January 25, 2010
The Arrival
As you may recall, Zach and I bought our wedding bands a couple days after Christmas. We carried his out of the store, but we ordered mine (because the one on Kay’s website looks just like the ones in the stores, but it’s about $400 cheaper), so we had to wait. The woman who helped us pick out the rings told me that it would take three days for my ring to make it to the store. I realized after we walked out that Zach and I were going back to Morgantown the next day, so I wouldn’t be there to pick it up. So I went back and I asked if I could stop the shipment and have it sent to the Kay’s in Morgantown. I was told that when they called me to let me know that the ring had arrived, I could ask them to forward it to Morgantown. I left the store and Zach and I went home.
I got an email a couple days after the supposed arrival of the ring, which let me know the ring was at the store and needed picked up. I called and asked them to forward it to the Kay’s in the University Town Center in Morgantown. The woman fought with me every step of the way (apparently they don’t get credit for it if I have it sent somewhere else). Here is basically how the conversation went:
Me: Hi! *note the fake, but still highly enthusiastic, happy tone* I just got an email saying that my ring was in your store. Could you check and make sure it is? It should be filed under “Hartman.”
Kay’s Employee: Just a second. *pause* Hartman?
Me: Yes, ma’am.
Kay’s Employee: Yes, it’s right here.
Me: Great! I was told that I could have it forwarded to the Kay’s where I’m at now. Can you do that?
Kay’s Employee: *pause* Let me check. *longer pause* I guess so. But you haven’t seen the ring, yet. I don’t want to send you a ring until you’ve seen it.
Me: Well, if I see it and there’s something wrong with it, can’t I bring it back?
Kay’s Employee: *another pause* Yes, I…guess you could do that.
Me: Good! I would like to do that, then.
Kay’s Employee: OK, then. *she is quite obviously no longer happy to be talking to me, by the way* Where would you like to have it sent?
Me: To Morgantown, West Virginia.
Kay’s Employee: And which Kay’s in Morgantown?
Me: The one in the University Town Center.
Kay’s Employee: OK, so the University Town Center in Morgantown. I will send that out.
Me: Oh, thank you very much! *I sort of sound like I’m talking to my cat…only I’m not making kissy noises*
Kay’s Employee: You’re welcome. *we both hang up*
Yes, I maintained that level of false enthusiasm throughout the entire conversation. Those of you who know how much I hate being fake nice to people know what kind of a feat that was. But people respond better to nice, happy people. I figured faking my way through that conversation would help move along the process.
This conversation occurred on the Monday after New Year’s. That Saturday, Zach and I went to the University Town Center to see if the ring had arrived (I didn’t feel like calling…and I was pretty glad I didn’t, because it would have made what happened next much more difficult). The ring was not at the store. I told gave her the date that I called Partkersburg and she said that the ring would have shipped the next day (Tuesday) and been there the day after (Wednesday), so she didn’t understand why it wasn’t in their storage. Her supervisor called Parkersburg and was informed that they did not have the ring and also that they never received it. Now after reading the above conversation one would have to say, “Bullshit, they never received it!” right? Right. I KNEW that they had received it. My first thought was that I was glad I’d gotten the insurance on the ring. My second thought was that the insurance didn’t count if the ring was lost. My third thought was that if the store had lost my ring and was not going to replace it, I wasn’t sure that I would have the strength to kick all of the ass that would need kicking.
I recounted the conversation to the supervisor and she asked that they look for the shipping information. They had that. And what did that slip say? They had sent it to Charleston. Apparently the mall there is called the Town Center or something similar. I can understand how they would be confused, except that I clearly said “Morgantown” and the woman I talked to clearly repeated “Morgantown.” I’m not sure how this happened. SO! They called Charleston and asked that it be sent to Morgantown. We were informed that the ring would arrive sometime the next week.
The next day, I came back to school. Thursday, Zach sent me an Instant Message saying that he picked up the ring. This weekend, he came to visit me and he brought the ring so I could make sure everything was OK.
Here it is with my engagement ring.
I am extremely happy with it. Now I just need to get the insurance policy off Zach and put it somewhere safe. =D
