Merry Christmas Anyway

The other day I figured out what the girls and I should get for my husband. I knew he'd like it, because Emily has one and he likes to play with it. I'd say what it was, but in case he read my blog, I don't want him to find out.

But this is still a good story, even without knowing exactly what the item is...Yesterday, the girls and I drove over to this mega-electronics store to buy it. Since we had gotten Emily one last summer for her birthday, I knew where they'd be. We went straight to the back section of the store to get it.

Now, I hate these kinds of stores. I hate them as much as I hate the huge hardware stores...Lots of people, and you have to grab the help. Plus, these items are locked away behind actual bars. But I grab this young guy who barely spoke any English, and we finally made our decision. We got the newer model that is more expensive, but really it was only about $50 more than Emily's, and I knew it was something that my husband would really like.

We told the young guy which model we wanted, and he opened the bars with his key and got one. Now he heads over to a computer. We follow. "What's your phone number?" He asks.

I tell him. He gets it all wrong. I spend some time again retelling him my phone number until he gets it right. Then he turns and leaves without saying anything. Are we supposed to follow him, I wonder? He has our gift. So I follow. He goes to another computer, does stuff, and then comes back to the first computer. We follow. He has our gift.

Then he turns and goes back to the other computer. We still follow like sheep. He talks to another couple, and now I'm unsure who he is helping. He's not saying anything to me. "I hate this place," I say aloud, to no one in particular. The guy who seemed to be helping us goes back to the first computer, or the second, now I'm confused. But I am tired of following him, so the girls and I just stay put. I figure he's working on commission, and will find us.

Finally, he comes to us with our future purchase in hand. Now, having been through this with Emily, I knew that the store won't let us take it up to the register. Oh, no...we might pocket the item. They give it to another employee, who escorts us up to the front. He tells us to get in line, and he will give the item along with the computer printout with our name, to the people behind the counter. All I have to do is tell them my name and the item when I get to a cashier, and they'll get it for me.

I had also picked up an electric pencil sharpener, since my students broke my other one. I had the sharpener in hand, as the store doesn't care if I steal that. When I finally got to the register, the gal takes my sharpener and rings it up. "I also have another purchase..." I told her. I told her what it was and gave her my name. she goes to find it.

I wait. And wait. And wait. It seemed like forever, and I'm getting quite angry. If the store is so afraid that items like these will be stolen, so they have to put extra security steps in place, then at least they need to make sure it's a no-fail system. The cashier finally comes up to me to tell me she can't find it.

"This is ridiculous," I said. "Just because this store is so afraid that I will steal this particular item, it is now lost. Well, you know what? I'm going to go home and find an online website that I can order from. I'll find one, and won't have to pay shipping or tax. I'm also never coming back to this store. Merry Christmas." I turned and left, and also ranted to another employee who was stationed at the door.

We came home and I went to a website where we have recently made some tech-type of purchases. I saw what we wanted, for about $9 dollars more. But not tax. I did have to pay shipping, but I didn't want to go to an online store that I hadn't been to before. All in all, I probably spent about the same amount of money. But I feel good that I didn't give that one store my business.

Merry Christmas Anyway!