Exceptionally Bad Experiences in Either World
Advice for Waiters
100 Things Restaurant Staffers Should Never Do (Part 1 & 2)
Author: Bruce Buschel Source: New York Times
Herewith is a modest list of dos and don’ts for servers at the seafood restaurant I am building. Veteran waiters, moonlighting actresses, libertarians and baristas will no doubt protest some or most of what follows. They will claim it homogenizes them or stifles their true nature. And yet, if 100 different actors play Hamlet, hitting all the same marks, reciting all the same lines, cannot each one bring something unique to that role?
1. Do not let anyone enter the restaurant without a warm greeting.
2. Do not make a singleton feel bad. Do not say, “Are you waiting for someone?” Ask for a reservation. Ask if he or she would like to sit at the bar.
3. Never refuse to seat three guests because a fourth has not yet arrived.
4. If a table is not ready within a reasonable length of time, offer a free drink and/or amuse-bouche. The guests may be tired and hungry and thirsty, and they did everything right.
5. Tables should be level without anyone asking. Fix it before guests are seated.
6. Do not lead the witness with, “Bottled water or just tap?” Both are fine. Remain neutral.
7. Do not announce your name. No jokes, no flirting, no cuteness.
8. Do not interrupt a conversation. For any reason. Especially not to recite specials. Wait for the right moment.
9. Do not recite the specials too fast or robotically or dramatically. It is not a soliloquy. This is not an audition.
10. Do not inject your personal favorites when explaining the specials.
11. Do not hustle the lobsters. That is, do not say, “We only have two lobsters left.” Even if there are only two lobsters left.
12. Do not touch the rim of a water glass. Or any other glass.
13. Handle wine glasses by their stems and silverware by the handles.
14. When you ask, “How’s everything?” or “How was the meal?” listen to the answer and fix whatever is not right.
15. Never say “I don’t know” to any question without following with, “I’ll find out.”
16. If someone requests more sauce or gravy or cheese, bring a side dish of same. No pouring. Let them help themselves.
17. Do not take an empty plate from one guest while others are still eating the same course. Wait, wait, wait.
18. Know before approaching a table who has ordered what. Do not ask, “Who’s having the shrimp?”
19. Offer guests butter and/or olive oil with their bread.
20. Never refuse to substitute one vegetable for another.
21. Never serve anything that looks creepy or runny or wrong.
22. If someone is unsure about a wine choice, help him. That might mean sending someone else to the table or offering a taste or two.
23. If someone likes a wine, steam the label off the bottle and give it to the guest with the bill. It has the year, the vintner, the importer, etc.
24. Never use the same glass for a second drink.
25. Make sure the glasses are clean. Inspect them before placing them on the table.
26. Never assume people want their white wine in an ice bucket. Inquire.
27. For red wine, ask if the guests want to pour their own or prefer the waiter to pour.
28. Do not put your hands all over the spout of a wine bottle while removing the cork.
29. Do not pop a champagne cork. Remove it quietly, gracefully. The less noise the better.
30. Never let the wine bottle touch the glass into which you are pouring. No one wants to drink the dust or dirt from the bottle.
31. Never remove a plate full of food without asking what went wrong. Obviously, something went wrong.
32. Never touch a customer. No excuses. Do not do it. Do not brush them, move them, wipe them or dust them.
33. Do not bang into chairs or tables when passing by.
34. Do not have a personal conversation with another server within earshot of customers.
35. Do not eat or drink in plain view of guests.
36. Never reek from perfume or cigarettes. People want to smell the food and beverage.
37. Do not drink alcohol on the job, even if invited by the guests. “Not when I’m on duty” will suffice.
38.Do not call a guy a “dude.”
39. Do not call a woman “lady.”
40. Never say, “Good choice,” implying that other choices are bad.
41. Saying, “No problem” is a problem. It has a tone of insincerity or sarcasm. “My pleasure” or “You’re welcome” will do.
42. Do not compliment a guest’s attire or hairdo or makeup. You are insulting someone else.
43. Never mention what your favorite dessert is. It’s irrelevant.
44. Do not discuss your own eating habits, be you vegan or lactose intolerant or diabetic.
45. Do not curse, no matter how young or hip the guests.
46. Never acknowledge any one guest over and above any other. All guests are equal.
47. Do not gossip about co-workers or guests within earshot of guests.
48. Do not ask what someone is eating or drinking when they ask for more; remember or consult the order.
49. Never mention the tip, unless asked.
50. Do not turn on the charm when it’s tip time. Be consistent throughout.
This is the second half of the 100 do’s and don’ts from last week’s post. Again, this list is for one particular restaurant, mine, which is under construction in Bridgehampton, N.Y., and will, with any luck, open this spring. I realize that every deli needs a wisecracking waiter, most pizza joints can handle heavy metal, and burgers always taste better when delivered by a server with tattoos and tongue piercing(s).
Not even a hundred suggestions can cover all the bases, so one is grateful for the many comments following the 50, including striking “you guys” from the restaurant lexicon and making sure the alcohol order is taken lickety-split. Thanks for all of the help.
51. If there is a service charge, alert your guests when you present the bill. It’s not a secret or a trick.
52. Know your menu inside and out. If you serve Balsam Farm candy-striped beets, know something about Balsam Farm and candy-striped beets.
53. Do not let guests double-order unintentionally; remind the guest who orders ratatouille that zucchini comes with the entree.
54. If there is a prix fixe, let guests know about it. Do not force anyone to ask for the “special” menu.
55. Do not serve an amuse-bouche without detailing the ingredients. Allergies are a serious matter; peanut oil can kill. (This would also be a good time to ask if anyone has any allergies.)
56. Do not ignore a table because it is not your table. Stop, look, listen, lend a hand. (Whether tips are pooled or not.)
57. Bring the pepper mill with the appetizer. Do not make people wait or beg for a condiment.
58. Do not bring judgment with the ketchup. Or mustard. Or hot sauce. Or whatever condiment is requested.
59. Do not leave place settings that are not being used.
60. Bring all the appetizers at the same time, or do not bring the appetizers. Same with entrees and desserts.
61. Do not stand behind someone who is ordering. Make eye contact. Thank him or her.
62. Do not fill the water glass every two minutes, or after each sip. You’ll make people nervous.
62(a). Do not let a glass sit empty for too long.
