Sunday, February 22, 2004
Change ≠ Good
I have a pretty low-key Saturday morning routine that involves listening to the radio while I make a few regular stops at stores and bakeries, and usually ends with a magazine at a coffee shop. A couple stops include hardware stores. Last weekend I stopped by one Ace store and found they have (in the process anyway) completely rearranged things. I turned around and left.
This weekend I stopped by the other Ace hardware store I often go. Wouldn’t you know it, they rearranged stuff as well. Not completely, but still… I walked in and went to where they used to store the gasket material. Not there. After asking I found they moved it clear across the store.
Why do stores do this? I don’t understand it at all. Customers finally figure out where everything is and then they go and change it. Either leave the stuff alone or take the time and effort to educate your help on where the stuff is hidden.
These days, it’s not like you count on the clerks to help you out. They are usually more clueless than you are. I don’t think I’m asking too much. I don’t expect them to know how to use the stuff – let’s face it, a hammer can be a terrifying tool – not too mention more esoteric stuff like hand scrapers and sawtooth set pliers. I do expect them to be familiar with what they do have though. At another hardware store (I like hardware stores if you haven’t guessed) last week I was looking for alligator clips. I was standing in the electrical aisle looking at them when the clerk asked if he could help. When I asked him about alligator clips, he was still thinking about them when I found a bag full. As I picked a bag of alligator clips from the wall, he finally said he didn’t think they carried them – sigh…
added 2-29: Rats!! Does this suck or what? My favorite radio station - the one I mentioned earlier, has changed their programming. They've taken some of the shows I really like and replaced them with shows I really hate. If I had to pick one show on NPR that I really, really hate and wish someone would take it behind a barn and bury it, it's Car Talk. An hour of two guys who love to hear themselves laugh for no reason at all. And now my radio station has picked them up. Crap!
added 2-23: Aargh! I went to a craft store today and they had moved everything around as well! Around Oct I went there looking for fabric remnants and they were in the front. In November I went back looked up front, I found out they had been moved to the back. Today I went to the back and found they had been moved back to the front!! Stupid stores. I went looking for bead and what used to be a one wall display is now scattered over half the store. Clock kits and wood carving tools were in at least two different areas. What is it with these people.
2fers: Favorite Radio Station and Favorite Hardware Store
