I have an inspiration for this post. Feel free to check out my cousin Brad's blog linked on the upper left. He recently posted a "Psychology of Sales and Suckers Theory" with emphasis on people wanting to feel like he got a good deal. I was writing a comment on his post and I realized that my comment was a mile long so I figured I'd just post my own feelings about "getting a deal."
Let me note that nothing makes me laugh harder than hearing people tell me they "got a good deal" on whatever it is they recently bought. I've heard it from friends, family, acquaintance, strangers, and on and on. Lest I forget to mention my glory years at the Comcastic (Oh, memories!) nothing makes people happier than the feeling of "getting a deal."
In my experience, the king of all "deals" is the wedding ring. Especially down in Provo, everybody seemed to "know a guy" that gave them some type of special discount. It was especially funny if I knew or found out that the "guy" they knew was really the guy they met at the mall when they walked in for the first time. Honestly, even if somebody got so worked over that they paid for "rust proofing" on their diamond ring, they'd never admit it when asked about it.
Rings are certainly not the only "deal" purchase. In fact, any type of big purchase will always qualify as a "deal" buy. Bought a new car? A house? Furniture? I can appreciate wanting to feel like you got a good deal on a bigger purchase. I usually take the viewpoint that whoever it is probably did their research and knew a decent deal when they saw it. But telling me you got a good deal on a pair of shoes? Pants? A shirt! If you really want a $50 pair of shoes, just pay the money and get over it.
Rachel can attest that I get so riled up when people tell me about how they got a sweet deal that I make it a point to NOT say that I got a deal when I talk about a purchase. I usually don't think I did anyways, I just hope I paid a fair price.
In case you're curious, I bought Rachel's wedding ring at the Shane Company (hey, 20 years of radio commercials worked on me). I simply walked in and bought a ring. A couple years later I asked a guy who worked for a different jewelry store (Wilson Diamonds) if I made a good purchase. He told me that I maybe could have found a better deal but I certainly didn't get worked over. Basically he said I paid a fair price. Of course, he informed me that he could have got me a sweet deal (obviously the salesman knows what the people want to hear!). I can live with paying a fair price. Hopefully I've sneaked in a few true "deals" in life to counter the multiple times I've been the sucker.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Monday, January 28, 2008
Convenience Store Hold Up
So if I ever decide to get into the convenience store business I know exactly which type of gas station I'm opening-an AM/PM. They have got the business down to a science-of screwing people over for a little extra profit.
Let me set the scene for you: I walk in to get a nice fountain drink after a long day at work. . . of course the first tiff is that the fountain drinks here in Washington are about 30 cents more than Utah prices. For a cheap-o like me even that is enought to get me feeling violated. I go up to the register to pay and the woman who can't speak any English (NOTE: this is a key to the robbery) points at the total, about $1.60. As I go to slide my card I notice a little note on the credit card machine that basically says "Notice: We screw you over for an extra $0.45 for each debit card transaction." Obviously I reach for the credit card instead to avoid the $0.45 charge. Magically, the one sentence of English the lady does know is, "No credit, only debit." Curses!
I curse myself as I know I only have $1 in my wallet and not the required $2. So now I'm stuck paying $1.95 for what truly should be a $0.99 soda. In the movie theatre and at the stadium I'm prepared for a $5 Coke, but not at the gas station. They are basically saying, "We're charging you an extra $0.45 just for coming in to our store, and we've strategically placed a non-English speaking person at our register so you really can't argue with it."
I finally gave in, but decided I would get $20 cash back and think of it as only a $0.45 ATM fee instead of the usual $2+ (boy I sure get desparate about rationalizing these things, don't I?). Too bad she couldn't figure out how to adjust the transaction so she kept having me rerun my card. For all I know I left there charging like 50 $1.95 drinks plus $20 cash back to my card. Good times.
So that's it folks. You want to make money? Open an AM/PM and charge all the customers an extra $0.45 just for coming in. It all adds up in the end!
Let me set the scene for you: I walk in to get a nice fountain drink after a long day at work. . . of course the first tiff is that the fountain drinks here in Washington are about 30 cents more than Utah prices. For a cheap-o like me even that is enought to get me feeling violated. I go up to the register to pay and the woman who can't speak any English (NOTE: this is a key to the robbery) points at the total, about $1.60. As I go to slide my card I notice a little note on the credit card machine that basically says "Notice: We screw you over for an extra $0.45 for each debit card transaction." Obviously I reach for the credit card instead to avoid the $0.45 charge. Magically, the one sentence of English the lady does know is, "No credit, only debit." Curses!
