I hate when people don't have basic knowledge of their own job

[michaels]

So I go to Hollywood Video to rent a Blu-ray movie. I ask the girl if they have any, "I don't think so...". I said well either you do or you don't, could you find out or let me talk to someone who does know. So she goes and gets another girl, same crap. Needless to say I walked out empty-handed. Is "I don't think so a sufficient answer??? NO! Unless it's used in a context such as someone asking you if X team will win the game tomorrow.

I went to Blockbuster and Hasting's and neither had Blu-ray or HD-DVD, and the people working there acted like they had never heard or such things.

 

[glutenberg]

A testament to the restrictive technology?

 

[ch33zw1z]

Are you under the impression that they pay attention @ their minimum wage position?

 

[Queasy]

Neither Blu-Ray or HD DVD is available for rent in stores right now...only online it seems. Blockbuster is supposed to be starting (or has recently started) pilot programs for putting the two formats in store.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Get Netflix: HD-DVD and blu-ray rentals no extra charge.

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
Get Netflix: HD-DVD and blu-ray rentals no extra charge.

Blockbuster Online as well.

 

[oogabooga]

at my blockbuster there is a huge sign that shows the one wall with blu ray and hd dvd's. They have like 12 different movies in each format and 1 of each movie...

If the person (and another) hasn't heard of them, it's probably a safe bet that they either
a) can't help you
b) don't have it

either way, how large is your hollywood video? Surely you could visually scan around real fast to see if there is a section for them?

 

[akubi]

you need to move out of bumsville, arkansas. you clearly left your neighbors behind in the 20th century.

 

[Ronstang]

Originally posted by: ch33zw1z
Are you under the impression that they pay attention @ their minimum wage position?

Are you under the impression that having a degree and a so called real job means people pay attention and are competent? From my experience a shocking proportion of so called professionals aren't competent enough to do much other than work at Burger King.

 

[michaels]

Originally posted by: akubi
you need to move out of bumsville, arkansas. you clearly left your neighbors behind in the 20th century.

:laugh:

 

[Paperdoc]

Originally posted by: Ronstang

Originally posted by: ch33zw1z
Are you under the impression that they pay attention @ their minimum wage position?

Are you under the impression that having a degree and a so called real job means people pay attention and are competent? From my experience a shocking proportion of so called professionals aren't competent enough to do much other than work at Burger King.

Interestingly, I have had the opposite experience. Our family opened a retail store specializing in unique clothing and operating in a popular mall. We had numerous minimum-wage people over the years, and quite a variety of attitudes and competencies among them. Most of the high-schoolers were OK to quite good at the basics. A few could not deal well with people - critical in that job! One or two were outstanding with people. But as groups go, the ones that were generally exceptionally good with people PLUS exceptionally good at solving problems and thinking things though when the unexpected arose were the university students. Virtually every one of those people was a gem of an employee one would love to keep forever, but we all recognized they were vastly under-employed at that job.

Having made that generalization, I certainly agree one does encounter incompetent people at almost any level. I think Ann Landers (remember her columns?) said once: Do you realize that 50% of the doctors in practice today graduated in the BOTTOM half of their classes?

 

[mugs]

They do have baisc knowledge of their job - right now their job does not involve renting Blu-Ray and HD-DVD discs, as evidenced by the fact that they don't have any. If they rented them, they'd have known what they are, so "I don't think so" pretty much means no.

 

[dullard]

I don't think so = No we do not have them. Saying "no" is a sufficient answer. You might not like the wording, but it is a sufficient answer.

You are mistakingly taking that as meaning "I don't know".

 

[gamepad]

It's not like they are professionals.

 

[Maximilian]

Originally posted by: dullard
I don't think so = No we do not have them. Saying "no" is a sufficient answer. You might not like the wording, but it is a sufficient answer.

You are mistakingly taking that as meaning "I don't know".

Kinda means maybe. A better answer would have been "I dont think so, *let me check for you*"

 

[dullard]

Originally posted by: Soviet
Kinda means maybe. A better answer would have been "I dont think so, *let me check for you*"

Maybe = I'm not sure. This person was certain and confident with the words as written. Thus, this clearly was not a maybe. Of course, tone can't be posted, so I can't comment on the tone.

