My shop is partially dark, (reduced overhead lighting during
lockdown) and cold (reduced heating). I thought it was unusual
Yesterday I got a flashback to the past when a deaf/dumb fellow
walked into my shop. I didn't think the deaf/dumb tactic was a
thing anymore.
The last time this sort of thing happend was over 8 years ago. A
couple of singers with their guitars came into my shop,
accompanying an apparrently a deaf girl. The premise was that my
dollars would help pay for her livelyhood, or act as a tip for
their wonderful unsolicited music, or something. At first I
thought that maybe someone was delivering a singing telegram.
But the request to pay for the performance combined with the
begging really pissed me off more than anything.
At times like this I wish I could brandish my Crocadile Dundee
"you call that a knife?" machette, or call "Tiny", my doberman
with a spiked collar, to escort these types out the door.
My shop is partially dark, (reduced overhead lighting during
lockdown) and cold (reduced heating). I thought it was unusual
So is this a part of the lockdown requirements or cost saving measures?
Not to take away from the overall tale, but I'm curious.
Anything and everything can be used as a tactic. Beyond the dozens of Homeless Veterans I see on the corners, a new 'favorite' of mine are these Gentlemen with signs saying "Too Honest to Steal, Too Ugly to be a Gigalo."
The last time this sort of thing happend was over 8 years ago. A
couple of singers with their guitars came into my shop,
Don't you have legal options to handle unwelcomed solucitations in your establishment?
At times like this I wish I could brandish my Crocadile Dundee
"you call that a knife?" machette, or call "Tiny", my doberman
with a spiked collar, to escort these types out the door.
Actually, Dundee's knifecwas more like a Bowie knife.
I could see not having a d9g in a bookstore, but some means of self defense should be aporoprriate.
Anything and everything can be used as a tactic. Beyond theHeck, if that deaf/dumb fellow offered to wash the windows or
dozens of Homeless Veterans I see on the corners, a new
'favorite' of mine are these Gentlemen with signs saying "Too
Honest to Steal, Too Ugly to be a Gigalo."
vacuum for a few minutes, I wouldn't hesitate to "gift" $25 bucks.
But there was no eye-contact, and no attempt to even try to speak.
What is there? I can call the police, but the people would be goneThe last time this sort of thing happend was over 8 yearsago. A AA> couple of singers with their guitars came into my
shop, Don't you have legal options to handle unwelcomed
solucitations in your establishment?
by then. All I can do is offer my natural scowl and indicate that
I am not the right person to mess with.
People can overhear my telephone conversations with
merchant-services and loans companies. I tell it like is and say
"Unless you'd like to order something from *my* business, I don't
have time for this - and don't call me back." I still get the odd
"Please do not hang up. We've tried calling you numerous times to
inform you that your google listing is in DANGER.."
Pathetic. There ought to be a way to block those things
permanently. Or.. if I had the resources, I'd love to switch those
calls to another line (to free up the one that they've hijacked)
and blast some static/hum/buzz or something.
Ah... but I said that my version was a machete! ;) It's moreAt times like this I wish I could brandish my CrocadileDundee AA> "you call that a knife?" machette, or call "Tiny",
my doberman AA> with a spiked collar, to escort these types
out the door. Actually, Dundee's knifecwas more like a Bowie
knife.
impressive than the Bowie knife. I even have a scythe that I
could probably use and swing as I approach the trespassers to the
door. <g>
I could see not having a d9g in a bookstore, but some means ofThe dog wouldn't be too hard. With the right command, the animal
self defense should be aporoprriate.
could block the door and keep the intruder at bay. But I like the
idea of some kind of mechanical way to entrap troublemakers and
keep them escaping before authorities arrive.
Or.. I need to bulk up with weight-lifting and wear a ninja
bandana to clearly show that I am not to be messed with.
Heck, if that deaf/dumb fellow offered to wash the windows
or vacuum for a few minutes, I wouldn't hesitate to "gift"
$25 bucks. But there was no eye-contact, and no attempt to
even try to speak.
Well that would require he do actual work, which is what
the scam is an attempt to avoid.
What is there? I can call the police, but the people would
be gone by then. All I can do is offer my natural scowl
and indicate that I am not the right person to mess with.
That's very likely the case, but seeing that you are
willing to involve the police is a deterrent of sorts in
and of itself.
Pathetic. There ought to be a way to block those things
permanently. Or.. if I had the resources, I'd love to
switch those calls to another line (to free up the one
that they've hijacked) and blast some static/hum/buzz or
something.
The US has a "Do not call" registry, but with the ability
to spoof numbers, etc, it's pretty useless.
..But I like the idea of some kind of mechanical way to
entrap troublemakers and keep them escaping before
authorities arrive.
Invest in remote activated locks? Better one than what
they used in that video clip you shared a while back, of
course.
Or.. I need to bulk up with weight-lifting and wear a
ninja bandana to clearly show that I am not to be messed
with.
