It's coming up on Xmas and this time of year makes me feel........prickly and angry.
A church in my community, every year, asks for donations from people to buy the poor and needy a nice holiday dinner. I haven't seen the ad this year but I think for a family of 4 the suggested donation is about $60.
HOLY MOLY what are these people going to eat????
I'm sorry but a traditional Thanksgiving meal does not have to cost that much. Turkey is one of the cheapest meats you can eat. A good size turkey can feed that family of 4 for quite some time. Potatoes are cheap. Gravy (make it) is pennies. Green beans... .50 at Aldi's.
Point two on this meal thing...... I do not necessarily think that everyone deserves everything. If you do not make enough money or handle it poorly and can't afford to have a big huge meal....so be it. Big deal if you can't have pie.
I will also say that if this is some big deal to you and your family...you could perhaps plan and *shock* save some extra money so you can afford it. It comes around every year....it does....really.
If you took $5.00 from every monthly pay check and saved it. You'd have $60.00
I feel the same way about the Angel Tree that they have every year. These are kids in foster homes. If the foster family can't afford to give the kid a xmas present...what are they doing taking on another kid in their family? And they get extra money to foster don't they?
It just drives me nuts that people are so quick to be needy. What happened to pride? What happened to work ethic? What happened to shame?
People need more of all three.
I'm sure there is a small group of people that are truely needy. But I would venture to say that the large majority are in a needy situation because it is easier, people do indeed give them things, the government gives them things, they get along better (in their mind) than the other people that have to go to work all the time.
For me, I want extra money in the bank. I want the security. I don't want to have to worry about if I can pay my electric bill. I don't want to go into a store and see something I want and can't get it because I don't have the money. If I want pork chops, I want to be able to buy them.
I don't want this worry in my life.
I hear so many people come into the store and want this or want that and say "oh...I'll be back when I get paid". I hear it every single day...."I get paid on Friday....I'll see you then"
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Beggars and Choosers
A gal comes into the store Saturday and says her good friend in Tennessee had a fire and lost everything. She is looking for some things to take to her in a few weeks. She was asking about some dishes and wanted to know if they were indeed $1 a piece. I went back and looked at them. Each item was plainly marked. These were fairly nice dishes and some of the pieces, like the saucers, were $1 but the plates and bowls were more. So she laid on the sob story and wanted me to come down on them. So I point out some other plates and things that were near that were .50 each. She didn't think her friend would like those. She liked the others because they were a solid color.
Come on people!!!
This is another phenomenon that I see fairly often. If you are so terribly desperate and you want me to take pity on you and give you special deals.....you shouldn't be so picky.
I think if I had "lost everything"....I would take what people gave me and be grateful. But apparently I am weird.
Come on people!!!
This is another phenomenon that I see fairly often. If you are so terribly desperate and you want me to take pity on you and give you special deals.....you shouldn't be so picky.
I think if I had "lost everything"....I would take what people gave me and be grateful. But apparently I am weird.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Just a vent
I've got this wholesaler that I order from....And they drive me crazy. I swear every single time I order from them, and that's like once every week or week 1/2, they screw up my order.
It use to be that 2/3 of the stuff would be back ordered. So I would order a ton more than I needed to take up the slack.
Now, it's not quite that bad but they will substitute things for things. You order a 5821 and you get a 942.
My last invoice I ordered 12 different things.
1 was back ordered
1 was wrong (the description on the invoice said 4" and I got 3")
5 were replaced with something else
1 was a replacement for a broken thing on my last order and it is completely different
4 were what I ordered
and on this invoice I was credited for items on my last invoice that they overcharged me for.
I also figured out that one of the things that I was overcharged for....I have two more that I have gotten at other times that I was overcharged for too...but I didn't notice. I should be selling them for $32.00 and they are marked $52.00 because of the overcharge. Today I marked them down to $32.00...what they should be.
And because of all the replacements and what not...it's very difficult to figure out the invoice and what my order should be.
I basically have to order a model number and hope that I get something similar.
The replacement of the broken item is completely screwed up. The broken thing was a single blown pipe that would sell for $13.00. What I got was a kind-of unusual bubbler that I marked $29.00.
