I did a thing

 Last night, I decided to buy a few things.

$100+ "few things".

A couple years ago, I went back to Cali Boston to visit friends. We went to the mall one of the days, and ended up in a record / magazine store called Newbury Comics. 

I miss that store, dearly. I'd spend a paycheck or two, willingly, there. Between that and a bookstore in Brookline (plus a Trader Joe's), I'd be broke for a couple weeks every other month. 

I miss living in Massachusetts. 

Badly.

Anyway, I sidetracked.

I bought a Funko Pop! Movies figurine at Newbury Comics. Totally not expecting to see it. But it was Ludo, from the 1986 movie, Labyrinth. Dude... totally stoked to find it.. I was just browsing around, especially since I knew I had to control my spending, as I'd need to pack whatever I buy in my suitcase, or make my friends take me to a post office and priority mail anything back to Florida. Unfortunately, I ended up spending over a hundred dollars at the store, as I bought a couple db vinyl records, a Bob's Burger car air freshener and the aforementioned Ludo. And I ended up in a Walmart a couple days later to buy bubble wrap. Bright but not bright, me. I risked getting the music stolen or crushed. Not the best when you're looking to collect. 

Side note: you're going to have to Google search Ludo, because I don't want to start hotlinking to everywhere, as he doesn't exist anymore on Amazon. 

Whomp whomp. *Sad face*

But I can post a picture of the Ludo I own...

So speed up a few years to last night. I'm trolling Amazon and somehow stumbled on the Jareth Funko. Several of them (the "buy all three", midway down). 

Plus a Marilyn Monroe Funko, yeah, I have a problem. 

I should be getting them all in one box by midweek. Hopefully, as I decided to risk it all come together instead of 4 separate orders. I thought I'd conserve paper / plastic / etc. 

We'll see how it all arrives. I'm nervously excited to be able to see what they all look like and they all arrive in one piece. Plus, I want to add to the collection. It's too bad Sarah | Worm is not available and Hoggle is way too much money for one item... 

I'll update this post when I receive everything.

Fingers crossed...

Cheers! 

"Switch on summer from a slot machine"

 I've got about $15 worth of scratch tickets to redeem, so I'm not gaining anything from slots recently. Summer is over as well.

I think we are in a season called "fall".

Again, "I think", as we've finally had some days this week where it's cool enough to drive to work with the windows down in the car... and it's November. Currently, my bedroom window is open. Humidity is at a standstill and almost non existent, even though I know my friends and family back home had hit 33* the other day and were just a wee bit cold. 

So... summer.. that thing that starts in Florida around March and doesn't end until (maybe) November? That time when I ordered three deodorants from a website on an end of season sale? Yea... summer.

I contacted Native about that Cactus Flower & Poppy stick. It actually went smoothly by them to get a different smell, but USPS dropped the ball. *facepalm*. Considering this was after my mother ran around to several different stores for me, to see if it was sold in places and everyone said no, they've never seen that scent before. *eye roll**face palm* Crap. 

Ok... Back to Native....

Let me fill you in:

November 3rd, I contacted Native. "I purchased the 3 pack product (Order ID: [redacted]) on September 4, 2020, but it took over a month to receive it, as you can see by the order activity in my account. I finally got to use the Cactus Flower & Poppy scent this past week; however, I had a terrible reaction to its scent. I would like to exchange this with the Coconut & Vanilla, as I have had no problems with that particular scent.

Please let me know how we can make this exchange happen.

Thank you."

They (Julia, the one and only person I think ever emails people) responded almost immediately. "Hi Amy,

Thanks for reaching out to us, and I'm so sorry you are experiencing irritation with Sensitive Catus Flower & Poppy. We've found that some customers are more sensitive to certain oils (for instance, citrus oils) than others.

I'd be happy to set you up with a free exchange. However, I can see that your recent order did not include Native Coconut & Vanilla. Would you like your exchange to be in the sensitive formula or regular formula?

We'll be looking out for your response.

Bes"

Okay, so... I know I've got sensitivity to "certain oils". I found that out with the sticks that have "essentials" in them. But... I ordered 'sensitive' deodorant from a company where it doesn't list having a lot of extra oils in their ingredient list. So if there's essentials in the package, shouldn't they list that? Plus, it's the damn smell that made me have a reaction. Not the actual stuff on my arm. Whatever fragrance is in the stick is what caused me to get sick... the stick itself was fine all day when I wore it... I just couldn't handle the strong smell it gives off. And... the 'Bes' is actually what she wrote. True. 

So far, a positive exchange, yes?

My response back was simple. "I am happy that you are so accommodating. Since I have purchased the Coconut Vanilla previously and know I am able to use it, I would like to go that route and would appreciate it in the sensitive formula.

