Stupid Question of the Day – 05 Feb. 2009

“Do you have one of those new BlueLine Players”?

Hmmmmmmmm.

Stupid Question of the Day – 24 January 2009

What is the differance between the 3ft. AV cable and the 6ft. AV cable?

Dish Network Intermittent Signal Problems

This guy calls to say that he is having problems with his Dish Network system.  Ok, it happens.  We live in an area that has many problems when it comes to long term dish installs.  The wind blows, it snows and we have significant ground movement in certain areas.  Due to these things, most people learn to deal with them.  For the most part, people out here are pretty independent and since it is not that hard to do, they do it themselves.

This guy calls to say that he is having a problems with the signal going out and coming back.  He says that it has been happening 2-3 times per week, but recently it has been worse.  He asks me what the problem is.  Well I go through the common causes and he says that it can’t be any of those.  Ok, if that is so, I have nothing for him.

So, dumbass, asks me again what it could be.  I tell him that most likely it is a dish aiming problem that has come up since the dish antenna has been on the house so long.  Otherwise, he has an equipment failure and since both of his receivers are doing the same thing, that pretty much narrows it to a cable problem.  That is, unless the antenna is off, the more likely problem.

He now wants to know how to fix it.  I tell him that he can either point it himself or pay someone to do it for him.  I also offered to let him bring in his equipment to have it tested here, but that is not something that he wanted to do.  Why is it that some people think that when you buy something it is guaranteed forever?  The system was put in 5 years ago and many, many things can happen in 5 years.  It would be impossible for a small or even large business to continue to foot the bill for something that was purchased years ago.  Especially when these things can be affected by “acts of god”.

Stupid Question of the Day

A customer brings a movie box up to the counter and shows me the following:

He says to me the following.  “The box here says languages are ENGLISH and FRENCH.  Subtitles ENGLISH and FRENCH.  What does that mean?”

What do you mean, what does it mean?  It means exactly what it says on the box.  You know, the box that YOU came up to the counter and read to me.  Really man, I think you are going to have to work on your reading comprehension.

Does the computer need to be on?

A customer comes into the store holding a digital camera.  She states that she can not get the camera to charge via the USB port on her computer.  We look at the manual to confirm that it is designed to charge via the USB port and indeed it can be charged this way.  So we go through a variety of troubleshooting ideas and we eventually plug the camera into the store system.  As per the instructions, the little blue LED begins to flash, signaling a charging battery.  We are also able to access the memory card and download photos, just to confirm a properly working camera.  The troubleshooting continues with various words of advice coming from all the employees working.  We are at our wits end when the woman asks, “Does the computer have to be turned on for the camera to charge?”.  WTF???

WildBlue Cellphone?

This story was a great laugh after the customer left.  So a customer comes in asks if there is anyway he could get cellphone service through WildBlue?  I ask are you looking for VOIP service to use with WildBlue?  No.  He says that he wants CELLPHONE service, not VOIP.  Ok, Ok!  I was holding back the laughter as I told him that it was not possible at this time.  When he left, I burst out in laughter.  The image of the guy packing around that dish on his back.  “Just a little more to left.”

Stupid Question of the Day 01/10/2008

We are currently in the process of switching our cellular providers.  Not because we want to, but because we have too.  So of course we are still listed in the phone book as being with the former carrier.  A customer comes into the store asking about changing his phone.  He is with the former carrier.  One of the employees explains to him that unfortunatly the carrier decided to go with a company from out of town and we would not be able to provide any services for them.  The employee stated that we couldn’t do new activations, upgrades, ESN changes, check accounts or anything involving this carrier.  So the guy asks, “So can you change this phone out for me”?  WTF?  Did he not listen to anything that was said.

Stupid Question of the Day 01/06/2008

This customer comes in the store.  He wants to speak to the appliance repair person.  This fellow asks, “Hey, we were cleaning today and noticed dirt on the coils behind the coils on the back of the refrigerator.  So we took a saws all and cut the back coils to clean the stuff behind them.  What do we need to put those back together?”  WTF?  The appliance guy, as calmly as her could, told him that he had cut the sealed system and let all the coolant out of it.  You can fix it by replacing the sealed system.

Now.  What I want to know is, who the hell uses a saws all to clean their house.  How many people have these kind of epiphanies.  I can’t get to that so lets cut the other stuff out.  Really, what kind of drugs do you take for that?

Stupid Question of the Day 12/19/2007

Just a quick one before bed. This is a quote, “So how wide is the screen in a 26 inch television?” This is one of those that you stop for a second thinking that maybe its a joke.

Calling an Appliance Store

The first caller to the store today asked, “Do you guys have any dishwashers?” Now exactly why do you call an appliance store and ask if they have appliances? That is just stupid. If I totaled up all the time I spent on the phone talking on the phone with people who never set foot in the store to buy anything, I would get half my life back. Sometimes its a wonder how anything gets done here.