Office Max has a Time Limit?

Today, I stopped by my local Office Max store to do some price comparison shopping on two types of printer ink, two sizes of photo paper, mailing labels, envelopes and postcard stock. The reason for these items is the 50th anniversary of My Lovely Wife’s parents later this year. There is a LOT of printing to be done in this project. My Lovely Wife has done a lot of work on scanning old photos and stuff. She also has done a great deal of price shopping. So, she asked that I stop by on my way home. No big deal right? Huh uh…

My Lovely Wife emailed me a list of specific items to compare prices on. I received this list as I started walking around the store. I knew I needed prices on ink, and what ink specifically, so I started there. I write down some prices and move on to the paper area. I finish up there and then go back to the ink. Now, keep in mind, this is Office Max. You can not walk 15 feet without being addressed by an associate wanting to help. “No thanks, I’m fine” was the phrase of the day! Anyway, this took all of about 15 minutes. As I was jotting notes in my pocket pc, another associate came up to me and asked if I needed help. I said no thanks, I am just doing some price comparison shopping. This associate asked what kind of ink I was looking for so he could help me find it. I thanked him and told him that I was staring at the ink I need, I just needed to write down the pricing. He said “well, you have been here for 30 minutes now.” I must say, I was shocked by this. I knew for a fact it had not been 30 minutes, and really, what if I had been in there that long? Typically, when someone is spending time comparing products and prices, if they have the best deal, there will be a great deal of purchasing done. Meaning money for the store. I told this employee, whose name tag read “Lewis” that I had been in the store for only 15 minutes and inquired as to why it was such an issue that I was shopping. Lewis said that they sometimes get price comped by competitors and this was a problem for them. I smiled and assured him that I do not work for a competitor, but that I was simply a consumer wanting to make sure I got the best deal for my money. Lewis reiterated that I had been in the store for a long time. I asked him if I could speak with the store manager. He told me that he is the store manager. I then asked why price shopping is a problem. Has he never heard of people price shopping? He said “yes, online.”

Again, I was completely taken aback by this. I did absolutely nothing wrong. I have never been treated like this as a consumer. I asked him to contact his district manager and have him call me. I gave him my phone number and he wrote it down. I then told Lewis that I had more shopping to do and if he had an issue with me being in his store, he should now ask me to leave. He told me he would give me “a little more time” then left.

There was a point where I wanted to keep looking for anything just to see what happened, but I stuck to my list and left it at that. As I headed to the front, I saw that Lewis was running a register and assisting another customer. I waited. As the customer completed his transaction and left, I approached Lewis. I told him, “I just wanted to let you know that I am now leaving your store since you are so concerned about my time here. I am looking forward to hearing from your district manager within the next couple of days. If not, I will call further up the chain and request a face to face meeting.” Lewis stated “that won’t happen.” I smiled and said “someone will be concerned with customer service the further up I go.” I got his last name before I left and exited.

So, the moral of the story it seems is this: If you HAVE to go to Office Max, I suggest you draw a flight plan so you can swoop in, get your stuff and get out before the 15 minute time limit hits.

Oh, and by the way, Office Depot had better prices anyway.  So the SECOND moral is to make sure you check prices there as well!  This makes me wonder, how much price matching would they do?  Hmmm…interesting thought though.

Absolutely ridiculous. I will post updates as they come in.

THE FINAL ROCKFEST BLOG

And My Lovely Wife says “THANK GOD!”

I know that it is a bit excessive to do so many blog posts on one topic.  But, Rockfest 2007 was simply one of the more entertaining, exciting, amazing events I have ever been a part of.  I thank all of you for being patient with my inane remarks and comments.  I know I have been rambling and blathering.  But, it is now out of my system.

A few quick comments though…

SEVENDUST:  This is one hard as hell band.  They brought it and gave everything they had.  The lead singer actually directed the moshing from the stage, commanding for circles in specific spots in the crowd.  They were very impressive and put it out there.  I have some Sevendust on my iPod and I am going to give it more of a listen.

