Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Seasonal Shopping

Remember this?

This was the electric snowshovel I wanted to buy, way back in November. It was on special at Walmart, but there were none to be found.
So, of course I had to have it.

I called all the Walmart stores in my area. And then I went further afield. But all to no avail. None in stock. Nowhere.

"Back-ordered, m'am." was all I heard.
So we hired a young fellow to shovel our front walk. He worked out for a bit then stopped coming.

After a bit of searching, we found somebody else. A really reliable young man. Works well. Reasonable rates. A good fit!


Yesterday, I was shopping in Walmart (no I don't live there, it's just that whenever I go, I always have a story to tell). Heading for the plant department (no, really? Not me), I happened to pass the "seasonals". And guess what I saw?

Electric snowshovels - lots and lots of them. The same model I had wanted earlier on in the winter.
When did they arrive?
Who cares. I stuck my nose in the air and walked away.

Meandering over to the jewellery section, I spotted a Star necklace that looked something like this.

I had seen it on sale just after Christmas, but didn't buy it. It was in the childrens' section and I thought that maybe a little girl would want it. It was the last one. How could I buy it? There were plenty of other styles: hearts, keys, animal shapes, but only one Star.

It was still here. And still 50% off. So I picked it up and put it in my basket.
I always go through the "self-scan" cashes. Scanned the tea towels, the fabric softener, coffee filters - everything scanned correctly. The Star necklace scanned at regular price ($10.00).
So I called the cashier over.
"This scanned incorrectly." I told her. "It's supposed to be half price."
"Oh, you're wrong - not this one."
"Oh, please! These have been on sale since after Christmas."
"Well, I'll have to go check."

She came back a couple of minutes later.
"You're right."
I held back a self-satisfied, smug smile and tried to look polite.
Zip, zip, zip, she punched in a couple of codes.
"Our mistake - you get it for free."

Now, that's the kind of shopping I like!

21 comments:

Rose said...

Lucky you! Such a pretty necklace...much prettier than that snowblower:)

Glad you've found another helper who is working out, Wendy.

amelia said...

Very pretty and a great deal!!

Marimoy said...

YAY! I am glad you got a pretty star necklace.

Q said...

Dear Wendy,
So pretty! It was meant for you.
I love this story.
Stay warm.
Arctic blast is here....
brr....
Sherry

Wendy said...

Hi Rose - Ha! That made me chuckle! Yes, he really is a cheerful person. And does a thorough job. We're lucky.

Thank you Amelia - that's my kind of deal, alright!

Hi Mimi - I'm glad too.

Hi Sherry, I think it was. I'm sipping hot tea as I write. Keep warm too. Or how about we send this Arctic air right back up to the Arctic! LOL!

denverdoc said...

That's some hot shopping Wendy; I love the vision of you standing your ground against the punk cashier. I don't know if you ever saw my post on snow shovels, but check out the picture; can you imagine setting all pride aside and going outside (perhaps in mismatched ear muffs and your husband's old coat) to move snow with this model: http://vintagefemail.blogspot.com/search?q=snow+shovels

beckie said...

What a deal! The little necklace is very pretty-made even more so by the price. So glad you didn't get the snow blower. I would have worried about you out there in the cold.

Grammy said...

How amazing. Free. It was certainly meant to go home with you. Our walmart is far from what I was use to. here the store is always right. I miss all the stores we had. But so enjoy that lack of mean people so it is a good trade off. Glad the new guy is a blessing.

mj said...

What a nice surprise!!!

So glad you didn't buy the electric shovel. You don't want to be outside now that it is sooooo frigid. It's worth paying someone else to do it.

Abba's Girl said...

Now that is a great Wal Mart story! I went to Wal Mart for the 1st time since Christmas last week. I went for laundry detergent, coffee, and coffee filters, came home w/ those as well as plastic, under bed storage bins for Christmas decorations.

Glad you have found reliable help.

Annette

Anonymous said...

Sweet. That never happens to me!

Cheryl said...

Hi Wendy....now that is the sort of shopping I like....and so pretty......love the colour.
Who needs a snow blower anyway!!!!

Wendy said...

Hi Judy, hahahaha - no, I hadn't seen that snow shovel on your other blog. It looks cool!
Oh yeah, I do stand my ground, especially with cashiers! Ya gotta watch the prices all the time.

Hi Beckie - aw, I'm glad I didn't get it too. Funny how things always seem to turn out right.
Hope you're staying warm.

Hi Grammy , oh yeah, we have store policies here, which I'm sure are patterned after yours in the US. If the item scans incorrectly, then you're supposed to get it for free (if it's under $10.00). Most stores honour this, but some look at you like you've got snakes coming out of your head.LOL

Wendy said...

Hi Mary, I'm glad too. It's really freezing here!

Hi Annette , don't we always seem to run out of practical things just after Christmas? And it's walmart to the rescue. I'm glad that we found this fellow too.

Amy - this always happens to me. You must just be busy with your little ones. Or your cashiers are more on the ball than ours.

Hi Cheryl, oh I'm with you on that!
Hope it's warm where you are.

Mary said...

Wow! A great deal. Wal Mart here wouldn't be so generous. They would make you pay half price. I really dislike the store because the employees are always rude. Don't know if it is the managers or the company itself. While we were in the states last year, the Wal Mart employees were very helpful.

Stay warm and safe. The deep freeze is to continue here until Saturday.
Blessings,
Mary

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Hi Wendy, Thanks for visiting my blog. I hope you'll come back again. I am enjoying yours.

Good Ole' Walmart... It's "MY" store also. They DO try to do the right thing. That's why they are one store in the USA which is still doing well.

Your necklace is gorgeous... As Rose said, it's much prettier than the snow-blower. ha ha
Hugs,
Betsy

naturewitch said...

Well done, Wendy! And so strong - I would have been tempted by a snowblower on sale (if I had need for one, that is :))! xx

Unknown said...

Oh wow, wouldn't I love to do that kind of shopping!! It's pretty. Love your header too.

Mary said...

Wendy, first I want to say the flowers in your header made my eyes pop. We need flowers!

Sometimes, it's in the "stars" to have something you really want. It's a good thing you challenge the cashier. If I got a deal like that, I'd be saying Wow all the way home.

Mary

Wendy said...

Hi Mary,
Oh it's cold here too. I always found the customer service much better in the U.S. Too bad your walmart sucks!

Hi Betsy, thanks for stopping by. Will be checking back with you.

Hi Naturewitch, it's plants and flowers that make me blow my budget - never snowblowers. LOL. I could buy it and send to you. LOL!

Hi Kanak, o.k. next time I go off to Walmart, I'll bring you. LOL. Thanks for the compliments re my header. It's from google images.

Hi Mary, oh yeah, flowers all the way. They sure brighten up my day.
It was in the stars, alright. LOL!

JeanMac said...

That's a lovely piece - I didn't know WM gave for free if the price is incorrect - good for you!