A Design Guy - by Steve Thompson

I received an interesting email regarding customers abusing a stores generous Return Policy. I thought to myself, “Who would ever do that?” Then I thought to myself, “Have I ever abused a stores Return Policy?” Let me think for a moment…have I, ever? EVER?Yes, I think I have.Egads! The truth.But how…when…whose?I think it was probably a return to Target, before they got so … Read More

CUSTOMER SERVICE: Part III Oh, my gosh! Had I known how many people would contact me about the lack of customer service in this world, I would have written this series long ago! Is customer service dead? I think not! There’s even a “Dummie” book on the subject, Customer Service for Dummies? Customer service will never be dead as long … Read More

CUSTOMER SERVICE: Part II Expectations for Customer Service (and Life)! I want to address the concept of a “customer having the same experience” every time they visit a Starbucks store, and let’s look at the components of that experience as it relates to our expectations. Now, I think expectations are resentments waiting to happen. How so? Well first it means … Read More

Nothing upsets me more than to feel like I haven’t received even marginal customer service. QUESTION: Which is Worse? Receiving no customer service, or bad customer service? ANSWER: To me, they’re one in the same. Today’s post is an official soapbox of the Design Guy. There is no excuse for the lack of, or a replacement for, common decency and … Read More

Epilogue part II of II: Cartier and America This is the epilogue (I swear!) to the three part series on the incredible CARTIER and AMERICA exhibit at the Palace of the Legion of Honor in San Francisco, CA. The show runs through April 18, 2010 Above: An artists rendering of the Cartier, New York store. Cartier, founded in Paris in … Read More

Part I 0f III: CARTIER and AMERICAOn the Friday after New Years Eve, we made our way to the CARTIER and AMERICA show at the Palace of the Legion of Honor Museum (exhibit open thru April 18th). The show was absolutely amazing, and was much better than I could have possibly imagine, and it would be worth the trip just … Read More

Baker Fall/Winter Market

Part VII of VII: Sonoma Valley Wine Tour

By late afternoon, we were back on I-10 West, and headed for home (actually after we made one more important stop at the Desert Hills/Cabazon Outlet Malls, in Cabazon, CA). For miles we passed through the somewhat eerie looking electricity generating windmills, on our way to the Fields Road Exit for the outlet malls (a 20 minute drive East of … Read More

ADVENTURES IN MOVING A (MY) COLLEGE STUDENT! It was Day 3, and we we’re really almost done with the move! Hooray! The next morning we slept in til 9:00 A.M., on purpose this time, nor did we have an annoying wake up call! We took our time at our favorite breakfast buffet, in the poolside dining room (included in the … Read More