Marcoullier.com

So I almost got arrested picking Jud up from the airport today. It seems that unless someone is in the act of getting in or out of your car, you are forbidden to stop in the arrival zone. I pulled over and started to text Jud to find out which of the six United exits he was at. An SFPD officer raced over and we had the following conversation:

Officer: Please move your car, sir.

Me: I just need to text my friend and tell him I’m here.

Officer: Move your car now, sir. Call him from the cell phone waiting lot. (NOTE: The lot is apparently 2.5 miles away)

Me: He’s right inside. I just need to let him know I’m here.

Officer: Move your car now or I’ll give you a ticket.

Me (officially losing my cool): That’s pathetic. You know what? Give me the ticket.

Officer: Move your car or I’ll have it towed.

Me (moving to idiot territory): Fine, tow me.

Officer: MOVE!

So I text Jud while driving around the loop, only to learn he’s going to be a few minutes longer (so this is partially his fault ). The next time around, this same officer is writing a ticket for someone who is literally loading their car. I’ve moved beyond idiot territory and into parts unknown. I stop and roll down my window:

Me: Are you really giving someone a ticket for loading their car in the Loading Zone?

Officer: If you don’t move your car now, I’ll have you arrested.

So yeah, I was a horse’s ass, but I’m just amazed at this latest security clusterfuck. We’re now supposed to drive six minutes away from the airport in order to tell the person we’re picking up that we are (well… were) outside and waiting. I sure feel safer.

(Length: more than 100 words, and I don’t care)

I finally ordered Moo Cards a few days back. The order confirmation said the cards would like ship in about five days. I thought this was a reasonable time frame. Thirty-six hours later I was notified that the cards were shipping.

What an easy way to delight your customers. Under-promise and over-deliver. Just keep in mind that if the delta is too great, you’ll lose their trust moving forward.

(Length: 70 words)

Pottery Barn sells mass-produced MDF furniture at craftsman prices. As a lazy yuppie bastard, I shop there.

Last year I bought a charging station, which broke during installation. I finally called customer service; they promptly sent a replacement and asked me to send the old one back in the new unit’s packaging.

The replacement just broke and I never returned the original. Called customer service:

• They’ve scheduled UPS to pick up the first broken unit tomorrow.
• They’re sending another replacement.
• Upon arrival, they’ll schedule a UPS pickup for the second broken unit.
• I’ll keep buying Pottery Barn.

(Length: 97 words)

Given Dave Winer’s well-documented experiences with Apple repair, you’d think I’d get the picture. Instead, I dropped another $1,400 on a Mac Mini, wireless mouse & keyboard and a second Airport Extreme.

Whatever you do, DO NOT throw away the Airport Extreme install disk.

I am currently unable to connect my new Mini to any network drives because Apple doesn’t let you download the Airport Disk Utility from the web site, and I mistakenly threw away the CD. Good lord, Apple, join the 20th Century and let your customers download utilities from your web site.

(Length: 96 words)