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2010-05-17 1:35 PM

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Champion
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Subject: Too much dependence on technology?
So, the other day I ordered a swim suit.  I'm in Iraq so I put my APO address.  The website said they could ship USPS and that's how you have to ship for an APO so I figured everything would be good to go.

A week later I get an e-mail that they can't ship my package...some problem with the address and their system.  Okay, that isn't the first time that's happened...most systems don't "recognize" the address as a valid US Postal address even though it is.  So I wrote them back and told them it was definitely the correct address, just send it.

I got the following reply...company name removed to protect the innocent and stupid:

Hi Jennifer –

 The warehouse can’t print out the label for your package with the address as shown.  It won’t process through our software.

 Is there a box number I can add after the unit?  Please let me know.   I can see what the warehouse can do about sending USPS with the Customs Form.

 But if we can’t get the label to print, I may not be able to ship your package.  I will see what I can do today, and let you know.

 Sincerely,

  Returns Specialist

Seriously...have they never heard of a PEN?

I eventually got another e-mail saying they found the person that does the APO shipping and were able to print a label...but only after my shipment was delayed a WEEK because someone couldn't whip out a pen and write out the address.

*sigh*



2010-05-17 1:40 PM
in reply to: #2863751

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Expert
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Broadlands
Subject: RE: Too much dependence on technology?

the scary thing is that it probably never occurred to anyone at the warehouse to actually write the address.  If the computer says no, well then the customer obviously doesn't know their own address :-)

Or perhaps someone didn't want to take any responsibility, if the computer says no, who are we to argue!!!!!!!

2010-05-17 1:47 PM
in reply to: #2863751

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Subject: RE: Too much dependence on technology?
holy cow.

Next message to them, just write "Thanks.  By the way, would you mind giving me your coordinates in longitude and latitude?  Thanks a bunch!" 
2010-05-17 2:18 PM
in reply to: #2863751

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Champion
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Frisco, TX
Subject: RE: Too much dependence on technology?

Try giving some one $5.03 for somthing that is 2.78 when they don't have a computerized cash register in front of them...  confusion and pandamonium reign...  It is kinda fun to do it after they have already entered the amount - "Oh wait, I have three cents..."  LOL - is that wrong?

2010-05-17 2:19 PM
in reply to: #2863751

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Champion
5522
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Frisco, TX
Subject: RE: Too much dependence on technology?

jldicarlo - 2010-05-17 1:35 PM So, the other day I ordered a swim suit.  I'm in Iraq so I put my APO address.  The website said they could ship USPS and that's how you have to ship for an APO so I figured everything would be good to go.

A week later I get an e-mail that they can't ship my package...some problem with the address and their system.  Okay, that isn't the first time that's happened...most systems don't "recognize" the address as a valid US Postal address even though it is.  So I wrote them back and told them it was definitely the correct address, just send it.

I got the following reply...company name removed to protect the innocent and stupid:

Hi Jennifer –

 The warehouse can’t print out the label for your package with the address as shown.  It won’t process through our software.

 Is there a box number I can add after the unit?  Please let me know.   I can see what the warehouse can do about sending USPS with the Customs Form.

 But if we can’t get the label to print, I may not be able to ship your package.  I will see what I can do today, and let you know.

 Sincerely,

  Returns Specialist

Seriously...have they never heard of a PEN?

I eventually got another e-mail saying they found the person that does the APO shipping and were able to print a label...but only after my shipment was delayed a WEEK because someone couldn't whip out a pen and write out the address.

*sigh*

Perhaps they didn't understand your need for a swim suit in the desert.. 

2010-05-17 2:20 PM
in reply to: #2863845

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Champion
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Subject: RE: Too much dependence on technology?
ashort33 - 2010-05-17 2:18 PM

Try giving some one $5.03 for somthing that is 2.78 when they don't have a computerized cash register in front of them...  confusion and pandamonium reign...  It is kinda fun to do it after they have already entered the amount - "Oh wait, I have three cents..."  LOL - is that wrong?