63. Never blame the chef or the busboy or the hostess or the weather for anything that goes wrong. Just make it right.
64. Specials, spoken and printed, should always have prices.
65. Always remove used silverware and replace it with new.
66. Do not return to the guest anything that falls on the floor — be it napkin, spoon, menu or soy sauce.
67. Never stack the plates on the table. They make a racket. Shhhhhh.
68. Do not reach across one guest to serve another.
69. If a guest is having trouble making a decision, help out. If someone wants to know your life story, keep it short. If someone wants to meet the chef, make an effort.
70. Never deliver a hot plate without warning the guest. And never ask a guest to pass along that hot plate.
71. Do not race around the dining room as if there is a fire in the kitchen or a medical emergency. (Unless there is a fire in the kitchen or a medical emergency.)
72. Do not serve salad on a freezing cold plate; it usually advertises the fact that it has not been freshly prepared.
73. Do not bring soup without a spoon. Few things are more frustrating than a bowl of hot soup with no spoon.
74. Let the guests know the restaurant is out of something before the guests read the menu and order the missing dish.
75. Do not ask if someone is finished when others are still eating that course.
76. Do not ask if a guest is finished the very second the guest is finished. Let guests digest, savor, reflect.
77. Do not disappear.
78. Do not ask, “Are you still working on that?” Dining is not work — until questions like this are asked.
79. When someone orders a drink “straight up,” determine if he wants it “neat” — right out of the bottle — or chilled. Up is up, but “straight up” is debatable.
80. Never insist that a guest settle up at the bar before sitting down; transfer the tab.
81. Know what the bar has in stock before each meal.
82. If you drip or spill something, clean it up, replace it, offer to pay for whatever damage you may have caused. Refrain from touching the wet spots on the guest.
83. Ask if your guest wants his coffee with dessert or after. Same with an after-dinner drink.
84. Do not refill a coffee cup compulsively. Ask if the guest desires a refill.
84(a). Do not let an empty coffee cup sit too long before asking if a refill is desired.
85. Never bring a check until someone asks for it. Then give it to the person who asked for it.
86. If a few people signal for the check, find a neutral place on the table to leave it.
87. Do not stop your excellent service after the check is presented or paid.
88. Do not ask if a guest needs change. Just bring the change.
89. Never patronize a guest who has a complaint or suggestion; listen, take it seriously, address it.
90. If someone is getting agitated or effusive on a cellphone, politely suggest he keep it down or move away from other guests.
91. If someone complains about the music, do something about it, without upsetting the ambiance. (The music is not for the staff — it’s for the customers.)
92. Never play a radio station with commercials or news or talking of any kind.
93. Do not play brass — no brassy Broadway songs, brass bands, marching bands, or big bands that feature brass, except a muted flugelhorn.
94. Do not play an entire CD of any artist. If someone doesn’t like Frightened Rabbit or Michael Bublé, you have just ruined a meal.
95. Never hover long enough to make people feel they are being watched or hurried, especially when they are figuring out the tip or signing for the check.
96. Do not say anything after a tip — be it good, bad, indifferent — except, “Thank you very much.”
97. If a guest goes gaga over a particular dish, get the recipe for him or her.
98. Do not wear too much makeup or jewelry. You know you have too much jewelry when it jingles and/or draws comments.
99. Do not show frustration. Your only mission is to serve. Be patient. It is not easy.
100. Guests, like servers, come in all packages. Show a “good table” your appreciation with a free glass of port, a plate of biscotti or something else management approves.
Bonus Track: As Bill Gates has said, “Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning.” (Of course, Microsoft is one of the most litigious companies in history, so one can take Mr. Gates’s counsel with a grain of salt. Gray sea salt is a nice addition to any table.)
Linden Lab Post Midnight Support
Photocredits: http://catalystxxx.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/giving-the-finger.jpg
Linden Labs - Burning Life
Trouble Ticket Filed on 2008-09-24 at Linden Labs
On 2008/09/20 Talia Tokugawa acting for Linden Labs demanded that I remove these items from my exhibit and not replace them (Chat log appended). After I refused to take them down as I regard them as political speech protected under the California Constitution (but unlinked them) Talia Tokugawa returned them. She alleged that they "promoted racism" and were "broadly offensive" and threatened me with "The G Team" which is apparently LL's TOS enforcement service. She asserted that she had reported me for a TOS violation and implied that she was directly in contact with "the GTeam" over this, with the clear inference that I could be banned from SL for a breach of the TOS. I requested a contact number for the G-Team and was informed that they would be in contact with me. I have waited a more than reasonable period given the pressure of the opening day of the Burning Life exposition and have heard nothing.
I do not believe I violated the TOS in any manner by quoting statements made by or attributed to Vice Presidential candiate Sarah Palin. I regard this action as a clear infringement of my right to engage in protected political speech in a public forum, as censorship of my artistic expression and due to the possibly actualized threat to "report me to the G-team" where the outcome is uncertain but the possibility of being banned appears definitely present - and would lead to serious consequences for a sim owning non-profit, The Smarter Earth Institute, which I represent here in SL (and the sim for which, SmarterEarth, is registered to me) - comprises a massive and effective example of prior restraint.
I request that Linden Labs:
* determine that this was protected political speech and communicate same to me.
* confirm that I can engage in protected speech without harrassment including replacing the items removed from my exhibit.
* instruct Talia Tokugawa, Linden Lab's staff and representatives not to harrass me or anyone else for engaging in protected political speech.
* instruct Talia Tokugawa, Linden Lab's staff and representatives not to threaten people with banning for engaging in protected political speech on private property held open to the public.
* instruct Talia Tokugawa, Linden Lab's staff and representatives not to return objects that do not violate the TOS and which constitute relevant political speech.
* act speedily on these issues in order that I may complete my exhibit in time for the opening as I have now lost several days while waiting on communication from Linden Labs regarding this matter.
All communication with me will be logged, will be copied to my attorneys and others and may be published.
Yours Sincerely
Name Omitted
Chat log
I have suppressed simultaneous IMs, on-line/off-line notices and announcements from prims from this chat log. In addition, I wear a simultaneous translator (into French) which I have also suppressed. Philos Kidd was an unbelieving bystander who logged this to a notecard at my request in order to have an independent witness.
I assert all rights to this content, and am releasing it under the Creative Commons, for attribution, non-commercial. share-alike.
[2008/09/20 17:46] Hermit Barber: Just the person I need to see! Talia?
