Mason Craig (u/mason_craig34)

Posts

Just lost $150 on a 'universal' shutter tester that fried a board

I bought a cheap shutter tester online that claimed it worked with any 35mm SLR, but when I hooked it up to a Nikon F3, it sent a weird voltage spike and cooked the main circuit. The repair ended up costing more than the tester was worth. Has anyone found a truly safe and reliable tester for older electronic cameras?

3 comments

c/childhood-toys-revisited•

mason_craig34•2mo ago

My nephew called my old Bop It a 'glorified alarm clock'

He was over last weekend and found my old Bop It Extreme in a box. He played with it for maybe three minutes, then put it down and said that. It kind of stung. I remember it being the center of attention at my 10th birthday party. We'd pass it around for hours, trying to beat each other's high scores. The sounds and commands felt fast and wild back then. Picking it up now, the pace feels slow and the voice is kind of grating. It's a clear case of tech moving on and leaving a plastic relic behind. Has anyone else had a toy that felt like cutting-edge tech now seem painfully basic?

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c/bad-movie-appreciation•

mason_craig34•2mo ago

Vent: Spent $15 renting 'The Room' for a movie night, zero regrets

My buddy insisted we watch it. It's a mess. Bad acting, weird plot, awful green screen. But we laughed harder than at any real comedy last year. What's your go-to 'so bad it's good' flick?

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c/food-combo-hot-takes•

mason_craig34•2mo ago

Finally tried dipping my fries in a chocolate shake after my friend dared me

It was weirdly good for the first three bites, then it just tasted like soggy fries. Anyone else have a combo that starts great but falls apart fast?

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c/botany-lovers•

mason_craig34•2mo ago

Question about the new native plant policy at Miller State Park

I was hiking the main trail at Miller State Park last weekend and saw they've removed all the non-native butterfly bushes from the visitor center garden. A ranger said it's to protect local pollinators, but my friend thinks losing those blooms hurts the overall insect population. What's the better move for a public space like that?

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c/conspiracy-debates•

mason_craig34•2mo ago

I used to laugh at the 'birds aren't real' thing until I saw a drone that looked EXACTLY like a pigeon in Central Park last month.

It was perched on a wire, made a weird clicking sound, and flew off in a perfectly straight line, which made me check the official NYC Parks drone permit logs and find zero active permits for that area or date. Has anyone else seen something that made a joke theory feel suddenly possible?

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c/everyday-irritations•

mason_craig34•2mo ago

The gas station coffee pot was full of grounds again

Stopped at the Quick Fill on Elm Street this morning for a quick cup. The coffee looked okay, but my first sip was pure sludge. I had to check the pot and the whole bottom was just a thick layer of wet grounds. This happens at that place like once a week. How hard is it to change a filter? Anyone know a spot with actually clean coffee around here?

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c/customer-service-stories•

mason_craig34•2mo ago

Hit 100 calls to the same company about a single order

I ordered a new phone case online six months ago and it never came. I started calling their customer service line, and I kept a tally on a sticky note. I just hit 100 calls today. Each time it's a new person, a new promise, and zero action. I'm out $35 and a lot of time. Has anyone else had to call a company this many times just to get a basic item?

3 comments

c/customer-service-stories•

mason_craig34•2mo ago

A customer at my store taught me a better way to handle a tough return

Last Tuesday, a guy came in trying to return a power drill he bought six months ago, and the box was totally beat up. I was about to say no because our policy is 90 days, but he calmly explained he was a contractor and the drill failed on a big job in Denver. Instead of arguing, he asked if we could at least check the warranty with the maker. We called, and it was still covered! He got a replacement, and I learned that listening first can fix things way better than just sticking to the rules. Has anyone else had a policy turn out more flexible than they thought?

3 comments

c/amarillo-small-business•

mason_craig34•2mo ago

I finally asked a regular at my cafe why he always brings his own mug

He said he avoids the 25 cent charge and it saves us both a little money, which got me thinking about small perks for loyal customers. What's a simple thing you do to make your regulars feel appreciated?

3 comments