The retail world is poised for a significant change, in my opinion. And yes, I know that my opinion, along with five bucks, will get you a good cup of coffee. Anyway, I went to Home Depot looking for a new breaker for the bathtub. I struggle to ask for help (in most situations), but stared at a gentleman who was helping someone else with my "intense stare" that I use on special occasions. He responded to my Jedi Mind Trick, and came to help me. I told him that I needed a replacement breaker for a GTE Sylvania that I was certain wasn't manufactured anymore. He asked me who manufactured my breaker box... Why would I have asked for GTE Sylvania breakers if some other company manufactured the box? "Actually, Square D made the box, and decided that their breakers weren't as good as GTE, and recommend the competitor's products." So, the genius in the electronics department says that I must be mistaken. The breaker must be GE. I actually doubted myself, even though I was staring at the note that I had made when staring at my breaker box... So, I tried to find middle ground by informing him that my breaker box was 30 years old, so maybe I misread it. I bought a 30 Amp breaker at Home Depot a few years ago to run my computers (don't ask - I'm a geek and I admit it). I walked in then and looked up the competitive breaker in a catalog. So? I mentioned to the helper, that I didn't see the catalog. He informed me that someone else had the catalog. Then, he went silent. I was waiting for him to say he would call the relevant person over. No dice. After an awkward silence, he suggested I go to an electrical supply house... i.e. somewhere else. I left disgusted.

There is a comparatively small hardware store in downtown Boulder Creek. Every time I walk in, I'm immediately asked if there is something they can help me find. If they don't have it, they apologize and offer to order it. They often know about how to do projects, and are never insulting with their advice. This is the way conventional retail must go. I'm not alone in being sick and tired of a lack of service from the Big Boys. When they first open, there is a crew of big brothers watching over how they should interact with customers, but soon after they are gone, the staff of the Big Boys goes to heck. We are a people who are tired of spending time dealing with the supposedly cheaper warehouses. Our money also goes for service. If I ask for assistance, you'd better respond. If you are not competent enough to answer the question, that's ok. Find someone who is. The retail world is on the brink of change: a good change. Service is important again. Wake up and smell the wood glue...

Incompetence should not cost me, but them