I needed to get a bunch of 1/4 inch neoprene washers to go between the wingnuts and the polycarbonate hurricane panels, so I went to our local hardware store yesterday and told the young man working there that I needed 130 of them. He led me to the aisle where they keep things like that to see what they had.
As it turned out, he only had about 100 of them, and I told him that was all right, I would take whatever he had. Then he asked if I was sure I needed that many. I replied yes, I did, and I would have to find the others someplace else. He said that left him in a bad position because he wouldn’t have any if another customer came in wanting them, and he doesn’t like being totally out of an item for that reason.
Huh? So let’s say I bought 97 of them and left three, and a customer came in and wanted to buy those three. He would still be out of them then, wouldn’t he? Or would he only sell him two, so he would have one left for the next customer? But then what would happen if the next customer needed two, or three, or 100? Things like this really confuse me.
I have been in the retail business, and if and someone wanted to buy all of a certain item, I would happily ring them up and send them on their way, and order more. Who knows if someone else is going to come in wanting that same item the next day or the next week, or the next month?
But then again, maybe he’s right because the next hardware store I went to only had 17 washers, and a third didn’t have any. Who knew there was a nationwide shortage of washers? Are they as scarce as computer chips for trucks and other electronics? Maybe I need to get into the rubber washer business. Is that a business opportunity waiting for someone to come in and scoop up the market? Inquiring minds want to know.
And finally, here’s a chuckle to start your day from the collection of funny signs we see in our travels and that our readers share with us.
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Thought For The Day – Waking up is never easy, but I just have to remember that the world can’t revolve around me unless I get out of bed.
Nick Russell
World-Famous, New York Times Best Selling Author, and All-Around Nice Guy!
That’s just the opposite of what I encounter — if I need just one thingamabob, they come in a blister pack of 20.
I am afraid I would have said to the young man, OK I will leave them all here for the next customer and walk out of the store. Then I would send a letter or call the manager and let him know why he didn’t sell out 100 washers.
Pity those who follow a blind man who bears the standard…. It is folly to be wise where ignorance is bliss.
Wetsuits are made of neoprene, maybe you can find a used one listed somewhere near you and Terry can get crafty with it?