Best Buy = Best Crap

I have to blog about this because I'm fuming and want the world (like my 3 whole readers - ha ha) to know that Best Buy SUCKS!  They have seriously lost a customer - FOREVER!!!!  Here's my story:

This past year I have dropped a load of money at Best Buy.  No more!  This past month I purchased two WII games online.  They shipped me the wrong item.  I phoned them and told them.  The lady told me that she was sending me a return label via email and I was to return it and they would ship me the correct item.

Two days later I still did not receive my label.  I phoned them again.  This time I was told that they were not shipping me a return label because the item was under $60 and they would not pay to return it...EVEN THOUGH IT WAS NOT WHAT I ORDERED!!!!  I was told that I was responsible for returning it to the store and I could try to reorder the item - oh wait, by the way, that item is now sold out online.  The lady took my number and said she was going to do some further research and lo and behold - never phoned me back.

Today I phoned again and asked to speak to a manager...Oh, I'm a manager.  Okay, I'm sure that was a line, I'm not completely stupid.  I explained the whole situation and she told me, nope, you can return it to the store or YOU can pay for shipping to return it.  Oh, and by the way, don't expect a replacement cuz they are sold out.  WHAT????  I wasn't the one who screwed up in the first place, but I'm to spend MY gas money to run to the store or my postage money to return it??? 

I'm not being a complete bitch.  I want the item I ordered and paid for.  And I want Best Buy to take responsiblity for the return.   And if the item is sold out, so then be it...but don't ship me a consolation prize and expect me not to complain or want it returned.

Anyway, I'm going to go to the store tonight and return my ENTIRE order because I no longer want anything to ever again do with Best Buy.  They have lost a permanent customer!  I cannot believe their customer service!  I'm appalled, totally turned off and completely fed up with them.  From now on any electronic needs I have will be met by either Amazon or Walmart.  I'm done.

I'm left regretting that I spent so much money in a store that treats it's customers like that.  What a disappointment.  Corporate will be getting a letter from me.

I can't imagine what would happen in my job if I treated one of our users that way and said, "oh, well, our system is screwed up so you'll manually have to calculate a million dollar in sales and if it doesn't come out even, oh well."

Vacation!!!

So I started planning our vacation and we are heading out West...to Mt. Rushmore.  I can't wait.  I think it will take a day and a half to drive out.  We'll have three full days there and then take our time driving home.  I think (I think) our itinerary is going to be:

First 1/2 day there: 
Stop at Dinosaur Park.
Settle in.
See the Chuckwagon/Cowboy show

DAY ONE:
Spend the morning at Mt. Rushmore and exploring the small towns. 
Waterpark in the evening.

DAY TWO:
Head up toward Belle Fourche to stand in the dead center of the 49 states (I know, we're cheesy, but it's a scenic drive and a cheap thrill)
Spearfish Canyon
Devil's Tower, WY

DAY THREE:
Custer State Park - Peter Norbeck Scenic Hwy
2 hour Horseback Ride through the Black Hills
See Mt. Rushmore lit up at night.

DAY FOUR:
Drive down to Wall Drug.
Scenic By-Way through the Badlands.

DAY FIVE:
Sleep in and head out.

The kid is going to flip when she finds out I planned horseback riding.  She has been begging me to take her but she hasn't been old enough yet (most places I called around here said 10 for a long ride).  I found this great place out in Custer that has 1, 1.5, 2hr and overnight trips (no thank you...).  The lady was so nice when I spoke to them. 

We don't plan on hiking anything because 1) the kid is not outdoorsy.  2) I could care less and 3) I've read several warnings about rattle snakes...no thank you!  (Have a great childhood memory in regard to rattle snakes from when we lived in OK).  Driving the byways and getting out for photos is just our cup of tea.

On the way back, thanks to Roadsideamerica.com, I found some dorky little places to stop along 90 for again, cheap thrills.  But I think all the crazy stuff mixed with the cool stuff like horseback riding, seeing wild buffalo, etc. will make for a great memorable trip for the kid.

Now if we can only wait that long....

Another surgery?

Found out today that I may need knee surgery afterall.  Briefly spoke w/my hip doc who also does knee repair.  I mentioned that my kneecap is misaligned and he said that is a bigger problem than what they did to my hip.  Seriously???

He's going to review my MRI and X-rays when I go back in Feb. for another hip check and then we'll know what the game plan is.  Ugh!

Coward!

Well, the kid has called grandpa and he has refused to take or return her calls.  Who does that to an 8-year old kid?  I'm so pissed.  I'm the one who is left to explain to her why her grandfather no longer wants to be a part of her life?  He's a fucking coward, as far as I'm concerned.

If he doesn't want to talk to me, that's fine.  It's old hat, he's done it before.  But now the kid is in the picture and had such a good time with him for the little time he was in her life (the past 3 years b/c he was married to Bitch #2 prior to then).  It's tearing me apart wondering what she is thinking and how she must feel that he doesn't want anything to do with her.

So I thought about emailing the pastor that is doing the marriage counseling for them, hoping he would counsel them in the correct direction...but then I argue with myself about why should I put myself and the kid through this?  If he came to his senses, how brief would that be?  And who really needs that kind of love in their life?  Everything based on conditions?  How would we really be treated anyway and how long would it last?

I don't know what to do.  The smart part of me says to let it go and let him be the coward he is.  And when this marriage fails, let it go still because I should not be the one knocking on his door for the third time.  We do not deserve to be treated like this and be there only until he's not lonely anymore.  The emotional part of me hurts so much for my kid and her lack of understanding, her lack of being able to have a good grandparent in her life. 

I know I really need to let it go, but it hurts so much to know that my kid is going to suffer and be treated this way..that's what really bothers me.

Love in our family is all based on condition.  You only get to be loved based on a certain criteria and condition you have to meet.  (Like for example, the first time my dad stopped talking to me, so did his sister  (my aunt) and his mother (my grandmother)...then when he got divorced and he decided we were good enough, they all "loved me" again.  Same thing is happening this time).  I thought family was the one you were supposed to be able to count on and be loved unconditionally?  I have friends who receive us better than my blood. 

I refuse to raise my kid based on conditions.  I just can't fathom how people get through life loving in that manner?  But it's not going to be us...even if we end up being our own little two person island.