Car Toys

Car Toys
13720 E Mississippi Ave
Aurora, CO 80012 
3/24/2009 

Alright so time for the good, this chain does carry some great brands, Alpine, Kenwood, uhhh and it pretty much ends there.
Now for the bad, I called to get a quote on what the installation fee would be on a CD player for a car I just purchased.  They told me that it could be anywhere from $30-$120 but the tech really needed to see the vehicle in order to give me an accurate quote.  No big deal right, of course not, I appreciate someone being honest with me instead of doing the smoke and mirrors routine.  Upon arriving to their store, a guy by the name of Mike introduced himself to me and asked how he could help.  Besides his used car salesman like appearance, and overwhelming scent of Drakaar Noir (or however the shit you spell that cologne's name) he was geared up to help me out.  Upon tracking down an install technician, the three of us walked out to my car so they could give me an accurate estimate.  The shop tech and Mike started talking back and forth about how "difficult these cars are to do installs on" They were really laying their act on thick, and it was a piss poor effort at best.  The shop tech let me know that he wouldn't be able to keep the factory wood trim on and would have to remove it.  Besides the fact they told me that they would essentially destroy the dash of my car leaving a huge gap where the wood trim would have been, but it would "only cost me $215 in parts and labor." Best part is he said it in that excited Billy Mays voice from the T.V. infomercials.  "Don't just get it clean, get it Oxy Clean!" Don't just grab it, GoPher it!"  Then he started rambling on about all these "special installation techniques" he would have to use because my car has an internal amplifier and so on .  Keep in mind, if your car comes with an internal amplifier and your stock speakers still sound really good, DO NOT BYPASS THE AMP.  That amp was placed there so you "the owner" could enjoy the best sound possible that your amp and speakers can provide.  All you need to do, or any install tech should do, is run a filter to your amplifier.  Upon doing this, your car will sound really damn excellent.  According to this douche muffin of an "install tech"  he said "If you don't bypass the amp, your car will sound like shit. I used to have a 2002 BMW 5 series and it sounded like crap when I tried to filter it and run it through the amp."  Wrong, that is an install tech being lazy and not wanting to run wires to the amp, from your CD player.
In conclusion their $215 install cost and the $200 CD player I wanted to purchase was an extraordinary rip off.
Instead, I went to Ebay and bought a CD player, "same one Car Toys was selling, but for $60 less" Then I bought the wire harnesses and mounting brackets from (I'm sad to say Wal-Mart) for $28 and installed the deck myself in about an hour and a half.  So minus the cost of the 2 beers I drank while doing the install, I saved around $240.  Oh, and my car still looks factory, and sounds great, so thanks for offering to tear off the wood trim in my new vehicle Car Toy's.
Good luck Car Toy's, I'm sure with business practices such as yours you will soon run your organization into the ground.

Pho 99

Pho 99
1080 S Havana St
Aurora, CO 80012 

3/25/2009

Well rhinestones, horseshoes, and stars, the chefs at this place deserve free drinks at the bar.
Everything I had here was really fresh, the vegetables, noodles, and dare I say, meat.
I love soup, I love making it, the smell of it simmering, and most importantly eating it. While yes, like a lot of tasty food their soup is packed full of MSG. Frankly though, MSG makes just about everything taste better.
I first found out about the magical type of soup called "Pho" when I was sixteen and borderline needing to wear a helmet partied out in Portland. I'll be damned if it  wasn't excellent then and it's still the only food I've found that lives up to the statement "it contains the whole kitchen sink."
It's great soup because it allows you ability to customize your food, without having to order it from someone wearing a visor. You can get some pretty unique things put in your soup here from tendons, fresh basil, jalapenos, a shit ton of MSG, fat slices, and monkey paws. Alright, so you can't get monkey paws, but you can get just about anything else in your soup. Point is, you can keep your food as tame or as exciting as you want.
If  you had only $5 and a choice between a God awful generic Sub, with ultra bland water infused cold cuts, or a bowl of Pho with a lot of fresh vegetables and noodles, what would you pick? Well while you ponder that, I'm gonna pick the one that wasn't hand molested by a disgruntled and underpaid Subway employee.
Go ahead and be all high and mighty and look down on those of us who enjoy the hell out of MSG. However, the next time you eat a bag of Doritos why don't you take a look at that ingredient list on the back, while your licking the chip dust off your fingers.
Finally, for those of you who give little restaurants like this a bad review because "Like one time, I went there and they didn't have the same item I order every time, so I will never eat there again!" I order you, to nut up! Try living outside your normal routine, especially if you have contributed to cleaning a restaurant out of a popular item. How's about ordering something different, and don't be a pillow biter by slamming a restaurant for one unfortunate incident.