This was certainly to my advantage.....this time.
So some might say "with such bad service and general screwed-up-id-ness....why dear Hound Doggy do you still order from them???"
And I would reply "because they got cool shit" "and the coolness of said shit is worth the general hassle"
I wonder if they will be in business for long. I'm pretty laid back about things. I'm sure they have many customers that aren't so laid back.
But if they overcharge for so many things like they do...maybe it all works out.
It use to be that 2/3 of the stuff would be back ordered. So I would order a ton more than I needed to take up the slack.
Now, it's not quite that bad but they will substitute things for things. You order a 5821 and you get a 942.
My last invoice I ordered 12 different things.
1 was back ordered
1 was wrong (the description on the invoice said 4" and I got 3")
5 were replaced with something else
1 was a replacement for a broken thing on my last order and it is completely different
4 were what I ordered
and on this invoice I was credited for items on my last invoice that they overcharged me for.
I also figured out that one of the things that I was overcharged for....I have two more that I have gotten at other times that I was overcharged for too...but I didn't notice. I should be selling them for $32.00 and they are marked $52.00 because of the overcharge. Today I marked them down to $32.00...what they should be.
And because of all the replacements and what not...it's very difficult to figure out the invoice and what my order should be.
I basically have to order a model number and hope that I get something similar.
The replacement of the broken item is completely screwed up. The broken thing was a single blown pipe that would sell for $13.00. What I got was a kind-of unusual bubbler that I marked $29.00.
This was certainly to my advantage.....this time.
So some might say "with such bad service and general screwed-up-id-ness....why dear Hound Doggy do you still order from them???"
And I would reply "because they got cool shit" "and the coolness of said shit is worth the general hassle"
I wonder if they will be in business for long. I'm pretty laid back about things. I'm sure they have many customers that aren't so laid back.
But if they overcharge for so many things like they do...maybe it all works out.
awwww my poor goat
Another thing that gets my goat.
This guy comes into the store and is looking at pipes and such. And he says "wow..your prices have sure gone up" I say " no.. not really" He says "oh yeah they have...since a couple months ago"
Okay...I'm the only one that gets this stuff in and prices it. Prices have NOT gone up. Everything has been the same for the last year.
Of course I won't argue with people about it...but it's just weird.
I don't know why people have to even talk about things....I don't if I go into a store.
I used to go to a store where there were things like overstocks and such. I use to be able to get things very cheap. So cheap in fact that I would buy things there and resell them at my store. So I go in at one point and things were not like they used to be. There were no super steals. I couldn't buy and resell. But that's okay. I don't go there anymore. No big deal.
And what makes the guy of today dumb is that first off he doesn't know what he's talking about and also, I have people every day telling me how cheap my stuff is compared to other places. And of course I (mostly) know that this is true. The other thing with the pipes is that I'm the only game in town. You have to drive like 50 miles to get to the next place that sells stuff.
I have a very unique store. I can't think of another store like mine anywhere. If you want the stuff I have, buy it....if you don't...don't. Whatever. Someone else will.
It's interesting....and often times annoying...what people think and the assumptions that are made.
In one since they think that I'm walmart. That I will have whatever I have forever. But at the same time....they think that I only have one of whatever. For instance....I have these machetes. They are good sellers (for whatever reason). They go for $6.00 I have sold a gazillion of them. But I get people that say...Oh..that machete is still here. That is just an example...it happens all the time.
I've had people come in and say "a while ago my buddy bought this knife...Do you have any others?" And it turns out it was 2 years ago the buddy came in.
Or 5 years ago I got a picture frame here and there was another one that I didn't get...do you still have it?
**you think I exaggerate....this actually happened**
I don't expect people to know all the inner workings of my store. But again..I don't know why people have to talk.
I mean...would you go to a store, a flea market, after 5 years and expect to find a particular picture frame??
This guy comes into the store and is looking at pipes and such. And he says "wow..your prices have sure gone up" I say " no.. not really" He says "oh yeah they have...since a couple months ago"
Okay...I'm the only one that gets this stuff in and prices it. Prices have NOT gone up. Everything has been the same for the last year.
