Nita Johnson: MY POINT IS... Apps, Apps, Everywhere an App

Nita Johnson, The Sentinel Echo, London, Ky.
·3 min read

Jan. 11—We 'oldies but goodies' might recall a song from the 1970s by a one-hit wonder group known as Five Man Electrical Band known as "Signs."

The lyrics say, "Signs, signs, everywhere signs, blocking out the scenery, breaking my mind."

With today's technology, I have created my own version of that song that comes from some frustrating experiences.

My version is:

Apps, apps, everywhere an app,

Bogging down phone memory, I just can't adapt.

Discounts and free food

There for the taking

Is it worth all the trouble it's making?"

That, in a nutshell, has been my experience with the majority of the phone apps that are spread across the screen of my cell phone.

It is somewhat amazing that I have no trouble paying bills with the apps on my phone; it seems someone, somewhere is always ready to take my money. Insurance, utility, CashApp and PayPal nearly always work without a hitch.

But when it comes to the discounts and rewards offered — especially at restaurants — the apps just don't seem to work!

Patience has never been one of my character traits. Technology adaption is not one of my stronger abilities. But it's extremely frustrating when I try to save a few cents or get some bonus points with certain apps, only to be rejected for some unknown reason.

The last attempt made was at a drive-thru window of a restaurant. I sat in the parking lot, placed my order, entered my debit card information and attempted to make the payment. The app kept saying I had an invalid zip code. So I added the 4-digits to the end. Again, an invalid zip code.

Invalid? It's the same zip code I've had for decades. It hasn't changed. In fact, it's the first zip code ever assigned to the London/Laurel County area! How could that be invalid?

And apps have to be used BEFORE placing an order, so that killed that attempt at earning points. When I mentioned my trouble to the employees at the drive-thru window, they said other people had complained about the app not working properly. Okay, so it wasn't just my lack of technical ability. But now, how do I claim my points or rewards or whatever that particular restaurant offers?

Then there are the retail store apps. I get messages on those apps, but it seems my orders are never accepted. I've ordered Christmas presents the last two years on a certain store app — but I never get the items! Luckily, my debit card wasn't charged — which is a rarity as I usually wind up paying for something I never receive.

The same situation occurs when i try to order online. If there's a fake website out there, rest assured that I will find it. And order from it. And never get the merchandise. Or a refund. Or a legitimate phone number to call to inquire and demand my money back. Or a contact to report to authorities. If my banking folks ever review my billing, they have to have a good laugh at this dummy who can somehow find fake websites to take her money. It's a never-ending saga.

I hear people talk about ordering online and their complete joy when their desired items arrive. Frankly, the only items that have been successfully delivered to me have been the Wish and Temu items that sometimes took months to arrive and were usually not the quality advertised. Except the time I had something shipped to a local store that distributed those items — that never came although they had been paid for.

So, like the song that inspired this column, I have my own song for the app business.

Apps, apps, everywhere an app

Testing my patience

And making me mad.

Download this, refund that,

It's not the best experience

I've ever had.

Apps, apps, everywhere an app.......