Matthew Hambrick

Submitted to Consumerist.com - Amazing Customer Service from Costco

2012-01-07T20:15:00.000-08:00

I needed to replace the battery in my car and stopped in to my local Costco to see if they had one my size. My battery was a Kirkland and just out of warranty. They told me that they didn't have my size but the location in Chula Vista (15 miles) had several.

I made my way to the Chula Vista location and promptly removed and took my battery to see if there was any prorated amount the battery was worth.

The woman behind the counter said, "Well, this is only five months out of warranty; we'll give you a full refund." Amazing!

I then go to the Tire Center to pick up my battery. It turns out that there are three locations in Chula Vista and I have gone to the wrong one. Isaac, behind the counter in the Tire Center, tells me that the other location with my battery is seven miles away.

I have no battery and no car to get there, but there is an Autozone in the parking lot. I assume I am not buying a Kirkland battery.

Isaac called the manager over and told me to tell him what happened and my plan to buy an Autozone battery.

The manager, Carlos, asked me to give him five minutes. He came back and told me that he is going to have Miguel, his employee from the tire center, drive me to the other store.

A short forty minutes later, I had a new battery in my car.

Costco is known for their customer service, but I have never experienced anything like this.

Top 5 Albums of 2011

2012-01-02T17:59:00.000-08:00

Inspired by John's List (probably can't view unless you are his Facebook friend) and in no order:

1. Human Hearts by Maritime

2. The King of Limbs by Radiohead

3. Codes And Keys by Death Cab for Cutie

4. Strange Negotiations by David Bazan (His weakest effort, but my name is in the liner notes.)

5. 21 by Adele

Bonus: It isn't technically a 2011 in the US so I will put it here:

Making Mirrors by Gotye

All I Want For Christmas

2011-12-17T12:57:00.000-08:00

I am usually super-easy to buy for. Number one: I like a lot of things and have many hobbies. Number two: I am not shy about telling people things I want.

If you are stuck for a gift idea, I run a blog called: Fifty Dollar Gift Ideas. That said, I already own most of what I have listed on that site.

As to what I personally want, here is a list:

[In no order}

1. Cooks Illustrated 2011

2. Pizza Pan

3. Kirkland French Oven from Costco

4. Nook Color eReader

This is something I never thought I would want, but I found out it runs Cyanogenmod.

What I NEED, though, is this:

A New Radiator!

Or this:

A Historic Home Plaque! $220!

Swinging

2011-11-26T19:56:00.001-08:00

Fun in Balboa Park.

Press Association News - London Stock Exchange

2011-11-26T11:13:00.000-08:00

Press Association News - London Stock Exchange:

'via Blog this'

Fifty Dollar Gift Ideas - http://fiftydollargiftideas.blogspot.com/

2011-11-21T14:33:00.001-08:00

For a number of years I have been making extra money during the Christmas season "writing" a blog about $50 gift ideas. Have a look if you wish.

http://fiftydollargiftideas.blogspot.com/

Phase One TV Wall Installation Project

2011-11-21T11:55:00.001-08:00

Time: 90 mins.
Next phase: Cables run through wall then custom frame installed.

I left my Biblical Religion and the Search for Ultimate Reality outside in the rain....

2011-11-21T09:13:00.001-08:00

That would be okay if it weren't for the fact that all my notes from reading it are written inside. /sadface

Top 5 Most Influential Theology Books

2011-11-18T13:35:00.001-08:00

I was asked by my friend Chris, this morning, to come up with my 5 most influential theology books. I am choosing to read that as those which have most changed my own theological position.

In no order:

1. Practice in Christianity - Kierkegaard

2. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance - Pirsig

3. A Plain Account of Christian Perfection - Wesley

4. Catholicism: Christ and the Common Destiny of Man - de Lubac

5. Biblical Religion and the Search for Ultimate Reality - Tillich

For someone who wanted to analyze this, I am sure that person would come up with an analysis that showed that my theology is deeply flawed. I don't necessarily dispute that. I am not particularly systematic. Another thing to note: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance is not a theology book, but in conjunction with my reading of Mildred Bangs Wynkoop's A Theology of Love, I find quality=love to be an interesting proposal and use that notion in my daily life and in the way I read the life of Jesus. That is, I believe to live a quality life is to live a life of love. To build quality, to make quality contributions, and to interact in a quality way is to live a life embodying love.

$10 Record Cleaning Contraption?