Of course I won't argue with people about it...but it's just weird.
I don't know why people have to even talk about things....I don't if I go into a store.
I used to go to a store where there were things like overstocks and such. I use to be able to get things very cheap. So cheap in fact that I would buy things there and resell them at my store. So I go in at one point and things were not like they used to be. There were no super steals. I couldn't buy and resell. But that's okay. I don't go there anymore. No big deal.
And what makes the guy of today dumb is that first off he doesn't know what he's talking about and also, I have people every day telling me how cheap my stuff is compared to other places. And of course I (mostly) know that this is true. The other thing with the pipes is that I'm the only game in town. You have to drive like 50 miles to get to the next place that sells stuff.
I have a very unique store. I can't think of another store like mine anywhere. If you want the stuff I have, buy it....if you don't...don't. Whatever. Someone else will.
It's interesting....and often times annoying...what people think and the assumptions that are made.
In one since they think that I'm walmart. That I will have whatever I have forever. But at the same time....they think that I only have one of whatever. For instance....I have these machetes. They are good sellers (for whatever reason). They go for $6.00 I have sold a gazillion of them. But I get people that say...Oh..that machete is still here. That is just an example...it happens all the time.
I've had people come in and say "a while ago my buddy bought this knife...Do you have any others?" And it turns out it was 2 years ago the buddy came in.
Or 5 years ago I got a picture frame here and there was another one that I didn't get...do you still have it?
**you think I exaggerate....this actually happened**
I don't expect people to know all the inner workings of my store. But again..I don't know why people have to talk.
I mean...would you go to a store, a flea market, after 5 years and expect to find a particular picture frame??
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
who do I hate more?
I've been having some problems with my bank.
There is this one bitch there that has been telling me my money smells.
It happened first a few months ago. She turns up her pointy little witch nose and says "this money has an odor".
I shrug and tell her that I didn't notice a smell.
It happened again about a week after that.
The next day one of the vice-pres. (also my landlord for one of my buildings) shows up at my store. We chit-chat and he gives me a new money bag.
She tells me that I need to launder my money. **I thought that was illegal**
Anyway...she has rejected my deposit once.
Now every time I go in she "sniffs" my money. She isn't even the one helping me sometimes but will come over and sniff my money. PISSES ME OFF.
So I had a deposit that needed to go in on Monday or the check for my new furnace wouldn't clear. And I washed my money. With strawberry soap. I take it in. She sniffs it and says "we can't accept this".
I say "WHY NOT".
It has an odor.
I washed it.
what did you use?
Soap and water.
Well....I'd use a deodorizing soap.....or Lysol.....
So I drove to another branch and deposited my goddamned stinky cash....with no problem.
Because I am so pissed at my bank, I decided to go to another bank and get some change for my store. A while ago the tax rate changed to about 6% so on a $1 sale it is $1.06 instead of $1.05 like it has been.
This causes me to go through pennies like crazy. So instead of getting a roll or two of pennies at a time all the time.... I thought I'd stock up.
So I handed the gal a $20 and I wanted a roll of nickles, a roll of dimes and the rest in pennies.
You would have though I'd asked her to climb mt Olympia in her bare feet.
$13.00 in pennies.
Yes, Please.
It took two women a key and paperwork to bring out two little trays of pennies.
Then she asked if I had a bag.
No...sorry.
(sigh)...I'll go get one.
so she bagged up all the rolls and passed then through the drawer thingy.
Then she says "do you have an account with us?"
No, I don't.
OH...well we usually don't give change to people without an account with us......I will this time....but in the future....
OH...good god.
I'm hollowing out a space in my mattress....I think that will be the best solution.
While I'm growlly....I'll growl about something else.
Background...in a nutshell.
I've got this friend...we've been best friends since we were 5. Last year she had a baby and she was showing sides of herself that were nasty and stupid. She was very snatchy and grabby about presents and things she was getting. She was mad because people weren't getting things off the registry.
She was mad because someone got her a large basket full of soap and lotions and whatnot...and they were Johnson/Johnson brand and not some expensive kind that she wanted to use. She had organic socks and wash cloths on her registry. You can be certain that I will not spend $10.00 for 3 baby wash cloths.
