Concerning The officeless office
Jim,
Usually enjoy your lines.
Didn't enjoy your dig on purchasing last week.
Dave Hawkinson
Tomahawk, Wisconsin USA
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Sorry, Dave. I fear that suppliers often stereotype purchasing agents much like others stereotype us consultants. As an aside, in the consulting case (and I am certainly not suggesting you do anything different than what you already do re the purchasing profession), I usually introduce myself as "a sleazy consultant, which I know, of course is redundant." This self-deprecating style usually at least gets me a smile from a new acquaintance who has no doubt met many who made the word consultant one often ranked lower reputation-wise than politician or used car salesperson.
Jim
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Concerning Everyone does not always want cheap
"Then why don't you buy it there?"
I recently had occasion to request a bid for re-stretching of some carpet in the bedroom. The original installer did a poor job and not surprisingly is no longer in business. If you think it is fun trying to find a good carpet installer, try finding a good one who will come in and re-stretch someone else's mistakes. I think I have found one. I was impressed with his introduction, presentation, explanation of the procedure and clear details and definition of what he will do and what he expects me to do (in writing); and, a few likely lasting effects of the original poor job. I was even more impressed when he assured me he would do the best job possible, and stated that his price would not be the lowest I might find,
".........but, we like to give our customers the opportunity to do it right."
Many people think that a simple positive statement like that tends to p - - s people off, but when preceded and/or backed up by effective actions and good references, both parties ultimately benefit. A little straight talk seldom hurts anyone.
His references say his money goes where his mouth is. I'll let you know how my carpet turns out.
Laurence L Coulson
Knoxville, Tennessee USA
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Joe’s out of ‘em. Perfect. Back in June our home ac went out. We wanted to buy a short term fix (window unit) from Sears but they were out of ‘em. So we spent $140 at Lowe’s instead of $125 at Sears. Today, Sears has bunches of ‘em, but too late.
Peace,
Gene Canavan
Prattville, Alabama USA
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Concerning Last Week's "Other Musings"
In defense of the Brazilian air space. I've traveled to and into Brazil many, many, many times over the past 7 - 8 years. My old and current passport has numerous Brazilian visas.
I've flown in and out of Guarulhos (international airport - Sao Paulo) using three different American carriers and never ever had a problem getting in or getting out, unlike many trips I've had within the USA, including an attempt last October to go to Brazil, but I couldn't get any further than Chicago, in two days, due to difficulties in USA air space with US carriers.
And I flown many times in and out of Congonhas (domestic airport - Sao Paulo) where the accident occured. The accident is still being investigated as to its root cause. One claim is that the reverse thruster on one engine did not function upon landing and threw the plane off its landing path, aggravated by inclement weather. Congonhas airport's main runway is notoriously short, much like LaGuardia, in NYC. I shudder every time I land at LaGuardia during inclement weather, and LaGuardia has had its share of incidents in the past.
I was supposed to fly to Brazil this Saturday, but this trip is postponed because of the risks of delays with internal travel (four segments through Congonhas in one week) due to the continuing investigation of the accident, which has shut down the main runway, thus pushing all traffic to a much shorter runway, which the domestic Brazilian airlines and their pilots refuse to use during wet weather conditions. You can imagine the turmoil, much like trying to get through O'Hare when its snowing, or my two day attempt last year in October when it was merely raining.
As for the radar outage across the Amazon, which is the route most American airlines have to take on their flights to and from Brazil, can we say there hasn't ever been a radar failure due to a power outage in some part of the USA, or Canada, or within the EU countries, that didn't affect some international travel?
I dio not normally place myself in a situation that may cause me harm and as such I have no qualms with flying to/from/within Brazil, or the USA.
Now, on the other hand, the China and Russia issues you've suggested, I feel, are legitimate concerns.
for what it is worth,
John Yolton
Eureka, California USA
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