13 July 2016

I Wish This Were Unusual

I recently ordered a bed mat for Older Daughter's pickup. Since the local parts store told me they couldn't get one, I ordered it from Auto Zone. The clerk there told me that if I'd order it on-line, there would be no shipping charges.

Since I'm loath to pay $50+ shipping for an $85 item, I was happy to order it myself. They shipped it out about 48 hours after I placed the order, so all is well. Right?

The order originated in Des Moines. Okay, no problem. Then it went to Chicago. Again, no problem: major airport and all that.

Then it went to Olive Branch, MS, where the status has remained unchanged since Monday. But they continue to parrot the promise that it will be delivered by tomorrow.

Apparently I missed the dimensional shift which placed Mississippi somewhere between Illinois and Alaska. That'll learn me!

I would also bet that some shipping clerk in Chicago saw "AK" in the address and interpreted it as "Arkansas". It's happened before. All part of the rich pageant of life in the far north.

But MAN it's frustrating!

12 comments:

Ed Bonderenka said...

Like flying to Florida and having connections in Chicago (west) and Philadelphia (east).

Rev. Paul said...

I sincerely hope that's all it is. Unfortunately, experience would indicate otherwise. After all, the two-letter state abbreviations have only been in use for 45 years, so who's had time to learn all those letters?

Fiona said...

Hey get this, when we order turkey poults we send the order to Ohio, they get their poults from New Mexico and then they fly through a airport in Virginia to get to Kentucky!

Shipping is a strange adventure.

Rev. Paul said...

Understood, ma'am. I recognize that some shipping takes strange, circuitous routes ... but to promise delivery in 24 hours when the shipment is 4,000 miles away?

FrankC said...

If it's late arriving you might get a refund/discount.

Rev. Paul said...

I'd be surprised if it were so, but it's worth taking a look at the fine print just to be sure. Thanks.

Old NFO said...

That sucks, and yeah, they're sending it to Arkansas...

Rev. Paul said...

That's most likely why FedEx hasn't updated the shipping status since Monday. Dumkopfs.

Sandy Livesay said...

Rev. Paul,

I find Fed Ex, UPS, and USPS (here) don't update their computers therefore, you really don't know when the item you ordered will be delivered.

Rev. Paul said...

FedEx and UPS are pretty good about it here in Alaska, but the Post Office tells us only when a parcel arrives, and when it's actually out for delivery. Occasionally, however, they report an item as "delivered" a couple of days before it ever shows up in a mailbox or on a stoop.

Guffaw in AZ said...

The Wonderful World of the Fiction of Customer Service!
Yikes!

I remember working for that credit card company, and someone thinking New Mexico was outside the United States!

Maddening and sad.

gfa

Rev. Paul said...

Once upon a time, I heard a customer tell a counter worker at Mickey D's that she was New Mexico. The worker looked momentarily surprised, then said, "Welcome to America!" I kid you not.