "contribution", they grow and remain. Every year billions of dollars are lost or not accountable. When someone occasionally gets caught with their hand in the cookie jar, nothing happens. I couldn't contrive a better system for making a living.

TV Game Show host??

Except if you possess a conscience and like to sleep at night.

Cheers

Phil Hobbs

But do they have fun?

I need an end-of-vacation rant...

Most of my youthful optimism is still intact. I like to think that the government and business estates are run on the basis of noble intentions, public benefit, logic, rational thinking, fiscal responsibilities, philanthropy, and all the other positive attributes that make up a good public relations image. Unfortunately, my reality doesn't seem to match my illusions. In small business, I've found that it is almost impossible to remain solvent and honest simultaneously. I'm often forced into situations where the only useful action is to break the rules, violate the laws, and occasionally cheat someone. In my limited experience, the only question is the degree one lies, cheats, and steals. I do my best to keep these to a minimum, but it's certainly not zero.

All I can say about government is that with a few notable exceptions, all contact with officialdom has been detrimental. Size seems to be the problem, as once an organization grows to be responsible to its stockholders or constituents approaches zero. There are none bigger than government and it shows. Much of my business plan revolves around government avoidance.

I've discussed ethics with both government officials and businessmen. The common thread is that individually, they all want to be helpful, useful, kind, generous, and honest. However, pressure from both above and below can change that overnight. When advancement means that it has to be done over someone else's mortal remains, then ethics is the first to be ignored. Then the stockholders demand profit not matter who gets screwed in the process, again ethics is sidelined in the name of profits. When asked to do something unethical or illegal, there is always the implied threat that if one doesn't do it, they'll hire someone else that will. When the benefit to cost ratio of expediency is high enough to believe that one can get away with something, temptation often trumps ethics.

In the beginning, you have many possible options and moves available. It pays to be honest and ethical because the big reward is so far off in the future that risking the future is just not worthwhile. However, as the game reaches the end, the stakes are much higher, and the options are available moves are far fewer, it is possible to simply run out of legal and ethical options. For those that want to stay in the game, the only choice is to break the rules or laws.

I often look with envy at my college friends who chose government service over private employment. Most are retired by now and doing well enough on a government pension. There was no risk involve and it was only necessary to tolerate the ultimate bureaucracy for about 40 years. Cheat, lie, or steal didn't matter, as long as one didn't do anything unethical or immoral. The end reward is a comfortable pension and retirement. I'm rather jealous and rather wish I had gone into government service (even though I probably would not have tolerated it).

So, do I sleep nights and maintain a functional conscience? Yes, I think so, mostly, maybe. Sleep is questionable thanks to bladder problems, but as long as the local critters are quiet, I sleep like the proverbial rock[1]. Conscience is a bit different. I worry about my screwups, but as long as I try to fix or avoid further screwups, I don't loose too much sleep over them. It's not a great rationalization, but maintaining good intentions is the best I can do.