Oh...and let me mention that she would not and did not buy these for herself....she doesn't have that much money....actually they have very bad money problems and will be going through a bankruptcy.
I got the baby a silver coin proof set. I don't even think she, my friend, knew what it was. In the thank you note I got months later she says that she guesses she'll save those for the baby and not spend them herself. NICE.
She was also mad around that time because a friend of her's (an acquaintance of mine) was dying from cancer and a group of friends was arranging fund raisers for her husband and year old baby.
"Why does she need the money, they've got enough money"
I guess she wanted fund raisers for her because her husband is an idiot with money.
So I started to get mad in May when I emailed her and told her that I had really hurt myself. 3 weeks later she managed a phone call to see what had happened. Since then she has called I think twice and sent a couple emails.....very few and far between.
And why did I not call her.....because her dear husband left a message on my phone saying not to call. That's why. She said that she didn't tell him to call...but it doesn't matter...I stopped calling and and told her it was up to her.
So anyway.....the other day I get an invitation to her daughter's first year birthday party. Size 18T and any toys or books.
Yeah....I think I'll pass.
More of the same....I'll invite a bunch of people and see how much loot I can get. I'm surprised she's not registering for this.
I got the invite as a mass email. I'm not impressed.
Do people even throw parties for their one year old?
I've just heard of family things...grandparents and such.
I'll see if she even responds to my non-response.
Such a waste...we've been friends for 35 years.
I blame it first on her husband....and then on her for not standing up for herself.
oh well......enough growl for now.
;)
There is this one bitch there that has been telling me my money smells.
It happened first a few months ago. She turns up her pointy little witch nose and says "this money has an odor".
I shrug and tell her that I didn't notice a smell.
It happened again about a week after that.
The next day one of the vice-pres. (also my landlord for one of my buildings) shows up at my store. We chit-chat and he gives me a new money bag.
She tells me that I need to launder my money. **I thought that was illegal**
Anyway...she has rejected my deposit once.
Now every time I go in she "sniffs" my money. She isn't even the one helping me sometimes but will come over and sniff my money. PISSES ME OFF.
So I had a deposit that needed to go in on Monday or the check for my new furnace wouldn't clear. And I washed my money. With strawberry soap. I take it in. She sniffs it and says "we can't accept this".
I say "WHY NOT".
It has an odor.
I washed it.
what did you use?
Soap and water.
Well....I'd use a deodorizing soap.....or Lysol.....
So I drove to another branch and deposited my goddamned stinky cash....with no problem.
Because I am so pissed at my bank, I decided to go to another bank and get some change for my store. A while ago the tax rate changed to about 6% so on a $1 sale it is $1.06 instead of $1.05 like it has been.
This causes me to go through pennies like crazy. So instead of getting a roll or two of pennies at a time all the time.... I thought I'd stock up.
So I handed the gal a $20 and I wanted a roll of nickles, a roll of dimes and the rest in pennies.
You would have though I'd asked her to climb mt Olympia in her bare feet.
$13.00 in pennies.
Yes, Please.
It took two women a key and paperwork to bring out two little trays of pennies.
Then she asked if I had a bag.
No...sorry.
(sigh)...I'll go get one.
so she bagged up all the rolls and passed then through the drawer thingy.
Then she says "do you have an account with us?"
No, I don't.
OH...well we usually don't give change to people without an account with us......I will this time....but in the future....
OH...good god.
I'm hollowing out a space in my mattress....I think that will be the best solution.
While I'm growlly....I'll growl about something else.
Background...in a nutshell.
I've got this friend...we've been best friends since we were 5. Last year she had a baby and she was showing sides of herself that were nasty and stupid. She was very snatchy and grabby about presents and things she was getting. She was mad because people weren't getting things off the registry.
She was mad because someone got her a large basket full of soap and lotions and whatnot...and they were Johnson/Johnson brand and not some expensive kind that she wanted to use. She had organic socks and wash cloths on her registry. You can be certain that I will not spend $10.00 for 3 baby wash cloths.
