my unsolicited side effects...

(If you’re expecting something related to the Red Sox, you can stop reading right now)

As a businessman interacting with hundreds of clients, vendors, customers, and other businesses every year, I’m positive he doesn’t remember the 5-minute conversation we had at his booth during a computer show back in 2007. But, his sales pitch resonated with me – an affable, enthusiastic guy, with a brand-new business involved in the responsible recycling of electronics, eager to please the customer. His business card was an easy addition my collection.

Since then, I’ve made it a point to bring all my assorted electronic jetsam to his firm, Green Monster Recycling of West Hartford, CT. And, after learning they shred computer hard drives (and seeing the shredding machines on their recycling floor), they got all my failed hard drives too. Sure, getting there was definitely out of my way… but, I remembered that conversation we had, the security of shredded hard drives, and the fact that we all benefited, especially Mother Nature.

Recently, I visited again with a small pile of unneeded electronics. Upon unloading my stuff into the bins, two small electronic items caught my interest. What the heck – I figured offering some money for a couple of chachkas was a no-lose proposition for Green Monster: If they worked, we all benefit; if they didn’t, it was “free money” for them, too bad for me – and, they’d make even more money when I recycled them.

Inspired by seemingly inescapable logic, I brought them to the office, where the following conversation with a rather burly manager took place (paraphrased, of course…although, they may have it on video):

Me: (showing two small items) How much do you want for these?
Him: (tersely) You aren’t allowed to take anything out of the [recycling] bins!
Me: I’m not taking anything out. After recycling my stuff I noticed these (small items) and wanted to know how much you wanted for them.
Him: (agitated) You aren’t allowed to take anything out of the bins!
Me: I’m not “taking” anything: I’m willing to pay a fair price, how much do you want?
Him: (Looks me over top to bottom, takes items from me, looks them over) We can’t take any money, due to the program we have…(hands me back the obviously cheaper of the two items) …besides, you don’t want this, [it's older computer technology].
Me: Hey, no problem. I didn’t know you couldn’t sell stuff. (I leave the lobby)

As I’m walking to my car, I hear: “Sir, Sir!”

Me: Yes? (building’s side window is open, man’s head barely visible)
Him: What are you doing?
Me: Nothing…walking to my car.
Him: Well, you’re pissing me off — Don’t bother coming back, I don’t ever want to see you again, I’ve got you on video. We only serve West Hartford residents showing proof [of residency] with ID.

Frankly, I was surprised: I didn’t think I did anything wrong, and I certainly didn’t expect this heavy-handed response for asking an innocent question. Perhaps he didn’t see me recycling my stuff, or it was too close to closing time, or one of a million other things I have no way of knowing (like, guys, what’s wrong with the Patriot’s defense? Their secondary couldn’t stop a sneeze! …but, I digress).

Or, maybe it was my fault. Despite his gruff inarticulateness I’m sure the employee’s right: They can’t sell stuff, or they’re only open to city residents, or they can’t accept cash of any kind, or it’s some bureaucratic law, or something. Fine…Mea culpa… I should have checked their website before I stopped by to avoid upsetting him over such a trivial thing.

Imagine my surprise when I actually did check their website (my emphasis): (See: https://greenmonsterecycling.com/faq.html)

Q: Is GME for West Hartford residents only?
A: No, anybody from anywhere can use the free drop-off center.
Q: Is swapping electronic items allowed?
A: No.
Q: What are acceptable forms of payment?
A: We accept CASH or CHECK.

Hold on… I got blacklisted from doing business with them for: (1) recycling stuff from out-of-town,  (b) offering CASH, not swapping, to reuse potentially non-working electronics, and (3) saving the non-recyclable content from a landfill. So, I took all the risk, and received all the punishment, because an employee failed to either listen attentively or communicate effectively with a customer. Seriously? Must be some other discriminating factor I didn’t notice. (Kindly substitute “Innocentia per” for my earlier “Mea Culpa”.)

Hey, I’m neither upset nor vindictive: In my book, a business is free to offer or deny their goods and services to anyone they want, at anytime they want, for any (legal) reason they want. But, after recalling that 2007 conversation, it seems like it’s not just electronics that could use a helpful bit of  recycling at Green Monster Recycling.

BTW: If you’re Green Monster Recycling, I’ll give you all the space you need for a well-considered, responsible reply… and even put it at the top of this post if you want, ‘cuz the business card’s still in the Rolodex. Just tell me something no one else would know about my unfortunate incident