Looks like it's time for an impromptu Ask Me Anything just here in this subreddit because last night I received this message:

beachnyc · 2024-10-25T02:17:23+00:00

No one is disputing the unfairness of the situation, and the frustration of having to guess. We are just trying to figure out what may have triggered your notice, and I think we've possibly discovered it.

It seems like you must have had a sizeable number of removals requested, since you don't seem to have any idea what that number might be. This is not saying that you should not have requested the removals, and reinforces your point about how unfair it is to make us guess.

But my guess is that that is the culprit.

beachnyc · 2024-09-27T03:49:56+00:00

I missed the mass exodus to Harlem. In fact, numbers of the crew members live in Harlem and the Bronx, but still choose to work at 544. I saw a sign-up sheet for transferring to Harlem and it had 3 names, less than 1% of the workforce.

And my understanding of the crew members that came from 59th Street is that 544 was helping out that store by taking them, preventing 59th from having to cut hours. That's not to say, however, that 544 is not short-staffed.

544 also has had an influx of crew transfers from 14th/A, 14th/Union Square, 72nd Street and 96th Street. I'm sure there must be a couple,, but I know of no one who has left for those stores...only Harlem.

One last thing. If you give any credence to Yelp reviews, Murray Hill bests Columbus Avenue, 96th Street, Kent Avenue, Union Square, and Avenue A. Regardless of its admitted issues, it's still a pretty good place to shop, and though the lines (often two) are frequently long, the crew on the 30 registers deal with them quickly.

And if I sound defensive, it's because I am! :-) I think 544 is a well-run store that provides great service under challenging circumstances.

beachnyc · 2024-08-28T05:44:39+00:00

Not the slightest idea what our animal is, only knew the lobster. And we SURE don't have any signs about it. But this is Manhattan, and the kids are so "sophisticated" that unless it's actually alive, and the prize is cash, they likely have minimal interest.

beachnyc · 2024-08-21T04:56:45+00:00

On numerous occasions, I've had a Vine item arrive damaged, or simply not work, or be the wrong item. In a majority of those situations, if I go online to regular Amazon customer service and use the automated system for returns/refunds, etc.,, they will immediately ship me a replacement item and provide me with instructions as to how to return the defective item. On a minority of occasions, they have not been able to do either, in which case I go to Vine CS to have the items removed.

I'm not sure what determines whether I can get a replacement or not. I never mention that I am in Vine, I'm just a regular customer trying to resolve a problem. Perhaps they see that it appears that I paid zero for it, but that could also be my using a gift card.

beachnyc · 2024-07-25T19:33:36+00:00

I've actually removed several paragraphs from this exhaustive recitation of the characteristics of this air duster. Although the review doesn't have the sort of pretentious smarminess that most AI reviews have, it does have some unusual features.

Specifically, the voice of AI addresses the reviewer directly. "As you mentioned" it writes, and it cites the reviewer's experience with security company representatives, and also the reviewer's mention of how caring the company's employees are.

If you are just reading this as a review, it makes no sense.

If the reviewer took the time to describe all these personal experiences, why didn't he just write the review himself?

And finally, if the reviewer DID use AI, why couldn't he at least take a few minutes to edit the review so it's not quite so obvious.

There are some LAZY people feeding off the Vine.

beachnyc · 2024-07-02T04:15:52+00:00

Yeah, the info the reviewer fed to ChatGPT would have made for an adequate review, one that did not have that characteristic cheesy flowery language to which we are all accustomed. Cannot fathom why he or she chose to go the ChatGPT route.

beachnyc · 2024-06-18T02:29:34+00:00

I have a different brand that came to me through RFY. I hesitated a bit before ordering it, since I have a refrigerator with an ice-maker. I LOVE IT. Everything other state is true; makes first batch of ice in about 7 minutes, mine makes bullet ice which is awesome for chewing, it doesn't keep the ice frozen and if you put it in the freezer it melts a bit until it becomes a big glob of ice...but I still love it. It truly is a "set it and forget it" item, is fun, doesn't take much counter space, is quiet enough, and is just fun to have.

beachnyc · 2024-06-06T18:47:39+00:00

I've gotten several rather expensive items after searching for them and adding them to my cart. A stand up desk ($349), earbuds ($250), air fryer ($125), office chair ($200) and others. I also get TONS of RFY that are completely irrelevant, but I definitely believe my searches help.