I curse myself as I know I only have $1 in my wallet and not the required $2. So now I'm stuck paying $1.95 for what truly should be a $0.99 soda. In the movie theatre and at the stadium I'm prepared for a $5 Coke, but not at the gas station. They are basically saying, "We're charging you an extra $0.45 just for coming in to our store, and we've strategically placed a non-English speaking person at our register so you really can't argue with it."
I finally gave in, but decided I would get $20 cash back and think of it as only a $0.45 ATM fee instead of the usual $2+ (boy I sure get desparate about rationalizing these things, don't I?). Too bad she couldn't figure out how to adjust the transaction so she kept having me rerun my card. For all I know I left there charging like 50 $1.95 drinks plus $20 cash back to my card. Good times.
So that's it folks. You want to make money? Open an AM/PM and charge all the customers an extra $0.45 just for coming in. It all adds up in the end!
Monday, January 21, 2008
Luxury Ride
I want to ask a question and beg for anybody to reply with some level of relevant answer. How is KIA still in business? I picked up a sweet Kia Rio as my rental for the next two weeks while I'm in Seattle and let me tell you the second I started the car I realized that my Civic is a luxury car in comparison. Actually the first thought through my head was, "Should've accepted the offer to upgrade."
As I sat at the rental counter listening to the guy offer all the upgrades I thought, "I'm driving a 5 minute commute to work and back for two weeks; all I need is something to get me around." Well, I was WRONG! (Rachel will love reading that!) This car has all the standard features. . . from 1985. No power windows, locks, etc. In fact, I'm pretty sure Avis installed an aftermarket CD player just to get it up to 1990's level technology. Just kidding, it's Kia's very own CD player, but I can't help but thinking, "Dude, just give me the tape deck to complete the package!" I don't know why I even care about the radio since I can't hear it over the rice grinding in the engine.
When I reserved the car the website said I would get something similar to a Hyundai Accent. Well I never thought I'd utter this phrase in my life, but as I got into the car and started to drive, I couldn't help but chuckle, "Well, she ain't no Hyundai!"
I shouldn't be so harsh, the trunk is surprisingly big for the size of the car, and. . . and. . . and. . . well I don't need the trunk for any reason and that's pretty much the only positive I can think of. So I'm pumped for two weeks in Seattle with my sweet ride!
Sidenote-I can't believe I was in Florida a week ago, the SLC for the final half of the week, and now Seattle. I've arguable traveled the least of anybody I know and suddenly I've literally crossed the country in the span of a week. Too bad it would've been cool when I was 18 or something instead of away from my wife and child for so long :(
As I sat at the rental counter listening to the guy offer all the upgrades I thought, "I'm driving a 5 minute commute to work and back for two weeks; all I need is something to get me around." Well, I was WRONG! (Rachel will love reading that!) This car has all the standard features. . . from 1985. No power windows, locks, etc. In fact, I'm pretty sure Avis installed an aftermarket CD player just to get it up to 1990's level technology. Just kidding, it's Kia's very own CD player, but I can't help but thinking, "Dude, just give me the tape deck to complete the package!" I don't know why I even care about the radio since I can't hear it over the rice grinding in the engine.
When I reserved the car the website said I would get something similar to a Hyundai Accent. Well I never thought I'd utter this phrase in my life, but as I got into the car and started to drive, I couldn't help but chuckle, "Well, she ain't no Hyundai!"
I shouldn't be so harsh, the trunk is surprisingly big for the size of the car, and. . . and. . . and. . . well I don't need the trunk for any reason and that's pretty much the only positive I can think of. So I'm pumped for two weeks in Seattle with my sweet ride!
Sidenote-I can't believe I was in Florida a week ago, the SLC for the final half of the week, and now Seattle. I've arguable traveled the least of anybody I know and suddenly I've literally crossed the country in the span of a week. Too bad it would've been cool when I was 18 or something instead of away from my wife and child for so long :(
Friday, January 11, 2008
Hotel Pool
Is there anything better than warm weather? I say this knowing that my poor wife is at home with a sick child in 20 degree weather with daily snowfall :). To be honest, I usually claim to like winter better than summer because when you're cold you can easily add a coat, etc. to get warm; but when you're hot, there's only so much you can take off. . . :) .
