2A - Buglist
- There is very limited parking on UF's campus. This leads me to have to pay $150 a month at my apartment complex and because I live in this apartment, we are not allowed to buy Gainesville parking.
- The lack of UF parking on campus and off-campus but close to campus makes it easy for companies like apartment complexes to make a lot of money because students don't have many options.
- The parking garage I park my car in where I live is so small. Barely two cars can fit around one corner and even though the speed limit is 5, people speed around the corners up to speeds of 20 mph. I feel like I'm going to crash every time.
- Whoever created this garage was more focused on getting as many spots as possible rather than having enough space to cars to drive through safely. There also isn't much land around the garage for it to be overall bigger.
- Scooters share the road with many cars with heavy traffic. Yes, they are similar to motorcycles, but they are way less powerful and there have been numerous accidents on campus.
- 13th Avenue and West University are some of the main roads on campus and there is not room for a separate scooter lane, and if there was, it would be a huge construction project. It isn't preferable to have scooters and cars driving together, but would a scooter lane be worth the trouble, time and money?
- No one wears helmets on scooters on campus which has proven to be a safety hazard.
- It may be a law to wear a helmet on a scooter, but it is very rarely enforced which makes the law seem like it doesn't exist to those who drive scooters.
- In my apartment complex, there is a trash chute on every floor but the recycling is only outside in the main courtyard and its so hard to carry huge boxes out there.
- My assumption is that it was too much of a hassle for workers to move the recycling where it needs to be since there isn't a chute.
- My apartment complex has a nice, upstairs amenity area, but no one works at the desk there, so every time you want to use an amenity, you have to call the front desk (which sometimes does not answer) and then wait for them to come up 11 floors to you.
- Even though it makes sense for convenience to have someone up there always, there are probably lots of times there is more help needed downstairs and it saves the apartment money to not have an extra person upstairs.
- There is no customer support number for Uber. I have had a few issues recently and I couldn't figure out how to contact them for help.
- I didn't know why this bug existed so I researched and found two insights on Quora which said Uber doesn't have phone support so drivers/riders don't call while driving and because they think it is more efficient to have a strong support form where they contact you after filling out.
- There is no online ordering at the Starbucks at Publix on 13th street which causes very long lines, sometimes causing customer to go elsewhere.
- There is no online ordering here because it is part of Publix rather than just a Starbucks alone, but the workers there told me they are looking into getting online orders.
- The OAKS mall is lacking in so many stores that other and most shopping malls do have (comparing this to all the shopping options I have in Columbus, Ohio where I am from).
- I am guessing that the socioeconomic characteristics and population have to do with this. Also people can drive less than two hours to places with more to do in places like Orlando.
- I moved into my apartment over a month ago and we have had an ant issue since move-in along with several other issues, and even though we put in online and on paper maintenance orders, none of them have been resolved/we haven't been contacted about any of them.
- They clearly do not have a system in place that efficiently contacts residents to resolve their problems or lists all the problems in order of urgency.
- I drink so much coffee and buy it so often it is probably one of my biggest expenses. Yes, I shouldn't be buying the expensive drinks at Starbucks so much, but it would be nice if there was a discount or cheaper way to get coffee so often in college since so many students drink it so often.
- There probably isn't a student discount for Starbucks coffee because even though a lot of students drink coffee at Starbucks locations all over the US and world, a student discount or incentive might not bring in more revenue because the same students are going to go there anyway.
- I recently purchased a dinnerware set, and I had to individually take off the sticker of each piece. Yes, it is a one time thing, but they are so hard to get off and sometimes they don't come all the way off and then are just sticky or rough.
- These stickers must serve a purpose such as inventory and scanning to purchase because I think everyone thinks they are annoying to get off.
- There are not bike lanes everywhere on campus so students ride their bikes on the sidewalks with students walking, which is hard because students walking can't see bike behind them to get out of the way, especially when it is between classes and several students are walking around campus.
- I took a health class freshman year and there is a thing called "walkability and bikeability" and we are actually one of the best campus's for that, even though some main roads don't have them, I would say this is because the ones that don't usually have bigger sidewalks which is meant for people walking and bikes.
- Also, bikes and bike parts get stolen so often on campus! I've actually had my bike in the same place for over a year and it hasn't been stolen, but if you walk past a bike rack on campus you are sure to see at least one with missing wheels. My roommates bike was stolen twice.
- According to Neighborhood Scout, Gainesville has a very high crime rate. People also do not secure their bikes in the smartest way to counter this. If people only secure the frame they risk their tires being stolen too.
- I have broken way too many iPhone screens in my life. Yes, sometimes it has been my fault from dropping it, but you think something as advanced and common as the iPhone would have a better screen in place. I just shattered my screen again yesterday.
- As Apple uses Gorilla Glass like other top selling phones, so this is a user problem that can be prevented from safer cases or perhaps there is a better alternative to Gorilla Glass.
- I am very good at keeping a list of the things I own in my head and not losing anything, but I always lose socks when I do laundry. I don't know if I'm losing them or if they are getting stuck in the washer/dryer.
- After researching, I found dryers actually do "eat" your socks. They can get lodged inside during the drying process.
- I'm not sure how this one could have a solution, but it just really bugs me when people make fun of other people on social media. For example, I see people post on Snapchat making fun of people doing odd exercises or exercises incorrectly at the gym. Everyone is at the gym to better themselves, people should help others instead of making fun of them!