Oh...and let me mention that she would not and did not buy these for herself....she doesn't have that much money....actually they have very bad money problems and will be going through a bankruptcy.
I got the baby a silver coin proof set. I don't even think she, my friend, knew what it was. In the thank you note I got months later she says that she guesses she'll save those for the baby and not spend them herself. NICE.
She was also mad around that time because a friend of her's (an acquaintance of mine) was dying from cancer and a group of friends was arranging fund raisers for her husband and year old baby.
"Why does she need the money, they've got enough money"
I guess she wanted fund raisers for her because her husband is an idiot with money.
So I started to get mad in May when I emailed her and told her that I had really hurt myself. 3 weeks later she managed a phone call to see what had happened. Since then she has called I think twice and sent a couple emails.....very few and far between.
And why did I not call her.....because her dear husband left a message on my phone saying not to call. That's why. She said that she didn't tell him to call...but it doesn't matter...I stopped calling and and told her it was up to her.
So anyway.....the other day I get an invitation to her daughter's first year birthday party. Size 18T and any toys or books.
Yeah....I think I'll pass.
More of the same....I'll invite a bunch of people and see how much loot I can get. I'm surprised she's not registering for this.
I got the invite as a mass email. I'm not impressed.
Do people even throw parties for their one year old?
I've just heard of family things...grandparents and such.
I'll see if she even responds to my non-response.
Such a waste...we've been friends for 35 years.
I blame it first on her husband....and then on her for not standing up for herself.
oh well......enough growl for now.
;)
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Yet another example
This guy comes into my store this morning and says "Oh....you're open today?"
I'm open 5 days a week and I have always been open on Saturday...for the 6+ years I've been in business.
So he does actually buy something and says "well...that will at least give you a sale today"
WTF
It's 9:30 in the morning.
I really don't know what people think....I really don't.
And why do they need to be so assholeish.
This other gal came in and wanted to know if I would take less on a toddler bed. It's marked $40. She just needed the frame and not the mattress. Then another woman came up and she needs a mattress but not the frame. Then the first woman says that she doesn't have $20.
Just for the record....I get angry when someone wants me to discount something by half.
She said that she was in the woman's shelter.
Also for the record....sob stories don't work on me anymore.
It would be one thing if I got these stupid comments all the time...but mostly people talk about how cool my store is.
Yesterday some folks came in with someone new. She has just moved here and they said they were showing her the coolest store around.
So, yeah, those comments are good....it's just that the stupid things stand out more. I just don't know what would possess anyone to say things that they know nothing about.
There was a girl that came in a few weeks ago and she asked if I was selling any pipes.
Indeed I am.
Apparently this is all because of her. She's told a couple people about my store.
I think there is a flaw in her theory however. I've been selling them without her for over a year now. *sigh*
All of this is just an ego thing...I know.
I really don't want people to know what kind of business I do here.
People are happier when you can pay your bills but you aren't really making any money. It's better if people think that I'm just getting by.
I'm open 5 days a week and I have always been open on Saturday...for the 6+ years I've been in business.
So he does actually buy something and says "well...that will at least give you a sale today"
WTF
It's 9:30 in the morning.
I really don't know what people think....I really don't.
And why do they need to be so assholeish.
This other gal came in and wanted to know if I would take less on a toddler bed. It's marked $40. She just needed the frame and not the mattress. Then another woman came up and she needs a mattress but not the frame. Then the first woman says that she doesn't have $20.
Just for the record....I get angry when someone wants me to discount something by half.
She said that she was in the woman's shelter.
Also for the record....sob stories don't work on me anymore.
It would be one thing if I got these stupid comments all the time...but mostly people talk about how cool my store is.
Yesterday some folks came in with someone new. She has just moved here and they said they were showing her the coolest store around.
So, yeah, those comments are good....it's just that the stupid things stand out more. I just don't know what would possess anyone to say things that they know nothing about.
There was a girl that came in a few weeks ago and she asked if I was selling any pipes.
Indeed I am.
Apparently this is all because of her. She's told a couple people about my store.
I think there is a flaw in her theory however. I've been selling them without her for over a year now. *sigh*
All of this is just an ego thing...I know.
