Tandy And Baby Boomers

[Sylvia]

Thanks, guys. I guess I am unique. I don't really have any problem tooling or reading patterns or books. I have a good desk lamp. I can even read the names of colors/contents on their bottles and such if hold them up to a bright lamp. It is not a show stopper, just an inconvenience. I suppose I can take a bright flashlight into their store with me when I am shopping.

Hello Hosscomp:

I am under 60, but I know what you mean about fine print and lack of contrast. I wear glasses and even then I sometimes have difficulty reading websites, until I do a CTRL+ several times to size it up. (Which is why I detest sites that are flash based and won't allow that feature.) I don't know why but it seems the "design practitioners" these days, seem to think grey text on off white is a good enough contrast to read. It's not and I see it a lot these days.

Anyway I have a couple suggestions that may help.

For those Tool numbers: I use a Jeweler's Loops. I have a good one that is 30X power and a quick peak through that and I have the numbers in short order. It's also handy for reading tiny numbers on diodes, capacitors, potentiometers and resisters. It's also great for looking for burrs on your knives and tools. (I carry mine with me)

For those annoying low contrast labels: Once you determine the color, etc., just use a black sharpie and write the color as large as you would like on the label.

It won't help you much while you are shopping but when you get it home you can grab the color you want at a glance.

Edited December 12, 2011 by Sylvia

[BobH]

I wonder if others have similar thoughts.

I couldn't find a feedback place at the Tandy site, so I just thought I would post it here. I like Tandy products, their store, and online shopping site, and spend most of my leather work money there, but there are a few things I wish for.

First, is an easy way to give online feedback or ask questions about products. Second, I would think that a huge percentage of Tandy's customers are over 60, the age group of the baby boomers. I am one, and I have much trouble trying to read the names and colors on their die bottles as well as the other liquid containers and tool packages. I have to hold them close to a bright light to read the small text. This is partly because of the coloring of the background and text, but mostly because of the small size. The Fiebing's bottles are easy to read. I would guess that I am not the only one having problems with this. If not, lets let them know.

Ron

What do they call the group that preceded baby boomers? Geezers? Whatever, they call us, I are one. I was born in '42 and turn 70 next year. To solve the fine print problems, I bought an Osborne magnifying headband and use good lighting. I also have one of the clamp on lamps with a magnifying lens but have no place where I can leave it set up so I rarely use it.

For all you whippersnappers, just wait!

[hosscomp]

Wow! Thanks, guys. Lots of good suggestions. I will do some over labeling and will eventually look up some of those lights/magnifying glasses. It is good to know that I am not alone. One of the first things I do when I use a Tandy dye is smear some on the cap. That helps a lot. But it is still good packaging practice to put the most needed information in large, bold print with good contrast. The packagers must be youngsters.

Thanks,

Ron

[Radthalan]

To tell what color I'm grabbing I put a smear of color on the cap it self. For the dyes that have a black cap, I put a white label on the cap and put a smear of color on that. That way I don't care about the name on the bottle, just the shade of color I'm useing

[katsass]

What do they call the group that preceded baby boomers? Geezers? Whatever, they call us, I are one. I was born in '42 and turn 70 next year. To solve the fine print problems, I bought an Osborne magnifying headband and use good lighting. I also have one of the clamp on lamps with a magnifying lens but have no place where I can leave it set up so I rarely use it.

For all you whippersnappers, just wait!

AGREED Bob, I refuse to admit to being over 70 to those that don't know me --- that's the age at which folks seem to want to speak to you as if you were a petulant child. You know, IN A SLOWER THAN NORMAL MANNER AND LOUDER THAN IS NECESSARY AND OFTEN IN OVER-SIMPLIFIED TERMS. Many don't seem to realize that we old farts had to have had something going on just to get as far as we have. Also they don't seem to realize is that our age one or more of our systems is either hurting, dried-up or is leaking. As Bob says to you younger folks, your "Golden Years" are coming. Mike

[Sylvia]

The packagers must be youngsters.

Thanks,

Ron

You got it... young folks doing the designs that give NO thought to tired eyes or those of us who are visually impaired in some way. It looks good to them so off they go to the printers.

[groovytech]

I use a sharpie to mark the caps of dye bottles, on color dye I put a sample of the color on the cap. I have found that,since age 26, a magnifying desk lamp is a necessity, both in my Leatherwork, and Electronics.

As far as whippersnappers go, did you listen when You were young and immortal? They'll catch on eventually, I did,and that was quite the achievement in the development of the species.

[Charliewz]

I like Ott lamps from Office Depot. They are great natural light lamps.

Charlie

Edited December 17, 2011 by Charliewz

[Bard Skye]

BobH, on 12 December 2011 - 10:57 AM, said:

What do they call the group that preceded baby boomers? Geezers? Whatever, they call us, I are one. I was born in '42 and turn 70 next year. To solve the fine print problems, I bought an Osborne magnifying headband and use good lighting. I also have one of the clamp on lamps with a magnifying lens but have no place where I can leave it set up so I rarely use it.

For all you whippersnappers, just wait!

AGREED Bob, I refuse to admit to being over 70 to those that don't know me --- that's the age at which folks seem to want to speak to you as if you were a petulant child. You know, IN A SLOWER THAN NORMAL MANNER AND LOUDER THAN IS NECESSARY AND OFTEN IN OVER-SIMPLIFIED TERMS. Many don't seem to realize that we old farts had to have had something going on just to get as far as we have. Also they don't seem to realize is that our age one or more of our systems is either hurting, dried-up or is leaking. As Bob says to you younger folks, your "Golden Years" are coming. Mike

Well guys, I'm a boomer, but my poor bod has been abused sufficiently that I *feel* 80 or so.

Anyway, in honor of the so-called "Golden Years", here's a little something I found a few years ago...

I can't see,

I can't pee.

I can't chew,

I can't s***w.

My memore shrinks,

My hearing stinks.

No sense of smell,

I look like hell.

My body is drooping,

I have trouble pooping.

The golden years have come at last,

The golden years can kiss my ___!

Skye