Do you know what this means?!?!

This picture was taken Sunday June 11, 2006. W/ my Verizon Wireless RAZR V3C.

King Midas... Part II

Sunday, August 20 - I call Sharp (1-800-BE-SHARP) about my TV. It goes well enough. The guy takes my info, gives me a Case # and tells me to call back Monday between 9am and 7pm CDT.

Monday, August 21 - I call Sharp again. This time I'm connected to Dispatch, who can find an Authorized Retailer/Repair Center in my area. I'm directed to George Electronix in Bellevue.
The dispatcher gives me their phone number in case I don't hear from them on Tuesday.

Thursday, August 24 - I call George Electronix, b/c I hadn't heard from them yet. I give him my name, and tell him I'm calling about a Sharp TV that needs repaired. I hadn't heard from you yet, I was wondering if you had my information."Oh, yes. Here it is. It came in on Monday. Matt, right? You have an LC-32DA5U." Yes. "I can be out there... next Wednesday. Or Thursday. Or Friday. It depends on if I get the parts. They come 2nd Day Air. I'll keep those mornings open just in case."

Friday, August 25 - My dishwasher breaks. At 1:15 in the AM, just as I'm going to bed. And by "breaks" I mean decides to pour soapy, sudsy water all over my kitchen floor after about 5 minutes of actually washing dishes. Nice. I was wondering what the next thing would be. Now I know. The dishwasher is always the last thing to go...

Saturday, August 26 - After my experience w/ "George", I call BestBuy. They can't possibly be worse than a TV repairman who has no interest in repairing my TV, and needs a week to get parts that arrive in two days. BestBuy is friendly, helpful, and they will send someone out Tuesday morning. Wow. Two days. "George" only needed a week.

After I called BestBuy, I called "George" to tell him I was no longer in need of his services. I must have talked to his brother "Ralph", but he took the message and said he would pass it on.

I call La-Z-Boy and ask to talk to the Store Manager. I explain to her the situation, and she seems to know what I'm talking about. She takes responsibility for never giving me any information, she says she was the one telling my salesperson to "just wait a few more days". She eventually tells me that my entertainment unit was discontinued "shortly after"* I placed my order. She goes on to tell me that they were looking around all the stores to try and find one who had it on the showroom floor, and when they did they would ship it here. She says they need a few more days to do their job, and asks that I give them until next Thursday, the end of the month. OK. A few more days it is.

*A word about this. Apparently, 6 weeks counts as "shortly after" b/c that item disappeared from La-Z-Boy's website sometime after July 4. I placed my order May 29.

La-Z-Boy Revisted

This is the story of my ordeal w/ La-Z-Boy. The following events are true. Names have been omitted to protect the innocent.

Over Memorial Day Weekend (that was way back in May) I ordered some furniture from La-Z-Boy. I ordered the previously mentioned couch, an entertainment unit, and a coffee table.

As I mentioned before, besides being the wrong pattern, (which I happen to like) the couch is also broken. But at least I have it in my possession. The other two pieces are MIA.

When I ordered the furniture, I asked when it would be delivered. "August" was the only answer given. Well, 1 out of 3 ain't bad.

Anyway, I've gone into the store and/or called my salesperson about once every two weeks since I placed the order, just looking for a better answer than, "August". At first, no news. Fine. This was still in June, nothing to worry about.

I go into the store over the 4th of July Weekend. "Well, the coffee table has shipped, and the sofa has been "cut" (they've cut the fabric for it, but its not finished yet). But I don't know about the entertainment unit." OK.

Two weeks later, "Well, the coffee table is in the warehouse, and the sofa has shipped. It's on its way." What about the entertainment center? "I don't know. I can't find it in the system. I'll have to ask my manager to look at it."

A week after that, "Well, the sofa is here in the warehouse." What about the coffee table or the entertainment unit? "The coffee table is in the warehouse, but I can't find it." Huh? "I'll have my manager take a look at it. Would you like to schedule delivery for the sofa? And then we'll just deliver the other pieces for free when they arrive." Yes please.

Saturday, August 5 - The sofa arrives. The delivery man asks what I want to do w/ the old couch, and offers to haul it away for $40. Perfect. But I only have $20, do you guys take check or credit card? "Let me call and ask... wait, I'll just take the $20 and say it was a chair. It just goes in a (bleep) dumpster anyway." Hmmm...

The following week I call the store asking for my salesperson, who has changed schedules and is not working that day. I ask the person on the phone to look up order and find me some answers. Where is the coffee table and entertainment unit? "Hmmm... I don't know. I don't know what this code means. It says its in the warehouse, but I don't know where that is. My manager will have to look at it." Great. What about the other piece? "Hmmm... I don't see it. I'm not even sure it was ever ordered." !!! ... Well? "I'll have my manager look at it."

Saturday, August 12 - I get a call from my salesperson. She's upset w/ me for asking someone else to look into my problems for me. She also sounds a little upset, like she had been chewed out by her manager. But mostly she was angry at me for asking someone else for help my order. (B/c she's been sooooooo helpful...) Anyway, I ask her what's going on with the two pieces I still don't have yet, and she tells me that one of them was delivered to the warehouse, but must have been damaged during shipping, b/c they put it in a location for damaged goods. That's why she couldn't find it in the warehouse. OK.

Thursday, August 17 - I get another call from my salesperson. Just calling to let me know she hadn't forgotten about the situation. Good to know. But what about my furniture? "Well, the coffee table was damaged during shipping." OK. Good to know it was the coffee table. What about the entertainment unit? "I don't have anymore information about it, but I sent my manager an email and she responded, acknowledging my email." So you don't have any information for me? "No. Nothing's changed."

Wednesday, August 23 - Today. I drive over to La-Z-Boy after work to talk to my salesperson. On the drive there, I start to get angry about this whole situation. I can physically feel the anger building up. She's not working today. She's planning a wedding, and had a dress fitting... or something. Oh. Will she be in tomorrow? I've had some problems w/ my order and I'd like to talk to her. "Yea, she should be working tomorrow."

Great. I get all worked up and go over there to tell her off, and she's not even working. I can't even get angry and yell at someone right.

It's like King Midas, but in reverse...

Allow me to fill you in on my August thus far.

Saturday, August 5 - My sofa arrives. Finally. Except its the wrong pattern. I ordered this one.


What they delivered was in the same colors, but with concentric rectangles. I like the pattern. I just wish the rest of my furniture had showed up with the sofa. But that's a whole 'nother post.

Monday, August 7 - My sofa breaks. While I'm laying on it. Actually "explodes" is probably a better term. Two pieces (the main cross beam and the back of the frame) that had been in tension suddenly let go. W/ a bang. That shook the whole sofa. While I was on it.

Wednesday, August 9 - Flat tire. Flat tires are a normal, everyday occurance. But w/ me, they're more like a ritual. This is my third flat tire in 5 years. With 3 different cars. Always the right rear tire. Always a gaping whole in the edge of the tread/sidewall (shoulder). Always means I need a new tire.

Saturday, August 19 - My tv craps out. My beautiful, 32", Sharp Aquos LCD just shuts off. Two green lights start blinking at me. In a pattern of threes. I fumble around w/ the reset switches in the back. TV comes back on. I hear sound. The remote works. The screen does not. Just a black screen. The screen kinda lights up (the backlight is on) but there is no picture. Not even the built in menus. Nothing. But a black screen.

Phantom Planet is Missing?

In a bid to remove Pluto from the list of "proper" planets orbiting our sun, scientists have found three more instead?

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003201928_planets160.html

I see and obey...

Watch this. Now.