[2008/09/20 17:46] Philos Kidd: hello talia
[2008/09/20 17:46] Hermit Barber: I quite literally have the BL group up on my screen to get the spelling of your name :-)
[2008/09/20 17:46] Tom32 Anatine: hi everyone
[2008/09/20 17:46] Philos Kidd: hello tom
[2008/09/20 17:47] Hermit Barber: What do I need to do to make my rezzers operate correctly?
[2008/09/20 17:47] Hermit Barber: Please don't say deed to group.
[2008/09/20 17:47] Talia Tokugawa: okay I won't
[2008/09/20 17:47] Hermit Barber: *grins*
[2008/09/20 17:48] Hermit Barber: They work fine if I am in sim or have recently been in sim and am still in cache. But then they stop working.
[2008/09/20 17:50] Talia Tokugawa: sooo
[2008/09/20 17:51] Tom32 Anatine: yes talia?
[2008/09/20 17:51] Talia Tokugawa: that statemen on teh wall?
[2008/09/20 17:51] Hermit Barber: Nods
[2008/09/20 17:51] Talia Tokugawa: thats a tos
[2008/09/20 17:52] Hermit Barber: Quoting peopl;e is a TOS?
[2008/09/20 17:52] Hermit Barber: She didn't say it inm IM AFAIK?
[2008/09/20 17:52] Hermit Barber: It is on video.
[2008/09/20 17:52] Talia Tokugawa: you wish to remove it and we will let the g-team decide that?
[2008/09/20 17:52] Hermit Barber: Which one?
[2008/09/20 17:52] Talia Tokugawa: it's a promotion of racisim
[2008/09/20 17:52] Hermit Barber: What?
[2008/09/20 17:53] Talia Tokugawa: you need to remove both
[2008/09/20 17:53] Hermit Barber: How can showing that somebody running for an important office is possibly a racist equivalent to promoting racism?
[2008/09/20 17:54] Talia Tokugawa: whats you source?
[2008/09/20 17:54] Hermit Barber: Would you care to hold on a moment please.
[2008/09/20 17:54] Talia Tokugawa: you need to remove both now or I return them
[2008/09/20 17:55] Philos Kidd: is stunned
[2008/09/20 17:55] Hermit Barber: They are both unlinked from the build.
[2008/09/20 17:56] Second Life: Your 2 objects have been returned to your inventory lost and found folder by Talia Tokugawa near parcel '109' at Burning Life (Hydro) 102, 3 due to parcel owner return.
[2008/09/20 17:57] Philos Kidd: guess I will have to rethink my build now lest it be censored
[2008/09/20 17:57] Talia Tokugawa: please don't replace them or anything like them..
[2008/09/20 17:57] Hermit Barber: As this happened in open channel, I will be quoting itas far and wide as I can.
[2008/09/20 17:58] Hermit Barber: Oh I will do a new exhibit featuring your censorship of burning life.
[2008/09/20 17:58] Hermit Barber: I'm really impressed.
[2008/09/20 17:59] Hermit Barber: And BTWE, you have not yet answered my technical question.
[2008/09/20 17:59] Talia Tokugawa: you still havn't answered mine on what your source was?
[2008/09/20 17:59] Hermit Barber: I am getting my source and missed yours.
[2008/09/20 18:01] Second Life: Your object 'bl tornado v4' has been returned to your inventory lost and found folder by Talia Tokugawa from parcel '109' at Burning Life (Hydro) 73, 11 due to parcel owner return.
[2008/09/20 18:01] Hermit Barber: http://edkrebs.com/herb/index.htm
[2008/09/20 18:03] Hermit Barber: Rats
[2008/09/20 18:05] Hermit Barber: Would you regard this as "promoting racism"
[2008/09/20 18:14] Hermit Barber: I have a stand at Burning Life. It had two posters up quoting Sarah Palin. The one was ""Todd and I talked about Hurricane Katrina as God's way of cleansing New Orleans of the blacks who have sinned, the Bible predicted it" Sarah Palin (2005)" and the other ""Todd and I talked about Hurricane Katrina as God's way of cleansing New Orleans of the blacks who have sinned, the Bible predicted it" Sarah Palin (2005). After I refused to take them down (but unlinked them) Talia Tokugawa returned them. She alleged that the latter "promoted racism" and threatned me with "The G Team" I am logging the entire conversation nd will forward it to every free speech site I can think of.
[2008/09/20 18:14] Hermit Barber: Repeating myself. Excuse me
[2008/09/20 18:15] Hermit Barber: I'm still waiting for your answer on the rezzer Talia
[2008/09/20 18:16] Talia Tokugawa: the answer on the rezzer is that no it won't work
[2008/09/20 18:16] Marianne Levasseur: Crashing... BRB.
[2008/09/20 18:17] Talia Tokugawa: thought that was kinda implied from the first time you asked me about it... when you told me not to say ;)
[2008/09/20 18:17] Hermit Barber: Ah, ok. Deed to group is the only answer.
[2008/09/20 18:19] Hermit Barber: But deed to group is not enabled.
[2008/09/20 18:19] Talia Tokugawa: right
[2008/09/20 18:24] Hermit Barber: So, how do I make my rezzers operate correctly?
[2008/09/20 18:25] Tom32 Anatine: Hermit: as for all other artists, you would not be able to use rezzers due to the security settings of the estate.
[2008/09/20 18:25] Hermit Barber: I see.
[2008/09/20 18:26] Hermit Barber: And is artistic expression and political speech now being supressed throught Burning Life?
[2008/09/20 18:27] Hermit Barber: I need to know who the ACLU needs to contact.
[2008/09/20 18:27] Hermit Barber: Is there a phone number where they can reach your side of the story?
[2008/09/20 18:27] Tom32 Anatine: if the expression carried in the political statement is considered to be of rasistic nature or broadly offensive, such a statement would generally not be allowed in all Second Life
[2008/09/20 18:28] Hermit Barber: Of course. But quoting a vice presidential nominee cannot be regarded as either.
[2008/09/20 18:28] Talia Tokugawa: this is out of our hands now...
[2008/09/20 18:28] Hermit Barber: There is protection for political speech in the USA.
[2008/09/20 18:28] Talia Tokugawa: g-team is now dealing with it
[2008/09/20 18:28] Hermit Barber: Amd Linden Labs in undeniably in the USA.
[2008/09/20 18:30] Hermit Barber: In that case who at Linden Labs should the ACLU be contacting?
[2008/09/20 18:31] Talia Tokugawa: I don't know but I can ask if you want.
