Wednesday Rant–Bad Customer Service

It’s Wednesday time for a rant.  I know I haven’t done this segment in some time but something happened today that really pissed me off.  I will keep this short and to the point.  Nothing pisses me off more, when shopping, then horrible customer service.  You walk into a store looking to find a new piece of clothing and the person working there could care less and just has an attitude the entire time.  I was shopping today and I went to a store, that will remain nameless, and the person was just rude and just had  horrible attitude. The worst part was they had the item I was looking for and I didn’t want that person to get the sale so I left.  I did find that item at another location and made the purchase, because the people were extremely helpful and polite.  I am not asking for people to throw rose petals at my feet, just remember that I am the customer and you are selling goods. If I don’t buy the goods at your store then you don’t make money. I happen to know this company does work on commission, so I don’t know why this person would act this way. Hey person, maybe you should remember you are at work and that you make money off of sales and not walkouts.  So next time you work, try and remember that a little bit of kindness goes a long way.

Wednesday Rant eBay Sellers and Buyers

It’s Wednesday, time for a rant.  This one has been bugging me for a while.  I used to love shopping on eBay and I was constantly on the site looking for the best deal. eBay used to be a civilized service where most sellers would make deals and people were honorable. It used to be fun to put in bids and even get into a war over something; when you won you felt proud, like you had done something great.

Now I get on the site and it’s either full of fakes or the sellers’ are trying to scam the buyers. The latest scam is putting an item up with a $1 buy it now, but also putting the shipping at like $200 dollars.  What happens is Mr. Buyer comes along and see the insane deal, uses the buy it now and now he’s owes $201.  Some people could say this is fair and the buyers should read the whole auction before they bid. That’s correct but most people are caught up in the $1 deal that they jump on the item before anyone bids. That’s what the seller counts on and hopes the person doesn’t read all the details.

The other problem with eBay is there is too much buyer protection and the sellers are getting screwed.  I don’t know how many times a buyer has made up something and I had to suffer the consequences.  I would even present solid evidence and eBay would still rule in their favor.  eBay values the buyer more than the seller.  I can understand this because most sellers sell fakes, sell items and never ship them and bid shill.  Bid shilling is when the seller sets up another account and increases his own bids to create a larger amount.

You just can’t trust anyone on eBay anymore.  There are too many fakes and too many shady sellers. eBay used to be the epicenter of the home garage sale. A place where people could take the old gently used items and make more money then a pawn shop would offer.  I was hoping things would get better but every time I go back to eBay and look around, I am reminded of a better time that is long gone.

Wednesday Rant Shape Up Shoes

America you’re getting fatter and instead of working out and eating right, we rely on a shoe to help us get trim. I understand that the shoe mimics balance ball technology, but why not just use a balance ball.  Also, why in the world is Joe Montana endorsing these shoes?  Does he really need the money that bad, because who would want to hock such any ugly shoe?  More after the break.

Wednesday Rant–Nothing to Rant On

Sorry guys, this has been a great week so I have nothing to rant about this week.  I will have a great one next week and the regular posting will resume on Thursday and Friday.  Enjoy the other posts and remember I love comments.

Wednesday Rant–Mandals

It’s Wednesday, time for a rant. You’ve all seen this guy.  He walks around in sandals and socks on.  The sandals are the ones with a ridiculous amount of straps or a leather/rubber hybrid.  Some are considered sports sandals, but the guy wearing them doesn’t look like he has played a sport in a couple decades.  This is also the same guy you will see in the “dad shoes.”  You will hear the same reasons as the “dad shoe;” they are really comfortable or why should I care about fashion.  You should care about fashion because you have dignity, or you should care because you look ridiculous. Your wife may act like she doesn’t care, but every woman loves a man who takes care of himself or even just acts like it sometimes. I am not talking about garnering a pair of expensive loafers or putting on a pair of fresh Jordan’s. 

You just need to think of a better solution. If comfort is what you are worried about than you should try on a bunch of shoes.  Some stores are even letting people test drive shoes for a certain period of time.  Cost?  I have already gone over the cost of shoes and that excuse will not fly anymore.  Is it laziness?  I have found plenty of loafers that slip on and off very easy.  They aren’t too flashy or young looking, they are super comfortable and affordable.  I recently picked up a pair of herringbone style Globe Castro loafers for around $40.  Believe me when I say these are great for any occasion; the beach, supermarket or even out on the town. 

