Maybe I’m late to the game, but what’s up with all the $2 service charges these days?
Last night, I ordered pizza and had to pay $2.50 for it to be delivered. I was not pleased since I was already way overpaying (because what I want NEVER fits into one of the discount deals). I was told I didn’t have to tip if I really didn’t want to. Right. If I’m going to stiff someone, I don’t think it’ll be the person who knows my address.
Then I just spent a ridiculous two hours dealing with my car tags. Fine, blame me for waiting till the last day. But they don’t even supply chairs for those renewing anymore. Further, the clerk (when I finally made it to the front of the line) told me in no uncertain snippy terms that I had to pay $2 for the privilege of standing in said line.
Well, I think I’m going to start charging, too. OK, pizza place, if you still want my business, you’ll have to pay me $2 every time one of your coupons doesn’t apply to me.
Car tag rudeness? That’ll be $2.
Check-out clerk who opens a new line but doesn’t take the next person already in line? I’m gonna need $2.50 for that.
I get that things are expensive. They are for everyone. But I’m seriously so ticked off at the money — and I’m not even a cheapskate — and hassle I’ve had over the last day that I’m rethinking a few things. If I start tailoring my purchases, trust me, it’s going to take a lot more than $2 for a business to make up the difference.
I’m on my bank’s home page and, frustratingly, I can’t get to my account. While continuing to try in vain, I can’t help but laugh at a little remark posted next to the bank’s annual report. It says “Bank X (not it’s real name) is sound.”
Of course, my immediate thought is how sound can the bank be if it can’t even keep its Web site working?
OK, that’s not entirely fair. Still, I laughed at the irony.
The life of an athletic director isn’t perhaps as cushy as it might seem.
Wichita State Athletic Director Eric Sexton was at Cessna Stadium early today. It wasn’t exactly bright and early since it was still dark outside. But it looked like he’d stopped by to cheer on those of us either determined enough or crazy enough to participate in “Shocker Fitness with Coach Bolt.” Of course, it’s not like Sexton was in his sweats.
Among other abuses, track coach Steve Rainbolt made us run the bleachers. The steep, imposing and, at times, menacing bleachers. He pointed out that when people come for events, sometimes they have a hard time making it to the top seats.
To which one weary participant added, “That’s why we don’t have football.”
I know it goes against most people’s instincts when talking to a reporter, but I’ve found time and again it’s best to be as open and frank as possible.
I was reminded of this while at lunch with a businessman this week. He’s someone who’s been in the news a lot through the years, and not always in a positive way. We had an off-the-record lunch, so he felt more free to speak. I came away from our meeting with a new understanding of him, his partners and what they do. It seemed to me if they had been this open all along — with everyone — their business dealings might have played better in the press.
I certainly understand the need for privacy in business transactions. But sometimes secrecy leads to more questions and misperceptions than would exist if someone simply said, look, here’s the deal, and explained it frankly.
Just a thought.
Who knew that to be a good business reporter one needs to keep up with The Eagle’s “Faith & Values” section?
Now, in fairness, I was out of town for about two weeks when religion writer Joe Rodriguez wrote about First United Methodist Church’s plans for a downtown coffeehouse. So I embarrassed myself by calling about it. Church spokesman Kirk Longhofer explained that the paper had already covered it.
Not one to let further embarrassment hold me back, I accidentally called again today. This because a coworker mentioned seeing an Eby Construction truck at the former Gilbert & Mosley’s at Douglas and Emporia. Someone with Eby gave me a name and number to call. It was only after I dialed that I realized, duh, I’m calling Kirk again. Must be that same coffeehouse.
I told Kirk I had a stupid question. He replied by quoting Charles Pearson, the former WSU journalism professor: “There are no stupid questions. Only stupid reporters.” Painful, but — apparently — true.
OK, perhaps a smart employee wouldn’t admit this, but … I did just have the kind of power nap Andi Atwater wrote about.
