Forty Rod SASS 3935 Posted December 12, 2023 Share Posted December 12, 2023 As many of you know I have lost over 70 pounds in the last 14 months. That's another story. This story is about buying plain old fashioned blue jeans. I have been to every store in the quad city area that claims to be a "western wear" store looking for 34 x 29 inch leans. I have been to Boot Barn, Tractor Supply, C. A. L. Ranch, and Cowboy Corral ( Amazing store on many other fronts...like leather goods of all kinds). I went to Kohls, J. C. Penny, Costco, and every other place I Could think of. I looked at Levis, Lee, Wrangler, Maverick, Carhart and every other brand I could think of. No joy ANYDAMNWHERE!!! Until I went to Walmart, a place I not very fond of, for something else all together. I hadn't even considered them, but I found one pair of Wrangler Five Star Relaxed Fit Flex jeans. I bought the only pair I could find, took them home, wore them, washed them, and wore them again. They fit, didn't shrink, didn't fade, had a usable watch pocket and felt good. The next day, yesterday as it happens, I was in Prescott and went to the Walmarts over there. No more to be found. Back to my hometown Walmart lust a half mile away...actually about 450 yards but there is a row of houses and a half mile stone wall in the way... and tried again. I couldn't find any more, but I did find a lady who worked there and who took the time to help. Her name tag said SUNSHINE (not her real name, I find, but it sure fits her) and she pleasantly and efficiently went to work. She found three more pair and told me how to get more when I was ready. I now have four pair and will go back about once a month for more. I can't miss at $19.95 a pair, was less that any competitor. Now here's the kicker: I have been sorely disappointed in all Wrangler clothes for the last year or two because their quality control has real gone down. Le seams put in backward, two different leg lengths on the same pair of britches, mis labelling, watch pockets placed so high they are under a belt and totally unusable, shabby sewing, shrinking (shirts only so far), even labels sewn on crooked. I am also done with some stores where no one seems to know nor care about anything in or out of the store and in some cases are rude and insulting lazy asses, acting as if they are going out of their way to even speak to you. If I were still in my own business I would bust my butt to go hire Miss Sunshine right out the door. I'd train her in my line of work and put her to work teaching others how to do the job and most importantly how to treat customers and I guarantee you she'd be paid better that Walmart or any other retail outlet does. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cold Lake Kid, SASS # 51474 Posted December 12, 2023 Share Posted December 12, 2023 Isn't it great when you discover that one service oriented person? They are likely the same in their everyday lives away from the job. We need more like her in our lives. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackwater 53393 Posted December 12, 2023 Share Posted December 12, 2023 Me ‘n’ Schoolmarm try to dine out when we’re in town for medical appointments at lunchtime. One of the places we’ve come to enjoy is an Italian restaurant and grocery. For the last couple of years, there’s been a server there on Wednesdays that is remarkable! He’s extremely polite and even more competent. He can handle a dozen or more tables during the lunch rush and I have never seen him when he’s failed to make everyone comfortable or when a diner was left unattended! He’s cordial, your glass is never empty, he seems to anticipate your every want, and I’ve never seen him use and order pad! I took a party of twelve cowboys and cowgirls there last month and each of them was equally impressed! We, (Schoolmarm and I) have begun scheduling our doctor visits to make it a point of eating there when Al is on the floor! I enjoy just watching him work!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyesa Horg Posted December 12, 2023 Share Posted December 12, 2023 16 minutes ago, Blackwater 53393 said: Me ‘n’ Schoolmarm try to dine out when we’re in town for medical appointments at lunchtime. One of the places we’ve come to enjoy is an Italian restaurant and grocery. For the last couple of years, there’s been a server there on Wednesdays that is remarkable! He’s extremely polite and even more competent. He can handle a dozen or more tables during the lunch rush and I have never seen him when he’s failed to make everyone comfortable or when a diner was left unattended! He’s cordial, your glass is never empty, he seems to anticipate your every want, and I’ve never seen him use and order pad! I took a party of twelve cowboys and cowgirls there last month and each of them was equally impressed! We, (Schoolmarm and I) have begun scheduling our doctor visits to make it a point of eating there when Al is on the floor! I enjoy just watching him work!! Those servers are quite rare these days. Ellie & I come across one now and then and we're sure to tip them well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackwater 53393 Posted December 12, 2023 Share Posted December 12, 2023 Just now, Eyesa Horg said: Those servers are quite rare these days. Ellie & I come across one now and then and we're sure to tip them well. YEAH!! Schoolmarm worked her way through college as a server! We’re very generous when we receive good/great service when dining! We generally make our pleasure known verbally as well!! A few bucks has become a matter of course these days. A few words of gratitude is added incentive. An extra word with management is sometimes even better!