Let’s say you’re creating an account with an online retailer. As part of the sign-up process, they give you the option to receive periodic emails with special offers and the like. If you opt-in to these messages, how many emails would you expect to get each week? Absent any other data points, I would guess […]

Over the weekend, I watched a few episodes of a fairly new TV show called “The Middle”. It’s a sitcom that follows the life of a middle class family, and bears a striking resemblance to “Malcolm in the Middle”, which aired in the 1990s. As we sped through a few episodes that had accumulated on […]

I’m a huge fan of a particular type of tortilla chip. It’s an organic blue chip, with just the right amount of sea salt sprinkled throughout the bag. For many months, I was able to buy the product consistently from the same retailer. But lately, something wonky has happened with the pricing. In a matter […]

When you buy a jacket, sweater, or pair of pants, it’s customary to find a little packet attached with replacement buttons and thread. I imagine that clothing manufacturers do this because they know it’s really hard for customers to locate these supplies later. Plus, the practice probably costs them next to nothing. But why is […]

Compared to previous years, it seems like this spring and summer have been plagued by an unusually large number of rain delays at the major airports. Yet with all the delays impacting passenger airlines, I haven’t seen any news about corresponding delays at UPS, FedEx or other air-based shipping companies. Passenger airlines generally share the […]

Many of the pharmacies in my area have begun carrying grocery items. In some cases, it’s a half-hearted effort, focusing on the types of items you’d find in a convenience store. In other cases, the stores have tried to include fresh foods and other staples of a real grocery store. But something about all of […]

When it comes to product packaging, consumers tend to be “glass is half empty” types. At one time or another, nearly everyone has complained about opening a new bag or container, and finding that a good portion of the space inside is occupied by air. Sure, most products are sold by weight, but it still […]

When you watch an older movie, or even some newer ones, you may see a fantastical depiction of air travel. Among the extraordinary luxuries that were once offered, passengers could just walk directly off the plane after it arrived, aided only by a set of portable stairs. I suppose this actually happened at some point in […]

Last week, I tried to schedule a routine doctor’s appointment. This was easier said than done. In particular, I ran into the following obstacles: – The office only takes appointments up to six months in advance, so you can’t just book next year’s visit when you finish the current visit. – The front office staff […]

A few weeks ago, I heard that one of my favorite retailers was planning to introduce a customer loyalty program. They didn’t provide any details at the time, but I recently came across a page on their website that explains how the loyalty program works. In short, you can qualify for the loyalty program benefits […]