Fred "FLY" L.'s Profile

If you enjoy the same sales tactics used at bad used car lots or time shares - this is your place.  The product we bought was great, we are happy with it; the experience was dismal.

About me; I'm pretty cheap, rarely buy electronics, and hate not getting what was expected.  I don't buy LG (poor experiences with refrigerators, washer/dryers, and a dishwasher) and won't purchase from Best Buy after all of our failed interactions over LG products.

I set out to purchase a new TV several weeks ago;
1.  I was set on a model from Wal-Mart (known brand, easy return policy if you have an issue).  Wal-Mart was out of stock.

2.  En route to the 2nd Wal-Mart, we stopped by HH Gregg.  I had heard their sales people were knowledgeable, and they had a deal available in the Sunday paper.

3.  Deal listed in Sunday paper was not available.  Our engagement is beginning with a bait and switch.  Mentioning 'Bait and Switch' elicits a response as if we have stabbed someone.

4.  Sales person shows us a second deal, very attractive, but neither of the components are in stock.  Bait and switch v2.  At this point, we start to walk out; this is just ridiculous.

5.  Put a deal in front of us on a good TV, good price (compared to BestBuy and WMT) and everything except for the entertainment cabinet is in stock.  Decide to purchase TV, Blu-Ray and cabinet.

6.  We are told by the manager that we must purchase their 'Service' agreement.  Really?!? Call him on his bluff by saying we will walk out.
6.1.  Side note = we are well versed in service agreements and how worthless they are.  Know more than average from past Best Buy experiences.  HHGregg's service cost was very expensive (2x Best Buy), and when asked who did the service, they immediately admitted it was a 3rd party.  Probably the same 3rd party they all use, that you can call and get go your house more quickly and efficiently than they can.

7.  Get TV home.  Cabinet shows up later in the day as hoped.  Very happy with both.

8.  Reason we bought the Blu-Ray, was TV was internet ready, but according to sales person, it required the Blu-Ray for internet services to work.  This didn't sound right, and directly contradicted claims on the box, but purchased it anyway.  TV works fine without Blu-Ray.  Decision is to return Blu-Ray.

9.  On receipt the TV and Blu-Ray are bundled together, despite the fact that this was not the case at time of purchase.  Shame on us for not catching this.  Manager plays expected, "You must return both."  Nope.  Blu-Ray is sitting 5 feet away listed at same price it was on day we walked in ($215.47).  

10.  Manager claims price on TV that day was $200 less than what we paid; what we paid had been $300 less than price listed on the TV.

11. Manager decides to be 'gracious' after we bring up that American Express (which we used to pay) would probably agree with us.  

At the end of this, I am happy with the product (internet enabled TV is very cool) and the price.  However, the experience was just ridiculous.  Every used car, sleazy trick they could throw at you.  When people say their sales people are "knowledgeable" I take that to mean, "They are on commission and will tell you what you need to hear to spend more money."

Taco's Esmerelda is a taco truck that sets up every day for lunch between 11 AM and 2 PM at the intersection of McCrimmon Parkway and Davis Commons Drive near the entrance to Twin Lakes development.  

She shows up Monday - Friday, I'm not sure if she is there on the weekends.  She says she does not come during the evenings and she doesn't have another location.  She does not come if it is raining.

There is usually a small line.  The food is good; all tacos prepared while you wait.  She can do a quesadilla if you make the request.

Gotta' love Five Guys.  This restaurant is currently in a lousy location due to new construction, but it is worth the effort to find.

Took my young son here for lunch (he loves the one back home) and had a great meal.  

Note:
I have Celiac disease and follow a wheat / gluten free diet.  Like Five Guys says on their website - no gluten anywhere but the bun!

My wife and I have been going to Dr. Service as our dentist for almost 8 years now.  He's got a good practice located in North Durham. Here's why we like him;

1.  IT SAVVY.  He's got his office very well organized.  Calendar, reviews, etc. are all well handled, very little paper.

2.  CLEAN TEETH.  He's got great oral hygenists.  One of them even splits her time with a pediatric dentistry group.

3.  KID FRIENDLY.  He made a little mold of our 2 year old's hand and suggested he come watch us get our teeth cleaned a few times so that his first experience with a dentist wasn't just sitting in the chair.

4.  ON TIME.  You get in, you get out, teeth are cleaned.

He's a great dentist, we highly recommend him.

I'm very disappointed you guys dropped the National Elite squad for 2009.  Those of us who aren't in your major markets feel a little left out not being able to earn the tag!

We've eaten here regularly since it opened.  We love this restaurant and highly recommend it.

1.  MENU.  They've got a great menu.  All the major kinds of curry and pad thai.  Great appetizers too.

2.  FULL BAR.  They've got everything you'd ever need, including a long list of sake.

3.  CURRY.   I love the yellow, green and red.  They are all great.

4.  SHRIMP MASSAMAN.  My wife loves the shrimp massaman which is available in two sizes.  

This is a great spot in a great little area for restaurants.

NOTE:  I've got celiac disease and follow a wheat / gluten free diet.  Their curries are gluten free.

Cherries is clearly a local favorite, and I expect many others in the Winston-Salem area will provide it with a higher review.  However, I don't think most of their clientele is computer savvy, or for that matter, has heard of the Internet.

1.  FOOD.  Cherries is a chicken and dessert spot.  

2.  MENU.  We were there for lunch and the menu had less than 10 items.  My colleague got the shrimp-melt (like a tuna melt, with shrimp), and I got a stuffed potato.

3.  SALAD.  They are well known for their salads and salad dressing.  Neither were on the menu.  A side salad came with my stuffed potato lunch.

4.  DESERT.  They had at least 7 items on their desert list.

5.  AMBIANCE.  The decor is eclectic at best and looks like it was taken from a 1995 beach house.  There is a good deal of clutter, not the clutter you'd see at a TGI Friday's, more like the clutter you'd see at a plastic recycling area.  

6.  SEATING.  The place was packed when we got there.  We got the last seat.  We heard this was normal.  We were easily the youngest people in there and there weren't more than five men.

Cherries is clearly a local favorite; if I lived nearby it seems like the perfect place to take a favorite Aunt or relative.  The salad was good, but not great.  I'd gladly go back if others wanted to, but it left me no burning desire to return.

NOTES:
I have Celiac disease and follow a wheat / gluten free diet.  I asked a lot of questions, and they didn't have many answers.

My in-laws were members here for many years and we continue to have many friends in Culpeper who are members here.

1.  LOCATION.  It is right in the middle of Culpeper.  There is a scenic little club house overlooking the woods and traditional rolling Virginia hills.

2.  FOOD.  We've had just about every meal here, holidays, after church brunch, lunches, dinners and wedding receptions.  They've had a reliable chef for the past several years and they deliver consistent food.

3.  EVENTS.  We've been to several receptions here that were all tastefully done.

4.  GOLF.  I've never played the course but everyone said it makes for a good round.

I stayed here for a conference over two nights in the winter.

1.  ROOMS.  The room is clean, quiet and dark.  

2.  HIGH SPEED.  They had free high speed internet.

3.  STAFF.  The staff was helpful.

4.  BREAKFAST.  They had the egg biscuit type free breakfast that was good.  

This is a reasonably priced hotel near the heart of Salt Lake City that I'd gladly go back to.

Chipotle is always good.

They are gluten free in everything but their tortillas.  Great place!