- This bug exists because some may argue it is human nature to judge others and in today's society some decide to display that on social media for attention.
- I don't like when people just cross the middle of the road when there isn't a crosswalk and traffic is coming. This stresses me out even when I'm not driving. And then I feel like it's a norm and I'm not getting to class right/in time if I don't do that myself since it seems like everyone does that in Gainesville to avoid walking to the crosswalk.
- This bug exists because the laws of only using crosswalks are not enforced. People do not get in trouble for not using crosswalks even though there are many on campus. Also, the crosswalks often take too long for students in a hurry because there is so much traffic.
- I don't like when I am in the middle of a great workout and my music is pumping me up and then an ad comes on and I have to wait 30 seconds to a minute for it to be over.
- Companies like Soundcloud and Spotify have to have commercials for nonpaying customers in order to generate income in hopes of making a profit.
- It was really hard for me to see an advisor during drop-add. I hadn't scheduled my classes yet because I had a hold when classes already started, and sometimes when I went in the advising closed for the day because the line was so long, and when I did get in, I had to wait three hours.
- This bug exists because there are so many students in the Business school and so many students have concerns that only advisors can solve during Drop-Add. Also, there are no appointments allowed during Drop-Add.
I personally did not find it too hard to come up with these bugs. Like Dr. Pryor said, it got harder as it went on. Most of my bugs had to do with my apartment and driving which usually does stress me out the most out of anything else. The interesting part was how it was not hard to say why the bug exists. It's justifying why the things that bother us exist which is something we usually don't do.
Sydney,
ReplyDeleteThese are some very thought-provoking observations! I can tell that you put a great deal of time and energy into coming up with a thoughtful, detailed Bug List. I particularly enjoyed your observation that most of your bugs were centered around your apartment and driving. It's interesting that we tend to most easily find bugs within the activities we take part in most frequently. Great post!
Zach
Thank you Zach! That is an interesting observation that we can all take into account when we are thinking about our potential opportunities.
DeleteHi Sydney,
ReplyDeleteI live at the Standard as well, so I completely understand all of the bugs you came up with concerning the complex! I thought that all of your bugs were well thought out and that your reasons for the bugs existing were pretty spot on. I like that you pointed out at the end how most of your bugs had to do with what stresses you out the most, I think this is the best spot to notice issues because you will be more inclined to find a solution to them.
Hi Aubrey,
DeleteFunny that you live here, too! I think with any student apartment, there is going to be a lot of complaints no matter where it is. That is very true! The people passionate about problems are the ones who will be driven to solve them--this is an important aspect to business.
Thanks!
Hi Sydney,
DeleteI enjoyed seeing your thought process with the bug list being driven by your immediate surroundings (apartment/building issues) and daily activities (driving, Starbucks). I can tell you are aware of what you do and the issues that impact you.
The one I related to most was #12 - taking off labels/stickers. I find this especially frustrating as a guy with short nails and having the sticker get stuck in my nails. I believe the problem can be solved in 2 ways - either having the store have different stickers that are easily peeled off or having the consumer have some type of liquid or product to take it off after purchase. I know when I buy golf clubs they use a hot air dryers to heat up the stickers before peeling off. Of course this is very tedious but golf clubs are expensive and worth the time.
Best,
Grant
Hi Sydney,
DeleteI found your list of bugs interesting and insightful. I thought that #9 was the most relatable. Whenever I want to go to a certain store, sometimes I can’t because the Oaks mall doesn’t have it. Although popular clothing outlets are less than 2 hours away, I still would like to have a variety of stores within Gainesville distance. I like the fact that your bugs were focused around the school and the Gainesville area. Perhaps you could find a local problem that needs a solution.
Regards,
Ramar
Thank you Grant! That is a smart idea and I definitely spend more time fixing things when they are more expensive and mean more to me.
DeleteSydney
Thank you Ramar! I know I hate not being able to shop in Gainesville as much--the biggest issue I have had is when I need to go to the Apple Store to fix my phone but we don't have one.
DeleteAlso Ramar and Grant if you see this-I see you guys replied to my comment back to Aubrey rather than the initial post. Obviously that is fine with me because I still read it, but I want to make sure you guys get credit for your comments in the right place!
Sydney
Hi Sydney,
ReplyDeleteI can relate to so many of the same "bugs" that you posted. Number nine mentioned the lack of retail outlets at the local mall which I also noticed. I'm also shocked that there isn't a local Apple store. Especially with the number of Macs on UF's campus. The Apple "Bar" at the bookstore is very helpful, but they are limited. I can also relate to your number five about the trash chutes, but in a slightly different way. Like your building, there is a room with two trash chutes on every floor of the apartment complex I live in, too. Our problem is the trash isn't emptied at the bottom of the chutes fast enough, and as a result, the trash chutes automatically lock when the bottom dumpsters are full. This happens a lot. So, tenants end up just throwing their trash into the trash room. The trash ends up piling up in the trash room to where the door won't close, then the entire hallway smells like trash until someone finally calls management to report it. This happens on a weekly basis. It's interesting that most of our "bugs" seem to center around where we live. Best, Emily Husak
Hi Emily,
DeleteI just replied a comment above and said too that the store I wish they had most was an apple store. I go there all the time when my phone and laptop is having issues and so many students use apple products!! I have found the Apple "Bar" at the bookstore not very helpful when I need it other than buying products. That sounds pretty gross, I really don't like dealing with trash so a overflowing trash room would freak me out.
Thank you,
Sydney
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ReplyDelete