return policy conviction.

back in november i purchased a rug from target for c's room...and i never used it. well, i got to looking at baby jumperoos today and really wanted one for her. the problem is they're expensive! so, i figured i could return the rug and use that money towards a jumperoo.

my trip started off quite nicely. i got in my little car, which i have missed since hubby takes it to work, cranked up the radio, which i can't do when c's in there, and off to target i went. 

prior to leaving, however, i had a conversation with a customer service rep at the store. you see, target's return policy is you have to return the item within 90 days. period. i was 2 days over. yes, 2 days. so after speaking with the guy, telling him my situation, he first told me i couldn't return it. i then gave him the "only 2 days over" talk and he told me to bring it in. so i did...

back to the drive...it was rainy, but i was just glad to be in the car by myself. not that i don't enjoy spending time with my family...i was just glad to be alone. it was nice. 

so i finally get to the store and haul my rug to customer service. the lady asks, "do you have your receipt?" "no, i didn't get one; i ordered it online." she then told me i would lose $3 (or something close to that) since i didn't have a receipt. well, tightwad me didn't want to lose the $3, so i asked if i could print a receipt from my online account. 10 minutes later, even with her assistance, i still didn't have one because the system wouldn't/couldn't do it. so, back to the desk we went. she then asked if i had my credit card i had made the purchase with. well, that's a story. i proceeded to tell her that my card was canceled because of fraud and the new one was just canceled for fraud too - seriously, just this past week - so i didn't have a new card yet. btw, DON'T use a credit card to pay for points on xbox.  

well, after calling someone higher up, she concluded the rug couldn't be returned because i was 2 days past the 90 day return period. she was a very nice lady, but the fact i was 2 days late and they wouldn't take it back, even though the same rug was on their shelf and the one i had wasn't even out of the packaging, i was mad.

i asked her to speak to a manager...and he came...and he was the same guy i had talked to on the phone. so, he asked for my license and they tried to return it that way...but since i had used my license to return an item recently (i have no idea what) without a receipt, the system wouldn't take it. he then told me there was nothing he could do except exchange it for something in the home department. well, i didn't need anything in home and it just frustrated me to no-end to have to pick something out i didn't need. so, i told him i didn't need anything from that department but that i did need something from baby. he told me to go pick something out. he made sure though i understood it had to be the same price or more because i was not getting any cash back. no problem! so, off to find a jumperoo i went...

on my way back to baby, i started feeling it...you know that still small voice...the One that says, "that wasn't very Christian like...you shouldn't have responded that way...that might be the only "Jesus" he sees today..." you know that voice. yep, i knew...i felt bad...and i repented...

well, i get to baby and sure enough there's a jumperoo on display. think they had any in stock? nope. none. zip. zilch. i even asked the target employee if she would look in the back. notta. great. so, i roamed the baby department for a bit. what was i going to buy? 

i've been telling matt that i would like to have a highchair for c with shoulder straps because she keeps sliding down in the one i have. i looked through target's and the only one they had (that i wanted to pay for) was in a pink floral print. it was super cute, but i had determined long ago to buy gender neutral gear for my kids. i figured my little boy, Lord willing, one day will thank me for not making him ride around in a pink stroller. well...he's going to have to sit in a pink floral print highchair...because that's what i bought. i couldn't find anything else and i made peace with the fact it was pink. and i liked it. 

so, back to the front desk i went, pink butterfly print spacesaver highchair in tow, and a few other things so that my total would exceed the price of my rug. and that still small voice was still talking..."you need to apologize." seriously? yes...i did.

once i got back to the desk, another lady checked me out. before doing so though, she had to call the manager to get approval. the same guy. after he got up there, i apologized for my attitude and told him next time, i'll make sure to return my item within the 90-day period.

i understand they have a policy...but 2 days, come on! 

so what did i learn? make sure to keep my receipt. return item within 90-day period. but most of all, to stay calm, be nice and be Jesus to everyone i meet. it might be the only "Jesus" they see that day. 

and by the way, much thanks to a dear friend, she's letting me borrow her jumperoo for free.