20 years

[dagibbs]

It appears I'm approaching my 20 year anniversary at QNX. Wow. So, I now get to choose a 20-year award. Unfortunately, with the RIM purchase, we're back to selecting from a catalog of... stuff. (It was nice when QNX just gave me a budget, and let me choose what I wanted... I bought climbing gear from MEC. They'd found the quality of stuff from the catalog route just didn't match the price being paid for it. But, big company...)

So... lots of watches (which I don't wear) but no pocket watches (which I like). The only sports equipment is for golf. Lots of jewelry, which again, I don't wear. Actually, nothing that really excites me, though a few things that might do.

A couple nice clocks -- one wall, one mantel. I don't think I have good wall space, but I do have a mantel. But would I wind it?

A combined coffee and espresso maker. Ok, I don't make that much coffee... but if I had a machine that made coffee and espresso (and, apparently, cappuccino), I might make more. Sadly, the online reviews for this unit suggest that while it does the job, it may not last too well.

A set of decent stainless steel flatware. My cutlery is... crap. A hodge-podge of crap. Generally grab-bags of Value Village stuff. Might be nice to have a good set of flatware in case I actually want to set a presentable table for a nice dinner or something.

(Hm... the 15 year section has a handy looking blender, and I need a blender. Wonder if I'm allowed to down-grade my selection?)

Comments

[ironphoenix.livejournal.com]

Hm, better than nothing by a stretch... I hope you enjoy whatever you end up getting! Congrats!

Also, I didn't realize QNX had been around quite that long... NMX goes back a ways too.

[dagibbs.livejournal.com]

QNX actually goes back farther than that -- I think it was founded in 1980.

[elizilla]

My work does a similar catalog, with similar choices, and for my ten year gift I took the flatware. Because we too have the hodgepodge of crap flatware. I have never opened the box - it's been stowed away in the closet ever since. Maybe someday I'll open the box.

[dagibbs.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm afraid that's what would happen with me.

[horsetraveller.livejournal.com]

I would ask you to set the table with your fancy flatware when I came to visit. Then you would have to open the box.

[dagibbs.livejournal.com]

We have a plan!

[arndis.livejournal.com]

I'd get the flatware and actually unpack it. High-quality cutlery that feels nice in your hands is a long-term small pleasure. Plus, it stacks in the drawer better and doesn't bend when you scoop icecream with it. My mother's set will not only outlive her; it will probably still be in excellent condition a few generations from now.

[dagibbs.livejournal.com]

Well, when I scoop sorbet with it -- ice cream generally has too much milk in it for me.

And, yeah, quality flatware is just nice, isn't it? Sadly, I can't actually pick this up and handle it first to make sure it feels nice... I just have to hope.

[foms.livejournal.com]

There's a chance of your being able to handle examples of the flatware, first. If you can get the catalogue people to admit to what brand and model, then you may be able to find them at a local store (e.g. The Bay, McIntosh & Watts)

[dagibbs.livejournal.com]

They actually do specify brand & model in the catalog.

But, I don't feel it is fair to local retailers to use them as a try-something-out but with no intent or thought of purchasing from them location.

[horsetraveller.livejournal.com]

I don't think it costs them anything for you to look. Why then would it not be fair? Maybe upon walking through the store after trying out the cutlery, something else grabs your attention that you do wish to buy from them.

[dagibbs.livejournal.com]

That gets into a complicated argument.

It clearly costs them to have that stock available in physical store space for me to try. (Cost of the stock, cost of store space, electricity, employee wages, etc.) The store covers this overhead so I can try things out before purchasing from them, or at least, consider purchasing from them if the product satisfies me. If I'm not even considering purchasing from them, I feel it is bad faith on my part to take advantage of their overhead.

And, if everyone does it... tries things in the physical store that is nearby, then goes and orders the same product online (generally for cheaper, because an online retailer does not have all the overhead of a physical storefront) then physical stores will not survive.

So, it may look like there is no cost to the store of me doing that, but I think the costs are just hidden.

[horsetraveller.livejournal.com]

I do understand the argument against going and trying on clothing, finding the one that fits, writing it down, and going home and purchasing it online.

I do not think that extends to someone offering you a gift and you wanting to know what that looks like in real life, and there is a store that has it. If they can entice you to walk in and look at stuff, and you might want to buy something from them, they win.
If not, they don't lose, because you weren't going to buy it yourself anyway.

[dagibbs.livejournal.com]

Hm... Yeah. I have probably over-generalized case 1 to include case 2.

Ordering my 20 year anniversary gift, though, did feel a lot like shopping online.

[horsetraveller.livejournal.com]

I can see that, if you were online and looking at a catalogue.

The difference is that it was a catalogue of gifts someone else was offering to get you, and that getting a gift or the gift at a physical store of your choosing is not one of your options.

[dagibbs.livejournal.com]

Last anniversary, I did have the just give them a list of stuff from a store of my choice. I got a whole bunch of awesome climbing stuff from MEC that time. I wish that was still an option -- but apparently not, we've got the standard RIM way of doing things, now.

[horsetraveller.livejournal.com]

I can see how this system is much less satisfying. I'd suggest taking the flatware as the best option on the list, and if you like it, you use it. Would you use a clock much?

[dagibbs.livejournal.com]

I would look at the clock occasionally, and think "pretty".

I did decide on the flatware.

[metalana.livejournal.com]

Yeah, go for the flatware. You will enjoy using it, but you would never have bothered to buy it for yourself. That's what makes it a good gift!

[dagibbs.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm inclined that way.

[metalana.livejournal.com]

And if you want a blender, get a Blendtec - the regular counter-top blenders suck in comparison. If you don't want to spent $500, get a hand blender - excellent for pureeing soups. If you really want an ordinary countertop blender, I have one to give away...

[dagibbs.livejournal.com]

I had been thinking of a hand blender, actually. For exactly the soup pureeing jobs.

If I'm in TO with a vehicle before you give the blender to someone else, I'll take you up on it.