I’m thinking the days of going down to one’s favorite store, picking out an appliance and having it delivered the same day may be gone forever.
I get it that there have been plenty of changes to buying and spending practices throughout the years, but that doesn’t mean I have to like some of them.
Last week, we had a major plumbing situation going on here at the house. Our plumber had told me because it was a sizable project he was bringing either all or most all of his crew so they could get it done in a couple of days.
That way, we’d only be without water for two days and need to be away from the house one night.
He and his whole crew showed up that first morning and they got after it. That was much appreciated.
Shortly after noon that first day they were here, my plumber told me that if my wife Pat wanted a certain new appliance now would be a good time for us to get it. They could install it while they were fixing the plumbing situation.
So, I started trying to reach Pat, and when she got back to me she said, “yes, and why not have them measure for this other appliance.”
I informed our plumber that she said she needs a new one. I told him I knew it had been there a long time.
Later, Pat advised me we had that one installed in 1995, nearly 30 years ago.
Pat and I agreed to meet at the store where we would go to get this new appliance.
Once in the store, we headed back to the area where they sold appliances. We spotted two employees in that department, and even though they acknowledged us from a distance, made no effort, nor showed any interest in seeing why we there or what we needed.
So, Pat started looking at different brands of the appliance we needed. I told her she was in charge of the selection.
A couple of other employees came from a different direction and one asked did we need something to which my wife nodded and said we there to buy this type of appliance.
It didn’t take long for her to choose the one she liked and wanted and I concurred it was a nice looking one.
When we went up to give him our information, I let him know our plumber said he could come pick it up and take it to our house.
The young man waiting on us quickly informed us that wouldn’t be possible. He didn’t have it in the store, it would have to be delivered the next day. We said that would be fine.
He told us we would be notified later that afternoon when delivery would be the following day, then, rather than pay at his register, we had to go to the service desk.
We did that and were on our way.
I was notified that evening delivery would be between 8 a.m. and noon the next day. Great, I thought.
About 8:15 the next morning a woman called from that store and informed us our appliance didn’t get on the truck in Dallas in time the evening before so it would be the next day before it would be delivered.
Rather than get all upset about it, I accepted the fact that things just aren’t like they used to be when you could down to a store, buy something and have it in a few hours rather than almost 48 which was the case this time.
Luckily, our plumber had one of his employees who was finishing up some things at the house and installed it like he said it would.
Things just aren’t that simple anymore.