Customer Service vs. Price

[dre1507]

Not "HOW", Jesda. "WHY???"

[nissangirl74]

Good god does German milk suck. They sell it un-refridgerated.

Dafuq?

[Dattebayo]

They probably have a couple of cows in the back of the market...

As for my buddy being nationalistic, it's been known to happen. But the Aldi's here don't have all that Kinder chocolate or anything that cool. Just lots of minorities with EBT cards and really cheap large bags of pre-made oven cooking food. Maybe I'll visit the one locally and snap some pics for the lulz. (if I can get away with it)

[PapaSmurf2k3]

I'm pretty sure its just a difference in pasteurization process. It definitely tastes different too.

EDIT: Yup
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index ... 808AAdrURd

[RCA]

I had to go to Wal-mart... spent over 20 minutes in line... I got fed up... and left.

There's nothing in this world I need bad enough to make me wait that long in line for.

I have the same issues with the Walmart near me. Depending on how pack the parking lot looks, will determine whether or not I will park and shop. They are ALWAYS understaffed.

As for how annoying it is...

A lot of people don't have 10mins in there day to watch a YouTube video, those people are the people that should watch this.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLBp8WpeMSM[/youtube]

[themadscientist]

Excellent video. I try to do just that and it works for me. The world would be a nicer place if we had more empathy for each other. It's not hard to do, but as he so astutely pointed out, it's a choice.

[Jesda]

I have the same issues with the Walmart near me. Depending on how pack the parking lot looks, will determine whether or not I will park and shop. They are ALWAYS understaffed.

As for how annoying it is...

A lot of people don't have 10mins in there day to watch a YouTube video, those people are the people that should watch this.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=[/youtube]

I watched it from beginning to end and I didn't understand it. The speaker's approach seems to be that in order to deal with the tension of scarcity (scarcity in a larger economic context -- the way we share/acquire/distribute resources whether its water or your place in line at the store), we should simply be more aware of the needs and demands of others.

Great. I'm aware. What now? I guess what he's proposing is more of a stress-handling technique rather than a congestion-management solution.



Instead, we should adjust our habits, patterns, and behaviors. I avoid driving at rush hour. I avoid the grocery store on days like Superbowl Sunday. I shop at places with better service, sometimes if the cost is a little higher. I buy non-essential dry goods on Amazon.

I've abandoned filled shopping carts and baskets at stores with excessively long lines. I think to myself, "Would I be willing to add $5 to my grocery bill to get out of here sooner?" More often than not, the answer is YES, so it was then that I decided I valued my sanity more than my money and I'd be happy to pay extra to shop elsewhere.

Likewise for heavy traffic. My business is online and quite portable so I could pack up and move to LA, NY, or Chicago, but the problem of scarcity increases with population density. More people competing for limited resources means higher costs of living and more time wasted in heavy traffic and long lines at stores. I choose not to subject myself to that.

When St Louis traffic does get heavy, I take scenic surface streets through upscale neighborhoods, tree-lined parkways, and frontage/feeder roads. It may add time to my total trip but it beats the stress of creeping along at 10 mph. I treat it like a leisure drive.


Obviously, not everyone has a choice in what hours they can shop, what hours they drive, or where they live, but we do have more control than we think. One thing I agree with the video on: don't go through life like a zombie.

[RCA]

I didn't understand it...

more of a stress-handling technique rather than a congestion-management solution.

Instead, we should adjust our habits, patterns, and behaviors.

One thing I agree with the video on: don't go through life like a zombie.

My guess is that you are over thinking it.
It is a stress-handling technique by using a perspective shift, but it's one you use when you don't have the ability to change your situation.
When there is little you can do, freaking out or panting/being stressed out is a decision.

At the only DMV near you and are waiting in a long line? You have the two options; I think that was the point of this video.
Obviously if you can avoid those things, you should but you can't always avoid it. When you can't avoid those situations, how will you handle it?

[PapaSmurf2k3]

I should open a grocery store with an aisle that you have to pay $5 to get into, but I'll staff it with the fastest freaking checkout and bagger people ever.

[krash]

"Mr.Sisson's Get In and GTFO Grocery Store"

[themadscientist]

I'd pay you the $5.00.

[audtatious]

I don't remember Walmart being so low-class when I worked at one in '83. Even the upper-scale ones are pretty bad and I simply refuse to shop at one unless there is no choice. Granted, there are times I go with the wife who hits the local one a few times a year. The people simply annoy me. With Target the people are much "higher class" or simply more intelligent and when you have teenagers hanging around they are much more respectful than the hoodlums that go to Walmart at 11pm due to boredom. I use the local Kroger or Meijer for my shopping needs.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

"Mr.Sisson's Get In and GTFO Grocery Store"

I can see the sign now. Maybe some animated neon.
I'd shop at my own store all the time too.

[Dattebayo]

Thoughts on the virtual supermarket? I'm on the fence...

[nissangirl74]

For "stuff", buying stuff online is fine. Ordering groceries online still seems a bit weird to me. Unless it's something you can buy in bulk that is non-perishable.

