Wrapped

Today I was at a store that I don't go to very often, but love so very much.  When I walk into the store and see all the wonderful things there are to buy for your home, I just let out a little sigh of joy.   I love to look at everything and the ladies are so super friendly and helpful in there.  It kinda makes me want to twirl around the store picking up different items and breaking out into song.  You know, like a musical for all the wonderful things at Pier 1.  It was just what I needed on the dark, dreary, rainy day.  I found some great gifts for some people on my list and then I headed off to BB&Beyond.  Does the picture below give any indication as to the feelings I felt in this store?

All I needed was the gift registry for a friend that is getting married and I had to sit down in a little chair and wait for an employee to try and get her computer to work so she could print out the information.  She wanted to go through the list and know my budget and I was starting to feel like it was some high pressure sales going on so I bid her farewell and headed out alone, armed with my list.  Before I bolted she reminded me that they offer free gift wrapping services.  Sweet.  I love free.  I used to work at a department store where we did gift wrapping.  This my friends is not gift wrapping!  So, I finally pick out what I'm going to get which was nowhere near the price point the employee was suggesting I spend on my friend btw.  I got in a very long line and waited patiently for my turn to check out.  I handed over my registry like a good little shopper and the cashier asked if I would like my purchase gift wrapped.  Why yes, yes I would.

 "O.K., well I will be able to do that for you after I am done checking out customers." 

 "huh?  wait, what?  where am I supposed to wait?"  

"Over there in bridal registry, when I get to it, I will bring it to you."

Oh, how lovely.  At this point a spongebob song pops into my head about not being a jerk at Christmas.  Why, oh why did I say I wanted it wrapped?  Am I really that cheap that I don't want to go and buy a roll of wrap..... apparently.... since I don't love my friend enough to spend the kind of dough the lady thought I should on a gift. Well, people just keep coming up to the register.  There are 3 cashiers and another employee that looks like she might be in charge but she was obsessed with the shopping carts.  I started to notice that the cashier that was going to be wrapping my gift had a customer that just didn't seem to be leaving.  Big surprise, he was having a problem with his purchase or return.  What was my super efficient, multitasking of a cashier doing while waiting for 5 minutes for help?  Nothing!  Staring at the wall.  This prompted me to stand in her line of sight to remind her that I had been waiting for 15 minutes now.  Finally the lady that printed out the registry saw me standing there and offered to gift wrap my item so I could leave........You're eyes are not deceiving you.  That is a plastic bag with a bow on the top complete with a gift tag.....the lady was sure to point out the lovely gift tag.  Like I was going to commend her on her fine wrapping skills and what a wonder favor they were doing for me.  Seriously! She even had the courtesy to ask if I wanted it in a shopping bag to keep it out of the rain.  Really?  Should I put my plastic bag inside another plastic bag to keep it from getting wet?  I was really having to choke back going into a Lewis Black comedy skit about their crap for service!  Why couldn't I say something?  Why do we put up with this crap?  We have been conditioned to think that it won't do any good anyway so why get upset.  Well, I say it's time to start letting people know when they aren't performing to a higher level of expectation. 

ps ~ don't ever "site to store" something at Walmart unless you are a masochist and enjoy feelings similar to a nail being driven into your temples!  Trust me, you will want to pay for shipping after that experience!