That's why I "stickied" it.

You're welcome,   

KB

Was looking for more conversation and opinion about it, but hey it's your playground.

Just so there's no misunderstanding. The place is "kiosked." The girl that I spoke to initially told me that the different departments were independent contractors and that's why I was given different phone numbers to call. Maybe that's why she hung up when I asked to speak to the owner/manager. It flipped her circuits seeing as she wasn't sure, I guess, exactly who that would be. That to me means further confusion and lack of accountability which helped in my decision to go to a place that is one roof, one "owner."

Now if I had decided on guitar lessons as suggested by Ginger...  

KB

No one really cares about my 2 cents but I will add it anyway. I was in Freehold Music only once. The person I was with was looking for guitar strings for themself, a toyish  starter guitar for my niece, a new drum symbol w/stand and new sticks for my son. Not a very high priced sale but the sales people in both the guitar and drum sections were helpful and and answered our questions(we are not very knowledgeable in what we were buying) plus we were given a good price.

Because it is not a "topic of conversation" so much as it is a "resource source." The Contractor Referral area (with a sticky) seemed like more than problem solved to me. 

KB

Could it be the Crab Shack?  Almost all the way out on Mantoloking Road.

Thanks Ginger - now I'm hungry: want to try it & will probably never find it.  How far from 36 was it?  Was it north or south of Manaloking?  I know we stopped somewhere around there a few weeks ago but it didn't have outside seating.  We saw the prices to eat inside - then decided to do take-out and found somewhere by the bay to eat.  These are the best places for seafood.

Tom,

The "Jackson" part of your explanation is possible.  For that matter, the kid could have easily said they were in New York.  But it’s also possible she was right.  It’s not as if they have to cross a bridge or tunnel to get there and one wrong turn out of a west Aldrich Road development puts you in Ocean County.  And any kid who lives on the west side of nine is probably accustomed to those boundaries.  

But I agree and that could have gone either way.  

But the bus pass was wrong and it was confirmed by the parents and the transportation department.  The bus didn't drive her home that day.  She got on the wrong bus and then they drive her back to the school.  The parents had to go pick her up since her correct bus had long since departed.  

We would often joke with the new parents in our scout troop and we would comment that “we have a 97% track record.”  Some would ask “97% in what” and we would answer “we take 30 kids camping and we have never returned with less than 29!”  
 
Of course, that was a joke.  There will always be some mistakes on bus cards or routes but these should be the absolute minimum and we should strive to make them go away completely.  And there is never a margin of error when we are dealing with kids in scouts or school.  100% is the absolute minimum.    

Definitely NOT the case here. Maybe I should clarify. The first phone call (made one half hour after the scheduled appt) couldn't have been nicer UNTIL the girl that answered the phone had no answers. Gave me a phone number to call to check for myself where he was. When I called the number and got a busy signal I called the main store number, told her I was getting a busy signal; was there no one else there - at the music center - I could talk to; that I shouldn't have to be tracking this guy down - they should, SHE, after putting me on hold for just under SEVEN minutes, (stand still for just five minutes, set a timer and just stand there and tell me it doesn't feel like an interminable time and compound it with a snotty attitude and YOU ALL tell me you wouldn't at the very least want to speak to a supervisor) said, "You're just gonna have to wait, lady. What more can I tell you."

That's when we were off to the races BUT, even then, I didn't raise my voice or come close to getting loud or abusive because I knew unless I stayed on the high road, nothing would come of speaking to anyone there any further. BUT I DID WANT TO SPEAK TO A MANAGER and when she told me, "What more can I tell you," I replied, "I'd like to speak to a manager or the owner," at which point she abruptly hung up. Now I could have called and called and called and called but if she is the person that answers the phone - what's the point? Besides, I'm a quick study and I can "read the signs." An exercise in futility is an exercise in futility. Lousy customer service is lousy customer service.

KB

P.S. Anyone that's listened to the DiBella interview KNOWS I have a high bullshit tolerance and can keep myself in check. 

Wow Pat how do you really feel about technology.

I don't know if I would ever help anyone that was looking for help in this way but I watched the piece on MSNBC about the guy that created the site and thought it was interesting. Maybe for guys our age picking uo te phone and calling in a favor is our way but to the young couples of today this seems to be right up thier ally.