[2008/09/20 18:31] Hermit Barber: Please do.
[2008/09/20 18:35] Hermit Barber: And this is a Linden Labs sponsored occassion is it not?
[2008/09/20 18:35] Talia Tokugawa: supported yeah
[2008/09/20 18:40] Talia Tokugawa: okies... I should go... this seemed a like a highly controvertial situation. It's our job to flag such things and g-team to deal with the situation. This has gone to gteam... there is not much more I can do... I have passed your request for contact info "up the line" and someone should be in contact.
[2008/09/20 18:45] Talia Tokugawa: please don't replace them until the results are through from the g-team
[2008/09/20 18:47] Hermit Barber: I did not intend to. My involvement in SL goes far beyond my right as a resident of the USA and an artist making a statement about the nightmare it has become.
[2008/09/20 18:49] Hermit Barber: And Linden Labs supression of that right is I think a substantial story. I wish to be here to cover it :-)
[2008/09/20 18:51] Talia Tokugawa: okay well that decision will be linden labs decision. I have just flagged it as something to look into.
[2008/09/20 18:51] Hermit Barber: No Talia.
[2008/09/20 18:52] Hermit Barber: You issued clear threats, returned items, and then contradicted your earlier statements with your actions.
[2008/09/20 18:52] Hermit Barber: Shrugs.
[2008/09/20 18:52] Hermit Barber: It is out of your hands.
[2008/09/20 18:53] Talia Tokugawa: and indeed on that your are right.. it's now out of my hands...
[2008/09/20 18:54] Talia Tokugawa: I need to go. Someone should be in contact with you over this.
[2008/09/20 18:55] Tom32 Anatine: bye bye talia
[2008/09/20 18:55] Hermit Barber: I very much hope so. You were getting me the name and number of the contact person
[2008/09/20 18:56] Talia Tokugawa: I said I passed your request up.
[2008/09/20 18:56] Cube Republic: hi
[2008/09/20 18:56] Philos Kidd: sry brb
[2008/09/20 18:56] Philos Kidd: afk
[2008/09/20 18:56] Talia Tokugawa: If it is me that is given the details I will pass them to you. I do not have them at the moment
[2008/09/20 18:57] Talia Tokugawa: *waves*
[2008/09/20 18:57] Tom32 Anatine: *waves back*
[2008/09/20 18:58] Hermit Barber: Thank-you
[2008/09/20 18:58] Tom32 Anatine: hermit, another quesiton... does this nice stargate work actually?
[2008/09/20 18:58] Hermit Barber: Yes
[2008/09/20 18:58] Hermit Barber: Walk into it
[2008/09/20 18:58] Tom32 Anatine: woah, where does it take one to?
[2008/09/20 18:58] Hermit Barber: It will give you the map.
[2008/09/20 18:58] Hermit Barber: L:ast place I came from
[2008/09/20 18:58] Tom32 Anatine: ah and what is to be found there if I may ask?
[2008/09/20 18:59] PORTAL Stargate whispers: If the map doesn't appear, please touch the portal, then click TELEPORT on the map to travel.
[2008/09/20 18:59] PORTAL Stargate whispers: If the map doesn't appear, please touch the portal, then click TELEPORT on the map to travel.
[2008/09/20 18:59] Hermit Barber: At the moment SmarterEarth's Museum of Earth Friendly Technology. A work in progress.
[2008/09/20 18:59] PORTAL Stargate whispers: If the map doesn't appear, please touch the portal, then click TELEPORT on the map to travel.
[2008/09/20 19:00] Tom32 Anatine: ah coo, but do you think that such would work on the Playa out there in the Nevada High Desert?
[2008/09/20 19:01] Hermit Barber: This one will vaniosh if I move away from it, but I have others that would work anywhere.
[2008/09/20 19:01] Tom32 Anatine: ah so once you leave here it is gone, it is not a permanent piece of your installation?
[2008/09/20 19:01] Hermit Barber: In Nevada it would lead to the person logging into SL one assumes.
[2008/09/20 19:01] Hermit Barber: Correct Tom
[2008/09/20 19:02] Hermit Barber: If you are looking for other items to complain about, please tell me so directly instead of approaching it laterally like some kind of demented crab.
[2008/09/20 19:03] Tom32 Anatine: ah cool then, see Burning Life tries to get as realistic and close to Burning Man as possible, and since you cannot just zap yourself thousands miles far in RL, this would not work here either, but if you remove it once you leave and just use it right now for creative reason that is cool
[2008/09/20 19:03] Hermit Barber: Good.
[2008/09/20 19:04] Tom32 Anatine: we do that everywhere and not just for you, it is just to keep up the spirit of having crossed the line, of being somewhere out there without any ability to just easily return
[2008/09/20 19:05] Tom32 Anatine: thanks for your understanding and have a nice night, I will be leaving for now
[2008/09/20 19:05] Cube Republic: lol
Build Destroyed by having Items Returned in Pieces Without Warning or Discussion
The next thing was that on 2008-09-24 items from my exhibit were returned - in pieces - by Tom32 Anatine. This was not preceded by, nor followed by any form of communication from Tom32, Linden Labs or any other member ofthe Burning Life management.
[18:44] Second Life: Your 13 objects have been returned to your inventory lost and found folder by Tom32 Anatine near parcel '109' at Burning Life (Hydro) 97, 8 due to parcel owner return.
[18:46] Second Life: Your object 'BL Stage Cover' has been returned to your inventory lost and found folder by Tom32 Anatine from parcel '109' at Burning Life (Hydro) 122, 12 due to parcel owner return.
[18:46] Second Life: Your object 'Object' has been returned to your inventory lost and found folder by Tom32 Anatine from parcel '109' at Burning Life (Hydro) 98, 12 due to parcel owner return.
[18:46] Second Life: Your object 'Object' has been returned to your inventory lost and found folder by Tom32 Anatine from parcel '109' at Burning Life (Hydro) 110, 12 due to parcel owner return.
[18:48] Second Life: Your object 'Block' has been returned to your inventory lost and found folder by Tom32 Anatine from parcel '109' at Burning Life (Hydro) 115, 16 due to parcel owner return.
[18:48] Second Life: Your object 'Block' has been returned to your inventory lost and found folder by Tom32 Anatine from parcel '109' at Burning Life (Hydro) 117, 12 due to parcel owner return.
