Comments on: The "Gifted" VCR Repair Lady. Is It Unethical to Sell to An Idiot?

By: Barry

Barry — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 12:37:07 +0000

At least you were one of few Radio Shack salespersons who knows something besides cell phone plans. Traditionally, I’ve found Radio Shack personnel to be horribly inept and uneducated in the area of Electronics. Since Radio Shack is no longer an electronic parts house and is now more like the “Electronics” section in a department store, I suppose it’s to be expected. When you walk into a Radio Shack and are greeted by a young girl, you pretty much tell her you know what you’re looking for, and you know it’s pointless to ask her where the 100K, linear taper pots are located.

By: Lebale

Lebale — Sun, 29 Oct 2006 19:21:25 +0000

Do I feel bad for making this trash? Well, no. As long as people continue to vote for politicians who look good on TV? Well that should be easy to find out – every time I went to buy a pack of friggin’ batteries in a Radio Shack they asked me for my phone number.

By: MamaDuck

MamaDuck — Wed, 26 Jul 2006 00:46:15 +0000

Well, it’s not a weapon or alcohol…. kinda scary, but hopefully she won’t cause undue harm with it….

By: Todd

Todd — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 21:23:05 +0000

This isn’t about “judging” or “religious extremism…”
When I worked in a video store as a teen, a man brought in his two, eight-year-old daughters, shopping for a movie. They wanted one that was not appropriate for children, and he brought it to the counter (without checking the rating). He’s an adult…I could have just rented it to him. Instead, I cautioned him that the movie wasn’t right for his children since I knew they were to be the movie’s audience…not him. That’s good business.
Later, when I worked in a bookstore, if a shopper came to the computer section looking for a particular book, and I knew that another book might better suit their needs (for example, more geared towards their level of experience or interest)…I recommended the other book, without thought to price. It’s good business.

Good business is not just selling…it’s finding out your customer’s needs and providing the best product possible to fill those needs.

By: Clem Kadiddlehopper

Clem Kadiddlehopper — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 00:45:58 +0000

I make software for government/military apps, and this is a recurring theme. The General doesn’t know what he wants, he doesn’t know what he needs, and he doesn’t care what it costs. So yeah, we agree to build it. And because he’s clueless (Sleep well, America!), the damn thing never turns into anything, and another few billion taxpayer dollars go down the tubes. Do I feel bad for making this trash? Well, no. As long as people continue to vote for politicians who look good on TV, and as long as the officer gets promoted because his 8X10 glossy looks nice, then this kind of stuff will be the norm.

Remember, if you let the stockholders call the shots, the books will look good all the way to bankruptcy!

By: chris

chris — Mon, 17 Jul 2006 19:08:12 +0000

I once worked in a bicycle shop. A man came in looking for the best and/or most expensive bicycle in the shop. I showed it to him, but hinted that perhaps it might be unsuited for him. Never mind, he wanted it. That in itself was not so unusual, it happened all the time. Next, he asked if we could equip the bike with some extras. Sure, what did he have in mind? A kickstand. I supressed a groan, and said OK. Fenders? OK. A Bell? A generator light set? A padded cover for the seat? A rack? Foam pads for the handlebars? It went on and on, and I dutifully added each item to the bill, with labor. The next day, he came by to pick up the bicycle. He was very pleased. The owner of the bicycle store took me aside and told me never to do that ever again. I had turned a $2000 racing bicycle into a joke. But I pointed to the bill of sale, and the $400 in extras. Never mind, he said, you just don’t do something like that. Not only is it the priciple of the thing, but it makes our shop look bad…

By: barfo rama

barfo rama — Mon, 17 Jul 2006 07:12:37 +0000

You should have sold her something that gave a clue, like some really thick gloves to protect here from the deadly X-Rays in the TV throgmotron, with a side mention of your friends cat getting a 50Kv orgasm.

By: David McCabe

David McCabe — Mon, 17 Jul 2006 05:58:00 +0000

I don’t know about people in general, but fundamentalist Christians will tell you, yes, that they have a gift in such and such. The belief is that the Holy Spirit guides their hands.

By: alec

alec — Mon, 17 Jul 2006 05:10:07 +0000

is it actually possible a person who magically fixed a VCR now thinks they are capable of fixing all electronics? pretty inconceivable, but welcome to capitalism (all you can hope for is darwin and the free market will sort it out)

By: Arnold T. Pants

Arnold T. Pants — Mon, 17 Jul 2006 05:05:11 +0000

“But of course, the question that bugs me the most… whatever happened to the business started by the VCR lady?”

Well that should be easy to find out – every time I went to buy a pack of friggin’ batteries in a Radio Shack they asked me for my phone number. This investigation would be the first non-dumbassed use of that dumbass policy!