So, today is "Black Friday". Normally, I avoid shopping today like the plague. I am never in the market for such a big-ticket item to make it worth my while. But, this year is different.
For just about forever, my wife and I have been getting by with an old 27" CRT television. Because... well, it wasn't broken. No real need to change, especially when that change would cost significant money. But, we finally got fed up. So, today, while my wife was at work, I went shopping.
I'd done my research - and realized that just about any modern TV I buy will be an improvement. I do *not* need top-of-the line. 1080p, LED TV, anything 40" or up would be a vast improvement. So, I head to my local Best Buy, but not at early "door-buster" time. I want a new TV, but I don't want it *that* bad. Since my specs aren't real specific, I'm sure I can find something. I start looking at the 40" to 50" TVs, as they have several hanging on the wall that fit my budget. I talk to a salesman.
"Nope, that one's sold out. That one too. No, really, anything in that bunch there's sold out..." Okay. Fine. Thanks anyway. I wander off through the store rather disappointed. I look at phones for a while, because I need a new one, and then wander back to the TVs, because I'm a glutton for punishment.
New salesman, who actually asks in *general* terms what I'm looking for. I tell him. His response is that he's sure we can find me something. We talk for a bit, he asks some questions in the stock room, and yes, they have something. That something is a TV that isn't hanging on the wall. It is a version of my original top pick. The only difference is that it is 5" bigger, for $0 extra! Same price as its smaller brother. Since it was only in the flyer, it isn't selling as well, and they've got a stack of the things sitting in the stock room!
Sold! I tell him. I lay down my money, and go around to pick it up...
They didn't warn me how big the box of the thing was. It won't fit in my blasted car! Like, no-way, no-how, in your dreams! I am now working my list of local friends with bigger cars, to see if I can find one who isn't busy.
This, my friends, is what we call a "First World Problem".
For just about forever, my wife and I have been getting by with an old 27" CRT television. Because... well, it wasn't broken. No real need to change, especially when that change would cost significant money. But, we finally got fed up. So, today, while my wife was at work, I went shopping.
I'd done my research - and realized that just about any modern TV I buy will be an improvement. I do *not* need top-of-the line. 1080p, LED TV, anything 40" or up would be a vast improvement. So, I head to my local Best Buy, but not at early "door-buster" time. I want a new TV, but I don't want it *that* bad. Since my specs aren't real specific, I'm sure I can find something. I start looking at the 40" to 50" TVs, as they have several hanging on the wall that fit my budget. I talk to a salesman.
"Nope, that one's sold out. That one too. No, really, anything in that bunch there's sold out..." Okay. Fine. Thanks anyway. I wander off through the store rather disappointed. I look at phones for a while, because I need a new one, and then wander back to the TVs, because I'm a glutton for punishment.
New salesman, who actually asks in *general* terms what I'm looking for. I tell him. His response is that he's sure we can find me something. We talk for a bit, he asks some questions in the stock room, and yes, they have something. That something is a TV that isn't hanging on the wall. It is a version of my original top pick. The only difference is that it is 5" bigger, for $0 extra! Same price as its smaller brother. Since it was only in the flyer, it isn't selling as well, and they've got a stack of the things sitting in the stock room!
Sold! I tell him. I lay down my money, and go around to pick it up...
They didn't warn me how big the box of the thing was. It won't fit in my blasted car! Like, no-way, no-how, in your dreams! I am now working my list of local friends with bigger cars, to see if I can find one who isn't busy.
This, my friends, is what we call a "First World Problem".
