THE WORLD JUST KEEPS A-CHANGIN

I know there are a couple of people who occasionally peek in at this blog who will be able to relate to the following.

I've often promised my wife Phyl that I would not concentrate on the past in both my conversations and blog writing.

I agree.  There are too many good things available to us now that were absent - or not yet invented - back in the so-called "Good Old Days."

Besides, I enjoy all those great home cooked meals and the many benefits that come with them.

However, I will speak of a change in customer service now and then - as I am about to do now.

I remember the days when you pulled into the local gas/filling station for the purpose of "filling up".

All of a sudden It was like the guys from Texaco sponsored  "Milton Berle Show" were making road appearances at our local gas station.

While becoming concerned that gas was up to the ridiculous price of 23 cents a gallon - I was distracted by the good service I was about to receive.

The first guy was out washing my windshield and headlights. Another had the hood open so he could check both oil and water levels. A third was still waiting in the wings.

His job was to bring out the glasses - some with the insignia of a local sports team- or maybe some dishes - or perhaps, the green S&H stamps - in an amount  value commensurate with the total of my bill.

Nowadays, it's difficult to stop and even get directions at a gas station because the owner and the employees don't live within 25 miles of the place - and apparently don't have a clue how they got to work that morning.

This is the negative side of service - as to opposed to that which was glady proffered.

Companies back then saw serice  as a way to keep you as a customer and were also desirous of seeing cars lined up at their place - even before Jimmy Carter became President.

Today, it's different. But, you all know that, so why go into the contrast of "then and now" at gas stations - or that banks replaced your widowed neighbor, Mrs. Snyder as a bank teller with an ATM machine - which they then charged you to use in a variety of circumstances?

No, my illustration here is not related to any of the above. It's worse.

A few weeks ago my new Sears card appeared in the mail. I didn't request it - the sonofagun just appeared in my community mailbox unanounced.

I glanced at the accompanying literature and then did all the good things like calling an 800 number to validate it.

I then refused the operator's encouragement to enroll in a protection program that, as I recall,  would provide me with 24 hour home security service by two guys named Lamont Cranston  and Duncan Rinaldo who would guard my house and prevent anybody from breaking in and stealing  my new credit card.

Anyway, it was something like that. After a while you just tune out all the marketing BS.  I suspect the next time I run into a Bible salesman, he'll try to get me to upgrade to Kindle.

Anyway, two weeks after I validated the card, I received another unsolicited correspondence from my pals over at Sears.

It was a bill for a $25 Rewards Fee that also contained a late payment warning.

The Account Statement announced: "If we do not receive your minimum payment by the date listed above (two weeks away), you may have to pay a late fee up to $35."

Guess who's going to call Sears today and cancel the account?

I won't even ask if they were going to send me a Steelers glass  if I had made a prompt bill payment.

It's a changing world and Old Man Roebuck has to be spinning in his grave.