I wonder why the old post office is hurting for $$.


2010-05-17 2:29 PM
in reply to: #2863751

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Champion
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the colony texas
Subject: RE: Too much dependence on technology?
My first week living in Dallas a beautiful blond lady was nearly in tears by her car.  The battery had gone out on her car remote and her purse was inside the car.

I took the key from her hand and opened the car door.  She thought I was a genius
2010-05-17 2:31 PM
in reply to: #2863861

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Champion
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Subject: RE: Too much dependence on technology?
Gaarryy - 2010-05-17 2:29 PM My first week living in Dallas a beautiful blond lady was nearly in tears by her car.  The battery had gone out on her car remote and her purse was inside the car.

I took the key from her hand and opened the car door.  She thought I was a genius

Come on, you are just taking a cheap shot a both Dallas and blonds.
2010-05-17 2:50 PM
in reply to: #2863865

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Subject: RE: Too much dependence on technology?
pga_mike - 2010-05-17 2:31 PM
Gaarryy - 2010-05-17 2:29 PM My first week living in Dallas a beautiful blond lady was nearly in tears by her car.  The battery had gone out on her car remote and her purse was inside the car.

I took the key from her hand and opened the car door.  She thought I was a genius

Come on, you are just taking a cheap shot a both Dallas and blonds.


Having met Gary I can confirm that only a Dallas blonde would think he was a genius.
2010-05-17 2:52 PM
in reply to: #2863751

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Subject: RE: Too much dependence on technology?
That is pretty rediculous but I can, on some level understand how it works. If there software is especially for shipping and tracks all incoming and outgoing packages for them via only the software and labels are printed from it then, sure they could have pulled out a pen to write the address but then there would not be a record of the package shipping. 3 weeks later when you package never shows up they do not have a record it was ever sent....you can see how that could be a problem. Silly integrated systems!
2010-05-17 2:54 PM
in reply to: #2863845

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Subject: RE: Too much dependence on technology?
ashort33 - 2010-05-17 12:18 PM

Try giving some one $5.03 for somthing that is 2.78 when they don't have a computerized cash register in front of them...  confusion and pandamonium reign...  It is kinda fun to do it after they have already entered the amount - "Oh wait, I have three cents..."  LOL - is that wrong?



Who carries around pennies anymore? heck most checkers would not recognize a five dollor bill if it slapped them in the face as the majority of people pay with plastic these days. Ever see a grocery store person try and run a personal check for payment? last time I did it took them about 10 minutes to remember which keys to hit for processing it.


2010-05-17 3:13 PM
in reply to: #2863751

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Subject: RE: Too much dependence on technology?
WOW.

This reminds me of a 'conversation' I had with a student but nothing to do with technology.  I keep my classroom door locked and it has a small window.  A student was knocking on the door and I asked another student to please go open the door.  She stood there looking out the window as another knock was heard. I said to please open the door.  The student looks at me and says, "Someone is knocking but nobody is there." 
2010-05-17 3:59 PM
in reply to: #2863920

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Champion
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the colony texas
Subject: RE: Too much dependence on technology?
the bear - 2010-05-17 2:50 PM
pga_mike - 2010-05-17 2:31 PM
Gaarryy - 2010-05-17 2:29 PM My first week living in Dallas a beautiful blond lady was nearly in tears by her car.  The battery had gone out on her car remote and her purse was inside the car.

I took the key from her hand and opened the car door.  She thought I was a genius

Come on, you are just taking a cheap shot a both Dallas and blonds.


Having met Gary I can confirm that only a Dallas blonde would think he was a genius.


ouch.. truth hurts Cool
2010-05-17 5:42 PM
in reply to: #2863845

Master
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Subject: RE: Too much dependence on technology?
ashort33 - 2010-05-17 2:18 PM

Try giving some one $5.03 for somthing that is 2.78 when they don't have a computerized cash register in front of them...  confusion and pandamonium reign...  It is kinda fun to do it after they have already entered the amount - "Oh wait, I have three cents..."  LOL - is that wrong?



