Did something dumb today.

Resonator · December 03, 2024, 09:33:36 PM

Good to hear from you FFOS!

202 pages of dumb and counting...

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Ray, you don't know what fun is until you've worked on building a garage with only an extension cord to plug into. And you have 5 tools lined up next to each other that all have black cords.

WV Sawmiller · December 04, 2024, 08:40:15 AM

Quote from: Resonator on December 03, 2024, 09:33:36 PM202 pages of dumb and counting...

You'd think we'd learn after a while wouldn't you.

GAB · December 04, 2024, 10:00:45 AM

Quote from: WV Sawmiller on December 04, 2024, 08:40:15 AM
Quote from: Resonator on December 03, 2024, 09:33:36 PM202 pages of dumb and counting...

You'd think we'd learn after a while wouldn't you.

Lots of people fall into my catagory: SLLOOOWWW LEEAAARRRRNNNNNEEEEEERRRRRRRSSSSSSSS
GAB

KenMac · December 04, 2024, 11:07:40 AM

It just proves that, no matter how hard we try, our inate dumbness takes over! For me, anyway.

DDW_OR · December 04, 2024, 11:37:16 AM

WV Sawmiller · December 04, 2024, 05:48:29 PM

Here's my version.

Jim_Rogers · December 26, 2024, 03:09:37 PM

During our Christmas shopping my daughter and I picked out two gift cards to give to my wife from the rack at Walmart.

We told the checkout clerk; to enter the amounts we wanted to give her.

Today, my wife when shopping for after Christmas deals and tried to use one of the cards.

The sale was declined. She asked the lady to enter the numbers on the back of the package that the gift card came in and still no sale (sale declined). Another supervisor clerk came over and tried entering all the numbers on the back of the package and no sale or sale declined. Everyone could not figure it out.

I went today back to Walmart to the service desk and asked them to verify that the card was activated and they said my receipt shows it was activated, and there was not anything else they could do as it was not a "Walmart" gift card but a Mastercard gift card and that I would have to call the 800 number on the back of the card.

I walked out to my vehicle and called the 800 number. While waiting and waiting I was listening to all the reason why a sale would be/could be declined on their recording, I opened the package and got one of the cards out. The customer rep asked me to read him the 16-digit card number. I did and he said it was activated and had money on it, and there was not any notice about a sale be declined. I asked him to check the other card. But I had not opened the package, yet. He said call back after I open the package. I told him that I was on hold for 20 minutes trying to reach him and to just hold on until I opened it, which I did. He verified that this second card was activated and had money on it.

Apparently, no clerks at the store realized that the numbers on the package are NOT the card number(s) and that those numbers are just ID numbers for selling the card to the customer. There were charges of $5.94 per card on my receipt for purchasing the gift card as well as the activation amount. I did not realize that these cards cost that much.
Or that the numbers on the back of the packages have nothing to do with the card number.

I do not know if this story qualifies for "doing something dumb today" or not. But at least 3 people did something dumb, my wife, and two check out lady clerks.

But I am not going to tell my wife that she did something dumb today, ever.

Happy New Year, Jim Rogers

Holmes · December 26, 2024, 04:08:08 PM

I did something like that last year. I have never had a gift card. I was given one and tried to spend it never realizing there is a card inside the packaging. Of course once I figured that out I spent all of it.

Resonator · December 26, 2024, 06:35:12 PM

Crazy thing is how many gift cards are given every year and then people never spend them.

Years ago the big-box store near me had a bag sale, where everything that you could fit in a paper bag got a discount. I picked out some things for my bag and went to check out. The guy in front of me in line saw gift cards on the rack, and started throwing handfuls in his bag. Checkout clerk made him put them back.

WV Sawmiller · December 26, 2024, 06:52:03 PM

Jim,

We looked at giving MasterCard gift cards last year but when my bank told me about the fee I declined and we just gave cash then and again this year. As Res said many of the cards never get used and even if they do they have your money up front making interest on it till the card is used.

Actually my kids and grandkids seem happy with cash, even the 5 y/o GD as she knows she can take the cash and go buy the specific doll or toy she wants or the accessories for what she already has. Sure makes shopping easier. Olcowhand made it easy for the wife's gift this year.

Sorry for the hassle and glad it was resolved.

SwampDonkey · December 27, 2024, 05:11:52 AM

I get a gift card from the boss for a store I usually shop at for stuff like different oils, seeds, hardware and such. I always spend mine. But I did find a couple cards that had like $5 on them, so this year used them up to. Any that I have had never expire. Some of them things expire.