[*]"I don't think you look good in that dress." Does this mean maybe you look good in that dress?

[*]"I don't think this food tastes good." Does this mean maybe it maybe tastes good? Heck, maybe it is the speaker's favorite food ever!

I realize the confusion of using the word "think". But don't let the confusion lead you down to the wrong answer. Saying "think" does not imply a maybe.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: dullard

Originally posted by: Soviet
Kinda means maybe. A better answer would have been "I dont think so, *let me check for you*"

Maybe = I'm not sure. This person was certain and confident with the words as written. Thus, this clearly was not a maybe. Of course, tone can't be posted, so I can't comment on the tone.

[*]"I don't think you look good in that dress." Does this mean maybe you look good in that dress?

[*]"I don't think this food tastes good." Does this mean maybe it maybe tastes good? Heck, maybe it is the speaker's favorite food ever!

I realize the confusion of using the word "think". But don't let the confusion lead you down to the wrong answer. Saying "think" does not imply a maybe.

"I don't think so" in this context means something to the effect of "Not that I'm aware of, but I'm not absolutely certain." It does not mean no, but it can be assumed to mean no given that it is likely that the employee would be aware of Blu-Ray and HD-DVDs if they were in the store. It does not mean the employee is certain that there are none as you are saying. The two examples you've given are statements of opinion, not a statement of fact like in the OP's situation. Different context, different meaning.

 

[marulee]

New technology..new to some people I guess.

 

[elektrolokomotive]

Only in ATOT could we mercilessly dissect something so amazingly trivial.

 

[Reckoner]

OP, I'm sure you knew both formats intricately the day they were unveiled :disgust:


These are still very new formats, which haven't caught on to the mainstream yet (if ever). Since you seem to know so much about blu-ray, why not educate them next time? Awareness is key if you want Blu-Ray or HD-DVD to stabilize as a medium.

 

[dullard]

Originally posted by: mugs
"I don't think so" in this context means something to the effect of "Not that I'm aware of, but I'm not absolutely certain." It does not mean no, but it can be assumed to mean no given that it is likely that the employee would be aware of Blu-Ray and HD-DVDs if they were in the store. It does not mean the employee is certain that there are none as you are saying. The two examples you've given are statements of opinion, not a statement of fact like in the OP's situation. Different context, different meaning.

Same context, same meaning. If you want different context you have to compare that sentence to a current piece of information vs a future piece of information.

"Do you have XYZ in stock now". "I don't think so." This means no it is not in stock. There is no "maybe" about that answer.

"Do you have XYZ in the next 5-years". "I don't think so." Since this is asking an unanswerable question, there is a "maybe" about that answer. The answer is probably no, but the situation may change. A change in the situation will of course change the answer. Thus even a definate "Yes" or "no" answer even carries a "maybe" component.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: dullard

Originally posted by: mugs
"I don't think so" in this context means something to the effect of "Not that I'm aware of, but I'm not absolutely certain." It does not mean no, but it can be assumed to mean no given that it is likely that the employee would be aware of Blu-Ray and HD-DVDs if they were in the store. It does not mean the employee is certain that there are none as you are saying. The two examples you've given are statements of opinion, not a statement of fact like in the OP's situation. Different context, different meaning.

Same context, same meaning. If you want different context you have to compare that sentence to a current piece of information vs a future piece of information.

"Do you have XYZ in stock now". "I don't think so." This means no it is not in stock. There is no "maybe" about that answer.

"Do you have XYZ in the next 5-years". "I don't think so." Since this is asking an unanswerable question, there is a "maybe" about that answer. The answer is probably no, but the situation may change. A change in the situation will of course change the answer. Thus even a definate "Yes" or "no" answer even carries a "maybe" component.

No, it is not the same context, I explained it very well. You gave two examples of statements of opinion. That is clearly a different context than a statement of fact.

Are you not a native English speaker? I don't see how this could confuse a person who has spoken English for their entire life. Have you not ever asked a person for a yes or no answer, they responded with "I don't think so" and the correct answer turned out to be yes? I know I have. There is no certainty in "I don't think so." It is a best guess - the person believes that the answer is no, but is not confident in that answer.

You have a real problem with accepting when you are wrong. I've noticed this in other threads. You're not always right. Get over it.