A  RANT

Am finishing up a few big projects now, two of which required me to replace appliances to get the houses ready for sale.

Although I always prefer to go to smaller, local stores I need a lot of things for these jobs, so thinking well, OK< maybe the NAMELESS  BIG BOX  STORE  will save me some time.

Here is the condensed version of my experience that actually took place over 3 days.

ME: What-an appliance sale? 10% off , and YOU’RE  KIDDING-another 10% off for opening and using your store’s charge card??

NAMELESS BIG BOX STORE: YES!!

ME: (Thinking now)-HMMMM-that could be a lot of money on a bunch of appliances. Clients hire me to help make decisions that are in their best interest. Putting my personal views aside, if I can save them some dollars on a known entity, I will.

ME: (Talking)  Sign me up!!

NAMELESS BIG BOX STORE: OK!

ME: (Afterwards, looking at the bill, finding 10% only off on appliances over a certain dollar volume, and other 10% off is only on the first item on my purchase)  Please cancel this order.

Then– (sound of dialing on new smart phone)- “Hello, Bergers?”

A  RAVE

Berger’s Appliances has been in the same location, on Commerce Street in Hawthorne since the early 60’s. Opened by Ernie Berger Sr., his sons Ernie Jr. and Bob went on to run the place, and Ernie still puts time in there.

The showroom is not fancy, it pretty much looks the same way I remember it did in the 60’s when my parents were buying a new fridge.  Showing an uncanny awareness of good value, even at that tender age, I remembered urging them to purchase this one model that-CAN YOU BELIEVE IT-came with a free butter dish!!

They represent the entire spectrum of brand-name appliances-nothing odd, old, or questionable; and their specialty is, simply knowing what they are talking about. They do not BS the customers.

Their sales staff has been there for years, and many travel from quite a distance.  My salesman-Jim K. -there are two Jims- is younger than I am, travels from Red Hook, and has been there almost 30 years!!  When I walked into the showroom unannounced, 6 years after Doug and I bought our new kitchen appliances, he not only recognized me, he remembered where I was working at the time!

Everything is always free delivery, and free haul-away.  Every. Thing. Every. Day.

They will price and give you print-outs of the product, and these print-outs are tied into a data base, which will advise you of any rebates for the product. And they let you walk out of the store to think about it.

A  RIDDLE

Knock, knock!!

Who’s there?

ORANGE

Orange WHO?

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ORANGE YOU GLAD I TOLD YOU ABOUT BERGERS??