Random thoughts and observations from a guy with a lot on his mind…
After a summer of mistakes Netflix is finding itself short on customers and cash. They are trying to raise $200 million through the sales of bonds. I think that should cover the lost revenue from losing 1-million customers in a quarter.
I used to LOVE Netflix but a 60% membership hike and a dismal choice of streaming content made canceling my subscription very easy.
Well, the holiday season has officially begun (although the retail establishment would like you to believe it started over a month ago). We all have a lot to be thankful for. Have you said Thank You today?
I’m thankful for living in the United States of America and having the freedom to share these thoughts without fear of punishment. We owe the creation of our freedoms to the founding fathers and the continuation of our freedoms to the United States Military (specifically the men and women that serve and sacrifice every day).
Although I don’t always show it like I should I’m extremely thankful for my family and friends. They are a the reason I’m the person I am today. Finally, just so I don’t come across like a total sap, I’m thankful for Mr. Adam Sandler and this little diddy:
If you want to understand the REAL story behind Thanksgiving check out these links (hint it’s not about the Pilgrims like we all learned in school!):
I’m not pointing fingers, just pointing it out…
From the New York Times – Banks to Make Customers Pay Debit Card Fee
I guess this is one way for the banks to make up their losses with the low interest rates. I’m sure none of us like this & there’s not a lot we can do about it! Maybe this will spark more interest in Credit Unions (until they start doing this too).
One way to possibly avoid these fees is to go back to a cash based society (until the banks start charging for cash). I’m pretty much a cash free consumer who normally has less than $20 in his pocket at any given time (except for vacation for some reason). I like the ability to track spending and budgets. I find myself spending cash and not remembering where it all went when its gone.
So far a lot of the major banks seem to have jumped on this fee band wagon. Only time will tell if this becomes the norm or if the expected consumer backlash has an impact.
Whats going on with the trend for McDonalds to put drive thru order takers outside? When I stop for fast food I’m not always sure what I want and like to look at the menu board to help make my decision. Placing the order taker outside the visual range of the menu board (which is usually where they are located) really messes me up and I default to whatever I can remember the restaurant having vs. trying one of their specials.
The other day I ran into this situation & the order taker was using a Panasonic Toughbook tablet that I know from recent experience easily costs $2500. That’s a lot of cheeseburgers.
Is the ordering kiosk not working? That kind of makes sense, but if that’s the case, put the person by the actual menu not around the corner 50+ feet away. I don’t need to have an enlightening conversation to grab a Big Mac, the squawk box is just fine by me.
One other thing, remember when they used to USE the 2 drive thru windows? I see a lot of them sealed up and used for storage…
Picture this… You’re taking your spouse, date, etc. out to a nice dinner in the Northern Indianapolis Suburbs . When you pull into the parking list you see the Valet Parking sign… What do you do?
Me? I drive on by and find a parking spot. In most cases parking is available right there in front of the restaurant. I assure you Mr./Ms. restauranteur, I know how to park my car and I’m more than capable of walking the 100 feet to the front door of your place of business. I don’t need to hide all of my valuables in the glove box and give the valet key to a total stranger you have employed to park my car in the same spot for me…
Now in the case of some crafty establishments (Bonefish for example) they block off 25% of the already too small parking lot and you are all but forced to partake in their elaborate scheme to squeeze a few more gratuity dollars from you. Don’t get me wrong, I actually LIKE eating at Bonefish, I just think their valet parking service is crap.
Some of the higher end eateries (Peterson’s, Eddie Merlot’s and Sullivan’s) also have this service. The funny thing is they are surrounded by parking and it takes longer to get your car than it does to just walk to it!
Valet parking at the “Fashion Mall” cracks me up too…
Head to downtown Indy or a city like Chicago where parking is all but non-existent and the Valet concept makes more sense. I still self-park when I can but have been known to turn my keys over from time to time (especially when the weather is bad (and I tip well for it)).
What’s the appeal of Valet parking on the north side? I just don’t get it. Please educate me…
It may just be me but I think this is going a little to far. What happens if you are scored “low”? How do you dispute an inaccurate score? Can you be institutionalized for not taking your meds?
From the New York Times article:
The FICO medication score is based on publicly available data, like home ownership and job status, and does not rely on a patient’s medical history or financial information to predict whether he or she will take medication as directed. So, like a credit rating, it can be compiled without a person’s knowledge or permission.
Here’s a link to the FICO site that gives additional details.
I’d love to hear from those of you in the health care industry. Do you support this kind of program? How can we be assured it’s not taken too far?
What is it with people and parking? Is it that hard for you to put your car between the two lines? Are you really saving that much time by parking, with your hazards blinking, in the Fire Zone?
And handicap placards… don’t get me started. I guess you can get these at the local 7-11 because it seems like every pudgy person in the tri-state area has one. You are going to be walking inside the mega-mart, do you really need special parking? I once saw a person with a handicap parking placard RUN into the store!
Then you have the selfish bastards… These people, with their “my car is soooo special I need to segregate it from yours” mentality love to make up spots to rest their chariot. Please don’t be concerned about the flow of traffic around you, the safety of your fellow man, or the fire hydrant you are oh so conveniently blocking.
Before I get accused of being a hypocrite because of MY personal parking habits, allow be to explain my logic. You see, I don’t want to park next you your 4×4 with the giant swinging doors. I don’t want to park next to your mini-van you used to transport your 16 screaming hyper children. I don’t want to park next your beat-up grocery getter.
Where I DO want to park is away from all of that. I want to park in the back of the lot, in my own single space. I want to be away from your drama and come out to find my car all by itself right where I left it. No new mysterious door dent, no shopping cart resting against the bumper, and no $80,000 import parked 6-inches from my door.
Is that to much to ask?
Dear Mr. Schultz (Chairman and CEO of Starbucks),
First of all I would like to thank you for your company and products. I appreciate the ability to spin around 3 times and face one of your establishments when I stop. I also appreciate the ability to use all of those $5 bills I have cluttering my wallet on a Venti Cafè Americano.
What I DON’T appreciate is watching 3 cars in your drive-thru being serviced for every one customer inside. Look, I actually parked my car (in the designated spot) and walked into your store to make my purchase. I can tell you’ve spent a lot of money trying to impress me and liberate more $5 bills from my wallet. You’re a business, I get that. Sometimes it works!
I find it absolutely infuriating to place my order and watch drink after drink from the “outside” be processed in front of mine. You always have twice as many Baristas working that tiny little window than you do the big expansive counter.
T
he little treats you put out for me are a nice touch but the guy in front of me always seems to have taken the last one. The sole employee manning the inside counter is too busy helping the window to notice. As a point of reference I actually SAVE you labor costs as I put my own flair in my drink at the little self serve counter!
All I’m asking for is a little respect when I enter your store, after all, I’m taking the time to enjoy the “experience” and I might even stick around and visit for a while. I assume that was your intention when you started oh so many years ago.
Please Mr. Schultz, please consider the customer who cares. The customer who sees, and buys, all of those leftover holiday items in January to free up shelf space for the Spring Collection. The customer who uses your free wireless services you have invested in. The customer who cares enough to bring this matter to your attention.
