What's bugging you? [2019]

[CheezWizHed]

The fact that we have enough posts to make a new "What's bugging you?" for each year, but our "What's not bugging you?" post has been around since 2013.

[nodakfan17]

I’m really bummed that Shopko is closing completely.

 

I know their prices weren’t on par with other big box retailers, but they operated in a lot of smaller communities where they were the only discount retailer in town. They are also the 16th largest employer in Green Bay (where they are HQ’d).

[MrTPlush]

I’m really bummed that Shopko is closing completely.

 

I know their prices weren’t on par with other big box retailers, but they operated in a lot of smaller communities where they were the only discount retailer in town. They are also the 16th largest employer in Green Bay (where they are HQ’d).

 

We had one of the hometowns in my small community. It actually did really well all things considered because there really wasn't anything like it within a good 25 miles and even farther for some other communities. We are flooded with dollar stores, but those are typically too low end for my tastes. They don't carry name brand stuff. I was hoping they were going to be able to cling on with the hometown stores, but obviously it just was too late to save their new concept. We actually have two pretty new buildings in the town now with both businesses now gone. One Shopko and the other a grocery store that built in then went to crud financially. I just don't know what is going to ever buy that Shopko building. It is quite large for a small town of about 3k.

 

On the bright side there was already a store looking to buy the defunct grocery store building and it seemed eery similar to the Shopko Hometown( believe it is called Freds, mostly in the SE). Smaller size, but more name products. I am guessing it is pretty likely they end up coming to the town now that Shopko is gone and their competition would be essentially zero. Will be interesting to see if they will take the old Shopko building that is atleast 4x the grocery store building they were looking at.

 

I liked Shopko, it was a great company that treated people well. People especially loved that Hometown store.

[FVBrewerFan]

I’m really bummed that Shopko is closing completely.

 

I know their prices weren’t on par with other big box retailers, but they operated in a lot of smaller communities where they were the only discount retailer in town. They are also the 16th largest employer in Green Bay (where they are HQ’d).

 

Shopko, Kmart, so many others can't compete with WalMart, and especially Amazon. Kohls and Target are making it work, at least for now, but they have vision and much smarter management.

 

I mean Amazon is nothing new, some retailers have found ways to be unique enough in various ways. Locations, adding Amazon return counter in stores, etc. Retailers like Shopko did essentially nothing and they're going the way of the buggy whip.

[nodakfan17]

I’ve sensed Shopko’s demise was unavoidable in the age of Amazon and in the face of stiff competition from Walmart and Target (plus now Meijer) in our area. However, I was rooting for their small store model to succeed. For many Wisconsinites outside of larger cities, Shopko was the best pharmacy and optical center option.

 

They were a good Wisconsin company for a long time.

[MrTPlush]

K Mart just flat out failed to stay with the times, that is why they flopped big time. Shopko just wasn't unique. There wasn't anything defining about them. Target mainly survives because they are essentially a high end Wal Mart. It has some other factors that help it, but mainly continues to find success due to attracting a higher class of customers. Exactly why you see many Targets getting a facelift to look even more high end looking. Heck if in a really nice area the Targets have huge liquor sections with a complete glass outer wall...pretty impressive.

 

Kohls has it quirks, but really it is hard to squash a clothing store like that. People don't tend to buy clothes online even if returns are quick/free.

[nodakfan17]

Kohl’s has found a niche as a value department store.

 

I buy 75% of my clothes every year from Kohl’s on Black Friday. I place an online order on Thursday night and then try on shoes and a stack of dress pants in the store at 5:00 am when there is hardly anyone else there. My wife and I then come back the following weekend to spend the Kohl’s Cash I earned on sheets and towels. She’s happy to get new linens and I’m happy to get free linens.

[jerichoholicninja]

I knew a couple people who have worked at Shopko corporate over the years. Apparently it was a horrible place to work at with very high and quick turnover. Right after college there was a job there I applied for a bunch of times because it was posted every 3 months or so. If true, I'm sure none of that helped them stay in business.

[nodakfan17]

I’d imagine it’s a lot more enjoyable to work for a company that’s thriving rather than one that’s merely surviving.

[MrTPlush]

Honestly I don't know many people who enjoy working at a corporate office.

[nodakfan17]

Meh, you can count me as someone who doesn’t mind working at a corporate office. Sure, there are moments where I feel like I’m living in a Dilbert cartoon, but I work with some decent people and most senior managers are effective and approachable.

[Invader3K]

It sucks that they're closing. My city isn't going to have any major retail to speak of. Have to drive about 20 minutes to a Walmart in any direction to get basic goods now. Read up on some of the vulture capital garbage that was involved to really make your blood boil. Execs got huge bonuses, and meanwhile, small towns lose retail options and jobs. It's messed up.

[Thurston Fluff]

I knew a couple people who have worked at Shopko corporate over the years. Apparently it was a horrible place to work at with very high and quick turnover. Right after college there was a job there I applied for a bunch of times because it was posted every 3 months or so. If true, I'm sure none of that helped them stay in business.

 

I've done a lot of work with and for them over several decades. Some of the nicest people I have ever dealt with. i don't know how it is to work there but they certainly didn't carry any of the baggage over to outside people they deal with.

[GAME05]

The alarm clock that I've had for 40 years is on the fritz. I'm kinda sad about it. I used to say that if there were a fire and I could only take one thing, that I'd take that alarm clock because it's been with me so long.

 

No replacement available since the company has also been out of business for many years.

