Today has been a good day so far. Full of more ups than downs.
It started with my usual household routine - nothing out of the ordinary (UP).
Then I called my friend. I got his answering machine, so I left him a message (UP/DOWN).
So I called another friend, who was in the middle of something and had to call me back (UP/DOWN).
One more call - this time to Macy's.com. - to follow up on a problem. Well, what do you think, UP or DOWN? Here's the story:
A few weeks ago, I heard the rumble of a UPS truck and then the rattle of our mailbox. OOOOH! Someone had sent us something, I thought. I rushed to the door to find a soft package addressed to me from Macy's. I love Macy's, so I opened the package and found a very nice blue bathing suit (UP). It was several sizes larger than I wear (Oh, WAY DOWN). So I investigated further.
The invoice showed that someone with my same name, but a different address (only about 20 miles away) ordered the merchandise and UPS shipped it to me by mistake.
I called Macy's at the number on the invoice. (Sigh).
After meandering my way through their telephone system and explaining my problem to the gentleman, he informed me that I should repackage the merchandise and he would schedule a UPS pickup. They should be here in 7 to 10 business days.
"You mean I have to wait around for 7 to 10 days to make sure this package is available for the UPS guy to pick up?", I asked in disbelief.
He replied, "No. If they come when you're not there, they'll leave you a notice with your options".
Now, many years ago, I remember there was a law or something that said if someone received something they didn't order, they could keep it. I don't know if that's true today, but I thought I'd try it. After all, I see tremendous merit to a law like that considering all the time I've spent (just up to this point) trying to deal with this error. I shouldn't have to do this, I kept thinking to myself.
The customer service guy said he never heard of such a law but would check with his supervisor. OMG! More time spent on hold. More time listening to hold music . I'm tethered. My life is on hold!
He comes back and says, "I spoke with my supervisor. We have to call for a UPS pickup. Whether you decide to have the merchandise available for the pick up is entirely up to you. We have no control over that".
Guilt.
Great.
"Fine", I said and hung up.
It's today, 12 business days later and still no UPS pickup. Since I'm really tired of seeing this package, I call Macy's again. It's quite frustrating trying to get through to a real person at their toll free number. But I finally do.
The young lady I reached in customer service was nice enough but had to put me on hold to figure out what had transpired with this order.
More hold. More hold music (yuck).
More hold. More hold music (yuck).
After 15 minutes, she finally came back and advised me that a shipping label was on its way to me and I would have to TAKE the package to a local UPS place - they would NOT be picking it up at my house.
Now I ask you, as I asked her, "Is that fair? It is right that I have spent over 45 minutes dealing with this when all I did was open my front door and take a package out of my mailbox"?
But alas, I just knew if I kept the swimsuit that instant karma stuff would kick in or something and I would forever regret it. Guilt is pretty powerful.
"Okay", I said, somewhat defeated. "I'll get it there".
Then, this wonderful young lady said something surprising. She said she was going to talk to her supervisor to see if there was something Macy's could do to make up for my inconvenience. AND, instead of putting me on hold again, she asked for my number so she could call me back.
Within 15 minutes - I swear, 15 MINUTES - she called back and offered to send me a gift card for my trouble. I gladly accepted that offer (with no guilt).
Yes, It's been a good day so far. I am fortunate.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Monday, January 19, 2009
IDIOT Part II
Although I'm feeling quite fortunate today, I thought I'd share another IDIOT story with you. I have the time and, well, why not, right?
My daughter creates very beautiful quilts and I wanted to get her something "quilty". This led me to JoAnn Fabric Store, where I was quickly overwhelmed by all of the notions that exist for each of the millions of different projects there are in the world. In other words, OMG!
The best solution for everybody, I determined, would be a gift card. Wonderful things, gift cards. So I approached the cute young lady at the register and asked for a gift card. She took one off of the rack and asked how much I wanted to put on it. After she rang up my sale, she handed me the card and the receipt.
That's it. The card and the receipt.
No envelope.
No decorative cover.
No place to show the value of the card.
No NOTHING. Just the CARD and the receipt.
I kindly asked the young lady if I may have an envelope. She replied that they don't give them out anymore.
In my amazement, I told her that giving someone a gift card, JUST THE CARD, was tacky, to say the least, and this might be something to bring up at the next employee meeting.
She said she had no control over what happens at the corporate level.
Now, since she was young, I thought I'd let her know that by being aware of what the customers want and relaying that to management, she may become noticed and reap the benefits of being a "stand out" in the company. After all, even if this isn't her dream job, she is getting paid to positively represent the company paying her.
She continued to argue that there was nothing she could do.
I was amazed (not in a good way). The people in line behind me agreed. But Cute Young Register Lady took no interest. Maybe she just didn't get it (which is soooooooooooooooo sad).
I think she just DIDN'T CARE, which is even worse.