I quite enjoy this one also.

paybacks suck though when you get caught up with them doing the wrong math and refusing to give you the correct change.  Had this happen once.  It took 15 minutes of arguing before she gave in.  Notice, "she gave in".  She still didn't' think she was wrong.

In her defense I gave her change that made absolutely no sense at all.
2010-05-17 6:26 PM
in reply to: #2864323

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Subject: RE: Too much dependence on technology?
jgaither - 2010-05-17 3:42 PM
ashort33 - 2010-05-17 2:18 PM

Try giving some one $5.03 for somthing that is 2.78 when they don't have a computerized cash register in front of them...  confusion and pandamonium reign...  It is kinda fun to do it after they have already entered the amount - "Oh wait, I have three cents..."  LOL - is that wrong?



I quite enjoy this one also.

paybacks suck though when you get caught up with them doing the wrong math and refusing to give you the correct change.  Had this happen once.  It took 15 minutes of arguing before she gave in.  Notice, "she gave in".  She still didn't' think she was wrong.

In her defense I gave her change that made absolutely no sense at all.


When I was 11 my parents bought a feed store in our small town and they bought all of the "fixtures" from the old owner including the cash register which was the old push button type where you had to key in the price on a set of 10 keys in a vertical line down the front with 8 columns for the price including the cents.  Then we had to manually look up the sales tax owed on a laminated chart and key that in under the tax key.  Needless to say, it definately did not figure out change owed.  I thank my parents for that experience because it taught me how to make change without the register providing the answer. 

I must say that I get perverse pleasure from confusing the youngsters of today by giving them an extra one or change to make it even for me.  :-)
2010-05-17 8:24 PM
in reply to: #2864108

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Subject: RE: Too much dependence on technology?
Gaarryy - 2010-05-17 4:59 PM
the bear - 2010-05-17 2:50 PM
pga_mike - 2010-05-17 2:31 PM
Gaarryy - 2010-05-17 2:29 PM My first week living in Dallas a beautiful blond lady was nearly in tears by her car.  The battery had gone out on her car remote and her purse was inside the car.

I took the key from her hand and opened the car door.  She thought I was a genius

Come on, you are just taking a cheap shot a both Dallas and blonds.


Having met Gary I can confirm that only a Dallas blonde would think he was a genius.


ouch.. truth hurts Cool


Hopefully you have other attributes to fall back on.


2010-05-17 10:09 PM
in reply to: #2863751

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Subject: RE: Too much dependence on technology?
Had the same issue with AT&T. Got my iPad and tried to sign up for the data plan with AT&T. They wouldn't take a po box as the billing address. In my town there is no postal service to physical addresses. When I tried changing the billing to my physical it was denied as a real address because it wasn't validated by the post office. AT&T was too dumb to understand.

I now have one of my credit cards billing address to my parents house in another town.
2010-05-17 11:40 PM
in reply to: #2863751

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Champion
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Evergreen, Colorado
Subject: RE: Too much dependence on technology?
I'm glad it wasn't just me.   Those are some great stories.

Y'all are a little mean with the change, but funny nonetheless.  Lots of places have those new cash registers that automatically spit out the coin change so that the cashier doesn't have to do it!  My grandpa used to give me his change collection every week when I would visit and I would often use it to buy coffee.  I knew exactly how much a Dunkin Donuts coffee was and would have the exact amount ready in change as soon as I got to the front of the counter...but the folks behind the counter often spent forever counting it all over again!  And I got a LOT of strange looks!  But, hey...it was essentially free coffee for me!  Pennies DO add up!

