Off Topic Millenium Bug
This is off topic, but I need to vent....
In the 1980's, even the most conservative businesses had staff who had product knowledge sessions, customer service protocols and company visions which meant the staff should know everything about all the products they sold.
If for some reason the staff did not know, they didn't have to be told to go out of their way to find out or at least refer the customer to someone more knowledgeable.
I have just returned from the most frustrating afternoon out in search of a sandblaster or even just a bead blaster, something advertised in both these corporate brochures.
Stop 1 : Staff member did not know what a bead blast was, referred me to a cheap and nasty $14.99 handheld device, which attaches to a compressor. Staff member did not know what else I would need or where to get it. Ended by said staff member looking blankly at me and telling me to go elsewhere.
Could not believe it.
Stop 2: Major hardware chain which advertises on T.V. as knowing all there is to know and helping customers. Staff member asks me why I want to use a sandblaster and looks blankly at me. You guessed it, never heard of a bead blaster either. Thinking perhaps staff member is new, go to the hire shop within. The guy looks again puzzled and says "we don't do them - try kennards". I go out the front, rip the brochure off the messageboard and hold it up in front of him.
"This is what you don't do?", say I.
"Oh,one of those", he says.
"Well what do you call it?", I say.
"A sandblaster", he says.
Now getting more than a little frustrated, someone knowledgeable comes over and says that they do stock them, but are out of stock.
So calming down a little, I ask the specs and what apparatus I need with it.
Guy doesn't know, but says they sell sand to go in it.
For those unaware, if you use sand, even with breathing apparatus, you stand to get silicosis of the lungs, you should only use garnet beads unless you have a special ventilation room.
I walk out on the guy and say "do some research mate - sand is deadly."
The moral of the story, I know only a little about sandblasting and was looking for advice, but I knew more about it than the professionals.
The millenium bug is here, no salespeople know anything about anything anymore,and what's more, they don't care as long as they get their paycheck and get you out the door - sale or no sale.
A very sad reflection on the current retail environment.
Tomorrow I'm going to Total Tools, at least I know they are professional.
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