I’d like to follow-up on the prior post where I ranted about my daughter’s school supplies list. The list was not the only thing that frustrated me. The stores should have received equal billing.
The school recommends that we purchase the supplies at an office-supply store, which will give 5% of our receipt to the school. That’s great for the school, but bad for me since I’ll pay much more there than I would at a discount store.
Looking to save money, I headed to the Big Box Mart. With list in hand, I struggled mightily. My daughter needs “washable” markers and there are none to be found. The bins are empty and the peg hooks bare. I looked for watercolor paint to no avail as well.
The plastic folders were all picked through. There were plenty of pink, orange and green, but I specifically needed red, blue, purple and yellow.
It was 11 a.m. on Monday. Why were the shelves not stocked? Did they run out of merchandise or was it all in the storeroom? It shouldn’t happen.
Running out of school supplies the week before school starts is like running out of candy the week before Valentine’s Day.
I got what I could and tried a more “targeted” approach at the next big box store. Looking only for Crayola fine-point washable markers and watercolors, I thought it would be easy. I was wrong. More empty bins. Although in another area of the store I found the markers.
I plunked down my $2.18 and headed for the car, realizing that I’d have to try a third store for the blasted watercolors. Then it hit me (or did I actually hit myself?)…
The school supplies cost me $43.
If I went to the office-supply store, I might have gotten everything in one stop instead of three. It would have been worth paying even 10% more. Instead I got heartburn, a headache, a three-ring binder of frustration and one giant lesson learned.
Next time, I’m going to avoid the scavenger hunt and just pony up the extra $5.
Posted on
Fri, August 14, 2009
by Sean Taylor Simpson
filed under