You’ve Got Questions, We’ve Got Answers
Friday, November 3rd, 2006
I was on a mission. I approached the front door cautiously. I glanced up, and there they were watching me. Staring at me. Anticipating my arrival. Just waiting for me to open the door. I had been here before, so I knew what was going to happen. But there was something inside that doorway that I needed, so I reached for the door. But before I could turn back, a bell rang, and I heard those words. Those words that I dread to hear. Those words that haunt me in my sleep.
“Welcome to RadioShack. How may I help you?”
I cringed. I had arrived at the infamous ‘Shack and was greeted by one of the creatures that it housed. I stated my inquiry to the smiling critter.
“I want to take the video from the VGA monitor port on my computer into the video input on my TV.”
I could tell by the dumbfounded glare from its eyes that it had not an inkling of what I was talking about. So, into my pocket I reached, and pulled out an Apple mini-VGA to standard VGA adapter I had brought along. Using the adapter as a visual, I again explained my request. But this only further confused the poor varmint.
“You want to take your monitor port into your TV? You mean into the standard coaxial connecter? I’m not even sure there is such a thing!” It seemed to have an obsession with the word ‘coaxial’ as if saying the word made it feel intelligent.
“No,” I said, “not the coaxial. The A/V video input.”
Again it repeated, “I don’t think there is such a thing.” I started to believe that’s all it was taught to say during both weeks of intense training at the ‘Shack.
Unimaginable. Unfathomable. Somehow, I must be the very first person to ever want to display my video from my computer on a television screen. But the cheery ‘Shack minion seemed pretty sure of itself, so I backed down and exited the ‘Shack empty handed. Back to my home I went, and after some time browsing the internet, I discovered that not only did my adapter exist, but RadioShack had one! Unbelievable! In the end, I wound up ordering what I needed from Apple.com, for half the price that the ‘Shack would’ve charged, had the employee known there was such a thing.
This is not the first bad experience I’ve had with the ‘Shack, and probably wont be the last. But all of this makes me wonder: is this some sort of employee requirement? Perhaps to become a ‘Shackey, you must be certified in the field of Arrogant-Jackass-ology.
“You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers.”
Here’s a question for you: How many RadioShack experts does it take to screw in a light bulb?