That wouldn't work in my case. I'll always be tall and
lanky, though I am developing a bit of gut.
Invest in remote activated locks? Better one than what
they used in that video clip you shared a while back, of
course.
Well that would require he do actual work, which is what
the scam is an attempt to avoid.
Heheh. True! I wasn't in a give-a-life-lesson mood, so I just
scowled. Thankfully he turned around and walked out a few
seconds later - but he gave no indication of anything that
resembled "thank you for your time". But like I said earlier,
just before he left, he took a quick look around the place - as
if to see what might be worth stealing. Since I can't just grab
a pile of my book stock and trade that for food, drugs or booze,
he probably realized the same thing.
That's very likely the case, but seeing that you areI am not necessarily willing per se. I would not be comfortable
willing to involve the police is a deterrent of sorts in
and of itself.
to involve the police. I have the local police emergency number plastered on my cash register so it's nice and handy. But it has
not been necessary for all the years that I've operated.
The US has a "Do not call" registry, but with the ability
to spoof numbers, etc, it's pretty useless.
The phone companies claim that spoofing is necessary to support
the callfowarding and re-direction features they sell.
Invest in remote activated locks? Better one than what
they used in that video clip you shared a while back, of
course.
Along those same lines, I've looked into a basic automatic door
opener (to help open the door from remote when people with
walkers or wheelchairs can get in and out easier) But the
starting cost was close to $3K. For now, I just whip around the
counter and hold the door open.
Some kind of automated way to lock the door upon pressing a
panic button would be cool.
I think people respect (or fear) people who are fit, poised, and
limber more than those that are not.
Invest in remote activated locks? Better one than what
they used in that video clip you shared a while back, of
course.
Which video clip was that? I don't remember.
On 26 Jan 2021, August Abolins said the following...
Invest in remote activated locks? Better one than what
they used in that video clip you shared a while back, of
course.
Which video clip was that? I don't remember.
The "Black Books" or whatever it's called program. About the bookstore. It
may have been on a different epusode than the one you shared.
..Since I can't just grab a pile of my book stock and
trade that for food, drugs or booze, he probably realized
the same thing.
Much to my wife's displeasure, I'm sure, I'd likely be
willing to operate on a barter system if books for food.
I am not necessarily willing per se. I would not be
comfortable to involve the police. I have the local
police emergency number plastered on my cash register so
it's nice and handy. But it has not been necessary for all
the years that I've operated.
Why is that? I mean your not being comfortable with
involving the poluce?
The phone companies claim that spoofing is necessary to
support the callfowarding and re-direction features they
sell.
I highly doubt that. More lijely they just don't want to
spend more money on a bit of additional code to fix the
problem.
So now you have the problem of people calling back those
spoofed numbers to complain instead giving some sweet old
lady an earful.
I think people respect (or fear) people who are fit,
poised, and limber more than those that are not.
Probably, Although at 6.5 feet tall or so, I have been told
I tend to look intimidating even though I am thin.
What I find disconcerting is that the gov't taxes me on stock as
if it has value, yet I can't use that stock and buy anything
with it. :/
Why is that? I mean your not being comfortable with
involving the poluce?
I don't like the idea that I would need to get the police
involved. I wouldn't like to deal with the drama.
I had an incident of vandalism a few years ago. I reported it to
the landlord first. They inturn reported it to the police.
Apparently it was serious enough to report to the police. But my
first thought was not to bother with the police.
This winter, I decorated the outside of my shop with a couple of seasonal potted decorations. I paid a local artist about $50
each. One morning, I found one of them missing. I could have
taken those piece in every night (but they were heavy), so I
left them as is each night. It wasn't a problem for over a
month. But then, some punk decides to help themselves to one of
them. I didn't bother reporting that either.
Prior to that, it was known that some punk was going around town
and turning off the propane tanks of the businesses. But I
didn't know that until I spoke to the propane company.
If the reporting is to be effective, it needs to be reciprocal.
In otherwords, it there is reason to suspect that someone is
going around town vandalizing things, then the store owners
should be notified by the police. But that doesn't happen. We
may only read about certain events a week later in the
newspaper.
I read into this matter some time ago, and it turns out that
their excuse is that different countries have different
equipment and it is therefore hard to unify everyone on a single
stategy or "code" to fix the problem.
But I also read that allowing such calls to come through is a
money maker. The receiving country has a billing mechanism to
charge the calling country. So, why would the receiving country
deny *any* calls when there is opportunity to collect calling
fees. Blocking all those spoofing and spammng calls would be a
big loss of revenue.
So now you have the problem of people calling back those
spoofed numbers to complain instead giving some sweet old
lady an earful.
Not sure what you mean by that.
Probably, Although at 6.5 feet tall or so, I have been told
I tend to look intimidating even though I am thin.
Height is another plus factor. There is probably less chance
that any punk will want to mess with someone who towers over
them.
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