I have been meaning for a long time to get a new blade assembly for our blender. It's been doing it's job recently by standing majestically on the counter in glossy black, matching the other appliances, But it hasn't actually worked for quite a while because the blade thingy just spins around and around inside and doesn't cut anything. With the holidays and stuff, I have some time so I thought to buy new blades. Now, I'm an old school guy so I went to the appliance place on Folsom street where I'd had good service some time before and the guy at the counter (Jim) after telling me how Kitchenaid had stopped making these more than 10 years ago and they can't get them and the last time they checked in November there were none and he would check again and maybe I could call back tomorrow. And they were $14.95 in the price book, and he wrote down the part number for me.
So I called back and yes they had checked, well they had sent them an email but they didn't hear back so I suggested that I will call back next week.
Later that day, I cut out early from work, so I was in time to go to my local parts place. Upon asking for a blender part, she got into her files and gave me a mapquest printout of the directions to another local place. Internet scores 1.
At this place, the counter guy started out with attitude when I mentioned that I thought the original part was not very robust.
"You've had this thing for at least 10 years which is when they last made this style so it can't be that bad now can it?"
I didn't mention how it had been hardly used.
He fiddled with his computer for a while and then dashed off into the back. Is there some secret place in all these parts places where the stuff I want is actually stored and not logged in the computer? Seems like. He returned a few minutes later with the part and declared it would be $28.
That was double the price of the Folsom street store but he did actually have it so I pulled out my credit card. "Sorry no credit card for less that $50".
I tried to turn it back on him that since Kitchenaid hadn't made these for ten years and he was unlikely to get another customer who would want them and he would have those blades sitting in the secret place forever and make no money and that he should make an exception and let me use my card for his price that was already twice what the other place had quoted. No deal.
When I got home, I searched the internet for the part using the number the Folsom street guy had given me, found it on Amazon and bought it, all in a couple minutes. (see picture above). Internet 2.
With the shipping, the internet part costs $20. If it is the right part, then I guess it's a win, if not then there will be some return hassle.
I wonder. If I'm at the counter and the guy is using his computer to search for a part, or I'm at home using my computer to search for a part then what's the difference? If the counter guy really knows something about the part and has one in stock then that's good. If he doesn't have it but did get me the part number then am I ripping him off by buying it somewhere else?
So many of the really helpful stores, the ones that have a counter, have already gone out of business that I am tempted to patronize them just to keep them around for that occasion when I really will need help. But if I can buy it online with a small risk of getting the wrong thing and the convenience of home shopping and delivery then I guess I will. Somehow though it makes the world seem a little smaller or colder, or less friendly in some way.
