Sears Lacks Appreciation for Consumer
On Saturday 12/18 we had a washer/dryer unit delivered and installed (ordered online). We paid for installation and removal of old unit (see confirmation pasted at the end of the message). The delivery team said that they were not responsible for removing the old unit and that the installer would. However, when the installer arrived, he said that he could not (he was alone) and that delivery would have to come back to do so.
At 8:39 AM, I called number sent in the confirmation email and spoke to Ms. Windsor (ID 25201) who barely spoke English and told me that she would leave a voice mail for delivery driver to call us back. They never did. I called back and spoke with a rep who would not give us her name. The rep told me to hold on while she found someone who spoke English.
I was put on with another rep (although it sounded like the same woman) and was told that there was no record of us paying for haul away. I pointed out that this was not rue because we had the confirmation email AND Delivery Team and Installer knew they were supposed to remove the machine. I was told again that there was no record and then, mysteriously, the line went dead.
At this point I asked the installer to call and explain what was going on to his department. He instructed me to call the installers to tell them that he could not remove the old unit and someone would have to be sent out Saturday afternoon to pick it up. I did, and left a message. No one called back.
I was tweeting (Tweet 1, Tweet 2, Tweet 3, Tweet 4, Tweet 5, Tweet 6, Tweet… Continue reading
Back to School with Staples
August always brings me back to back to school shopping. Even years after graduating from college and grad school, and despite no longer teaching, I still get excited about buying new supplies for the upcoming school year. And I love sharing this with my daughter, 4, who we currently homeschool. Unfortunately, our needs nowadays don’t really require the extensive shopping sprees of my youth, but they are still just as much fun.
I was invited by Mom Select to the Back to School event hosted by Staples in NYC on July 14. Due to a prior engagement, I was unable to attend, however, I received a sampler pack of some of the latest items being offered at Staples just in time to go back to school. And I was as giddy as a school girl as I opened the box to admire my treasure! There are so many new items to choose from. Here are a few of my favs:
The Do Something Product Line: I firmly believe that teaching children early on that they can make a difference is so important in developing strong moral and social character. These DoSomething.org-inspired products consisting of planners, composition notebook, spiral notebooks, pocket folders, and pencil cases, encourage children of all ages to get active in community service. The artistic and inspirational designs coupled with facts about the importance of involvement serve to motivate and educate. ($.99 – $11.99)
Check out DoSomething.org for information about this great organization.
Glam Rocks Product Line: While the previous products were a stylish call-to-action, the Glam Rocks products are simply stylish! The studded calculators, pens, and matching staplers will make your child feel like a star. They are hand-studded and offered in purple floral, pink color fade, royal blue, and crystal clear. And… Continue reading
The WNBA: Basketball at it’s finest
On Sunday, July 11, 2010, I took the family to their first WNBA game at Madison Square Garden (thanks to the One 2 One Network for providing us with three free tickets). My husband is an ex-NBA fan who has a love for basketball, but has grown sick of the current NBA game and it’s players. I love basketball. I was a baller in high school, long before there was a WNBA, and was supposed to play in college. Unfortunately, I suffered a knee injury ending my college career before it started. This game was special for me because I was able introduce basketball to my four year old daughter. So we jumped at the chance to get back to the Garden for a professional game.
We drove down the Henry Hudson Parkway to Manhattan from our Yonkers home with ease and parked on 9th Avenue between 33rd and 34th Streets, for free thanks to Sunday parking rules. The two block stroll was pleasant thanks to a nice breeze that cooled what had to be a 90*F afternoon and highlighted by the site of the circular structure that is the Garden with the Empire State Building in the backdrop.
The New York Liberty were playing the Chicago Sky and the game was incredible. The WNBA is professional basketball at its best. The players play their hearts out with an intensity that could only be maintained by people who truly love basketball. It was great to see the teamwork and fundamentals displayed during each offensive possession as you could see each set play develop right before your eyes. Someone who wants to learn or teach basketball should use WNBA games as visuals. The game was great as… Continue reading
THE SORCERER’S APPRENTICE: A Premiere Event
Disney invited me to the World Premiere of The Sorcerer’s Apprentice at the New Amsterdam Theatre in New York City last Tuesday, July 6. This was the red carpet event attended by cast members Nicolas Cage, Jay Baruchel, and Teresa Palmer, and producer Jerry Bruckheimer, and director Jon Turteltaub. It was the first time I (along with my husband) have ever strolled down the red carpet and it was certainly an interesting experience. The whole event was far more organized than I pictured from watching these sort of things on TV. The carpet extended down about half a block on 42nd Street between 8th Avenue and 7th Avenue. There were about 6 staging areas where camera and press equipment was setup to photograph and interact with the celebs. Of course, for us non “fabulous” people there was an express path to walk behind all of the action and I was OK with that. I did not want to end up on Page 6 as a “Fashion Don’t!”
The New Amsterdam Theatre, complete with it’s old-styled charm, has three levels and numerous private balconies. The internal structure was very beautiful with intricate woodwork and delicate marble murals. The high arching hallways and exquisite chandeliers really send you back to a time when a night out required suits and even tuxedos. We were seated off to the left a bit and about 5 rows from the bottom, but unlike most theaters we were not straining our necks to view the movie. With the three levels of seating and the private balconies, we figured the stars would be seated separately from the general audience. We were, in fact, wrong… Continue reading