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyesa Horg Posted December 12, 2023 Share Posted December 12, 2023 1 minute ago, Blackwater 53393 said: YEAH!! Schoolmarm worked her way through college as a server! We’re very generous when we receive good/great service when dining! We generally make our pleasure known verbally as well!! A few bucks has become a matter of course these days. A few words of gratitude is added incentive. An extra word with management is sometimes even better!! Once, when I made the effort to get the Manager and extend my pleasure and server. The manager smiled, said thank you. Then added his own compliments of the server and handed me a gift card! Most of the time now, servers seem annoyed that they have to serve to get paid! I asked the lady at the grocery checkout yesterday if I was keeping her awake. She gave me an expressionless look and yawned some more. I still thanked her and she just ignored it. The bagger said I was welcome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colorado Coffinmaker Posted December 12, 2023 Share Posted December 12, 2023 One thing we never do when tipping for great service, is put the tip on a credit card. ALWAYS cash and always generous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forty Rod SASS 3935 Posted December 12, 2023 Author Share Posted December 12, 2023 I'm a big tipper for good service, but I always leave something. We went out with another couple once and got remarkably lousy service. I left a dime and a couple of pennies. The other guy asked why I'd leave anything and I told hime a big tip is a thank you, but an almost worthless tip is a comment. Until the day he died he remembered and would sometimes leave a 20% tip or more and once in awhile drop less than a quarter. Many is the time I've complained to the manager, but many times I've complimented someone to the manager so they'd know. I did for Sunshine, for a little tiny girl at a burger joint, another very small girl who is Coca Cola vendor's rep at the grocery (Because she worked harder than anyone else in the entire store and smiled the entire time.), and a delivery man for UPS who went out of his way to help me get a package up to my front door when I was still in a wheel chair and asked if there was anything else he could do. My local ambulance service is getting 15 top sirloins for Christmas because of their overall service and follow up calls over the last year: eight rides in the ambulance and they still son't me run the siren. If only I could feel that way about everyone, but simple courtesy and good service is unfortunately becoming very scarce. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackwater 53393 Posted December 12, 2023 Share Posted December 12, 2023 There are several places where we eat that have NEVER disappointed. There are many that aren’t nearly as good. The ones that are so pleasing always seem to have people that want for you to be happy and have a great meal. They seem to know that service is a huge part of the dining experience. One of the guys in our band is a professional server. He makes his living from what he sells and tips. He receives a percentage of the cost of what his customers buy. It’s not a big percentage. He makes the rest from tips for the service and his help with selections. I’ve been to the establishment where he works and I can say in all honesty that he’s always got full tables and smiling patrons! He takes the same pride in his performance with the band! Folks like that are ALWAYS great to be around! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Riot Posted December 12, 2023 Share Posted December 12, 2023 I quit trying to buy casual / work pants at stores. My favorite pants are Wrangler Authentics with cargo pockets. I have worn them for years. I buy them from Amazon through their try and buy program. They ship them to me. I have 7 days to send them back or I buy them. I have only had one problem with one pair in buying around 35 pairs so far. The waist and length didn’t match the tag. They sent a replacement pair and that was that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bgavin Posted December 13, 2023 Share Posted December 13, 2023 Walmart is literally the only place I can find jeans that fit properly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackwater 53393 Posted December 13, 2023 Share Posted December 13, 2023 Over the past few years, I’ve found myself with my foot in a cast because of surgery. The first time that they put a cast on my foot, I had to split the seam on the nice pair of jeans I was wearing in order to get them off. I had to do the same thing to another pair in order to have something to wear on stage the next night! Long story, shortened, I started buying the “carpenter’s” jeans because they had the extra wide pant legs that would barely slide over the cast. After trying several brands that for one reason or another didn’t work or didn’t hold up, I found some Wranglers that work very well!! The only complaint I have with them is that the belt loops in the front are too far apart. I can live with that AND they’re reasonably priced and comfortable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770 Posted December 13, 2023 Share Posted December 13, 2023 Here's a fun fact about Wrangler Jeans. I just happen to wear a 44X32 in Wranglers. I also just happen to like the "Flex Fit" version of them. Now for SOME reason, Wrangler considers that size to be a Big Mans size, but ONLY in the "Flex Fit", and Walmart doesn't carry them in the stores. In every other type Jeans, Cargo, Carpenters, Relaxed fit, even in plain Black, that size in a standard size. So to get those particular jeans, I have to go to the Walmart website and order them there. It's not Walmart that classifies them like that, it's Wrangler. But If I order 2 pair I get free shipping. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyesa Horg Posted December 13, 2023 Share Posted December 13, 2023 Wrangler's from Wally for me too. But amazing how you have to try on every pair. Waist and legs different all the time! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.