Thanks for the tasty soup tonight Pho 79, "May all your battles be fought with Tiger like reflexes."

By the way, I love Doritos, support our economy and eat a bag yourself.

Global Career Management

 Global Career Management
1675 Broadway
Denver, CO 80202

Recently I decided to quit my job as a sales manager/headhunter with Robert Half International.  I'm a firm believer that if you no longer like the company you are working for or are unhappy, it's time to quit.
Upon submitting my two weeks' notice, I posted my resume on CareerBuilder.  Having worked in the headhunting/recruiting field for the past two years I know that a lot of opportunities can sprout up from this simple action.  The majority of the candidates I placed with my clients during my time with Robert Half were found via CareerBuilder.  Hands down the most enjoyable part about my job at Robert Half was helping my clients find the perfect candidate for a position they had open in their company.  If I did my job properly that meant the client, candidate, and I all had a smile on our face at the end of the deal.  The end result was usually the same, I helped save my client time and money, and I helped find someone a great job that fit into the scope of what they were looking for.
 While I know the intro to this review was long the reason for it should make sense in a moment.  Shortly after posting my resume on CareerBuilder, I received a phone call from Steve Brown the Vice President at GCM.  He began drilling me with questions like "Are you REALLY serious about your career search" and "Would you like to work with a company that will help you in your future salary negotiations?"  While we were on the phone I looked online for some reviews and info on GCM.  Around the time I realized that I was speaking with a scam artist I asked him some questions of my own.  I asked him if GCM is candidate or client paid organization, and either way how does GCM determine their markup. (Side note, a headhunter's markup is almost always based off this simple but overpriced formula. The client is charged 1% per $1000 of the candidate's yearly salary up to 30%)   GCM is paid via the candidates (Warning, to any of you looking to do business with a headhunter or recruiter, make sure they bill the client and not yourself)   Steve proceeded to explain to me that his firm specializes in career counseling and helping candidates come up with business plans.
The GCM business professional's a.k.a. (overpaid high school guidance counselors) offer to help you build your resume and review practice questions prior to an interview.  Unlike a headhunter, they do not offer to sell you to clients; all they offer is career counseling. They offered me these services for the small price of $5500 for a five month contract or $15000 for a year long contract of their "career assistance."
 These folks offer to help you write your resume and prepare for interviews you find yourself, for a price that has a comma in it!  Hey, here is an idea, use the internet or buy a book for around $10                       (I recommend First Year in Sales) that will arm you with better tools than what this organization offers.
If any of you decide to work with a headhunter make sure they bill the client for services rendered and not yourself.   Also, ask how many companies they have in their database that might be a good fit for your background.  Trust me when I say that that any honest headhunter or staffing manager will answer accordingly. Every reputable headhunting agency whether it be Aerotek, Spherion, or Robert Half abide by the principal that the client should pay for the headhunting service, not the candidate.
Good luck GCM, I'm sorry you weren't able to con me out of $5500.  Please, for the sake of the tax payers, who you will surely be asking for a bailout shortly, learn how to do business the right way. It's scamers like this that make white people look bad.
Cheers!

