gripe

Okay.. I've been known to go overboard or rather wear myself out with details when it comes to planning events. I've been nicknamed "Moesha Stewart" by friends for my love of crafts. I will put that disclaimer out there. I'm human, I admit it. Here's the deal...

I'm helping to host a baby shower this Sunday. I picked up desserts as my responsibility. So of course I ordered a delish white chocolate mousse cake and some tartlets. But I thought to myself, "B, what else can you do to make this event special?". It came to me like a flash of light! Why not have baby themed decorated sugar cookies as a party favour. Genius, pure genius -not to mention incredibly cute.

So I started searching online for bakeries that provide this service. Finally I found a place just a few miles away from me. Now it would be catty of me to mention the bakery's name, but screw those bastards ...cookiesbydesign.com ...meow. Anyway, I went in on Monday to put in an order. The woman who was there was very polite and walked me through the choices and we drew up an order. Immediately following I realized that I didn't have any cash on me moreover they currently do not engage in electronic payment transactions. Since I wasn't about to submit to their archaic ritual (recording my credit card number and calling directly to the credit card company to place my order), the sales person just suggested I come back later that day or the next day to pay in cash. Which worked great for me.

Still with me? This is where the foolishness begins.

So yesterday I stop in to pay for my order. I walk in the door and no one is there to greet me with a sunny smile that you expect in a bakery. After about 30 seconds or so, someone comes out from behind. I inform the sales person that I'm there to pay for my order that was drawn up the day before. She then tells me to wait just a moment, that the manager would be right out to help me. So I stand there as the only physical customer in the the store.

Let's pause on a second here... how long is a moment? I think moment is 2 to 4 minutes..but 4 minutes at a maximum. Am I right?

Anyway...so I wait about 10 minutes by myself in the store. At this point slightly peturbed and I call out..."hello.. excuse me? Are you still there?" The same woman comes out and says, "oh the manager will be out soon... or maybe you can come back later?" I'm like, "no I can't come back later" (is it me or is gas entirely too expensive for that to even be an option...moreover..I have cash in my hand.. take it and give me a damned receipt.. okay.. calming down) I politely inform the women that I cannot come back later and that I simply just need to pay for my order. The woman goes in the back and after another 5 minutes the manager finally comes out.

are you keeping track?.. this is now 15+ minutes of being ignored.

Okay.. so the alleged manager comes out offering no apologies for my wait and spends another 5 minutes shuffling through paper then finally pulls out my order form. I take out my cash to pay for the order, she accepts it and gives me my change. Then tells me that she has to type the order into the computer (why do they even use a paper system to take the order when there is a computer right there? I have no idea) So after typing on the computer for a couple of minutes she claims that I was given the wrong price for my order (a difference of 12 cents). At this point i'm ready to get out of there so I give her the 12 cents and wait for her confirmation that everything is in order. She types on the computer again and says, "oh wait, you know she didn't charge you a setup fee or taxes or *** insert mystery fee here ***".

At this point I had been in the store for 25 minutes.. and this chick is quibbling with me over random charges. Is it me or is the transaction complete since she accepted my money? I got annoyed with her and stated that they have a very disorganized operation, mentioning the fact that I had now been in the store for almost half an hour. She says, "there is no need to get testy with me... I was busy on the phone taking an order for a customer". **boggle** I say to her, "I'm a customer physically here in your store, I should be given the same if not more consideration and service than the person on the phone". I went on to tell her that she was treating me unfairly and at the least she owes me an apology for keeping me waiting by myself for so long. She repeated in nasty tone, "There is no need to be testy"

I got so disgusted that I canceled my order and demanded my money back. Then informed the woman that she is rude and is not fit for management. I stormed out of there.. pissed of course.. After our argument, I'm sure she would have made sure to add some extra flavourings to my order... *ss flavoured cookies is not on my preferred list of desserts. Its all for the best.

So what about the cookies you ask? Well, once I have a vision it must be completed. I will be baking my own damned cookies. I'm going to the craft store to buy my own cookie cutters. I already have icing for the piping and decorations. To top it off, I'm going copy their (stupid cookie place) designs ... yeah take that rude cookie lady!!!

Cookie photos to follow!!! Stay tuned....