The Era of the Clueless

[Amcarter]

Paul, Good for you. How horrid would you have felt if you had sold it to him and then his house exploded? I hope no one was hurt.

[David Tilston]

I recently purchased a 120 VAC push button for my trailer dolly. I wanted to use the light in the push button with 12VDC, so I needed a 12VDC bulb. The one in the button was a small bayonet bulb, like I had seen in so many cars. I was surprised that they made a 120VAC version.

I went to Canadian Tire and there was a young kid stocking the light bulb section. I thought, "what luck, this should be easy". I presented the bulb and said, "I want something with this base, and is good for 12V". He looked blankly at the bulb and said that he had never seen anything like that. I was a bit surprised, especially when a quick scan of the rack that he was stocking turned up a package of two lights that were perfect. I pointed them out to him and he looked at me like I had said something stupid and says, "that's not exactly like the bulb you showed me".


I just said that it, “would do” and walked away.

[Anne3358]

Thanks for the laugh . . . . I can play this exchange, with no problems, in my mind. Sad isn't it?

[Roger C H]

The one we have is we were shopping at a bookstore and as we were checking out, noticing that the young woman clerk was wearing a watch, asked her for the time. She walked several steps away, looked at a desk mounted clock and told us the time. Upon asking if the watch on her wrist didn't work, she replied that it was analog and she could only read digital clocks.

[john warren]

yeah,,well,,, my wife thinks its rude when i hold up my hand to stop them and say again,,,,i want a(fill in the blank), not help in knowing that i need a (same fill in)!

[Thomas G.]

Originally Posted by Paul E Henning

....... He went to the other hardware store up the street, and bought himself a "gas" water heater. That night, his home exploded.

Don't mess with Darwin.

[CindyL]

At least it sounds like it is not just a female thing. I get so tired of dealing with car repair people who assume, since you are female, that you know nothing. Often, they look right over my head to the hubby. I admit that it has become easier to just let him do this sort of thing.
On occasion though, I am nasty in the computer stores. If they ask me what I want, I launch into discourse that demonstrates that, no, I don't need help.

CindyL

[Mr. W.]

Originally Posted by Amcarter

Paul, Good for you. How horrid would you have felt if you had sold it to him and then his house exploded? I hope no one was hurt.

Sadly, he and his young son were both killed. It made a lasting impression on me, and the lesson I learned became part of my employee training.

[john warren]

Originally Posted by CindyL

At least it sounds like it is not just a female thing. I get so tired of dealing with car repair people who assume, since you are female, that you know nothing. Often, they look right over my head to the hubby. I admit that it has become easier to just let him do this sort of thing.
On occasion though, I am nasty in the computer stores. If they ask me what I want, I launch into discourse that demonstrates that, no, I don't need help.

CindyL

yup cindy, my wife has banned me from buying from the local chevy dealer. she bought a car there a few years back, and when i took her in to pick it up, the sales guy ignored her and kept talking to me,,,no matter how many times i said,,"i don't know, its her, car ask her"

[james kent]

I try NOT to shop at Can Tire on weekends when their experienced staff is off and the high school kids are manning the store. I once asked a question on a weekend and ended up with five teenage helpers showing me around the store. What a blast!
As a senior I take pride in my parades when I can.

[BCDave]

Originally Posted by john warren

yup cindy, my wife has banned me from buying from the local chevy dealer. she bought a car there a few years back, and when i took her in to pick it up, the sales guy ignored her and kept talking to me,,,no matter how many times i said,,"i don't know, its her, car ask her"

Had a banker like that. My wife was working full time and wanted to buy a new car (used car - we NEVER buy new cars - I am already a cancer survivor and do not need that highly carcinogenic "new car smell").


Banker insisted that I had to co-sign the note

Since I have always been VERY insistent that she have her own credit rating and credit facility - (in case anything happens to me) , I refused to co-sign.

He got all excited and made "mouth noises" along the lines of "she must be a poor credit risk".

I asked him how he planned to explain to HQ about the sexual discrimination charges I was planning to bring against the bank under the human rights act - with a copy sent to the newspapers and TV networks.

She got the loan, based on her own credit rating, income and etc.

[floyd]

Originally Posted by CindyL

At least it sounds like it is not just a female thing. I get so tired of dealing with car repair people who assume, since you are female, that you know nothing. Often, they look right over my head to the hubby. I admit that it has become easier to just let him do this sort of thing.
On occasion though, I am nasty in the computer stores. If they ask me what I want, I launch into discourse that demonstrates that, no, I don't need help.

CindyL

I am by no means a feminist, and I can tell you that it is not just a female thing. I have more experience and often more knowledge than the writer at the repair desk,yet on the rare occasion that I must deal with them, they assume I know nothing....Generally they assume and hope for the ignorance of anyone who walks in the door.
Maybe you should just drop the "hubby" off at the mall on your way to the repair shop, then they won't look over your head,... below it maybe, but not over it!

[bomni]

I love when I go to Lordco/ Napa/ Home Depot etc. & speak with a male....I ask him a question, (usually with my husband beside me) & I am certain that they think he must be a ventriloquist, because, they almost always ignore me and answer him. Or they treat me like I have zero idea what I'm talking about and tell me all about the product...or better yet I ask them for a product they don't know about ...

...i.e. "Do you have any silicone remover?"

Reply..."well I'm very familiar with silicones and they don't make a product that removes it"

Me, "we'll in the States it's called 'McKanica Silicone caulk remover', not sure if they have that product here but can you check your computer for the Canadian equivalent?"

Him (not checking the computer), "Nope they definitely don't make a silicone remover anywhere, you must be confused, you have to use a blade, I know Silicone"

I just turned around and walked out at that point....I have zero patience for being treated like an idiot, when it's the idiot I'm talking to.

[CindyL]

I help design switches for children with disabilities. I admit that most times the hubby ends up making it. He can't help himself. The time I tried to do the thing myself, he could not help himself taking over, not in a way that indicated he thought I could not do it, but because he likes to do that kind of thing (Last week, I came home with the parts to make a stand for videotaping with my iPad. He said, "I don't have time," and then had it done in a couple of hours. Works great.) I love going into a Radio Shack though and asking for the exact kind of switch I want. Most times, the workers just point in the direction of the switches, so I go hunt for what I need.

CindyL

[BCDave]

Radio shack workers know which part of the store has switches?????

Thought product knowledge and location that was grounds for dismissal!

[David Tilston]

Hey.... Radio Shack still exists? Here in Calgary, they are all the Source now.

[CindyL]

I think that Radio Shack will not be carrying electrical switches like I need much longer. What I find now is what they have left.

CindyL

[BCDave]

Tandy Leather sold the Radio Shacks (Radioactive Snacks?) in Canada to help pay their bills .

In Canada, they became "The Source" (of frustration at inept staff peddling shoddy junk at inflated prices)

[james kent]

The Source. Like buying pre-packaged meats at the grocers. Lots of packaging - very little filler.

[john warren]

Originally Posted by BCDave

Radio shack workers know which part of the store has switches?????

Thought product knowledge and location that was grounds for dismissal!

yup,,,there on the wall by the back door, so you can flip them easy when you come in....