Another great option: boat shoes.  I know these have a bad stigma right now, but they look great when you wear them with no socks. Many different companies are making these and adding extra padding, but the classic one still looks the best.  Plus, you can just slide these on and off with ease. You can still have great style, be comfortable and not spend a fortune on clothes. And your kids won’t make fun of you for wearing mandals with socks anymore.  That’s worth a lot more than money.

Wednesday Rant–Over Saturation of the Market

It’s Wednesday, time for a rant! We can all agree that Jordan Brand makes some of the best shoes in the basketball game.  People will line up for days to try and get a pair of these latest sneaks.  So why do they feel the need to release so many non essential pairs of shoes.  I am not talking about the other player model, those are the only other shoes that make sense.  I am talking about the millions of slides I see everyday and the more casual shoes they offer.  Nike makes tons of great casual shoes. Why ruin the Jordan name with crappy versions of their signature models? The CMFT is the latest bastardization of the brand name.  The look like running shoes mixed with different Jordan shoes.  CMFT is an acronym for comfort which makes sense, but what doesn’t make sense is the need for a Jordan running shoe. They make training shoes, pre game shoes, after the game shoes and shoes to lounge around the house.  It looks like they are trying to make it so you are wearing Jordan Brand at all times of the day. That’s fine with me; make lots of money it’s the America way.  The only problem is that the shoes are horrible and down right cheap looking.  The may be modeled after Air Jordan’s, but they end up looking like a copycat, fake version of an actual Air Jordan.

Air Jordan’s were the most expensive Nike on the market, and it meant something when you were wearing a pair of these shoes.  When I was in high school, kids were judged on the shoes they were wearing and if you were rocking Jordan’s, than you were part of the elite. So with all the new additions, the name Jordan is cheapened.  I am not talking to the sneakerhead circles, we all know the value of shoes. I am talking about random people or acquaintance. who don’t have any idea about sneakers.  The people you are trying to impress; don’t act like you spend thousands of dollars on shoes and only buy the rarest pairs for yourself.  Jordan Brand should have just stuck with making a new pair of Jordan’s each year and all the other player models.  I am pretty sure the brand can make enough money off of the retro they have been releasing each year.  Yon don’t need to add more crappy running shoes or training shoes, when your parent company Nikes make far superior running and training shoes. Let’s bring back the Jordan Brand I used to know and love, the same brand that has revolutionized the basketball shoe and continues to sell a basketball shoe for a player that hasn’t played since 2003. Bring back Jordan shoe greatness and leave everything else to Nike.

Jordan’s New Shoes? VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Wednesday Rant–Mister Flashy

I know you all have seen this person, he wears a bracelet, multiple necklaces, watch, sunglasses, rings, earrings and a hat.  This may not sound so bad on paper, but a little bit goes along way.  Some people feel they need to wear a lot of accessories to make themselves look good. I don’t have a problem with wearing any of these accessories, but when you combine them all you end up with clutter.  Many of the people who combine all of these elements aren’t really sure how to properly wear each item individually, so they just use they all at the same time.  The worst part is the accessories are the flashiest, most blinding jewelry money can buy.  I like diamonds, but some of  the watches or necklaces are dripping in them, so much so that you can’t see the metal on the jewelry.  This isn’t the only offender, there’s the too much leather and hemp guy.  He dresses like he just came form mixing a fresh batch of granola, while surfing.  The truth is this guy hasn’t ever been surfing and has probably never heard of granola. The way you spot this guy is to look for the cargo shorts and  ankle bracelet, arm bracelet or arm band and 2 to 3 necklaces.  My personal favorite is the guy who wears the silver or gold Figaro chain that was only popular in the 90’s.  Basically what I want you all to do is take a look in the mirror and see if you are following any of these trends. Let’s take each piece one at a time. 