Anyways, tonight I hit up the hotel pool. About 8 o'clock at night and still 75 degrees outside. I had just finished exercising so I was pretty hot; the pool was the perfect option to cool down and feel refreshed. I picked an advantageous night since the rest of this training conference is out drinking the night away (even though we have class tomorrow morning early!). I can't remember the last time I felt such pure relaxation: enjoying the refreshing water, watching the night sky, and just letting my mind unwind.
I have to admit that I've been rather anti-social this week but I recognized when I got down here that I really have an opportunity for some alone time. I miss Rachel and Cannon terribly don't get me wrong. I'm just saying that for the past 5 years I've either been at school or work (school + work= people) pretty much at all times with any extra time obviously devoted to my wonderful wife (and now son). There's something to be said for having some alone time to do what you want to do all by yourself. At the expense of being somewhat of a reject down here (which I would be anyways when I politely decline invites to the club) I feel like I've used this time wisely and truly relaxed.
Anyways, tonight I hit up the hotel pool. About 8 o'clock at night and still 75 degrees outside. I had just finished exercising so I was pretty hot; the pool was the perfect option to cool down and feel refreshed. I picked an advantageous night since the rest of this training conference is out drinking the night away (even though we have class tomorrow morning early!). I can't remember the last time I felt such pure relaxation: enjoying the refreshing water, watching the night sky, and just letting my mind unwind.
I have to admit that I've been rather anti-social this week but I recognized when I got down here that I really have an opportunity for some alone time. I miss Rachel and Cannon terribly don't get me wrong. I'm just saying that for the past 5 years I've either been at school or work (school + work= people) pretty much at all times with any extra time obviously devoted to my wonderful wife (and now son). There's something to be said for having some alone time to do what you want to do all by yourself. At the expense of being somewhat of a reject down here (which I would be anyways when I politely decline invites to the club) I feel like I've used this time wisely and truly relaxed.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Coffee Addiction!
Rachel and I have a New Year's resolution to not drink soda at all at least two days a week. I'm pretty sure we do that anyways but we want to drink less sugar (and caffeine) to be at least slightly healthier. I thought we were pretty bad at our little addiction, but I now realize that I was dead wrong. We weren't addicted at all; we merely enjoy soda on occasion.
I write this during the middle of my 10-day new hire training for my accounting job. I'm in Orlando, FL for 5 more days. If you can't tell already I'm suffering from quite a culture shock. The thing I'm surprised about is that it is the coffee drinking (as opposed to alcohol drinking) that is the monster culture shock! There are about 300 people here but I spend most of my day in a room of about 35 people. 5 of the 6 LDS people at this training are in that room with me, so that leaves 30 potential coffee drinkers in the room each day. These 30 people (and I assume the other 269 in the conference) have a fresh coffee or tea with them at ALL times from morning until lunch. About 1/2 that number continue that trend into the afternoon. From what I can see it is absolutely a necessity of life. I had no idea how huge (and important!) coffee was to pretty much everybody. Anyone who hasn't had a cup in the morning (basically in the elevator ride down to breakfast) complains about needing it until they get it. No wonder the owner of Starbucks is rich enough to own his own country.
Seeing what to me is this phenomenon of non-stop coffee drinking has me re-assessing my soda consumption. Problem is, I can look at it in two different ways: 1) I don't want soda to become my coffee in either caffeine consumption or daily "need", or 2) I don't even sniff drinking that much soda so I should relax on my 2 days a week rule! I of course naturally want to select my second point of view in order to take better advantage of the free soda I have down here (I understand that the coffee drinkers could also be over-consuming just because it's there and free). But I for now will continue on my relatively light goal of 2 soda-free days a week. If not for lowering my caffeine intake, I at least need to take small steps in hopes of someday reducing (notice I recognize that I will NEVER actually eliminate) my "soda gut".
