I’m trying to get my Christmas shopping wrapped up. (Pun accidental…)
Still conflicted regarding what on earth to buy for the boys, but at least have a solid gift for the baby I know he wants.
Little bit wants one thing from Santa: a retro diner set for her AG dolls. The AG set is $249 so she asked Santa (including in her latest note she taped on the fireplace last night) for the $99 Target version.
The ONLY thing she wants from Santa.
Diner. Set.
We see it this weekend at Target but of course I can’t buy because Santa is bringing the diner. She has her own list for me.
This morning, I peruse Target’s Cyber Monday site just to check on prices. Doll diner set now marked down, PLUS 15% for ordering on line, means Santa can get the set for $74. But behold, because of evil marketing or slothful elves, the supply of the diner sets is now dangerously low.
You cannot actually purchase them on line should you be a parent versus Santa wanting to acquire one.
I get bad flashbacks from Saturday morning.
The laser tag set I wanted to buy for eldest (in lieu of his request for paintball guns!) was out of stock everywhere except for the Katy Target. So at the crack of dawn, little bit and I slog out to Katy so we can get there when they open. ALAS, this was also falsely advertised – big and bold on the website they say 7 am when instead they do not unlock their doors until 8 am. (At least she got yummy IHOP pancakes out of the deal while we waited.)
Only when we actually get into the Katy Target we find they just hadn’t updated their stock information and they also were sold out. Nary a laser tag set to be found. Except for on Amazon for something like $200 (for this little $40 laser tag set).
I digress.
Cyber Monday – Diner Set.
I call my mom. Mom, it says there’s a diner set at your Cypress Target. Could you just go and make sure there is one, so Santa knows they won’t run out of sets for all the little girls dreaming of doll diners? (Which can’t be more than like a half dozen girls, what the heck???) It’s reserved on line so all you have to do is pop by customer service to ensure stock is safely accounted for.
Mom has plans this morning. She has a doctor’s appointment and brunch with her friends. Nonetheless, she can hear my mama panic from work, and agrees to pop into her Target between the doctor and brunch so I don’t have heart failure.
She calls from Target. They canceled your order. They didn’t actually have any in stock.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
I have not been a fan of Target for a while because of terrible customer and stock handling but now I’m on the warpath.
Calm down. They’ve located one at the Target on 1960. I’m on my way there. They’re holding it at the camera counter.
I do not believe them.
Not for one hairy second.
And I didn’t even know they had canceled my Cypress order AND they had still charged my credit card for the nonexistent diner.
No, no, no, you go to your brunch. I’ll leave work. I’ll search all the Targets. Let’s pretend it’s 1983 and this stinkin’ diner set is a Cabbage Patch doll and there’s NO INTERNET so we have to actually drive around town trying to lay our hands on what is not even a remotely hot toy this Christmas….
She refuses. Friends will hold, she informs me. So she keeps truckin’ to the Target no longer near her home (or doctor, or brunch). I’m texting her my receipts so at the very least, if one does exist, they won’t charge me more than the Internet price.
Bzzzzzzzzzz, bzzzzzzzzz, phone vibrates on my desk. I’d been staring at it like a pot of water that wouldn’t boil. I suck in my breath and answer.
I have a doll diner set in my hands. There is stock for Santa. Do not worry. Relax.
I know you all know this from the time when your grandmas all ran out to claw through crowds to ensure Santa had enough stock of Cabbage Patch dolls for your Christmas, but grandmothers are Santa’s elves. Sure they keep their pointy ears and jingle bell shoes and bright red hats tucked away most days, but these people are saints. Elves in grandma clothing.
They didn’t charge the Internet price even though they said they would, but they did charge less than the full price, so there’s that. And I went on-line to cancel my never fulfilled Santa stock placeholder. Hopefully the fee will be returned to my credit card.
I also immediately went on line to Amazon and purchased two items kids had asked for because I am not going through that heart failure again.
How ‘bout you?
Harrowing shopping stories?
(On the UPSIDE of shopping, I had an epic Black Friday purchase. I stumbled upon a West Elm outlet store in San Marcos on Friday morning on my way home from my sister in law’s house in the Hill Country. The dresser I’d been eyeing for our newly remodeled bedroom/bathroom was out of my price range in West Elm stores at $1299. YET, outlet+Black Friday, I snagged it for the unthinkable price of $384. West Elm outlet – thank you, you make the NICE list. Target – you will remain on my naughty list!)
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