Necklaces should really never be worn.  If you have to wear a necklace, go with something thin and nothing flashy.  Use accessories as an accent, the necklace shouldn’t the focal point of your outfit. Vintage jewelry is always a great choice and a pendant should fit your personality. Obey makes some really interesting pieces and if you want to go high end David Yurman is a great choice.  Try and avoid diamonds or if you want to wear them use little diamonds and only one or two.

Hats should be simple.  One color and nothing out of the ordinary. Everyone has there favorite team, but you don’t need to wear the authentic sideline hat or a visor.  Visor are not and never will be a fashion piece.  Some great hats are fedoras or porkpie hats, but remember simple colors and please no feathers.  You are not Yankee doodle.

Bracelets aren't’ really my thing anymore but small rope bracelets are really popular now. Cuff bracelets are done, don’t wear them anymore.

Watches are the one item I love and wear all the time.  The only watches I don’t like are the super blinged out diamond watches or the regular metal watches. Chronograph watches are always popular and G-shocks are back in style.  I have a huge fan of leather band watches and this is the only leather you should wear on your wrist.

Sunglasses are a must for me, since I have super light colored eyes and I am very sensitive to the sun. Refer to my previous blog for my opinion on great sunglasses.

If you listen to anything in this blog it’s this statement, keep it simple.  Don’t wear everything at once, you can layer just do it tastefully. Stick to these simple guidelines and you won’t have any problem adding accessories to your daily wear.  When you have mastered these elements you can move on to items like cuff links and braces.

Wednesday Rant–Dad Shoes

You’ve all seen what I am talking about, those none descript, all white shoes that you see every guy over 40 wearing.  They are brand names, usually Reebok or Asics, but the most boring shoes of that brand.  The shoes have special names but you wouldn’t recognize them even if you were a scholar on that particular brand. They look like a combination of a running shoe and walking shoe, but I wouldn’t do either activity in these shoes.  The guys who wear these “dad shoes” aren’t your normal fashion junkies or even guys who like to shop for clothes.  They will claim the only reason they wear the shoes are because they are so comfortable.  I call bullshit on this thinking. The real reason is most men don’t care enough about how they dress and look.  The biggest excuse is, “’I’m married!’ or ‘who I am I trying to impress?’” How about have some pride and dignity in the way you look.

I am not talking about buying the most expensive shoes in the store or starting a shoe collection, just try something different.  Maybe instead of going with these shoes, maybe go with one of the New Balance Classics (I blogged about) or even the Adidas Superstar.  Those two shoes cost just as much as any of the “dad shoes” I found online. Let’s be honest with ourselves here, these shoes are hideous.  Why would you let anyone you know go out in public with these on?  Even some of the of the most basic shoes can have style and can still be really comfortable. There’s the other excuse of, “those shoes are too young for me’ or ‘I could never pull those off.’”  If you pair them with the right pair of jeans and a simple colored tee, you can’t go wrong.  You don’t have to go out, pick up a neon colored pair of dunks, and some skinny jeans.  You can still dress your age while not dressing above your age.

I think the reason why people buy these shoes and pass them off as ok, is because they are just lazy.  Which is hilarious because most of the “dad shoes” are running shoes, and the guys wearing these shoes look like the last time they ran a mile was high school gym class.  The whole point of this rant is not to make people feel bad about not having the coolest shoes or the most expensive, but to just enlighten those who think they have to settle for mediocre shoes.  Use my blog as a tool to guide yourself into fashion freedom and stop settling. Shop around and step outside your shitty little box.

As always email me at threadandsole@gmail.com, like my Facebook page Thread and Sole and follow me on twitter @threadandsole. Comments are welcome on the blog and make sure you follow to get updates on posts. If you want to donate any amount is gladly accepted and remember if you are shopping at Karmaloop.com, use “jcam1981” and receive 20% off.