[18:48] Second Life: Your object 'Block' has been returned to your inventory lost and found folder by Tom32 Anatine from parcel '109' at Burning Life (Hydro) 115, 7 due to parcel owner return.
[18:49] Second Life: Your object 'Target' has been returned to your inventory lost and found folder by Tom32 Anatine from parcel '109' at Burning Life (Hydro) 81, 11 due to parcel owner return.
[18:50] Second Life: Your 6 objects have been returned to your inventory lost and found folder by .:Burning Life:. near parcel '109' at Burning Life (Hydro) 118, 12 due to parcel owner return.
I attempted to ask why in the Burning life channel -
[18:51] IM: Hermit Barber: On 2008-09-20 Talia Tokugawa an organizer of Burning Life, and a Second Life Mentor representing Linden Labs at this sponsored event, asserted that quoting things Sarah Palin is reported to have said was racist and broadly offensive. Which perhaps tells us where Sarah Palin is coming from. It seems that Talia got the point as to why I included them! Talia then vandalized my exhibit by returning items from it, in so doing suppressing protected speech, and then allegedly reported me to “The G-Team,” presumably an extra-legal Linden body named to intimidate; and given the possible consequences, surely an example of prior restraint.
[18:51] IM: Hermit Barber: As Talia either reported me to the G-Team or lied about having done so, in public and with witnesses, some public communication from them seems to be in order.
<But was blocked from sending this to channel.>
On the same occasion I was effectively warned by Tom32 Anatine that items not possible at the physical Burning Man are not welcome at Burning Life. This seems to potentially impact many exhibitors at the Burning Life exhibition and I don't think it has been sufficiently addressed by the organizers. Stupid strategy or not (after all, a Stargate Portal at the physical Burning Man might well house a Wifi connection and an SLURL to bring a visitor into the Burning Life exhibition), surely such a policy should apply to everyone or no one? My stand held nothing like that. I was also told that due to "security" requirements, rezzers are not permitted at Burning Life. While this certainly all but precludes dynamic displays, e.g. of fireworks or other projectiles, which are, of course, a major feature at the physical Burning Man I am not sure how this improves security. Given how many people this potentially affects, this too appears to be a matter deserving a public response.
At this point I have heard nothing more from “The G-Team” (or had any communication from Linden Labs (or Talia despite her having undertaken to provide contact information)) and I still see many “improbable if not impossible” exhibits at Burning Life. Earlier today I sent a letter to Linden Labs requesting that they issue a directive on this issue. I am now seeing my items being returned with no further discussion. Has it happened to anyone else here? Is there any reason for this action being taken?
Banned from The Burning Life Sims
As of 2008-09-27, I can confirm that I was banned from visiting the Burning Life Exhibition space as well. Still with no word from Linden Laboratories.
Ticket Closed
Then on 2008-11-21 this was sent closing the Ticket:
Hi there,
Sorry for the delay in replying to this ticket, it was misfiled by the system.
No warning or suspension was recorded on your account regarding this incident.
We value an open environment in which residents feel free to express themselves, even when their views may not be popular as long as those expressions do not marginalize, belittle, or defame individuals or groups.
In future we will be looking closely at Linden events and resident moderator involvement to avoid problems such as the incident you describe.
Best regards,
Harry Linden
Ticket Reopened
I reopened it on 2008-11-23
Harry, my position wasn't a minority position (there are far more liberals on SL than in the physical world, and as the election showed, this is reflected in the US preference for Obama/Biiden over McCain/Palin), but had it been, it would have been even more important to protect it. I have reopened this ticket in that you have not addressed my questions about protected speech, you might ask your corporate counsel to advise you on the probable applicability of Pruneyard vs Robins given that LL is a California Corporation, creates attractions for the public and markets this world as belonging to the residents. Thank-you for your attention.
Ticket Reclosed
Only to have it closed again on 2008-12-03
Hi there,
I'm unable to assist any further with this ticket.
Please contact contact-legal@lindenlab.com if you wish to continue the discussion with our legal team.
Best regards,
Harry Linden.
Despite Harry Linden's Claim's Above, I'm Still Banned A Year Later
2009-10-26 Despite the above, I'm still banned from the Region!
New Trouble Ticket Created #4051-6942016
Please refer Ticket #4051-5290615
Despite Harry Linden having replied:
"No warning or suspension was recorded on your account regarding this incident.
We value an open environment in which residents feel free to express themselves, even when their views may not be popular as long as those expressions do not marginalize, belittle, or defame individuals or groups.
In future we will be looking closely at Linden events and resident moderator involvement to avoid problems such as the incident you describe."
I discover I am still banned from the Burning Life Sims. Given your acknowledgement that I was not at fault I would appreciate this ban being removed.
For any further information, a full discussion is available at http://emilie.hermit.net/?q=node/153
| 28/10/2009 6:43 AM PDT | Closed |  Harry Linden |
Hi there Hermit, Any restrictions to Burning Life 2009 should now have been lifted. You should be able to acess these regions. Best regards, Harry Linden |
A few images from the display:
Linden Labs - New Year 2010
First Candidate for Worst Customer Service in 2010 Linden Labs 2010-1-1
If it were not for the fact that textures are so screwed up that nobody can tell if I am wearing a shit colored sweat suit or a skin, this picture would probably be a breach of Second Life's TOS.
After screwing up 1000s of New Year parties while downloading a messed up server release where friends lists don't load, clothing doesnt download, prims don't rez, scripts experience random triggers and even more random delays, sculpties don't receive UVies, and packet loss is bursting up to over 50%; SL is officially forked for the 1st, but probably not the last time in 2010. And that is with only 37,000 users currently on-line.
More Tiger Direct Lameness- Bad UIs and worse Captchas
Having become quite well known as a company that ships the wrong goods, tells customers that they are wrong or stupid, and repeatedly emails special offers without bothering to have sufficient stock on hand (and not bothering to respond to complaints about this), Tiger Direct now appears to have sunk to a new low. Competitions with seemingly unreadable Captchas and no auditory alternatives. Are they doing this to cut down spam, because captchas have had to become less and less human friendly as spammers have become smarter about decoding algorithms and techniques, or because, by doing this, TigerDirect can collect information without having to enter people in their competitions - while accidently or deliberately barring the vision challenged from entering.
