Big Slam to Best Buy or is it Now 'Try to Buy?'

Last night my son's went in search of a gift at Best Buy. They had done their research online and the company's website showed what they wanted to buy was "available at the store." Immediately upon walking into the store they were greeted not with, "Can I help you?" But rather "Do you use cable or satellite?" Of course they told the person what they wanted, a Kindle and they were not directed to the location in the store but besieged with more questions of their viewing habits.

I don't think this is the way to treat a customer who is clearly intending on spending cash at the store right now. But wait there's more!

Upon finding the area of the store where the Kindles were, right opposite the TVs, they informed a sales person in this section of what they wanted. He didn't know anything about Kindles and tried to up sale them to something else. But my sons persisted and he went to ask someone else only to return and treated them again as if it was the first time he saw them. He left once more and never returned to help them but did help another victim. But wait there's more!

Frustrated they tried to get help from the TV salesperson who declined to help but said he would get someone in that department. Thirty minutes later they left without a Kindle.

Do you think this is an isolated incident? I don't think so. Read this from Forbes on why this writer thinks Best Buy will be out of business sooner rather than later.

So I am slamming Best Buy and declaring them 'Try to Buy'. Try to Buy had a willing customer in the brick and mortar store, their most costly venue for retail products, in the store cash and desire to leave with a Kindle in hand and let them leave with nothing but a bad taste to return ever. The sale by the way did go through and the winner this time was Amazon.com. Go figure!

Slam Best Buy and I declare their new name to be 'Try to Buy'.

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Side note unrelated: I like the free use graphics from Clker.com. Try them out and support them via their ads etc. There are nice graphics here and an amazing selection. Rave to Clker.com.

Rave For History Buffs - Hyperlinked History - A Multifaceted Journey Through Time

I'm giving a shout out for Dan Messer's new book,

Hyperlinked History - A Multifaceted Journey Through Time

I have yet to read it but I don't yet own an eReader and Amazon has not released a Linux version yet. But I have seen some of his videos he has shot in the same genre and they are quite good and interesting. Dan Messer is quite the creative man. He is the catalyst behind several blogs and a podcast from the library he works in.

Here is a non-inclusive lists of sites and stuff Dan is involved in or the creator of its entirety.

Scoop It - Public Library Circulation

Not All Bits

Hyperlinked History - the video versions

Podcasting | Book Talk

Friends of the Queen Creek Library

And this is just the tip of the iceberg for this talented man. Dan is creative in everything he does, music, writing, art or simply helping people find what they need in the Library. He truly loves what he does for a living a what he packs into the rest of his life.

Take a chance and buy the ebook. I know I will even if I have to read it in Windows. :)

Rave Chandler Regional Medical Center OR Staff

Recently I underwent a surgery for a hernia. It was scheduled for 10:30 AM on Feb. 29th at Chandler Regional Medical Center. Well sometimes things happen that push schedules askew. As in my case, my room for the surgery was booked but taken because of availability for an emergency. Such is life I thought as it happened. My Doctor, Dr. Bodzin, really great also, came by to tell me the news personally at about 10:15 AM. He offered me the chance to come back or stay for the surgery. I opted to stay. After all I had been there since 8:00 AM and fully prepped since about 9:30 AM and I might as well get it over with since all the preparations had been made.

Dr. Bodzin left and was actually assisting in the emergency surgery so I lay there watching others getting wheeled into their OR room for about 5 hours. Yes I was on the table for 5 hours before the surgery actually took place. This is why the rave for the OR staff at Chandler Regional Medical Center. The folks that took care of me were kind and gracious from the very beginning. One of them was even there when I awoke in post-op. She had a wonderful smile and I knew I was okay. Lisa even wheeled me out to the car later.

Before surgery Josh, who prepped me at the beginning, walked by once and offered Donna and I a beer while we waited. He was full of funny jokes even if they were not directed to me. Of course this was just a joke too as no beer was allowed in the pre-op.

Finally about 1:45 PM the anesthesiologist came by and Dr. Bodzin a minute later. I knew then the time was close. A nurse followed a few minutes later and wheeled me into the OR leaving pre-op with the nurses station cheering and waving me on. I can remember her saying "2 o'clock on the nose" as we entered the room. I switched tables and saw the team moving about. A couple of small talk jokes later and I was out.

This Rave goes out to the entire staff of Chandler Regional Medical Center OR staff. I can't remember all the names but everyone there made my stay and surgery a success. From downstairs to upstairs, on the OR floor, the check in window and all the nurses and techs, I can't thank them enough.

I also have to thank my wonderful wife Donna who stayed with me through the entire morning. She was more worried than me and I think the staff's attentiveness to me helped ease her mind also.