If you don't know

[slonezp]

then say you don't know cause you look real stupid standing there with a blank look on your face.

I asked the kid, and by kid I mean someone in his early to mid 20's, at O'Riley's auto parts what to use to clean the little rust dots from the brake pads off the paint. I have no desire to clay bar the SuperDuty. We walk to the aisle with the cleaners and waxes and after a minute of awkward silence he said bug and tar remover. The phone started ringing, I told him to answer it and I'll find it myself. 

Why not say, "I'm not sure but I can help you look."? 

 

Anyway, I found Meguire's Iron Removing Spray Clay which is used with a microfiber cloth rather than a clay bar.

 

Hey kid! Next time you have some free time, learn about the products you sell.

[12poundbass]

[Guitarfish]

You sound as frustrated as I am this morning.  I have a customer that emailed this morning with a fixture that is dim.  I asked is 'it one of the two I worked on previously?', and got an 'it's in the back'.  Yes or no darn it!

 

I was at O's yesterday with my retired body shop buddy, as we were working on refurbing my Toyota's trim. 

 

But, he also showed me a trick of using a clay-bar-like tool with a rubber face.  Just spray Meguire's detail spray wax and rub a bit.  Smooth as glass in a minute or two.  Cost me a bit over $30 for tool and big bottle, but low effort.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[TnRiver46]

I was unaware you were supposed to clean trucks 

[MN Fisher]

4 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

I was unaware you were supposed to clean trucks 

Mine gets washed irregularly - every time it rains...

[slonezp]

2 hours ago, Guitarfish said:

You sound as frustrated as I am this morning.  I have a customer that emailed this morning with a fixture that is dim.  I asked is 'it one of the two I worked on previously?', and got an 'it's in the back'.  Yes or no darn it!

 

I was at O's yesterday with my retired body shop buddy, as we were working on refurbing my Toyota's trim. 

 

But, he also showed me a trick of using a clay-bar-like tool with a rubber face.  Just spray Meguire's detail spray wax and rub a bit.  Smooth as glass in a minute or two.  Cost me a bit over $30 for tool and big bottle, but low effort.

I'm in the parts business myself. I sell commercial and industrial HVAC/R parts. If I don't know what I'm selling, I might as well work the counter at a fast food restaurant. How difficult is it to read the label of the Meguiar's bottle when your stocking shelves? Care about your job or find another one. @12poundbass I'm rereading my comments and I think you're on to something LOL

Just now, MN Fisher said:

Mine gets washed irregularly - every time it rains...

Same as my boat gets washed everytime I launch.

[Log Catcher]

I hope you realize you are asking an awful lot out of people these days. 

 

1. You tell them to show up for work on time.

 

2. You expect them to work after they get there.

 

3. Now you want them to actually know what is what in the business.

 

Don't you think you are expecting too much these days?

[slonezp]

2 hours ago, Log Catcher said:

I hope you realize you are asking an awful lot out of people these days. 

 

1. You tell them to show up for work on time.

 

2. You expect them to work after they get there.

 

3. Now you want them to actually know what is what in the business.

 

Don't you think you are expecting too much these days?

My biggest hurdle is I think others think like I do. 

 

[Bluebasser86]

Same goes for strapping down and launching a boat. I'd rather do it myself than have someone break something because they didn't know what they were doing but tried to do it anyways. I had someone force the wrong plug into the wrong connection on my depthfinder once. Thankfully I got it back out and the new connection was only $30 but I was still pretty mad that he didn't just let me do it or ask if he wasn't sure how to do it.

[Jrob78]

People don't seem to realize that other people will respect them more if they're just honest. It's ok not to know everything about everything, it's not ok to lie and say you do. A little humility goes a long way. I would much rather hear, "I'm not sure but I will find out for you" than have someone just guess and tell me what they think I want to hear.

[PourMyOwn]

I restore and use 1970s Simplicity garden tractors. I probably have 10 or 11 of them, my father has another 10 or so. Anyway, they take a 51R battery, which is common in a lot of Accords and Civics-its a big battery for a tractor. 

 

Recently at AutoZone there was a 51R on the clearance rack for 50 bucks. Before I lugged it across the store I asked the kid behind the counter if it was really on sale.

 

He didn't even answer me.He asked me what it was going into, I told him my 45 year old garden tractor. He said "I don't know why you're even asking about it, it's not a tractor battery." 

 

I silently counted to three and left the store. 

[Oregon Native]

 

[Crappiebasser]

It’s just as bad at the big box home improvement stores. Thirty years ago Home Depot hired lots of retired tradesmen to be specialists in their depts. Now they hire any moron they can get.

