The end of a Rookie Season--a retrospective.

[KenMattern]

Chip,

You were one of the first people I began to recognize as I returned to the forums after a year's absence. You are one of the reasons that I come back. That and Zoe's ginger ale in the Coffee Shop. Your words of wisdom are right on and I appreciate every one of them.

We only really learn when we are willing to actually pay attention to those who do have some knowledge. You have taught us that.

For that I say, "Thank You"

KJ

[rrandb]

QUOTE: Originally posted by andrechapelon


5) It's hard to screw anything up so bad it can't be fixed.

But not impossible. I managed to buy a brand new shovel with a lifetime warranty. Two hours later, I had to to return the thing to the store because I had busted the handle clean in two. Either I'm incredibly strong or shovels have a life expectancy of 45 minutes.[:D] My vote is for the latter.

I too bought a life time shovel from _mart. When it broke a year later they said we're sorry we don't have that brand anymore so call the maker. They sent a shovel with a 15 year warranty. I called and said where's my life time shovel. They said that's the replacement. I said you make a better one now you sell at H___ D____. Send me the real shovel as the last one only made it a year. They did and said to keep the other one as it cost more to ship back than to make it. This one is still intact. Fiberglass over steel over wood handle.There is nothing easy than can not be made hard. Its up to us to try and make the hard things easier. ENJOY

[Anonymous]

Similar to the shovel shipping story,

I had a coffee maker that stopped working. The company told me to chop off the plug as proof of purchase, and mail it to them.

Then sent me a new model for free - too hard to fix the old one - new model was missing one part that was required for operation.

I called them and said, "just send me this one little part, and I'll be all set". Nope - couldn't do it - "they're made in china, and we don't inventory single parts...".

So they sent me a third brand new coffee maker.

So, two nearly perfectly good coffee makers in the ladfill and one on the counter after that. Crazy, huh?

[SpaceMouse]

When I first started in business, I needed to rip some 2 x 4's for a fence.

I bought a Craftsman Circular Saw on sale for $19.95 from $29.95. It burn up within about 10 minutes so I took it back. They didn't have any of the same model and it was no longer on sale anyway. But they had a $49.99 saw on sale for $29.99 and they gave me that. Well, that saw didn't fare any better and I took it back.

They were out of the $49.99 saw, but they had a $79.99 saw marked down to $49.99.
The $79.99 fared no better so I took it back. They didn't have a $79.99 saw but they had one for $129.99 marked down to $79.99/

Of course this one broke. They didn't have a replacement, but they had a $149.99 Router marked to $129.

The router worked for a couple years.

I got it for $19.99 and a few trips to the store.

[Anonymous]

3800 POSTS? Oh my! SpaceMOuse, we started about the same time, but I guess you have more to say than I do. Glad to have you here because some of the things "I" needed to know, you asked before I got to it.

So, here I am back in the basement working on the Engines!

Chris

[SpaceMouse]

QUOTE: Originally posted by NYC56

3800 POSTS? Oh my! SpaceMOuse, we started about the same time, but I guess you have more to say than I do. Chris

You should be a diplomat.

[icmr]

Congrats on a great year SpaceMouse.



ICMR

Happy Railroading.[swg][swg]

[howmus]

Sheesh! I just looked at my calendar, and I am two days away from being here one whole year myself. I have only posted about 1050 times......[:o)] I guess some people are just.... uhm....... more..... verbose ......... er...... mouthy ..... uh .... more prolific! That's it. More prolific than others. [:)][;)][:D]

Mouse, when I taught in Waverly, NY years ago, teachers had gone over a year without a contract. When the Board of Education hedged on giving the Superintendant a raise before settling the Teacher's contract, he said a very quotable thing. "If you buy it cheap, you get cheap goods!" That is one of many reasons why I don't shop Mall Wart and other similar stores. If you check out many products side by side from different stores you will see that by and large the quality does go up even for the same brand name as the price does. I would much rather pay a bit more and get a product that will last for many years rather than one that adds to the overload at the landfill soon after being purchased. BTW, our contract got finalized soon after we began quoting the Superintendant...... [:D]

[SpaceMouse]

Ray,

I don't know if it is true or not, but I overheard a Wally World employee saying that Wally World pushes manufactures to make compromises. He used the example of a Sony TV. He said that WW would tell Sony that they wanted such and such a model for $X price. Sony siad that they could not do it. WW said that all they cared about was that it looked the same on the outside.

[howmus]

QUOTE: Originally posted by SpaceMouse

Ray,

I don't know if it is true or not, but I overheard a Wally World employee saying that Wally World pushes manufactures to make compromises. He used the example of a Sony TV. He said that WW would tell Sony that they wanted such and such a model for $X price. Sony siad that they could not do it. WW said that all they cared about was that it looked the same on the outside.

Right you are! They sit down with companies and tell them what they will pay for their product. Often it is less than what the cost of manufacturing is. Vlassic Pickles is the classic example. Remember the Gallon of Pickes for under $3. It helped to throw Vlassic into bankruptcy even as their sales grew. This is the world we live in today. A good part of the answer is public awareness and a code of personal ethics that can be used when we shop. I aspire to the law of the Iroquoise Nation - "To consider the effect of a decision to the seventh generation" and then try to act accordingly.

Have a Happy New Year! And may you have just as many great posts in the coming year.[:)]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by SpaceMouse

Ray,

I don't know if it is true or not, but I overheard a Wally World employee saying that Wally World pushes manufactures to make compromises. He used the example of a Sony TV. He said that WW would tell Sony that they wanted such and such a model for $X price. Sony siad that they could not do it. WW said that all they cared about was that it looked the same on the outside.

I second that thought also. The Company I work for (think Yellow Film Boxes!) has had to make some special consessions with Wally World to get product in the Stores. It's like pulling teeth and it always pushes our resources to the limit.

Chris

[BR60103]

Chip: I've been off the forum since Christmas. Right now, you're 2 posts short of 4000.
We certainly started you going. Now I think there are a few topics I could get answers from you on.
I'm still waiting for your model of Kings + station.

[SpaceMouse]

`

QUOTE: Originally posted by BR60103

Chip: I've been off the forum since Christmas. Right now, you're 2 posts short of 4000.
We certainly started you going. Now I think there are a few topics I could get answers from you on.
I'm still waiting for your model of Kings + station.

Well, the the kids decided thay had no interest in trains and so I am no longer under the obligation to model Hogwarts. I'm back to running the Redwoods without a Kings Cross connection.

[Anonymous]

Chip 1 post away from 4000 ,congrats