Author Archives: Alison

Dec2

And Some Chain Stores Have a Lot to Learn

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And Some Chain Stores Have a Lot to Learn

I finally had to call the store manager at Lowe’s about my carpets. Ordered them on the 14th. The store got them on the 21st, and someone put a note in the computer that I had been notified (I hadn’t) and the carpet had gone to the installer. One helpful Lowe’s employee faxed my purchase order with a request for them to contact me on Sunday. I called Lowe’s yesterday, and they gave me the number for the installer (who still hadn’t called) so I gave them a ring. Actually, about 15 rings. They don’t answer the phone or have a machine to do it. So I pulled out my receipt and noticed that the store manager’s name is on it. Sometimes you just have to go higher up to complain, so I called him. He got someone to call the installer, who says he’ll call me to set up an appointment tonight. He also said that if I don’t hear from the installer, to call him again. I will. I’m sick of my kids sleeping on the floor and living out of laundry baskets. I never had to wait this long before, or had to make so many phone calls for something so simple. If we carpet another room, I’ll be looking for references to smaller companies first.

Dec1

Small Business Rocks.

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Small Business Rocks.

There are certain chain stores I love – I know that they’ll have what I need consistently, or I like the quality of the merchandise, or they’re convenient in one way or another, but sometimes you just can’e beat the local stores.

We ordered a new dishwasher from one such store, Town Appliance, in Lakewood NJ. We thought it would be delivered and installed tomorrow, so we weren’t ready with the old dishwasher disconnected and ready to haul away when the guys showed up with it this afternoon. After hubby took it out, he decided that we’d save the installation fee and not do without a dishwasher, to boot, and install it ourselves. Armed with a supply list, I headed out to a nearby big chain hardware store. I asked two different employees to get me some help in plumbing, and neither page got a plumbing person to come. I dragged a guy from appliances out to help me look, and they just didn’t have the pieces I needed. He, however, told me to check out Ken’s Hardware on Fischer Blvd. in Toms River. I went in, and in minutes, an employee had picked out all the parts I needed, cut certain pieces to fit, and made sure I had all the screws and such that went with it all. No question, it’s not as convenient a location as the big store, but it’ll save me a lot of time in the future, so I’ll be going there first from now on.

Nov30

Ow. Owow.

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Ow. Owow.

The pain is a good thing.  Really.  I took my first Pilates class, and today I got a weight training circuit workout.  Nothing like excercise to remind you how long it’s been since you exercised.  I’m still feeling my pulse in my biceps.  (That’s very weird, BTW.)

I did try to relax a bit with a long soak in the hot tub, but this goes way beyond anything that the hot tub can help.  However. . .my back is already feeling better when I wake up.  In 8 weeks, I’ll get re-evaluated and see how well I’m holding up.  I’d like to see some results as well as feeling them.  I think I will.