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June, 2000      Diablo Blue      Page 3

Curmudgeon's Column...

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large box are:

  • 1 sheet of 8 x 11 paper. 5.28 cubic inches 1.9% of total space
  • 1 Jewel case w/ CD  .38 x 5.75 x 4.75 = 10.38 cu inches 3.8% of total space
Air & cardboard:  94.3 % of total space
A long time ago musical CDs came in a similarly huge package because the merchants claimed that the current jewel CD case would be too easy to shop lift. The music stores got around that problem by putting the CDs in a locking holder which only the cashier could remove. Bingo! No wasted cardboard and a lot less shelf space. Just think, Software stores could cut their display space in half if they didn't have the current wasteful packaging. Lined up against this idea are the marketing types that think that the more shelf space their product hogs the greater the chance that you will buy it.
CompUSA
Recently I went into the Concord CompUSA store primarily to look at 4 different items. Only the item that was advertised in the paper was priced.
I looked at a book and there was no price anywhere except the fictional retail price that the publisher prints on the back of the book. (I can understand the lack of a price sticker on the book because of the labor costs but what was the excuse for no shelf label?) Fortunately I was able to trip up a clerk who wandered by but he couldn't (or wouldn't) find a price for me. Result: A book I would probably have bought went un-bought.
Next on my shopping list was a palm pilot accessory. No individual and no shelf price. I lucked out again and was able to corner a clerk who scanned it for me. Didn't buy due to price.
1 package of 10 zip disks -- No price sticker and no shelf price. Back to normal -- I couldn't find a clerk.
Post Script: On my way out the door I noticed that the manager's door was open. Barging in I bent her ear for about 5 minutes. She made notes and said she would contact the merchandising people involved and apologized for the inconvenience. (That will teach her to not shut the door to her office <g>.)
How do you feel about these problems? If you have some curmudgeonly type material you think should be brought to the attention of the membership, either write it up yourself or e-mail me with the details and I'll be glad to write it up with credit to you if you wish.
P.P.S. I've ordered DSL service at my home. From what I hear there may be plenty of new material for next month's Curmudgeon's Corner. I promise that if a miracle occurs and I get a clean and on time installation I'll also give credit where credit is due. Perhaps we can combine Alan Mildwurm's DSL experience with mine.

DVPC Meeting Announcement...

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email at compmail@pacbell.net for information. The classes are open to all members. Following the class, the New User's SIG will have their meeting from 6:30 to 7:00.
We'll also have the Networking Table from 6:30 to 7:00; if you have something to sell or trade, need technical help, or just want to exchange views, visit the Networking Table. We may have one of our ever-popular mini-auctions with great products, so bring your checkbooks and cash! Also, as usual, we'll have library disks and those great DVPC mugs (version 2) for sale, SIG news, random access, and some of our usual great door prizes.
See you at the meeting!