Brookstone

Such a fun little store… I love walking in here and wasting money on things. I have a long list of things that have been bought here and shelved. The most recent is the «Sand.» 97% sand, 3% Cool material that holds it together.
I would probably have spent more money, but I felt like I was at the guy’s house and he wanted to show me all his new toys. Let me look around Woody… I don’t need a personal tour. I am trying to get away from my kids, not hang out with a 20 something year old one. :)

Interesting toys. Found a new one… a mouse that is a scanner, as well! Sort of nifty. You roll the mouse back and forth over what you want scanned and it creates it on the monitor. It takes a number of rolls but it always fills in the gaps.
One of the better buys ($ 60) at Brookstone. Thought about it but don’t have a real need for it now. I am not on the road 3 weeks a month, anymore. (I can actually scan on the all in one printer at home! What a concept!)

A retail chain specializing in various unique electronic and other items that you never thought you needed, probably don’t really need, hadn’t previously ever considered, but find them to be unique as well as handy to have. It’s one of my favorite places to do last minute gift or Christmas shopping for that someone who has everything because at Brookstone I can generally find something they don’t have.
I’ve also been generally pleased with the quality of the items they carry. Unlike other outlets that carry items which may be considered gimmicky, Brookstones items have quality as well as an honest usefulness about them.

Just came back from Brookstone at Galleria Mall on east Sunrise Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale where I wanted to exchange my son’s in-​warranty remote controlled helicopter. The reason was that the build in rechargeable battery was holding charge enough to fly for only about a minute.
The first thing I checked after walking in the store is if I can exchange the helicopter using a scanned receipt that is on my phone and they said no problem. I was redirected to the manager for the exchange. As soon as I went up to him and initiated a conversation, he turn towards me and looked at me (as Borat says) with that face like «I just eat his shit» :).
I explained the problem with the helicopter and his first reaction was «I need the original receipt». I told him I have an image of it in my iPhone and he said he needs to scan the barcode. I showed him the barcode on the screen and he refuses to try scanning it before the helicopter is fully charged. So now, I don’t know if the barcode will scan from my phone, but I have to wait for the helicopter to charge. Luckily, the helicopter was charged prior to going in the store and I knew it will not take long time. Alan — the manager, who I was speaking with, put the helicopter somewhere behind the register where it is practically impossible for me to see when light indicates full charge. After a few minutes I asked the guy if the helicopter is charged and without looking at the helicopter he said NO, it is not. At this time the pressure in my head started to rise but I was able to hold it under control. I politely asked him to actually have a look at the indicators first. He looked at the helicopter and while the green charging light was already off indicating that the helicopter is charged, he again said NO, it is not charged. At that time I’ve had enough and told him that he is wrong and explained why. He then started desperate attempts to fly the helicopter, but he didn’t have it switched on. So the helicopter isn’t moving and the guy is jiggling the remote control like there is no tomorrow. Finally after randomly switching all possible switches on and off he manages to make the helicopter fly. He flew it for about 6 – 7 seconds and proudly concluded that the helicopter is fine. He even tried to convince me that the helicopter isn’t flying well (after he said it is), because I have Duracell batteries in it. At that point I lost it and I wish I can tell you what I said, but it is all like a dream! What I remember is that my son was later asking me what «asshole» means. I have no idea where he heard that… What should I say?