Back in Business

Hello. The verdict is in....my one blog follower has requested that I make some more blog posts, and I couldn't agree more. I mean, if 100% of my fans are asking for some more great posts about random stuff, I can't deny them that.

 It's been a while since I Koreanvented myself. A lot has changed: a new job, haircut, ok that's about it. Anyway, since this blog never really had a purpose or direction, I've decided to write about my recent frustrations with retailers and their staff.

First up, Best Buy - Chicago, North Avenue. I used to like this store, the people were relatively nice, always found what I was looking for. Although these days all my purchases are online through Amazon, Best Buy does have the RewardZone and certain items that aren't on Amazon mean I'll have to pay tax somewhere. So might as well double up on points through my credit card and Best Buy. I went there to get an iPhone 4S for my mom, since they dropped the price with the iPhone 5 release. We were debating whether to get her an iPhone 4 (for free) or the S for $99, but with the better camera and more to utilize with the iOS 6 update, S was the way to go. They had one in stock (confirmed they had at least one via bestbuy.com), so when they pulled it out of their shady little cabinet behind the counter, I noticed there was no plastic wrap on it. So I asked if it was a used one, and the lady said "no, we opened it to make sure there was a battery in the box." And of course, me not being a total idiot, said "the battery is built into the phone." So she says, "oh, I mean the charger, some of the iPhone 5's we've been getting were missing a charger. Sounds fishy, but we keep going. I give her our AT&T information and we start going through the upgrade process. Then, she says she has to charge the phone because it's the battery is dead. That's when I notice there is no plastic film on the front or the back of the phone. Red flag. So I ask again, "are you sure this isn't a used or returned phone?" And she says they can't resell returned items like that. Then I remember these phones come with a small charge so they can set up in store (but this one was completely dead). So I tell her that we don't want it, and she looked upset or something. Seriously, if you're about to buy a new phone, you'd feel uneasy if it seemed like it was used. Especially with all these touch phones these days, people's face oil and stuff all over it. Gross. Don't lie to me Best Buy on North Avenue, the word "respect" should cross your mind when I pull out the Best Buy RewardZone Silver card, I mean they don't just hand those things out to anyone who buys a $8 flash drive. Ok, so some sarcasm there, but I really do have a card for the silver status. So jokes on you Best Buy, I'm never shopping at that location again.

Round 2 - The Avengers 4-disc collectors edition. Target had it online for $19.99, includes 3D Blu-Ray (which I don't have a 3D TV, but whatever), Blu-Ray copy, regular DVD, digital copy, digital download of the soundtrack, and a 90-min DVD with bonus features. Pretty solid deal for a new movie considering they usually sell those for a lot more. After work, I look online: sold out. So I'm searching around on their website, and find the same thing but an in-store version. So I look up online which Target stores have them in stock. Closest one is around Elston and Logan Blvd. If it says limited quantity, it means they probably only have 1 in stock, or they have a floor model (for electronics and stuff), I remember this from experience. This one says in stock, so they should have a few. I told the girl next to me at work I'd pick one up for her too. So I walk in, and see a giant stand for the movie, but all the movies say 2-disc edition, even the ones in the little promo stand that says 4-disc edition. So I ask the sales people and they said they don't have any. I told them I just drove up to this location because it says they have it online. The guy has the nerve to say that the website quantities are updated every few hours. Guess what man, I checked it a few hours ago and I just checked it now after getting home, in stock. Get your inventory straight, it's 2012. The other says person tells me they have it at Toys'R'Us, but I call and it's $27.99, won't price match. So I'm sitting there looking this up on my phone, and meanwhile there are a bunch of people (mostly geeks like me) looking for it, and I keep telling each one they don't have it. Then a guy comes and asks the lady, "will Blu-Ray play on my Mac?" Easy question: no. So I tell him that. 2 minutes later, the lady comes by and she's like, "no, they don't play on a Mac." Good thing you're working in the Electronics/Media department at Target, and you don't know crap about Electronics/Media. So Target on Elston/Logan, I'm never shopping at your location again. I was going to buy some groceries while I was there, but you just lost my business. For life. It makes me feel better to say that, even though I probably wouldn't make a dent in their business. But if all 1 of my blog readers + me don't go there, then it's double the impact.

 Finally, iPhone 5. Don't really even want to address this one, but I will. Waited in line at AT&T last Friday to try and score one. After 40 minutes, I'm almost in the door, and they tell us they are out of black ones. Although I could have gotten white, I wanted a black one so I pass. Weird thing is, one sales lady is walking up and down the line all morning telling us how many they have. Then we realize later that this is the total for the store, not how many are left. Thanks for that, real helpful. At least I got a granola bar out of it, Quaker Chewy, S'mores of course. So last night, in my first attempt to get groceries, I stop by the AT&T store to check, and they say their new flagship store on Michigan Ave had them as of that morning. So I am in the grocery store putting stuff in my cart (microwavable of course, I can't cook anything). I'm calling the AT&T store, press 2 for a sales rep, and after 8 rings, it kicks me back to the main menu. I do this about 10 times, then decide to just go there because these lazy mofo's aren't picking up the phone. I put all my groceries back and drive there because it closes in 30 min. I find street parking downtown, which is the low low price of $3.50 an hour. I put in an hour in case I'm signing paper work and stuff. I walk in, and man, this place is CREEPY. Dimmed lights, and little tables everywhere. You sit at one of the tables with a sales rep. Huge space to sell phones and headphones, kind of a waste if you ask me. Anyway, I ask the guy, and he says they have 32GB and 64GB, and I think "finally, I'm gonna get one." Nope, he adds "..in white" at the end. Although they didn't pick up the phone for an hour (called them all the way there too), I may still come here again because the people weren't liars/crooks...for now. Can't say the same for Best Buy North Ave or Target Elston/Logan. So avoid those stores if you can. Individually, we are weak, but in numbers, we can change the world. Koreanvent yourself, patna.

Sorry for the long post, a lot of frustration building up.  Also, sorry for the 3rd grade photos, I'm not good with Photoshop and can't even figure out how to draw lines, so that's the best I could do. You get the point.