Now if I ever do get change I keep it in my car for parking meters and tolls when the need arises.  I rarely carry it around but then I'm always frustrated when I pay cash somewhere and need a couple of pennies but they are outside in my car!
2010-05-18 7:31 AM
in reply to: #2863751

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PA
Subject: RE: Too much dependence on technology?
I did a project for our company that incorporated USPS shipping into our stock locator orders.  It saved the company over $2 million a year in shipping.  The biggest problem I ran into was how USPS does an address validation of the shipper address.  Our stores are in malls so USPS frequently argued with us over what our real address was for a particular store.  We have around 2600 stores in the U.S. so I personally spent quite a bit of time reconciling how this was handled.  We use a space number that USPS could not use unless our address1 was consolidated to the point where we could move the mall space number up a line.  Even then, we had to make sure our abbreviations were consistant with theirs.  If their system didn't like the shipping address, we could not print a label.  If their system didn't like our store address it would not generate a carrier pickup.  It got to the point where our logistics VP and I were on a call with them and said, do you want this business or not?  They ended up taking our existing addresses and putting them into their database in order to validate against.
2010-05-18 7:51 AM
in reply to: #2863751

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Champion
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Nashville, TN
Subject: RE: Too much dependence on technology?
I take this issue one step further and bring up the over dependence on forums to answer basic questions that you are too lazy to look up. 

It is called google.  Welcome to 2010. 

2010-05-18 8:32 AM
in reply to: #2863861

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Elite
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Subject: RE: Too much dependence on technology?
Gaarryy - 2010-05-17 3:29 PM My first week living in Dallas a beautiful blond lady was nearly in tears by her car.  The battery had gone out on her car remote and her purse was inside the car.

I took the key from her hand and opened the car door.  She thought I was a genius


Love this story. It would ahve been even funnier if she had been inside her car at the time!


2010-05-18 11:53 AM
in reply to: #2864323

Elite
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Laurium, MI
Subject: RE: Too much dependence on technology?
jgaither - 2010-05-17 6:42 PM


I quite enjoy this one also.

paybacks suck though when you get caught up with them doing the wrong math and refusing to give you the correct change.  Had this happen once.  It took 15 minutes of arguing before she gave in.  Notice, "she gave in".  She still didn't' think she was wrong.

In her defense I gave her change that made absolutely no sense at all.





A few years back I stopped at a Wendy's for lunch during the lunch-hour rush. My total came out to be something like $5.05 and I paid with a ten dollar bill. The girl gave me back 95 cents and closed the drawer. When I asked for my $4, she looked all confused and said.....wait for it........ "but you paid with a $5". The manager had to finally come over and count down the drawer (while the line piled up behind me). Her drawer was $20 short, so he just looked at me and said "how much do I owe you?" and handed me my $4.
2010-05-18 12:01 PM
in reply to: #2865918

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Subject: RE: Too much dependence on technology?
VO2Matt - 2010-05-18 9:53 AM
jgaither - 2010-05-17 6:42 PM

I quite enjoy this one also.

paybacks suck though when you get caught up with them doing the wrong math and refusing to give you the correct change.  Had this happen once.  It took 15 minutes of arguing before she gave in.  Notice, "she gave in".  She still didn't' think she was wrong.

In her defense I gave her change that made absolutely no sense at all.


A few years back I stopped at a Wendy's for lunch during the lunch-hour rush. My total came out to be something like $5.05 and I paid with a ten dollar bill. The girl gave me back 95 cents and closed the drawer. When I asked for my $4, she looked all confused and said.....wait for it........ "but you paid with a $5". The manager had to finally come over and count down the drawer (while the line piled up behind me). Her drawer was $20 short, so he just looked at me and said "how much do I owe you?" and handed me my $4.


Wait, the drawer was SHORT $20 after she kept your 4 bucks in change??? That is really sad to imagine but probably a lot of happy customers getting more change than expected  

(as a side note when I worked at a carls junior in HS a co-workers till was always almost spot on. However eventually the managment noticed they would get several complaints of wrong change on the phone for drive through orders when she was working. after reviewing footage the found out she was short changing customers and pocketing the extra in her socks so her till came out even at the end of the day. stupid and she was obviously fired and had charges brought against her but at least she could do math well enough in her head.)
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