[WDRacing]

Target now carries some fresh food and they are much cleaner and nicer. If you get a Target Card (can just be a link to your bank like a debit card) they give you 3% off. The price is about the same.

I hate walmart too but still shop there time to time

The Target here is awful. The food is low quality and the staff is no better than WM. I put the two in the same category. I may even dislike Target a bit more because of their BS political views.

I consider myself lucky, we shop on base. Better prices than WM and the baggers bring your groceries to your car for tips.

On the whole, I'll pay more for service every time though. If I get bad service, I rarely return as there is always someone else selling the same product.

[themadscientist]

Target seems like a middle class Walmart to me. There is less stuff, but there is also less urine.

[WDRacing]

I just watched that video, pretty interesting. Doubt I can change "my default" settings, so I don't go to places that will make me upset. I don't do crowds.

If I do find myself in the position of having to wait, I get in the line with the most attractive women in front of me, or as a cashier. Then I perform "operation filthy" for as long as the time takes for me to exit the store. Makes waiting far more enjoyable.

[themadscientist]

For me, any annoying situation is immediately tolerable if when making eye contact with someone else in line they give me the "can you believe this s***?" look. It's ok once I realize at least one other person thinks it's s*** too. It's like bond of fraternity, "us," the people who hate this crap and "them," the people who are responsible for the aforementioned crap.

[OriginalWheelman]

I don't remember Walmart being so low-class when I worked at one in '83.

Back then Sam Walton was still alive and kept the company working on his goals. Now it's his kids and shareholders squeezing every dime out of it possible with no regard for service or compassion.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

For me, any annoying situation is immediately tolerable if when making eye contact with someone else in line they give me the "can you believe this s***?" look. It's ok once I realize at least one other person thinks it's bullsh*t too. It's like bond of fraternity, "us," the people who hate this crap and "them," the people who are responsible for the aforementioned crap.

Misery loves company is legit man.

[Dattebayo]

For "stuff", buying stuff online is fine. Ordering groceries online still seems a bit weird to me. Unless it's something you can buy in bulk that is non-perishable.

No, I mean the virtual supermarket, not buying online. It's a big screen they're putting into the subways of the world where you can tap on each item and get it paid for and ready for pickup later in the day... sorta like "call ahead ordering" at your local restaurant, except that you have multiple choices of brand.

[themadscientist]

Useless to me. If I were to go shopping at two different times the same day I would come out with completely different stuff.

[Jesda]

At the only DMV near you and are waiting in a long line? You have the two options; I think that was the point of this video.
Obviously if you can avoid those things, you should but you can't always avoid it. When you can't avoid those situations, how will you handle it?

Good advice, but that seems like a rather obscure subject for a commencement speech. I was looking for a broader, more inspirational meaning behind it.

[themadscientist]

The point was the world doesn't revolve around you. For a speech to coddled, entitled, naive college students about to enter the real world, it's a bullseye.

[Dattebayo]

Good advice, but that seems like a rather obscure subject for a commencement speech. I was looking for a broader, more inspirational meaning behind it.

Depends on the college. It could have been like "hey, you got your degree here, you don't have many choices". Imagine a community college commencement speech...

[themadscientist]

It goes something like this.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaoM0FyLmGY[/youtube]

[audtatious]

The point was the world doesn't revolve around you. For a speech to coddled, entitled, naive college students about to enter the real world, it's a bullseye.

I've been trying to tell the 17yo for years that once you get out of the house nobody really gives a crap about what happens to you but family. Going through school there was always some teacher or Councillor or such who seemed to care and accept your mistakes due to youth. Once out in the real world it's all on you. Sure, you will have work/friend relationships but when it comes to you or them it's highly doubtful they will choose you over themselves.

From the video I see the guy being self-centered and thinking about how all the other people are in his way, etc. But, being in the real world each person is self-centered in some way. Then you have people like the lady in the front of the line who is holding everyone else up with her poverty coupons, she should show some consideration to those around her and not do it during heavy shopping periods knowing she is going to back everything up.

In general it lets you know that you ARE self centered in some ways but it's not always about you and even interaction with others and their attitudes are not always about you either. If you get irritated any time you are inconvenienced then you will be quite unhappy and irritated quite often. Take things as they are and find a good medium or "default". But, don't let that default value block your knowledge of what your actions are doing to others.

something like that...I think I was half tipsy when I saw it

[themadscientist]

We are all self centered to varying degrees. There's nothing wrong with that, but if somebody thinks their perspective is the same one other people see, that's just stupid. You are in a hurry, certainly, but guess what, so am I. If you think your haste has any meaning to me we are going to come into conflict. Let's just be civil to each other and try to all get our stuff done without complicating all of our lives with conflict.

[Jesda]

Good advice, but that seems like a rather obscure subject for a commencement speech. I was looking for a broader, more inspirational meaning behind it.

Depends on the college. It could have been like "hey, you got your degree here, you don't have many choices". Imagine a community college commencement speech...

Seems like 20 years ago the advice my generation was hearing was that successful people asserted themselves and made their own waves.

Now kids are being told to hang around and let the tide drown them in the sand because they're powerless to get what they want. I guess that's what an economic downturn will do to modern attitudes.