Nevin's Data "Points"

   In case you hadn’t noticed, Friday is Valentine's Day — and, as usual, there’s been the typical seasonal promotions for flowers, candy, teddy bears (and other stuffed creatures) and even pajamas. I’ve been pretty good over the years remembering those type events — anniversaries (wedding AND dating), birthdays and, yes — Valentine’s Day. But sometimes the time gap between my remembering the date and actually getting around to doing something to commemorate it has been problematic. With Valentine’s Day that can be particularly painful, if only because so many others are scrambling to do the same thing — and at a time when delivery services (and costs), not to mention growing season(s) can be in short supply, relative to the need. Several years back, I was running exceptionally late in my preparations — and spotted an email touting a dozen roses for $24.99 (they’re a LOT more expensive now — and apparently caught up in all this tariff stuff). Of course, for that price (even th...

Valentine's Day was this week, and you have perhaps seen those increasingly ubiquitous advertisements for a certain online florist. Now, I’ve used that particular service on many an occasion over the past several years; they are not only convenient, they deliver a quality product, and on time. In sum, I’ve used them before, have, in fact, used them this year, and will doubtless use them again. The ads tout the ability to get a dozen roses for $24.99. That’s in red only (but hey, it’s Valentine’s Day), and you do actually get a glass vase included in that price (with options to “upgrade,” of course). That said, “standard” delivery is another $12.99, and – at least at this (late) date, it’ll cost you $9.99 to guarantee Valentine’s Day delivery, another $14.99 if you want it there in the morning, and there’s a “care & handling charge” of $2.99, regardless of delivery date or time. In fact, by the time you add in taxes those $24.99 roses will run you… well,...