I write this during the middle of my 10-day new hire training for my accounting job. I'm in Orlando, FL for 5 more days. If you can't tell already I'm suffering from quite a culture shock. The thing I'm surprised about is that it is the coffee drinking (as opposed to alcohol drinking) that is the monster culture shock! There are about 300 people here but I spend most of my day in a room of about 35 people. 5 of the 6 LDS people at this training are in that room with me, so that leaves 30 potential coffee drinkers in the room each day. These 30 people (and I assume the other 269 in the conference) have a fresh coffee or tea with them at ALL times from morning until lunch. About 1/2 that number continue that trend into the afternoon. From what I can see it is absolutely a necessity of life. I had no idea how huge (and important!) coffee was to pretty much everybody. Anyone who hasn't had a cup in the morning (basically in the elevator ride down to breakfast) complains about needing it until they get it. No wonder the owner of Starbucks is rich enough to own his own country.
Seeing what to me is this phenomenon of non-stop coffee drinking has me re-assessing my soda consumption. Problem is, I can look at it in two different ways: 1) I don't want soda to become my coffee in either caffeine consumption or daily "need", or 2) I don't even sniff drinking that much soda so I should relax on my 2 days a week rule! I of course naturally want to select my second point of view in order to take better advantage of the free soda I have down here (I understand that the coffee drinkers could also be over-consuming just because it's there and free). But I for now will continue on my relatively light goal of 2 soda-free days a week. If not for lowering my caffeine intake, I at least need to take small steps in hopes of someday reducing (notice I recognize that I will NEVER actually eliminate) my "soda gut".
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Sushi!
So I started my gloriuos career at KPMG this week. I've worked 3 days so far and pretty much all I've done is stared at a computer screen watching training videos. I've only had a few jobs since returning from the mission and I already feel like I've seen the Discrimination, Sexual Harrassment, etc. type trainings too many times in their various forms. I'm sure in a couple weeks when I'm putting in 12 hour days I'll rue the day I ever thought trainig videos were boring :) But for right now I'm really excited to actually get into my normal course of work.
On to being new at a job. A few guys took me and the other new guy out to lunch on our first day. They wanted to go get sushi at Mikado restaurant! Needless to say I was freaked out because I am an extremely picky eater when I'm eating normal foods, much less when I'm trying things for the first time (which I usually don't do since I'm so picky). So we went in and they told me what to order. The manager also ordered some type of shrimp/tuna sushi thing for everyone. My main meal consisted of your normal stuff: rice, chicken, cooked shrimp; as well as some other stuff that I put into my mouth without even knowing what it was. That is an interesting feeling. The only other time in my life I've just shoved something down my mouth without even knowing what it was was on the mission. Some of the stuff was actually pretty good, and some of it was downright nasty. I must say the "california roll" (a rice cake with crab and avocado wrapped in seaweed in the middle) was NOT good. Still, I'm the new guy so you take what you get, right?
So I did try the raw shrimp/tuna sushi deal. It was actually pretty good! Who knew, eh? I ended up having 2 of those. Overall a pretty good experience. Rachel was so proud when I told her :). It was an interesting day: new job, new food, new people. I'm pretty sure I'll get comfortable with the new job and people pretty quickly. I'm sure more new food lies in my future is well so I better get ready. You never know when raw fish is going to turn out tasty.
On to being new at a job. A few guys took me and the other new guy out to lunch on our first day. They wanted to go get sushi at Mikado restaurant! Needless to say I was freaked out because I am an extremely picky eater when I'm eating normal foods, much less when I'm trying things for the first time (which I usually don't do since I'm so picky). So we went in and they told me what to order. The manager also ordered some type of shrimp/tuna sushi thing for everyone. My main meal consisted of your normal stuff: rice, chicken, cooked shrimp; as well as some other stuff that I put into my mouth without even knowing what it was. That is an interesting feeling. The only other time in my life I've just shoved something down my mouth without even knowing what it was was on the mission. Some of the stuff was actually pretty good, and some of it was downright nasty. I must say the "california roll" (a rice cake with crab and avocado wrapped in seaweed in the middle) was NOT good. Still, I'm the new guy so you take what you get, right?
So I did try the raw shrimp/tuna sushi deal. It was actually pretty good! Who knew, eh? I ended up having 2 of those. Overall a pretty good experience. Rachel was so proud when I told her :). It was an interesting day: new job, new food, new people. I'm pretty sure I'll get comfortable with the new job and people pretty quickly. I'm sure more new food lies in my future is well so I better get ready. You never know when raw fish is going to turn out tasty.
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