Charles Schwab

Charles Schwab
 201 Columbine St
Denver, CO 80206

10/7/2009

First to Review

 

Immediately after visiting this place I wanted to phone the ghost of Billy Mayes in order to help the ass-clowns employed at this place; learn a thing or two about the art of being awesome.  I believe that the staff here was trained by the Shamwow guy; and the focus of the course was to learn how to beat up hookers and be a dick.  Much like everyone else who had some of their savings invested in the market in 2008, it was a sad bastard time for almost every stock you had in your portfolio.   Recently I was lucky enough to turn a profit on some stocks purchased so I put in a sell order and requested to pick up a live check at this office.
I should confess, I have had great luck with all of my previous dealings with Charles Schwab.  Their customer service reps have been nothing short of incredible, the personable people I have dealt with via phone calls commands respect, and their transaction costs are extremely reasonable.  After two visits at this location I give it a big thumbs down.  Charles Schwab is a great organization, however walking into this branch the past two times has been much like walking into a chest shaving competition, hosted by some reject Abercrombie models.  I wish the "financial planners" at this location ill.  As for the rest of the underappreciated staff at Charles Schwab, I give you a huge thumbs up, stay awesome.

Barolo Grill

 Barolo Grill
3030 E 6th Ave
Denver, CO 80206

Denverit's, I'm not feeling this place, much like a chronic masturbator who recently mistook their lotion supply for  a bottle of Novocain, very little pleasure has been experienced here.  I should first cover a few topics to clarify my reasoning behind the low rating of this establishment.  I have eaten at Barolo Grill twice and most recently I was here on November 4th, 2009.  My first visit was slightly disappointing and much like an abused housewife who is a slow learner I made the mistake of giving this place a second chance.  
I recognize that for many food enthusiasts it has been ingrained in our heads that that the more money you spend at a restaurant equals a more erotic experience for ones taste buds.  For the most part there is a lot of truth to this equation.  However, I would strongly hope that there are better Italian restaurants than this one in Colorado.
Like all fine dining restaurants their wine list is incredibly overpriced, so my complaints do not stem from sticker shock. My discrepancies about this place are simple, weak flavor for the price, poor ambience, and an over usage of salt.  Mind you I love salt, far more than a seemingly healthy individual should.  Thanks to my addiction to salt I have been shot three times for enjoying a salt lick placed in the wilderness by an untalented hunter.  "Note to self, wear more Orange when Elk/mushroom hunting.
I have ordered from the A La Carte menu and tried their "five course chefs tasting menu" and have been disappointed with both.  
My advice Yelper's, try some other Italian restaurants in Colorado and see if you can find a place that appeases your taste buds.  It sounds awful but I have had much better Italian food in Utah, ridiculous sounding but true.  For a state/city (Denver, CO) that was heavily inhabited by Germans and Italians during the 1800's, I strongly believe that there has got to be some better Italian food out here.