That just makes her an IDIOT!
My daughter creates very beautiful quilts and I wanted to get her something "quilty". This led me to JoAnn Fabric Store, where I was quickly overwhelmed by all of the notions that exist for each of the millions of different projects there are in the world. In other words, OMG!
The best solution for everybody, I determined, would be a gift card. Wonderful things, gift cards. So I approached the cute young lady at the register and asked for a gift card. She took one off of the rack and asked how much I wanted to put on it. After she rang up my sale, she handed me the card and the receipt.
That's it. The card and the receipt.
No envelope.
No decorative cover.
No place to show the value of the card.
No NOTHING. Just the CARD and the receipt.
I kindly asked the young lady if I may have an envelope. She replied that they don't give them out anymore.
In my amazement, I told her that giving someone a gift card, JUST THE CARD, was tacky, to say the least, and this might be something to bring up at the next employee meeting.
She said she had no control over what happens at the corporate level.
Now, since she was young, I thought I'd let her know that by being aware of what the customers want and relaying that to management, she may become noticed and reap the benefits of being a "stand out" in the company. After all, even if this isn't her dream job, she is getting paid to positively represent the company paying her.
She continued to argue that there was nothing she could do.
I was amazed (not in a good way). The people in line behind me agreed. But Cute Young Register Lady took no interest. Maybe she just didn't get it (which is soooooooooooooooo sad).
I think she just DIDN'T CARE, which is even worse.
That just makes her an IDIOT!
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
FORTUNATE POKER PLAYER
FORTUNATE WOMAN? You be the judge:
My husband informed me this evening that he thinks it would be a good idea if I play poker on the computer all day and get good enough to gain entry into (and ultimately win) the paid tournaments.
PLAY POKER ALL DAY!
Who couldn't get used to that?
Well, what do you think, FORTUNATE or what!?!
My husband informed me this evening that he thinks it would be a good idea if I play poker on the computer all day and get good enough to gain entry into (and ultimately win) the paid tournaments.
PLAY POKER ALL DAY!
Who couldn't get used to that?
Well, what do you think, FORTUNATE or what!?!
Monday, January 12, 2009
IDIOT Part I
It sometimes seems that there are a lot of idiots in the world. You know who I'm talking about. They have poor communications skills or they don't know how to effectively provide service to people or they're undereducated or worse yet, THEY JUST DON'T CARE!
I've run across more than my share of these people in the recent past and they frustrate the hell out of me! So, I thought I'd spend the next several posts telling you about some of the more memorable experiences I've had with idiots. You know, those memories that leave you furling your brow in disbelief and wondering when the "survival of the fittest" is going to come into play.
I start with the most recent encounter:
It's Monday morning.
Two weeks ago, my son had to rent a car for work. This was a fully reimbursed expense, but since he didn't have enough money for a 2 week rental up front, I put it on my credit card.
Just this past Friday (we were supposed to return the car first thing this morning), his schedule was extended by one week and so was the car rental. My son said that his place of employment had already made the arrangements with Enterprise Rental.
Well, since the car is rented in my name and charged against my credit, I thought it would be wise and responsible to call Enterprise myself this morning to make sure everything was in order. I wouldn't want the car reported stolen or anything.
Here's how that conversation went:
Enterprise: "Enterprise Rental, this is Michelle".
Me: "Good morning Michelle, this is Mrs. (X). My son told me that my rental car had been extended a week and I want to make sure that everything is okay with it".
Michelle: "There are 2 Michelle's here, maybe you want to talk to the other one".
Me: "Can't you look it up? It doesn't really matter which Michelle I talk to, does it?".
Michelle: "Well, no, but you sounded like you knew one of us".
Now, how am I supposed to respond to that? I just want to know if there's anything I have to do to extend the car rental. Does it really matter which Michelle I'm talking to? Does it really matter who helps me, as long as someone does?
Apparantly, because I called her by her first name at the beginning of our conversation, she thought I wanted to speak to the other Michelle. (Wow, it hurts my head just trying to understand that logic!).
So with an incredulous tone to my voice, I said "I called you by your first name because you introduced yourself to me as such. If you didn't want me to call you by your first name, then don't tell me your first name!".
With that, she verified that the rental had, in fact, been extended and we ended our conversation.
Sigh! It's 8:10 am. Do I really need this? Idiot!
I've run across more than my share of these people in the recent past and they frustrate the hell out of me! So, I thought I'd spend the next several posts telling you about some of the more memorable experiences I've had with idiots. You know, those memories that leave you furling your brow in disbelief and wondering when the "survival of the fittest" is going to come into play.
I start with the most recent encounter:
It's Monday morning.
Two weeks ago, my son had to rent a car for work. This was a fully reimbursed expense, but since he didn't have enough money for a 2 week rental up front, I put it on my credit card.
