First, I think it is extremely important to acknowledge that my burdens are light compared to what everyone else is going through in this horrible year. i am indeed counting my blessings, and grateful every day for the good people in my life.
So, on the plus side, the cabinetry arrived safely and has been stowed, the electrical inspection passed, and the “boards have been mounted” in preparation for the plasterer to come in early tomorrow and get things going.
I just can’t believe all this stuff!
I had been warned - I forget by whom; if it was you, I apologize - that a staging area would be needed because there was nothing so expansive as a delivery of kitchen cabinets in cardboard boxes. And my goodness, it must be seen to be believed! I surely wasn’t expecting so very many boxes. My back porch has now been filled to the cubic inch, and I can only hope that it doesn’t collapse. After the plasterers do their business tomorrow, much of it will move inside.
The workmen got up all the sheetrock in preparation for the plasterers tomorrow, which made me happy.
Then . . . then my mood turned when I came back from errands and saw a voicemail on my phone. It was from the company supplying most of my appliances (via ye Heaumeau Depeau). The model dishwasher I ordered is on back order, which means that the entire order will not arrive on Monday, but on the next available Saturday.
Saturday, October 3, 2020.
They only figured this out now, less than half a business day from the day of delivery?!
This - how shall I say this? - this rather upsetting news led to a series of phone calls:
The vendor, who said “This order is through ye Heaumeau Depeau and they have a policy of not sending incomplete orders. You need to take this up with them directly.”
HD’s 800 number, with the usual Byzantine menu of options, none of which include “To speak to an operator, press . . . “ The only option I was allowed to choose was to accept an October 3 delivery date, or a later one.
HD South Bay’s store line. On the first attempt, they hung up on me after ten minutes of listening to the phone ring. On the second attempt, an actual person after 15 minutes, who was allegedly sympathetic, who passed me on to someone else in Appliances. Both of them began every sentence with “Unfortunately . . . “ The gent in appliances gave me a different 800 number. “You can tell them that you need a different time.”
HD’s 877 number, which was the exact same set of prerecorded options as the first. There was no way to speak to an actual person. The dude at HD deliberately sent me on a wide goose chase.
I feel like my consumer rights are being violated. And I will deal with it tomorrow.
Later I got a voicemail from the company supplying my stove (also through HD), that it would be delivered August 28.
The icing on the cake: washing up after dinner in the bathroom, I broke a favorite bowl. I am so angry with myself about it.
All this is nothing, absolutely nothing compared to what’s going on in the world. When I wake up tomorrow morning, things will feel better, more like there’s a solution. At the moment though, I will admit to feeling helpless and like I’ve been played for a chump.