Brad_bb · December 29, 2024, 07:15:08 PM

OMG! I had no idea they charged a fee, let alone almost $6 in addition to the gift amount on a gift card. I figured gift cards were a way to spur more sales with just the gift amount. They make money on the gift amount but also want to double dip and charge $6?!

You won't see me buying any gift cards. In God we Trust, All others pay cash!

Brad_bb · December 29, 2024, 07:21:25 PM

Festool Rotex bit me!

A couple days before chirstmas I was sanding excess epoxy off some natural odd shaped small burl pieces. I had to hold them with one hand because they are so irregular and my jaw horse would not hold them. I do this with a typical Random Orbit sander all the time without issue. I didn't realize the danger of the Festool Rotex with 80 grit paper. It's oscillation and rotation are much more powerful than just the oscillation. It warned me when I knicked my thumb near the nail, and it bled quit a bit, but I did not heed the warning. I just wrapped a paper towel on the side of the thumb and kept going. Then I knicked the inside of the thumb. This one was annoying but didn't bleed as much. I continue and in awhile, now I jamb it into the skin between my thumb and forefinger and put a good gash in that valley. It bled quite a bit. I had to go back to the house and clean it with alchohol and bandage it. Be careful with the Rotex. Wear good leather gloves if you're going to hold a small piece. They bite!

SwampDonkey · December 29, 2024, 07:29:01 PM

Not all places charge fees. The ones you buy for Canadian Tire, which is a department store with a tire centre, have no fees and don't expire.

https://giftcards.canadiantire.ca/collections/gift-cards

aigheadish · December 30, 2024, 06:56:22 AM

Glad to hear I'm not the only one Brad... Not with Festool but with every other bit of sanding I do.

dougtrr2 · December 30, 2024, 07:47:16 AM

I feel your pain. I have light industrial edge sander. When things slip it takes out light industrial chunks of skin. DAMHIKT.

Doug in SW IA

WV Sawmiller · December 30, 2024, 09:17:58 AM

Quote from: Brad_bb on December 29, 2024, 07:15:08 PMOMG! I had no idea they charged a fee, let alone almost $6 in addition to the gift amount on a gift card. I figured gift cards were a way to spur more sales with just the gift amount. They make money on the gift amount but also want to double dip and charge $6?!

You won't see me buying any gift cards. In God we Trust, All others pay cash!

Brad,

Gift cards from the stores and such typically do not charge a fee but if you buy bank cards like Visa or such they are the ones who charge the fee.

I used to buy cards for my wife as Christmas gifts from steakhouses or Olive Garden and such and not only did they pay face value they would give extra incentives. I think I got about $180 value off $150 worth of cards. The cards had no time limit but the incentives had an expiration use-by date. Also I remember Wal-Mart gave a 3 % discount at their fuel stations if you used their gift cards so it made sense to buy a $50 gift card then go buy $53 worth of gas if you were so inclined.

If it is places you shop and you will use them they can be a good deal.

Jim_Rogers · December 30, 2024, 09:53:38 AM

The service desk clerk did tell me that those gift cards I was buying were not Walmart gift cards. So, I told my wife next time I'll try and buy true Walmart gift cards.
Also, I went to Dunkin Donuts to get a gift card and they didn't charge me a card fee. I got a $10 card for $10.

Jim Rogers

GAB · December 30, 2024, 10:08:41 AM

Howard:
Could you explain the math to me?
When I went to school, many moons ago, .03 x 50 was not 3.
Still wishing you and yours a Happy New Year.
GAB

Ljohnsaw · December 30, 2024, 10:35:55 AM

A way to stick it to a gas station chain out here. ARCO, AM/PM, used to do cash and ATM same price. Then they started a flat 10 cent fee to use your ATM card. They recently started accepting credit cards. Now they charge 10 cents a gallon more for credit OR ATM.

I boycotted them for a while until my fishing buddy clued me in. Now I buy a $25 or $100 gas card with my credit card. No fee on that purchase, the gas card gives me the cash price and my credit card gives me 3% back.

jpassardi · December 30, 2024, 11:14:03 AM

Nice John - you managed to stick it to them at their own game.

WV Sawmiller · December 30, 2024, 11:43:35 AM

Quote from: GAB on December 30, 2024, 10:08:41 AMHoward:
Could you explain the math to me?
When I went to school, many moons ago, .03 x 50 was not 3.
Still wishing you and yours a Happy New Year.
GAB

Ooops.

I was just checking to see if anyone reads these posts. I should have said buy a $100 card then buy $103 worth of gas like john mentions above.