Chuck' Meats

Chuck's Meats
5425 S 11500
Arcadia, UT 84021 

I had the great fortune of picking up an Elk tag in Utah this year and thanks to my countless hours of training on Nintendo's tactical hunting training game; a.k.a."Duck Hunt" I filled my tag on opening morning. Year after year one can get tired of eating Elk, Deer, Caribou, steaks and roasts, so this season I decided to mix things up.
The nearest town to where I was hunting at is Dutch John, UT and based on the locals recommendations for meat processing, I was informed Chuck's Meats is the place to go. Mind you Dutch John is a very small town full of hunters so the unanimous praises of Chuck's Meats was a solid sign that this was the place to take the Elk I eventually picked up.
After skinning and cutting off the choice pieces of meat, my Dad and I took the remainder of my Elk to Chuck's.
Just in case you didn't get your fix of "Having the Be Jesus scared out of you" during the Gypsy like haunted house Halloween rush, I recommend you swing by this place. Several times I have had the fortune or misfortune of using meat processing facilities and this one was more memorable than most. I should clarify that the outside of this place will scare the shit out of anyone not named Jason Voorhees. First of all it is out in the middle of nowhere, really it is and it makes scenes from the movie Deliverance look like a metropolis. Had it not been for Carl's (one of the locals who recommended this place) hand drawn map, my Pops and I would have never found it. Upon finding Chuck's Meats we backed into the drop off point to deliver the goods.
The large cold metal door that protects the outside world from the sights of a slaughter house was surrounded by garbage cans filled with skulls, rotting bones, hides, and discarded animal parts. My words will not do the sights or smells of this scene justice. For the most part I find my stomach to be nearly bulletproof; except for dog pooh that is my exception. However, the sight of this albeit necessary but frightening crime scene was the moment we encountered some of Chuck's employee's. With their butcher aprons, galoshes, gloves covered in blood and fillet knives strapped to their sides they approached my father and I. It seemed that at this moment my Dad and I were nothing more than potential future sausages.
Instead of hearing an expected opening statement spoken with a mouth full of chewing tobacco like "Ya'll ain't from around these parts is ya?" the owners son in law greeted us with friendly conversation and a personable attitude.
From my experience, Chuck's is almost as good as it gets. They made a portion of my Elk into Summer Sausage at no extra cost and I have to say, it's the best I Summer Sausage I have tasted in my life. The remainder was turned into a few roasts, hamburger, and Italian Sausages. Elk can be on the south side of gamey if cured poorly, but this place did top shelf work handling my meat. (Gross I know but it needed to be said) Even if you provide positive feedback about the quality of their processing and seasoning abilities I would make sure to keep a mindful tongue when visiting this place. There are miles of open space surrounding Chuck's Meats that would make a fine shallow grave for said smart mouthed individual.
Yeah, this place was that kind of scary, but well worth the risk.

Stay Awesome Chuck's!

Best Buy

Best Buy

13801 E Mississippi Avenue
Aurora, CO 80012 

 

5/1/2010

First to Review

While I recognize that writing a review of a large chain such as Best Buy, Target, or Wal-Mart is about as useful as saying "No" to a rapist, I feel this posting is warranted.  Having previously owned a small retail shop I can appreciate the frustrations of both the owners who are tasked with finding quality employees, along with the feelings of annoyance every customer service employee deals with on a daily basis.
Let's face it customer service is not the easiest gig in the world, much like working as a baby seal clubber, I can imagine some nights it can be difficult to clear your thoughts before partaking in a restful night's sleep.
The driving force for this negative review has nothing to do with Best Buy's  prices, selection, or return policy, it simply boils down to the quality of the employees that suckle from the corporate teat of this particular Best Buy.  On many occasions I have had the great misfortune of dealing with some of the customer service reps at this location.  For the most part my love of instant gratification and prior product knowledge allows me to complete most purchases without having to deal with salespeople.  During my past few visits at this particular Best Buy I have had to seek counsel when searching for a particular cord or adapter.  My simplistic questions seemed to have inconvenienced the individuals who initially asked "Can I help you find something?"  Besides being greeted with an attitude that offered the same comfort as steel wool being rubbed against my tender squishy bits; I was also presented with false information.

The combination of seeing employees here take their job for granted as they wander through the store while sending text messages, talking poorly about customers the moment that they are no longer within ear shot, plus providing incorrect information on several occasions has led me to believe this locations employees suck the salt malt from the meat straw.
I embrace and don't mind honesty, if an employee simply says "I'm not sure" that is something I can respect.  However, stating that a certain cable or product doesn't exist, when it is apparently available at stores such as Target or Radio Shack does disgruntle me a bit.  What I do find most disturbing about the reps I have dealt with at this store, given our current economy; employees working in the customer service roll that speak so negatively about customers who are seeking their knowledge.  On two separate occasions I have been witness to employees mocking and speaking racial remarks about a potential customer's question the moment he or she was out of gossip range.
F-minus to the employees at this Best Buy, admittedly most of the customers you deal with on a day to day basis do not possess the technological wisdom you personally have harnessed; but that minor detail is no excuse for such poor behavior.