2011-11-17T14:21:00.001-08:00

Instructables via [Lifehacker]

I have never personally used blu-tack for record cleaning but I have heard of it. This looks like a nice budget option.

I have used the following:

SpinClean + DIY Record Vacuum (currently)
VPI HW16
DIY Record washer system

The current configuration seems to work the best.

For this system (from instructables), author bfk writes:

"No space needed for a big machine. I keep my Block and Bar beneath my turntable. Cleaning the putty off the bar is easy. Just peel it away. If you use a wooden dowel, it will be a bit more labor, but it will be easy none the less. I kneed the putty again to clean it for the next time and store it in a plastic container. I also use a tiny bit of putty to hold the bar and container to the top of the block.
As I mentioned, in my experience, the sound quality improvement was amazing, and I'm using a temporary, low quality cartridge while waiting for my Audio Technica to show up... I'll update this after Christmas... Hopefully:)"

Good luck!

No Railing

2011-11-17T13:57:00.001-08:00

Finally removed those ugly metal railing in preparation to design some wooden railing. See two posts before this one for a picture with the railing intact.

Art...

2011-11-16T19:00:00.001-08:00

New Year's Resolution / Ante-New Year's Resolution

2011-11-16T15:01:00.001-08:00

I have had a very productive year.

a) I bought a home.

b) I wrote a report and presented to city council to have said house added to the Historical Landmark Registry.

c) I have finished so many projects on the house that I can't begin to number them.

That said, I have let my own personal development fall by the wayside. I have become somewhat out of shape. I have gained weight. I have been eating poorly. I have allowed my garage and home to become cluttered.

So I have three goals to be completed before (ante) new year's day:

1) Get back to fighting form (metrics for success: 145 lbs, 31in waist, sub-7 minute mile run).

2) Eat a minimum of three fruit and vegetable servings per day (doesn't sound like much, but for me it is).

3) Finish the organization and repair of my garage/workshop (even if I have to hire help).

Was thinking an eight year old ipod was good when i looked at the bottom of my discman i keep on my desk: 1998

2011-11-14T15:18:00.001-08:00

13 years of service for $25.

Say what you will about Apple durability, but i think 8 years and going strong is really good.

2011-11-12T10:41:00.001-08:00

Purchased in 2003.

Is it un-American to serve prime rib instead of turkey for Thanksgiving?

2011-11-11T08:30:00.001-08:00

I am thinking about preparing the prime rib recipe from this month's Cook's Illustrated - [article].

From Thrift Store Today

2011-11-10T19:25:00.001-08:00

Love this.

New Addition to the Audio Collection

2011-11-05T17:06:00.001-07:00

1970s Panasonic. Beautiful wood cabinet.

Table Setting

2011-11-02T21:50:00.001-07:00

I'll just leave this here as a reminder for myself. [Re-Nest]

Things I Want to Read/Do in November and Probably Won't.

2011-11-02T21:35:00.000-07:00

read
1. Antiquarian Hideaway
2. How to Get a Personalized Financial Plan Without Spending a Fortune
3. Take a More Realistic Approach to Your To-Do List with the 3 2 Rule
4. How to Be Your Own Therapist and Solve the More Manageable Problems in Your

do
1. Keep a Second Wallet in Your Car for Store Loyalty Cards
2. Cajun-Spiced Turkey: Recipe : bonappetit.com
3. Build-In Your Billys for an Inexpensive & Custom Look Centsational Girl | A
4. The 20/20 Home Cure
5. How to Max Out Your Dropbox Referrals with Google AdWords for Free

bonus: watch
1. 10 Ways To Increase Your Klout Score

We must be a family of shoe lovers...

2011-03-28T12:15:00.001-07:00

New Hilfiger Line Pics - or The Prep Costume?

2011-03-03T17:45:00.001-08:00

See the full gallery on Posterous

I wrote a post about how the new Hilfiger ads look like a bunch of people in prep 'costume' and promptly broke them. The main part of the conversation is this: I can't decide whether it looks cool or like a costume.

Is it just me or does it looks like everyone in the new Hilfiger ad is wearing a costume?

2011-02-24T21:52:00.001-08:00

Prep to the hundreth power.

I am sort of anti-garlic press until I have to mince ten cloves for a recipe.

2011-02-23T14:58:00.001-08:00

Then I wish i had one.

Feeling pretty out of shape today. Taking a walk to fix that..

2011-02-22T16:11:00.001-08:00

I did, however, ride 17 on my bike.