When I'm wearing corrective aids, I'm not vision challenged, neither is anyone else in my family - and we had our eyesight evaluated last week. None of us see anything in the following that could remotely be called "text" even straining our eyes and our imaginations on two different computers and 3 different screens. I even reached the point of wasting half-an-hour trying various filters and colour-tools in the Gimp. All to no avail. How about you? Have you experienced anything like this? Can you see any text in this Captcha? Please answer in the comments if you think we're wrong.
After writing the above, I gave up what I had typed and refreshed the screen manually, as there was no button to ask for a new one without losing what I had typed already (which is a UI fail)- upon which, surprise, surprise, I received a useable Captcha.
So this seems to be the approach to take for now. I did send them a message about it, but who knows if they will even look here or reply to this message.
On the Royal Wedding
Men will never be free until the last king is strangled with the entrails of the last priest*.
While it is quite clear that the royal family, being largely impotent, is less pernicious than many other government entities, the gormless Windsor-Mountbattens remain speleological specimens, however prized, of the archaic feudal system, and are worthy only of being pinned neatly to an appropriately labelled card in a dusty museum; not the vast expense it imposes on the people of the British Isles, nor the fervor its mating rituals apparently inspire in people who hadn't previously recognised that they had an interest in entomology.
*Note on quotation
Source: http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Denis_Diderot
Et ses mains ourdiraient les entrailles du prêtre,
Au défaut d’un cordon pour étrangler les rois.
- And his hands would plait the priest's entrails,
For want of a rope, to strangle kings. - "Les Éleuthéromanes", in Poésies Diverses (1875)
- Variant translation: His hands would plait the priest’s guts, if he had no rope, to strangle kings.
- This derives from the prior statement widely attributed to Jean Meslier: "I would like — and this would be the last and most ardent of my wishes — I would like the last of the kings to be strangled by the guts of the last priest". It is often claimed the passage appears in Meslier's Testament (1725) but it only appears in abstracts of the work written by others. See the Wikipedia article Jean Meslier for details.
- Variant: Et des boyaux du dernier prêtre
Serrons le cou du dernier roi.
- Let us strangle the last king with the guts of the last priest.
- Attributed to Diderot by Jean-François de La Harpe in Cours de Littérature Ancienne et Moderne (1840)
- Let us strangle the last king with the guts of the last priest.
- Attributions to Diderot of similar statements also occur in various forms, ie: "Men will never be free until the last king is strangled with the entrails of the last priest."
Pink Linden & the Death of SLX
[1:38] Darling Brody: Hi Everyone. does anyone know the blog link for the changes to xstreet prices. silly blog dosnt seem to show more than one page of old posts. i want to change my free items into paid items as the lowest possible rate... i'm dammed if i am going to pay to give stuff away
[1:38] kaiya Manbi: the answer is --- make back ground transparent in photoshop, save as ping, and its done
[1:38] oceanoz Ivory: yes
[1:38] Kristaki Hudson: Hi there
[1:40] Jandai Writer: https://blogs.secondlife.com/community/commerce/blog/2009/11/18/roadmap-...
[1:40] Darling Brody: you totaly rock!
[1:40] Jandai Writer: rofl - yw
[1:41] Yoshi Zhangsun: free is 99L a month or if you put a price on it, minimum comission 3L a sale/10L a month to list
[1:41] Darling Brody: so if i sell for $3 i will still have to pay $10 just to have it listed
[1:41] Yoshi Zhangsun: yes :(
[1:42] Darling Brody: i think i will send LL an invoice for providing free content that makes their game mroe fun. I am selling the PG Sex Bed for $0 and there is no advertising on it at all.. so i get nothing out of it.
[1:43] Yoshi Zhangsun: yeah well apparently freebs are advertising :/
[1:43] Argos Hawks: so LL will actually make money when greifers attack people with chat spamming objects and the victims go to XStreet to pick up my free tool for finding the object
[1:44] Yoshi Zhangsun: are you in the merchants roundtable part of the forums darling brody? colossus and pink answer a lot of questions in there...but unfortuantely only about 400 merchants see it...
[1:44] Darling Brody: i dont see it.
[1:44] Darling Brody: totaoly hate the new layout fo xstreet and secondlife websites... cant find anything anymore.
[1:45] Yoshi Zhangsun: worth seding a ticket and asking to be in there...they set down some rules about what they say in there not being reposted lol :(
[1:45] Darling Brody: how can they have discussions and apply a gag order... not exactly transparent and trust inspiring
[1:46] Yoshi Zhangsun: rofl dunno
[1:46] Yoshi Zhangsun: theyre bonkers sometimes
[1:46] Hermit Barber: Time for an alternate to SLX
[1:46] Hermit Barber: Somebody will do it.
[1:46] Darling Brody: who was the linden who did havok4 code... he was talented... ask him to make a new slx.
[1:46] Hermit Barber: Given LL once again demonstrates its total incompetence to manage a database driven system.
[1:46] Yoshi Zhangsun: slapt is an ok one, ihad sales there before the mass xstreet exodus, but its definitely more adult-oriented
[1:47] Argos Hawks: i think the Linden that did havok4 got fired for being competant
[1:48] Hermit Barber: Quite possible.
[1:48] Darling Brody: maybe if somoone creaters an ebay interface to SL we can all so and sell our stuff through there
[1:49] Hermit Barber: And earlier today there was a discussion to the effect that if LL sent Pink Linden to work for Blue Mars they would never have to worry about competition from them :-)
[1:49] Yoshi Zhangsun: lol...apparently this is all colossus, i asked pink about the policy, she had to cut and paste to me :/
[1:52] Darling Brody: The real question is why is Pink Linden a bunny and not a pantha
[1:53] Hermit Barber: Because it was easy to make a cartoon bunny.
[1:54] Hermit Barber: Because a certain media company own the Pink Panther.
[1:54] Hermit Barber: Because Pink was making a Panther but it came out a bunny.
[1:54] Hermit Barber: The last has a certain ring of realism.
[1:55] Argos Hawks: Pink wouldn't be the first linden with a copyright violating avatar if they chose a panther.
[1:55] Hermit Barber: A bunny is just a panther created by Pink Linden.
[1:57] Hermit Barber: But you would need to search for "VivaSecundus^TM cuniculus" to find the listing at SLX
[1:57] Hermit Barber: And then only if the database wasn't falling over which only happens on alternate tuesdays at 3AM and during grid outages.
SL Concierge Service
[15:48:21] Boaz Sands: since the layoff consierge support has been of no help for me. All they tell me is to fill out a ticket
[15:50:40] Boaz Sands: I probably should just can the premium account and have a basic one as I cant figure out any advantage of having a premium account
[15:51:30] Hermit Barber: Boaz: You can get a home in the SLums with a premium account. Other than that there are only disadvantages.