I had a 7 a.m. speaking engagement this morning. And though I was grateful for the opportunity, I’m more of an evening person, so the early hour completely disrupted my schedule. I planned my evening around going to bed earlier, but that didn’t work. I set three alarms but still woke up at 3:30 a.m. worried that I wouldn’t get up in time. Then, since I was up, I started worrying about other things.
All this to say by the time I made it into work following my talk, I was toast. I was in a fog staring at the computer screen not accomplishing much. So I retreated to a ladies lounge we have here at The Eagle for a quick nap.
I don’t often sleep on the job. But since I did, I’m a new woman. Rested, refocused and ready for my noon meeting.
Sarah Palin probably doesn’t take power naps, but for those of us who aren’t superhuman, they do seem to work.
I was chatting with a friend in retail over the Labor Day weekend, and he said it’s a tough time right now despite all the talk about the economy being good here. I mentioned that it’s probably a good time to check in with small local shops for a story on how they’re doing, but he said no one would want to talk. He said it’s hard to be known as a popular store or the “it’ store of the moment if you admit to problems.
Of course, it’s probably also hard to attract shoppers if you don’t let them know you need them.
As difficult a time it is for so many businesses — including newspapers — I have to admit I’m thankful not to be in retail.
Sometimes reporters look at other reporters’ mistakes and say, “There but for the grace of God go I.” Other times, we just say, “Thank God that wasn’t me.” This is one of those mistakes.
Sorry, Dan*, I have to respectfully disagree on the seats at the Sprint Center.
Like just about every other arena and public seating built these days, I found the seating to be ridiculously close and uncomfortable. When I first took my nosebleed seats at the Springsteen show, I panicked that there was so little legroom. I feared my legs would cramp and I’d have to watch the rest of the show standing in the back. There was so little room, we all had to stand every time someone wanted out (and, unfortunately, that was a lot).
Then I snuck down near the stage and somehow scored some awesome open seats, and there seemed to be more legroom. Could just be that we wound up standing half the time due to the excitement of being so close.
I just don’t get why facilities don’t spend a little extra (what’s a few hundred thousand dollars more in a multimillion-dollar project?) to give people comfort. It makes for a much more pleasant show. And, really, over a 20-year lifespan of a venue, give or take, what’s the difference?
* Disclaimer: Dan and I didn’t go to the concert together. However, we did enjoy a nightcap afterwards.
I’m a big champion of Wichita, but I do have some complaints. For instance, I’m a Coca-Cola girl living in a Pepsi town. (Pizza Hut’s gone, people, let’s move on!)
My other chief complaint is that there are no one-hour dry cleaners here, at least that I know of. Why is this? Did all the cleaners get together and decide against it? Isn’t it possible if one cleaner does it, that business stands to profit from all the last-minute people of the world like me?
Please, someone consider it. I promise to frequent your store and spread the word, too. Especially if you get a Coke machine in the lobby.
I just thought I’d point out we’re still in August. You know, Summer.
This might sound like stating the obvious, but it’s not. If you happened to be passing by Hobby Lobby, you might mistake this month for a very hot December. That’s because there are Christmas trees in the store’s windows. Lots of them.
I get that some businesses have to market Christmas a little earlier than others. And for people doing Christmas craft projects, I’m sure you do need a few months of working ahead. But good grief, do they have to put it in the windows?
I’m working on our “Five Questions” feature for this week’s Business Today. It’s on Michael Gates Gill, the speaker for next week’s chamber Chairman’s Breakfast, who insists that his rather spartan existence and his 20-hours-a-week job at Starbucks trump the days when he was a top-paid ad exec or even when he lived in a 25-bedroom house growing up.
“I’m just reporting back, ‘Hey, I’m a lot happier now without a lot of that stuff,’” Gill said.
To which, of course, I replied, “See, I’m willing to give the 25 rooms a shot.”
Still, Gates clearly has some lessons to share. Check out this Thursday’s Business Today, or you might consider attending Tuesday’s breakfast. Call the chamber at 268-1127 for details.