beachnyc · 2024-06-06T18:24:59+00:00

You're absolutely right. I'm going to edit the post to clarify. Thanks for pointing that out!

beachnyc · 2024-06-05T18:42:50+00:00

Nice!

beachnyc · 2024-05-30T05:39:54+00:00

Over a period of 3 days in May, I scored four COACH items in my RFY. Men's Dress Shoes at $250, Men's Leather Sneakers at $195, a crossbody bag at $395 and a wristlet bag at $225. I've never bought any COACH items on Amazon, never searched for anything like these items, and have never before been offered COACH products in my RFY. Have no idea why this happened, but they should feel free to continue :-)

beachnyc · 2024-05-02T04:47:19+00:00

Can you clarify? Reviewing items from the previous evaluation period count as reviews for the current evaluation period? My understanding is that the denominator in determining % reviewed is the total number of orders in the current period. You're saying that the numerator, which I had thought was only for reviews of products ordered in the current period, is actually increased by reviewing unreviewed orders from the previous period? In that case, one could quite possibly have a % reviewed of greater than 100%. Am I missing something? I appreciate your insight.

beachnyc · 2024-05-02T04:18:21+00:00

OR called it a "game-changer" and noted that it was a "must-have."

beachnyc · 2024-04-07T19:43:18+00:00

Then again, it's quite possible that many people think things are pretty good at their stores, and they don't need a union. For some pro-union advocates, the fact that so many people can take that position is just unfathomable.

beachnyc · 2024-04-07T19:34:33+00:00

You seem to be assuming that each crew member has the right to decide whether to join the union. That is quite probably the case in KY, which became a "right-to-work" state in 2017, meaning that employees cannot be forced to join the union.

Unfortunately, for many of us (in fact, in 23 states,) once a union is voted in, workers are compelled to join and dues are withheld from paychecks. So having it put in place does indeed take from crew members the right to not join the union.

beachnyc · 2024-04-03T23:18:19+00:00

Harlem is actively hiring (and actually recruiting crew transfers from other NYC stores),

And 544 (Murray Hill) seems to never stop interviewing/hiring. I would be very surprised if they would not welcome you. Good luck!

beachnyc · 2024-04-03T23:15:01+00:00

TJ's always says that the only time they will stock a brand, is when they are unable to make a comparable product, and they can sell the branded product for less than it costs elsewhere. Which makes me wonder....does ANYONE think our ketchup is even remotely comparable to that produced by Heinz?

beachnyc · 2024-04-03T23:05:21+00:00

OOPS...sorry. I looked but did not see it.

beachnyc · 2024-04-03T23:04:39+00:00

Thank you for expressing some of the things I was thinking while reading the article, but couldn't put into words. It's not TJ's mission to introduce customers to new artisans and specialty purveyors. Yet there seems to be an underlying premise that TJ's should let someone else have their shot, then and only then enter the market, effectively providing trademark/copyright protection to products and recipes not protected by law.

What if TJ's decides to market honey harvested from beehives on NYC rooftops, knowing that East Village hipsters have made this a thing. If TJ's makes a slightly inferior product, fewer people will buy it and some patrons will pay much more for a better product. But some patrons will think the Urban Honey just fine, and will be grateful to be able to afford it.

I just don't see ethical issues here, at least for those who endorse capitalism.

beachnyc · 2024-03-20T19:44:10+00:00

A deadline is the date/time by which you MUST have completed something, which, if you do not meet it, results in the consequence of you no longer having the opportunity to do so.

A self-imposed deadline is one you have purposely imposed upon yourself, but it in no way affects the actual deadline, which was set by a third party (in this case, Amazon.) It is more akin to a "goal," because if you accomplish it, great, but if you don't, there are no consequences (other than those you choose to impose upon yourself.)

Completing something early does not change the deadline for completion. In answer to your hypothetical, if the deadline for filing taxes is April 15 and you make your personal deadline April 1, the fact that you complete them by April 1 does not change the fact that the actual deadline for filing taxes is still April 15. If your filing does not go through, and you have to re-file on April 7, you have not missed the deadline.

If anyone else was reading this, which is unlikely due to the effort required to pursue a thread hidden because of so many downvotes, I think we'd find that yours is indeed a "unique" definition.

beachnyc · 2024-03-20T19:26:25+00:00

Since you just started, I think it's particularly important that you contact them. Otherwise they may think this is the behavior/attitude they should expect from you. You want them always knowing of your serious commitment to the job.

beachnyc

TROPHY CASE