The Phone Store

Several times in my life I have wished I was making a documentary. Some things take place in front of me that make me laugh, but then give me pause. One such instance happened today at the phone store.

Set up. My wife "needed" a new phone cause hers was being lame and mine "needed" a new battery. As I'm waiting for the customer service people to finish setting up my wife's new phone, I find a comfortable seat and wait. A couple in about their fifties comes in the store and begin to speak with the customer service person who is waiting there to help. The couple's names are Bonnie and Wayne, as I would come to overhear. The gist of the situation is that Bonnie decided that she and Wayne "needed" an upgrade. So Mr. Nice Customer Service Guy starts showing Bonnie and Wayne all the nifty little toys they have.

At one point, Wayne, (who seems like a sharp guy, clean clothes, and clean shaven) decides he needs some expert advice on this situation. Wayne removes his flip phone from his belt compartment accessory and makes a call. The store was rather busy so he stands two or three feet from me as he makes this call and this is what I hear...

"Joe? Hey, It's Wayne. I'm at the (phone) store because Bonnie and I needed a new upgrade for our phones. I wanted to ask you, because I remembered we talked about this, what all the features I need for my phone. She wants a blackberry, but I don't think I need all that fancy stuff."

He pulls out a piece of paper from his shirt pocket and a pen as well and begins to write as he is talking.

"Number one, I need something that I can make and receive telephone calls with, right? Number two, I need to be able to do the text messaging. Three, I need to have pictures. And four, I need to be able to check my scores online. Does that sound right? Uh huh. Yeah. Is there anything else I need to be doing? Oh, OK. All right, thanks Joe."

Short aside:
Okay, Wayne, I'm pretty sure just about every phone they sell has the ability to make and receive calls. I admire your thoroughness, but that's like asking for a steak at a steak house and checking to make sure it's meat. Secondly, if you are referring to it as "the text messaging," I'm pretty sure you don't need it. If you're not sure why, try looking it up on "the Google." The camera phone I can't fault you for, probably a good feature for you, although that's pretty standard on most phones these days. But checking "your" scores online, is that honestly something you "need?" You're willing to pay an extra hundred some odd dollars for the fancier piece of technology, and an extra fifty or so dollars every month for a service that will give you information you're probably going to read in the newspaper every morning? This just doesn't seem like something you "need."

After Wayne hung up the phone, he went over to show Mr. Nice Customer Service Guy the list he just made. Then he proceeded to read the list and explain why he needed all these things. The sales rep, a very professional man, (and a much kinder human being than I) didn't laugh at Wayne, but proceeded to show him some phones that would suit his "needs."

I try not to eaves drop because it is kind of creepy, but Wayne is just too much fun to resist. Shortly after having selected a new phone, he removes his old phone from his little holster and proceeds to call customer service for Lexus. He wants to make sure that the new phone he's selected is compatible with his built in blue tooth technology in his car.

This is where Wayne stopped amusing me and just made me sad. Here is a guy who has got to have all the nicest and newest of everything in his life. And he pushes it off as a "need." It makes me sad that that word gets used as often as it does. Does anybody understand the difference between a "want" and a "need?" Nobody ever says "I 'want' this" or "I 'want' that." Everything is in urgent "need" of being obtained, of being finished, of being fixed. Just stop. Breathe. Relax a bit. The world will still be here, you're probably not going to die. Take a little time and obtain some needed focus.

If Wayne could do that, he'd realize what he really needs is a pair of pants that didn't go out of style in the sixties.