[15:51:35] Aphrodite Atlas: there is no advantage now
[15:51:55] Boaz Sands: yea that is what I figured
[15:52:15] Gracie Goldflake: You will miss out on that sweet home, Aphrodite.
[15:53:04] Thex Lecker: I'm in Timberline now in a cute little Aframe :) It's not bad lol
[15:53:50] Gracie Goldflake: I did a nice remodel of one of those before I gave it up. That part was fun, doing it on only 117 prims. But after that, didn't much need it anymore.
[15:53:52] Hermit Barber: Gracie: LOL
[15:56:01] Gracie Goldflake: But I bet Thex would invite you over. : )
[15:56:10] Foxy Petunia: I was in shroom village and you couldn't move there, so gave it up and never went for another
[15:57:04] Aphrodite Atlas: gracie, i can't drop my paid account, all my land is mainland :\
[15:57:21] Kay Merlin: tp
[15:57:21] Hermit Barber: Gracie: Aminom was going to make a sculptie for one that fits over the house providing it with peeling paint, missing tiles, broken windows, sagging door and rubbish all over the yard.
[15:57:27] Aphrodite Atlas: nearly half an hour, still nothing out of this ontyne, how useless
[15:57:47] Gracie Goldflake: I had one of those also, Foxy, lag made it not useable. Too much to look at there plus all those flying things.
[15:58:26] Foxy Petunia: yeah I loved the little place, but couldn't enjoy it as couldn't move
[16:03:32] Aphrodite Atlas: yanno, on the one hand the shit support deserves all the bashing we've been giving it; on the other hand, the bashing we give it probably doesn't provide much in the way of constructive feedback to help support improve
[16:07:08] TRAINYARD TopHat: 10 days for a transfer, yea we have to wait for someone to get around to doing it
[16:07:32] Hermit Barber: Aphrodite: In this case taking an axe to the support managers heads, hanging all the Ontynes and torturing Jack to death for threatening to further improve support might be constructive.
[16:08:27] Gracie Goldflake: Yesterday I asked for a sim restart for ghost avie and it was done in 1 minute. The time before that when I asked for help, no one ever answered. I got help in here by mentioning my issue.
[16:10:10] Foxy Petunia: People keep complaining and support isn't improved, they could just throw their hands up and say to hell with it anyway, can't please them, so why try
[16:10:17] Hermit Barber: Gracie: Sending a ticket for Sim Down gets a quick response. 15 minutes at worst. Given that a sim is down if it is unusable might suggest what more or less every ticket should read.
[16:12:28] Gracie Goldflake: Good advice.
[16:13:10] Aphrodite Atlas: hermit, you may be the man with the plan, as it were
[16:14:12] Foxy Petunia: The man?
[16:14:26] Aphrodite Atlas: i said "as it were"
[16:14:58] Foxy Petunia: lol yeah was just funny
[16:17:55] perfumed Odets: is anyone else havin prob getting connected to live chat now
[16:18:20] Aphrodite Atlas: what live chat?
[16:18:38] Boaz Sands: Live chat is useless, they will just tell you to fill out a ticket , save you time and just fill out the ticket lol
[16:18:47] Hermit Barber: Live chat is dead.
The End of Concierge Service?
Anonimized: "AAARRRRGGGG LL support told me to send a fax of the ticket to their offices in SF....wtf? 'we're not handling consierge support anymore"
[12:52:45] Hermit Barber: No wonder Jack is hiding again.
Anonimized: "well, wherever I was connected to no longer handles consierge support...the SF office is the only place that does...however, the phone line still connects us to the old offices. :p They also told me it will be 2 weeks before they get to my ticket."
[12:55:26] Latha Serevi: fax, lol
[12:55:36] Latha Serevi: you're kidding, please say you're kidding
[12:55:38] Relay Rinq: (irc:#awg) Mojito: Isn't that because of the OnTyme thing?
[12:57:49] Relay Rinq: (irc:#awg) Mojito: I hope it was something that can wait 2 weeks...
[12:57:58] Hermit Barber: Nope.
Despite the above being what was said in live chat:
[13:10:59] Maggie Linden: Next, we'll be asking residents to submit all support requests via carrier pigeon. It's very eco friendly. (The http://www.secondlife.com/support page is still fully operational, will connect you to live chat or give you phone numbers based on your Concierge status, and tickets are still actioned as quickly as we're able to do so.)
[13:11:29] Aztek Aeon: i cant use smoke signals anymore?
[13:11:31] Maggie Linden: Please don't fax us. The poor lady who takes faxes will cry.
[13:11:51] Rimpoche Kiama: I do have one question.
[13:11:56] Suchalady Blackheart: maggie
[13:11:59] Maggie Linden: Next, we'll be asking residents to submit all support requests via carrier pigeon. It's very eco friendly. (The http://www.secondlife.com/support page is still fully operational, will connect you to live chat or give you phone numbers based on your Concierge status, and tickets are still actioned as quickly as we're able to do so.)
[13:12:01] Silken Wilder: I only have one pigeon left..will they be returned?
[13:12:29] Silken Wilder: lololol
[13:12:42] Rimpoche Kiama: LOL@Maggie!
[13:12:56] Pamela Galli: I was also told in Live Chat that the Concierge Team did not do live chat, only tickets.
[13:13:12] Maggie Linden: Bother. Group chat's acting up - sorry.
[13:13:19] Angel Damask: good one Maggie, except Carrier Pidgeons are extinct.
[13:13:36] Rimpoche Kiama: Tell Uncle Phil we want a rolling restart, and we want it now.
[13:14:06] Angel Damask: Heck, I want a roll back to before they did V2. :p
[13:14:11] Eymerich Lane: pidgeons eco ? tell it to staues in parks
[13:14:18] Angel Damask: :p
[13:14:19] Hermit Barber: I just sent Maggie an IM substitute to send to everyone.
[13:14:28] Rimpoche Kiama: LOL
[13:14:51] Aztek Aeon: a carrier pigeon is just a homing pigeon
[13:14:58] Aztek Aeon: no, thats passenger pigeon
[13:15:14] Wholf Mistwallow: no they're not... they all went on a long term vacation because of the crappy health benefits they were receiving.