[Guitarfish]

My biggest (something approaching a peeve), is the hire of non English-understanding folks.  I'm not saying they don't deserve a job just like anyone else, but why put them in a position where they just can't communicate?  English is no longer a requirement.  The fast food drive thru ordering is bordering on a 50-50 chance of the order being right, lol.  The lady is super nice so I can't get mad.  I just check my order before moving.

 

The other day my son ordered just meat & cheese tacos for himself while picking up family lunch, we all got tacos with lots of lettuce and NO cheese.  I'm learning Spanish fast.

[PourMyOwn]

3 minutes ago, Guitarfish said:

My biggest (something approaching a peeve), is the hire of non English-understanding folks.  I'm not saying they don't deserve a job just like anyone else, but why put them in a position where they just can't communicate?  English is no longer a requirement.  The fast food drive thru ordering is bordering on a 50-50 chance of the order being right, lol.  The lady is super nice so I can't get mad.  I just check my order before moving.

 

The other day my son ordered just meat & cheese tacos for himself while picking up family lunch, we all got tacos with lots of lettuce and NO cheese.  I'm learning Spanish fast.

At the risk of getting political, it's probably because there were few if any English speakers who applied or showed up to work. 

[Guitarfish]

That may indeed be true too.  Yeah,  I thought maybe not a good idea to even post.  The world is changing fast, even in my hood.  But you almost can't even mention race or the Karen's come out and label you quick.

[N Florida Mike]

I cant understand people  in english when they’re wearing a mask. I get about every third word. Apparently, they cant understand me either...

 

 

[DitchPanda]

On 8/22/2020 at 9:32 PM, slonezp said:

My biggest hurdle is I think others think like I do. 

 

This is my biggest problem at my job. My bosses treat me well and compensate me well because of the fact that I'm willing to go above and beyond...that's what it takes to do the job right in my opinion. However a lot of other people are only there for the check and don't give a crap about the plant..they do the bare minimum to get by. That mindset to me makes no sense and frankly is disgusting..if I'm spending that much time doing anything I'm gonna commit and try to be the best at it. Otherwise what's the point. Just how I'm wired. The reality is a lot of people aren't made that way and it's unfair for me to hold them to the standard I hold myself too. I'm slowly learning this but it took 37 years of living to get to this realization. The saving grace at my job is I am treated well by management and have some freedoms earned thru my work ethic and building that trust between myself and my shift supervisor. Gotta take the good with the bad I guess.

[schplurg]

Every morning before I leave the house I tell myself, "Remember, almost every person I run into today will be a lot dumber than I am". It doesn't help - but I'm not shocked by people's behavior anymore either.

[Hammer 4]

No Pride in the Tribe it seems these days.

[Whatever]

I had a friend who ran a backcountry / mountaineering store. Everyone who worked there had an absolute passion and extensive knowledge for their given sport, whether it was kayaking, ski mountaineering, rock-climbing, what ever. They worked in that industry because they were wholeheartedly involved in that sport. He said most people would come in, take up their time asking questions, trying on clothing and boots, then go home and order exactly the right item off the net to save $20. Internet sales were killing him.

[Guitarfish]

Sadly happening to lots of different type stores.  I miss the days when I could just run down and buy.  Now it's waiting for the mail.

[TnRiver46]

On 8/28/2020 at 12:37 AM, schplurg said:

Every morning before I leave the house I tell myself, "Remember, almost every person I run into today will be a lot dumber than I am". It doesn't help - but I'm not shocked by people's behavior anymore either.

You didn’t realize this would happen before you moved to California? Just kidding guys...... go A’s!

[DitchPanda]

On 8/27/2020 at 11:37 PM, schplurg said:

Every morning before I leave the house I tell myself, "Remember, almost every person I run into today will be a lot dumber than I am". It doesn't help - but I'm not shocked by people's behavior anymore either.

I'm not shocked or even mad by people's stupidity anymore because it runs rampant..but people's laziness is what I'll never understand. I work with a few individuals who would rather burn too death if they caught fire because it's to much work to roll on the ground. I look at these people and wonder...How did you make it to 50 years old with that work ethic? Then I remember oh yeah we live in a country where we have lots of social programs. They are great for people who really need them...disabilities,medical issues, single parents etc...but they are also in place and available to anybody who wants to sit around like the world owes them something as long as they are willing to tick and moan enough. Disgusting.

[DanielG]

My experiences is that nine times out of ten... maybe 9.5 times out of 10, the people I deal with like this are either knowledgable or willing to help as best they can if they are not. I could make a big issue out of that rare occasion that I run into someone who shouldn't be in the position they are in, but if I did I'd sound like a person with anger issues or who is set off by every little thing and have to complain. Even with that person who does act stupid; hey, there are stupid people around. That's the way of things. So what, as long as I'm not.... uh... I hope not.