Just this past Friday (we were supposed to return the car first thing this morning), his schedule was extended by one week and so was the car rental. My son said that his place of employment had already made the arrangements with Enterprise Rental.
Well, since the car is rented in my name and charged against my credit, I thought it would be wise and responsible to call Enterprise myself this morning to make sure everything was in order. I wouldn't want the car reported stolen or anything.
Here's how that conversation went:
Enterprise: "Enterprise Rental, this is Michelle".
Me: "Good morning Michelle, this is Mrs. (X). My son told me that my rental car had been extended a week and I want to make sure that everything is okay with it".
Michelle: "There are 2 Michelle's here, maybe you want to talk to the other one".
Me: "Can't you look it up? It doesn't really matter which Michelle I talk to, does it?".
Michelle: "Well, no, but you sounded like you knew one of us".
Now, how am I supposed to respond to that? I just want to know if there's anything I have to do to extend the car rental. Does it really matter which Michelle I'm talking to? Does it really matter who helps me, as long as someone does?
Apparantly, because I called her by her first name at the beginning of our conversation, she thought I wanted to speak to the other Michelle. (Wow, it hurts my head just trying to understand that logic!).
So with an incredulous tone to my voice, I said "I called you by your first name because you introduced yourself to me as such. If you didn't want me to call you by your first name, then don't tell me your first name!".
With that, she verified that the rental had, in fact, been extended and we ended our conversation.
Sigh! It's 8:10 am. Do I really need this? Idiot!
Saturday, January 3, 2009
SAVE MONEY
This just might be our year to save money.
I recently read an article about a couple who, in an attempt to save money, decided to spend money on nothing but necessities for an entire year. They took coffee in a thermos instead of stopping at the local bean shop; they checked out movies from the library instead of going to blockbuster or the theater; they read books; they entertained friends at home with Charades and other interactive games, and so on. As I recall, the results were pretty amazing.
"Hey honey", I said to John on New Year's Eve. "Let's do this save money challenge. For one whole year, we only spend money on the things that we really need - no extras".
He agreed! Just like that!! WOW!!!
Well, yesterday we went out to run some errands. I noticed a Taco Bell and suggested we stop so I could get a taco. John, saint that he is, reminded me of our save money pact.
"This is going to be hard, isn't it?", I said. But we made it through the afternoon and I fixed a delicious, wholesome, home-cooked dinner when we got home. Better than Taco Bell by far.
Then today, John and I were again out and about when he asked (as we were passing a McDonald's) "Would you like to stop and get something to drink?".
He said he wanted a soda.
I think he was just testing me. So I dutifully reminded him of our save money pact and we circled back to the house to get a soda from our refrigerator. I also grabbed some peanuts just in case. We were covered!
Over the past three days since we decided to embark on this lifestyle-changing adventure, we deposited $41 in rolled coins in the bank, returned a few, shall we call them, interesting Christmas gifts for $40+ credit, didn't spend a few bucks at Taco Bell and didn't spend a few bucks at McDonald's. How exciting is that?!?
I wonder what the end result of this challenge will be.
I wonder how long we can keep it up.
We only have 362 days to go. Yep, this just might be our year to save money.
I'll keep you posted.
I recently read an article about a couple who, in an attempt to save money, decided to spend money on nothing but necessities for an entire year. They took coffee in a thermos instead of stopping at the local bean shop; they checked out movies from the library instead of going to blockbuster or the theater; they read books; they entertained friends at home with Charades and other interactive games, and so on. As I recall, the results were pretty amazing.
"Hey honey", I said to John on New Year's Eve. "Let's do this save money challenge. For one whole year, we only spend money on the things that we really need - no extras".
He agreed! Just like that!! WOW!!!
Well, yesterday we went out to run some errands. I noticed a Taco Bell and suggested we stop so I could get a taco. John, saint that he is, reminded me of our save money pact.
"This is going to be hard, isn't it?", I said. But we made it through the afternoon and I fixed a delicious, wholesome, home-cooked dinner when we got home. Better than Taco Bell by far.
Then today, John and I were again out and about when he asked (as we were passing a McDonald's) "Would you like to stop and get something to drink?".
He said he wanted a soda.
I think he was just testing me. So I dutifully reminded him of our save money pact and we circled back to the house to get a soda from our refrigerator. I also grabbed some peanuts just in case. We were covered!
Over the past three days since we decided to embark on this lifestyle-changing adventure, we deposited $41 in rolled coins in the bank, returned a few, shall we call them, interesting Christmas gifts for $40+ credit, didn't spend a few bucks at Taco Bell and didn't spend a few bucks at McDonald's. How exciting is that?!?
I wonder what the end result of this challenge will be.
I wonder how long we can keep it up.
We only have 362 days to go. Yep, this just might be our year to save money.
I'll keep you posted.
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