[13:15:32] Aztek Aeon: I still love the concierge people. Theyve handled everything they have thrown at them with a smile
[13:15:38] Silken Wilder: lol
[13:15:39] Silken Wilder: I am not riding on a bird....but ty Maggie for this...(The http://www.secondlife.com/support page is still fully operational, will connect you to live chat or give you phone numbers based on your Concierge status, and tickets are still actioned as quickly as we're able to do so.)
[13:15:40] Angel Damask: I meant pasenger pidgeons, sry.
[13:16:15] Aztek Aeon: and 3 hours later, Azteks messages show up, out of order
[13:16:55] Pituca FairChang: If the pigeons are kept busy delivering messages they don't have time to poop on statues
[13:17:29] Silken Wilder: they all are LOL
[13:17:31] Angel Damask: NO...let them poop on Phil or his car.
[13:17:42] Hermit Barber: LL simply has too few support staff for the number of clients. That is a management problem, not a support staff problem.
[13:18:13] Eymerich Lane: well is worse they could .... during the travel
The deliberate destruction of a Lamborghini Gallardo L140
|
The Deliberate Destruction of a Lamborghini Gallardo L140 Photocredit: AFP/Getty Images |
Workers destroy a Lamborghini Gallardo L140 luxury sports car to mark World Consumer Rights Day in Qingdao, eastern China's Shandong province on March 15, 2011. The car's owner hired people to publicly destroy the vehicle when it failed to function after a service by an official Lamborghini service station. The protest was made to provoke public support and goad the manufacturer to respect his consumer rights. TOPSHOTS CHINA OUT AFP PHOTO (Photo credit should read STR/AFP/Getty Images)
[ Hypatia took one look at this and said : "Vote for them to stop smashing that beautiful car." I think she has more faith in voting than I - or thinks it works better in China than it does in the USA. ]
Warner Brothers - GossipGirl Sims
How the hell can a corporation presumably desirious of an International audience come to an International virtual world and enforce an "English Only" policy.
[17:04] Milan MetaverseModSquad: A lot of people ask about it but Warner Brothers arean Aerica company and have asked us to keep the sims English
...
[16:08] Amy MetaverseModSquad: You have been ejected from the Gossip Girl sims for failing to heed my warning about speaking english. You are welcome to come back when you are able to abide by sim rules. Thanks.
Log from http://shoppingcartdisco.com/?p=2452&cpage=1#comment-33895
Not only is this the worst marketing decision I have seen in recent years, but discrimination (actually banning people!) based on ethnicity just has to be illegal under California law!
Beyond Stupid.
Worst Buy - Why Am I Not Surprised?
Source: Consumerist.com
Credits: Chris Morran
Dated: 2011-04-21
Stock Symbol: NYSE:BBY
[ Emilie says : We've repeatedly had issues with items and staff from "Worst Buy" including, on numerous occasions, members of their staff aggressively demonstrating the deep seated belief that the customer is always wrong. For example, we bought a "Home and Away" phone that simply didn't work in our area - despite repeated promises and protestations to the contrary by "Worst Buy" staff. Seven 2 hour trips to the store and back later, and we gave up trying to solve the problem - and not only did not receive an apology, we were actually charged a cancellation fee. Later the phone supplier confirmed that their "Home and Away" service did not, had not and never will work in Fairfield, Iowa. So the following saga does not surprise me one teensy weensy bit. ]
Customer Catches Best Buy Breaking Law, Gets Banned From Store
Some companies sure are sore losers. Take for example the folks at Best Buy, who were not only caught violating consumer protection laws, but who then banned the customer who called them out in court for doing so.
Here's the story from Consumerist reader Jed:
Back in January, I broke the digital-audio-in port on my Sony home theater system's receiver. I looked into repair option, and found I could mail it to Sony or take it to my local Best Buy. I opted for Best Buy, and I paid Best Buy the $34.99 non-refundable deposit, relying on the following three statements by their Geek Squad agent, Joe: (1) that my receiver would be sent from the store to their repair facility; (2) once at the facility, it would be diagnosed and I'd get a call telling me how much the repair would cost and requesting my authorization for the repair; and (3) the estimated completion date for the repair was February 1, 2011.
February 1st comes, no word from Best Buy. I called multiple times over the next few days, couldn't get through to a live person and got no replies to the messages I left. On February 6, I got through to a Geek Squad agent and I was told my receiver was sent from the store to their repair facility, then sent on to Sony on January 26th. He was not able to give me any more information or give me an updated estimated completion date.
On February 17th, I went to the Best Buy Store in person and spoke to Michael, the Manager on Duty, asking for the status of the repair, when it would be back, and how much it would cost. Michael had his "senior Geek squad agent" Walter look up my repair, and I was told it would be returned sometime before February 25-27th, the repair was already made, and would cost an additional $115 over the $34.99 I already paid. I pointed out that I didn't authorize a repair and this was unacceptable. At first, Michael, the manager, was unwilling to help, giving me an 800 number to call. I left the store and thought about what I wanted to do.
I returned an hour later and asked for the phone number for Best Buy's legal department. This time, Michael asked if I would be willing to speak to his District Manager. I agreed, he handed me a card with the District Manager's name and number. I called and left a message and a few hours later, Michael (not the District Manager) called back and asked would I pay $94.92. I explained that I did not authorize a repair for any amount of money, and after asking a few more questions, Michael said he'd call me back again. Within the hour, I got a call saying I could pick up my receiver when it comes in and not pay any more than the deposit. I got a phone call on Feb 19th that my receiver was in, and I was able to pick it up without any problem.
I felt Best Buy violated three consumer protections: First, I was told my receiver would be sent to Best Buy's repair center. If I'd known they'd just send it to Sony, I'd have done that myself. Second, consumer protection laws and regulations (at least in every state I've lived or worked in) say you can't charge someone for work they didn't authorize. Third, all they had to do to avoid violating the completion estimate regulation was inform me of the revised date before the previously stated date passed, which they didn't do.
I filed suit against Best Buy in DC's small claims court alleging three violations of the D.C. Consumer Protection Procedures Act. Every violation of the Act carries a penalty of triple actual damages or $1500, whichever is higher. At the trial, I won two out of three counts.
When Best Buy sent me a check to satisfy the judgment against them, they enclosed a letter banning me from shopping at, seeking services at, and/or entering any of their stores, threatening to have me cited for trespass if I do so. Apparently shoplifters and people who point out that Best Buy is violating consumer law get treated the same!