[davego]

Ive only had my alarm clock for 25 years. She is a trooper.

[Patrick425]

The alarm clock that I've had for 40 years is on the fritz. I'm kinda sad about it. I used to say that if there were a fire and I could only take one thing, that I'd take that alarm clock because it's been with me so long.

 

No replacement available since the company has also been out of business for many years.

 

I'm picturing something like this?

 

 

Oddly, I'm also conjuring up the image of Tom Hanks crying "Wilson!" as your alarm clock floats out to sea.

[tmwiese55]

I've been using a really old flip phone for my alarm clock for several years now. It just so much simpler than the current smartphone alarms to me and I don't see a reason to go away from it until I have to.

[GAME05]

Mine was that GE Digital Alarm Clock.

 

Even with the annoying alarm sound, I hit the snooze twice in my sleep and another two times to slowly wake up. Yep, alarm set for 5:51 and don't get up until about 6:20.

 

I'm liking these "sunrise" alarm clocks where the light gets gradually brighter. I think that would help. But the alarm sounds I'm seeing with them are just stuff like waves and birds chirping, and I have strong reservations about birds being able to wake me up. And will a "sunrise" do much good if I'm facing away from the clock?

[jerichoholicninja]

I gave a personal reference for someone for a job for the first time. I didn't say anything negative about them but I keep having this irrational fear that if they don't get it it will be because of something I said.

[SeaBass]

Mine was that GE Digital Alarm Clock.

 

Even with the annoying alarm sound, I hit the snooze twice in my sleep and another two times to slowly wake up. Yep, alarm set for 5:51 and don't get up until about 6:20.

 

I'm liking these "sunrise" alarm clocks where the light gets gradually brighter. I think that would help. But the alarm sounds I'm seeing with them are just stuff like waves and birds chirping, and I have strong reservations about birds being able to wake me up. And will a "sunrise" do much good if I'm facing away from the clock?

If you're in the market for a new alarm clock, I bought this one a few years ago and I love it.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IEYHMPK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

On the pricey side for an alarm clock but the features are worth it. Time sets itself, auto adjusts for daylight savings, projects time onto a wall or ceiling so you don't have to roll over to see the time, 10 minute snooze, gradual wake alarm starts slow/quiet and increases volume gradually, 3 brightness settings plus you can even turn the display off completely. And it has a USB port so you can use it to charge your phone. Those are just the features I personally care about, there's others.

 

My only complaint is the time runs a little fast, it's about 5 minutes fast after 3 years. It doesn't bother me too much because I can factor that in and I'd rather it was fast than slow.

[FVBrewerFan]

Why don't you just use your cell phone? Just seems like an alarm clock is just another item to collect dust and not work if power is interrupted. Plus with a phone you can wake up to anything you want. Currently I wake up to theme song from Narcos.

[GAME05]

I don't think my phone has been charged for three days now. I don't have phone reception at work, so it's somewhat rare I use it anymore.

 

The very few "sunrise" clocks I found with an actual alarm sound (chirping birds would have never woken me up) had poor/confusing displays. I found just a light bulb which works as a sunrise, so I'm excited to see if that helps. And on days off I just have to turn off the lamp! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MSN6X0S/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

I also got an alarm clock you can attach a vibrating disc to to put under the mattress. They're used a lot by deaf people. It also looks pretty simple to use. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B019ZMQIOA/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[pitchleague]

It's funny that this alarm clock issue came up. Just last night, before bed, I finally took a picture of my alarm clock because I knew mine is on its last legs. The last time we had a power outage, I tried resetting it and, as I did, some of the button membranes under the physical buttons must have finally broke so I can't reset it any more. So the next power outage we have, it's toast. Unless, the power goes out at midnight or noon!

 

 

This baby I received for Christmas when I was probably 9 or so? My sister received a stereo. Both of us were so thrilled looking at these and checking them out that we both failed to notice the Intellivision by the fireplace that Santa had left. We've got photos of both of us, completely oblivious to the video game system just sitting there while we fiddle with these new fangled clocks and stereos. And then there is a photo of our reactions when we saw the Intellivision. I was such a goober, just staring in awe-filled wonder with huge eyes and this grin of unbelievability on my face. Priceless.

 

If you notice, half the LED numbers don't even light anymore, so over the years I've had to learn "Clock-Radio-Ese," the language of old, dying clock radios.

[Thurston Fluff]

Got my face ripped off today because the person thought we did the balloons for their company event and it sucked. Tried to tell them we didn't do anything like that today and it must be someone else. She refused to believe me. Then she called back about half an hour later and said it wasn't us and how much would it be for us to fix it? No apology for dressing me down for 15 minutes for something we didn't do or anything. So I told her how much and got another earful for being more expensive than the people who screwed it up. It wasn't even that much more and we'd have to have dropped everything to do it right away. Then I got another earful when I told her we won't just go there and try to fix their mess for less.

[homer]

Got my face ripped off today because the person thought we did the balloons for their company event and it sucked. Tried to tell them we didn't do anything like that today and it must be someone else. She refused to believe me. Then she called back about half an hour later and said it wasn't us and how much would it be for us to fix it? No apology for dressing me down for 15 minutes for something we didn't do or anything. So I told her how much and got another earful for being more expensive than the people who screwed it up. It wasn't even that much more and we'd have to have dropped everything to do it right away. Then I got another earful when I told her we won't just go there and try to fix their mess for less.

 

I love when you give a quote to someone and they get mad at you.