I really don't want people to know what kind of business I do here.
People are happier when you can pay your bills but you aren't really making any money. It's better if people think that I'm just getting by.
Friday, October 16, 2009
People interest me
I think it's odd...
I've gotten a new type of smoking apparatus in my store to sell. It is a double peculator with an ice catcher, glass on glass with a diffuser. Fancy.... I guess.
You see I don't smoke...so there is a bit of a learning curve when I get new things. Another thing about me is I am very conservative in my purchases and this baby is the most expensive thing that I have gotten.
So....I think it is odd when a customer says to me..."are you getting any more of those?"
So I say "probably....when I sell this one."
He says "oh good, I'll buy it when you get the other one"
Huh? You can buy this one? no? huh?
Maybe he doesn't have any money now and he thinks he will in the future. I dunno.
There has been a lot of interest in this....but nobody has snapped it up yet. I've had it in for a little less than a week and I've probably shown it to....like....everybody.
In other news.....
Theoretically I have a new furnace and it works. I haven't been home to actually test it out...but the guy said he was done and I paid him a bunch of money.
I've been frosty for a week now. I'm VERY happy that I will have heat again.
Yeah...and Sunday...it's suppose to be 69F grrrrrrrrrrr
Monday is the citywide trash pick up....It is my intention on Sunday to take out the carpet in at least the family room...and maybe the dining room and haul it to the curb.
I have almost all the stuff taken out of the entertainment center and I have the new TV stand in the van.....so the ET center is history.
Yesterday I went couch shopping. I think what I will get is a reclining love seat. Then my couch will also be history.
All of this is making me a nervous wreck. The timing has to be perfect. ET center out.....carpet under that out...new tv stand in....more carpet out....old couch out...more carpet out....new love seat in.....
I have new carpet to put in too....but that is just too much for now.....maybe some day.
Also in this mix...is the state of my van. It has been full of stuff. Some stuff had to come to the store. Other stuff went to storage. Some stuff has to go to my house for the clean up. The TV stand is in there now....it has to go in the house. Then soon it has to be empty so I can pick up the love seat.
It's all like a giant game of Twister.
I need a cupcake. mmmmmm cupcake
I've gotten a new type of smoking apparatus in my store to sell. It is a double peculator with an ice catcher, glass on glass with a diffuser. Fancy.... I guess.
You see I don't smoke...so there is a bit of a learning curve when I get new things. Another thing about me is I am very conservative in my purchases and this baby is the most expensive thing that I have gotten.
So....I think it is odd when a customer says to me..."are you getting any more of those?"
So I say "probably....when I sell this one."
He says "oh good, I'll buy it when you get the other one"
Huh? You can buy this one? no? huh?
Maybe he doesn't have any money now and he thinks he will in the future. I dunno.
There has been a lot of interest in this....but nobody has snapped it up yet. I've had it in for a little less than a week and I've probably shown it to....like....everybody.
In other news.....
Theoretically I have a new furnace and it works. I haven't been home to actually test it out...but the guy said he was done and I paid him a bunch of money.
I've been frosty for a week now. I'm VERY happy that I will have heat again.
Yeah...and Sunday...it's suppose to be 69F grrrrrrrrrrr
Monday is the citywide trash pick up....It is my intention on Sunday to take out the carpet in at least the family room...and maybe the dining room and haul it to the curb.
I have almost all the stuff taken out of the entertainment center and I have the new TV stand in the van.....so the ET center is history.
Yesterday I went couch shopping. I think what I will get is a reclining love seat. Then my couch will also be history.
All of this is making me a nervous wreck. The timing has to be perfect. ET center out.....carpet under that out...new tv stand in....more carpet out....old couch out...more carpet out....new love seat in.....
I have new carpet to put in too....but that is just too much for now.....maybe some day.
Also in this mix...is the state of my van. It has been full of stuff. Some stuff had to come to the store. Other stuff went to storage. Some stuff has to go to my house for the clean up. The TV stand is in there now....it has to go in the house. Then soon it has to be empty so I can pick up the love seat.
It's all like a giant game of Twister.
I need a cupcake. mmmmmm cupcake
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