“Dad Shoes” VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Wednesday Rant–Faked Fashion

It's Wednesday, time for a rant. If you haven’t run across this problem yet, you eventually will be the victim of purchasing fake goods. Here’s the normal scenario, you find the pair of jeans you’ve been searching forever for, you rip open the package and find out that you have been duped. Some people aren’t  involved enough to notice they have purchased a fake, and walk around in jeans or tees that are counterfeit, without even knowing.  Faked merchandise has been plaguing eBay and other auction style sites for many years now and it’s only getting worse.  I have been the victim of buying fakes twice now. That’s right I didn’t learn my lesson the first time. The first time I went to purchase a pair of Diesel Jeans on eBay I didn’t know what I was looking for and saw a really cheap pair of jeans.  I was really hurt; all I wanted was a great pair of jeans and I got a pile of crap.  I decided that I never wanted to buy a pair of fake jeans again and started to do research.  I Googled “fake denim” and a bunch of sites can up with tutorials and pictures on how to spot fakes, mainly what to look for and what questions to ask.  One of the best sites I found was Honest Forum, now a part of Denim Blog.  Honest Forum is a great tool to use, you can post eBay addresses and/or pictures of denim and the community can tell you if they are fake or good to go.  One good aspect is that there are lots of different people who can spot fakes of most kinds of designer denim.  The main communities are Diesel, True Religion, Seven and dry denim.  This is a great site to use if you are planning on bidding on a questionable item.  This is a community, so prepare to be judged on everything you say or buy. 
The other way to spot fakes is to buy an actual pair of the jeans and to look for the hidden details.  This is a costly option and you’re not always guaranteed to be able to locate the secrets.  The fact that people actively make fakes is a horrible shame, and even worse some people will buy these fakes because they are super cheap. The worst part is the people sometimes know they are buying a fake item, but don’t care because they got the item so cheap.  The people that knowingly buy fake items are people who want to wear designer apparel but don’t have the money to buy retail, so when they see an item is super cheap they don’t hesitate. It’s a status issue around the world. My one rule of buying online is simple, if it’s too good to be true, it probably is fake.  If someone is selling a pair of Diesel Jeans for under $50 dollars then it’s probably super fake and you should stay away.  Sometimes people get lucky and find a hidden gem, but these times are few and far between.  Bottom line, use the internet resources and you should be able to to easily find a good deal on eBay or other auction sites.  We need to stop buying these fakes and start reporting sellers, this is the only way to truly stop those people who think they can get away with selling us crap and passing it off as gold.  Don’t get burned like me.
As always email me at threadandsole@gmail.com, like my Facebook page Thread and Sole and follow me on twitter @threadandsole. Comments are welcome on the blog and make sure you follow to get updates on posts. If you want to donate any amount is gladly accepted and remember if you are shopping at Karmaloop.com, use “jcam1981” and receive 20% off.

Wednesday Rant–Online Shopping Photos

I think we all know I do a lot of online shopping and the recent trend shows online shopping is on the rise. Can you tell why some stores photos are still horrible? I’ll give you an example, in some photos I have come across jean style are not presented accurately.  Jeans that are supposed to be skinny look super baggy, but other skinnies, in the same brand, can look super tight.  This happens because the models they use aren’t wearing the right size for their bodies.  I don’t know if it’s because they didn’t have the right size when the shot the photos or the model was just way too skinny for that look.  Either way it presents a false advertisement for the denim. People shopping online need accurate pictures to judge if that is the right pair for them. It’s not just jeans that are portrayed inaccurately, it’s also colors of clothes.  Now, before you start cursing at the screen and telling me it’s my computers fault for the color being off, remember that it’s the camera taking the picture and the lighting style used.  A friendly disclaimer talking about how the colors might be lighter or darker:  I would hope the person posting the pics would communicate with the person in charge of photographing the apparel.  I know first hand how communication in business can be fouled up.  I also understand that the internet is a fast paced place were business decisions need to happen in a split second. Returns also take a ton of time and if a 2 line disclaimer was added that would cut down on returns and phones calls from customers complaining.  A little extra time can make up for countless phone calls and emails. Some websites have started to get this problem under control. It’s the smaller newer companies that need to use this strategy to get ahead of those established stores.  I will make this promise now, which will probably get broken,  I will give out the most information on my pages about each item I will be selling, I will measure each and every item and if the photo doesn’t match the real item I will tell you that it doesn’t match. I know I am not the only one out there that has noticed these problems, so the next step email, write or call and demand these changes now.

As always email me at threadandsole@gmail.com, like my Facebook page Thread and Sole and follow me on twitter @threadandsole. Comments are welcome on the blog and make sure you follow to get updates on posts.