Warren Thayer

Having spent a lifetime in moderate paranoia, I nevertheless routinely fly in airplanes, work as a volunteer firefighter and worry about being struck by lightning while hiking in the woods during storms. These are among the risks I take and accept, just like using my credit cards online. I...

Cool! But as useful as a rubber beak on a woodpecker.

Totally agree with the thread here. The additional effect will be that full-time employees with better attitude will make part-timers and newcomers better, happier workers also. Customers will like working with a better class of employees. Win-win all around.

The companies that already offer live customer service reps and online chat already do a good job. Would just like to see more companies offering it, especially on complex/expensive purchases. Brick and mortar operations might want to consider more kiosks so you can order from them for rapid delivery,...

Way too little info to know whether this will be profitable for them or not. Cutting out the middleman is always a nice idea, but can attract copycats with deeper pockets to knock you off. I've seen many real product innovations from small companies get copied by the big...

Count me as skeptical. It should not come as a surprise except to the naive and/or politically correct that a great deal of office time can and does get spent on Facebook, eBay, porn, etc. But also, having worked for a company that tracked everyone's searches, it got really...

Depends on a wide variety of factors. I believe Whole Foods handled this properly, but doubt that any retailer could have a national policy because of different ethnic markets where they operate. In Miami or LA, it would be silly to insist on English-only all the time. But IMHO,...

I'm one of the "Trail Angels" along the Appalachian Trail, helping thru-hikers with meals, places to stay, errands, etc. I frequently drive them to REI, which has tremendous loyalty among the hikers. (They have mild contempt for L.L.Bean).

Most returns/exchanges at REI are appropriate. But I have to say that...

They pay better than average, and all the other things they are doing, they are doing well, as always. Under it all, I think I'd add "trust" to the list of attributes we were all voting on. Many shoppers go to Whole Foods because they trust the nutrition, wholesomeness...

Can this be for real? A really elitist concept that will turn off a lot of people, especially as people game the system to get "Klout" and free passes. And if I were ever in line at a store and saw someone get cheaper prices because of their "Klout,"...