THREE DAYS GRACE:  I honestly love this band.  I wish I could have written a full review of them, but, I am really out of time and words.  The music simply stands for itself.  “Pain,” “Animal I Have Become’” “Never Too Late,” “Home,” “Just Like You,” I mean damn.  All sorts of power and emotion.  Good, good, good.  I have been wearing out the repeat button on the iPod.  If you haven’t checked them out…PLEASE do.

SALIVA:  Very good set from the final band on the second stage.  I was a bit surprised that they closed with “Ladies And Gentlemen.”  I had figured it would be “Click Click Boom.”  I was wrong.  One issue I had was that they spend a LONG time with the audience participation thing – getting the audience to sing.  If you only have 30 minutes to play, why, why, WHY do you spend five of them doing audience participation?  I think they would have been better off putting another song in the set.  I did come away loving “Broken Sunday” off their new album.  Check it out.

And there we go.  The end of the blog series that almost never ended!

Is it too soon to get tickets to Rockfest 2008?

Rockfest Band Review: GODSMACK

Godsmack.  Holy Hell.  I got to see GODFRIGGINSMACK!  The headliner for Rockfest 2007.  This was an incredibly anticipated performance.  All 14 bands prior to them were the appetizers.  The snack leading to the main meal.  Ok…enough with the bad build up.

The band was brought to the stage with a video show, interspersed with live shots of them walking to the stage from the Liberty Memorial, which was apparently their waiting area.  The got to walk on to AC/DC’s “For Those About To Rock…”.

This is where my embarrassment kicks in…I can NOT for the life of me remember the set list.  I wanted to, I really did.  But, I did what would really be the true compliment to a band – I got lost in the show.  The music completely took over.  I love songs from all of their albums, the sound, the voice, the drumming from another frickin planet…damn I love it all.  So I let it.  Marcus and I just dug the whole thing.

One thing I have to say.  Sully is THE MAN!  The dude comes out slinging an axe and playing guitar with the best of them.  Then he rolls out on a secondary drum set and kicks into a drum war with Shannon and absolutely blows KC away in the process. To finish, the dude pulls out a harmonica and lets loose there.  The man has talent.  More than I had thought.  The finale was “Whatever.”  You know what?  One of the most incredible feelings and sounds you can get is to be part of 40,000 people yelling “GO AWAY!” with the band.  Chills people, telling you – CHILLS.

One other thing, Shannon, the drummer, is simply the greatest drummer in the business today.  I am a drummer who was raised on Neil Peart, so it takes a bit for me to say that.  The man is simply phenomenal.  Each limb plays its own rhythm.  His arms flail.  Not just that he plays hard, but the arms are all over the place.  Some bands use the guitarist as a springboard.  Godsmack follows its drummer.  Shannon is a Lead Drummer.

I dunno.  The review I am posting here is woeful.  I am coming across as a complete idiot, but, it completely kicked my ass.

I did find a video of a previous drum war.  It is similar, but with some different cover songs.  Still excellent.  And it gives you a good feel for what we got to see.  Enjoy -

Rockfest Band Review: BUCKCHERRY

MANY moons ago, there was a band named Buckcherry.  Said band shook up civilized society with a song called “Lit Up” which contained the wonderful lyric “I’m on a plane, with cocaine, and yes I’m all lit up again” followed by the primary hook in the chorus “I love the cocaine, I love the cocaine.”  Ahh yes, sweet lyrical genius.

Their most recent album, released in 2006 is titled “15.”  Plain and simple, rough and tough, this thing has power.  If you question that, just put on “Crazy Bitch” and listen.  Then, try “Out Of Line” on for size.  To chill a bit, go with “Everything.”  I love this cd.  This is Buckcherry.

Now, take this energy, this raw power, and pour gasoline and crack onto it, then hit it with a flame thrower.  This would be Buckcherry live.

Marcus and I were wiped out by this point, and decided to enjoy from afar.  Musically, they crushed it.  Absolutely destroyed the stage.  From what we could see via jumbotron, Josh Todd is a friggin lunatic on stage.  He was all over the place.  Folks, this is rock and roll, with the passion and energy it is SUPPOSED to have.

If you don’t have the CD, buy it.  If you get the chance to see Buckcherry live, DO IT!  You will NOT be sorry either way.