Last week wasn't the best of weeks, as it seemed like everything wanted to break or give out at once. On Sunday the refrigerator decided to give up the ghost and I found myself out and about looking for a new fridge to replace the old one. Living in a bit of a rural area, it's hard to find a big selection on refrigerators. There are a couple of appliance stores nearby but the quantity was very small and the prices a bit steeper than you would find at a bigger retail store. I have found out from past experience that even though an ad will claim that it has free delivery and set up that isn't always the case. Calling a major chain store, whom I won't mention by name but who's catalogs graced many an outhouse in the past, had me placing an order and asking for their delivery service. It was after giving my location that I was then told that I was not in their "service area". So I cancelled the order, because I knew there was no way I could load and unload a fridge by myself and take out the old one as well. Eventually a refridgerator was located at a local business and it was delivered and set up but at a bigger price tag.
That had me thinking a lot about service and how limited services seem to be any more, especially if you are not in a bigger city or more populated area. The week didn't progress well as I found myself calling a satellite tv company about poor reception on my satellite receiver. After dialing the customer service number, I spent a good 10 minutes with an automated voice before I was directed to a real person. After answering her questions it was determined that the receiver was old and faulty and a new one would be sent out. I was then told that I would receive the new receiver for free but I would have to pay the shipping costs for the newer upgraded receiver as well as commit for another 12 months. I will admit for some reason that hit me wrong and didn't set well with me. Their ads claim they have a 99% satellite reliability, but in order to get that reliability it was going to cost me. After trying to get that point across to customer service, I was told the old receiver wasn't their responsibility, that I owned it and I had to upgrade. I asked then to have my service terminated and I would go with another provider. I was then patched thru to another person who asked what I was calling about and I had the same conversation again. In the end a new receiver was sent out and it supposedly is suppose to be free and they would pay the shipping. When I got the new receiver it clearly stated on the front of the box it is the property of that company and was a leased product and it would have to be returned if I ever dropped their service. I could only shake my head. In order to get a service I was already paying for I would have to upgrade and make a commitment but it didn't seem like there was being much of a commitment on their end...
On Friday I went shopping for some grass seed to plant this fall. I went to a large feed and supply store that was in the process of moving in and that was their first day of being opened. I wandered around the vast building with only a handful of other lost and confused customers, trying to find someone to ask for help. After a lot of searching, a couple of small bags of grass seed were finally located. At the checkout were two employees, both seemingly chained to their post as neither veered more than a couple of steps from their spot. I could understand one employee having to be there at all times, but the second employee loitered about and tried their best not to make eye contact encase they were actually asked a question. I find that a lot any more when out shopping. I will need help finding something, or head for the check out and there will be several employees loitering about, but not seeming to do a whole heck of a lot. Heaven forbid if they have to open another check out lane or be forced to wait on a customer...
Service, it's not what it use to be. When I think of all of the things that use to be a service but have been eliminated or streamlined it makes one start to worry. Gas stations that are full service are fewer and fewer. Find a grocery store that actually carries out your purchases is getting harder, even sacking your own groceries is becoming more and more the norm. I can understand that each eliminated position means a cheaper product and a bigger profit for the company business. But it's those cheaper and cheaper products that we have to worry about. As more and more businesses go overseas or across the border, more and more jobs are lost. Add to that fact that products are now mass produced to be thrown away. They are not built or meant to last as long as they use to. Having anyone repair a product or being capable of repairing a product is dwindling. Add those services to the migrating jobs and an even bigger chunk of the work force is gone. It's like a huge gap that is growing and growing between the blue and white collar job forces. It's scary to think about. Factory jobs use to be the bread and butter for middle class America and it's becoming a thing of the past.
With Labor day coming up tomorrow, my mind tends to dwell more and more on service and how it's becoming a smaller and smaller part of our lives. We talk about restaurant service, car service, servicemen and women in the military, and those services seem to be in danger. Maybe I am blowing things out of proportion, progress comes with a price but that price seems to be getting larger and the means for paying that price is becoming less and less. I can imagine one day having a universal debit card, issued by the government of course, and us having to do all of our shopping in one large, massive warehouse. We will go in, load up our purchases and on the way out our items will automatically be scanned along with our bodies, with the total being deducted from our accounts and a note to please see the dentist as two new cavities were detected.
For most people Labor day is that last hurrah, and is seen as the end of the summer. As time moves on, it seems to take on a much more serious note. Labor, big business, the government, it makes one think alot and ask ones self, are you being served?