Thank you so much for the quick response. It is greatly appreciated."

To her "Hi Amy,

No worries! I'd be happy to set you up with a free exchange!

In fact, I've already issued a free exchange order of Sensitive Coconut & Vanilla for you. You should be receiving a new confirmation email shortly (with the total being $0.00).

Let us know if there's anything else we can help you with. Have a great day!

Best,".

With that, I got an immediate email from the company saying my order is confirmed. Keep in mind, this interaction is still on November 3rd. 

Sweet; maybe I can actually use something now. Not that I've been going naked - I've been using the Blood Orange & Clove version and am surprised on how mild it is. Honestly, I can't smell one part over the other. It mixes nicely enough together that it's not at all strong - no musky or citrus smell. No weird stink. It's actually quite tame and I kind of enjoy it. 

November 4th, my email says it's shipped and I'll get it the 8th. Well damn, that's quick! Labor Day purchase was going to take a little over week... this one is under a week?? Cool!

November 7th: Native emails me saying my package is on its way to the point it'll "arrive tomorrow!". Keep in mind, November 7th is a Saturday. It started out as a UPS delivery and needs to transfer over to USPS. Just like the last time.... when someone (Native) dropped the UPS ball. Seeing how Sunday, November 8th, it'll be in USPS' hands and then mine, I'm interested in seeing how this plays out.

November 8th: I start watching the tracking information. Sure enough, USPS has it. It's out for delivery at 7:10am. 

I'm home all day - it's Sunday - where am I going?

3:35pm, Native emails me, saying "Sorry we missed you!" and that they will "try to deliver your package again on:" with no date. 

I click on the tracking email I've got. USPS is saying "Held at Post Office, At Customer Request Fort myers, FL" at 3:15pm. 

Wait, what? When did I request the deodorant go back to the post office and hang out there??? Crap. I call the Post Office. No answer. Every number I get is a recording; it's Sunday, no one is around. 

My next step is emailing Native. Again. Actually, twice in 20 minutes. 

First email: "I have been home all day; no one rang a bell. Can someone leave the package at the door? Can this be done today while I am at home waiting?" and then second email, because my mother and I were talking about it, and I'm just sitting there like 'what the effing hell. This is dumb'. "I have been sitting here... at the address shown in this email... and getting very angry. I know it is not your fault. I just cannot understand how the delivery system says I requested this be held at the post office. With multiple post office branches in this city, I wouldn't know where to begin to look for it. How would I have requested it be sent to the post office when I am a full time resident in my community; unless it was delivered to the wrong address. I hope you will be able to track this for me and have it redelivered in a timely manner."

It's almost like, what are they going to do? The Post Office just gave up or something. Not cool. Someone failed to do their job. 

Julia emails back. "Hi Amy,

Thanks for reaching out and so sorry for the delay!

I'm not exactly sure what happened to your order. So sorry again! Can you call your location post office about this? And if they can't still deliver your order to your address, please let me know so we can issue a replacement order right away.

Thank you so much for helping us to resolve this issue. Will be looking out for your reply!

Best,"

Uh.... I don't know what happened to my order either. I can think of 4 post offices right now, that are within a 20 minute drive of my house. Where do I start? 

I emailed her back. "Unfortunately, I don't know which post office to reach out to, as there are several in my area. I tried several numbers but only get automated recordings. I will, however, try again tomorrow, where this is a Sunday and perhaps a weekday might be different.

I will keep you posted and thank you for getting back to me."

It's true - even during the weekday, you rarely speak to someone, so forget a Sunday. But I didn't know what to do. Calling a million offices won't help. 

But Julia responded. "Hi Amy

Thanks for your reply and patience.

Happy to help here! Can you confirm the address we have if we have written down your mailing address correctly? Below is the address we have.

[address redacted]

Looking out for your reply!

Best,"

I confirmed my address and didn't hear back. 

Come Monday, my mother actually contacted USPS and got to speak to someone while I was at work. She explained the situation and a service inquiry was put in. Explaining what transpired, the agents she spoke with, couldn't really help, except by letting her know that they will look in to it. They don't have the package at this particular annex and based on the computer information they do have, maybe someone didn't put my entire mailing address on the label? My mother said we confirmed the address with the company, but the Post Office said that that doesn't mean someone typing the information didn't type it all out. But they'll look in to it.

At 4:50, I got an email from Native saying my package had arrived. USPS tracking information said it was delivered to my mailbox at 3:15 that afternoon - one full day after it was supposed to get to me.

What happened??

Well, according to a follow up call from the USPS, they claim that the reason the original tracking said I requested it be held at the Post Office was put in to the system on their end. Allegedly, they didn't have anyone to handle my route on Sunday, so rather than have any problems, they scanned it back into the system has a customer request hold, so the next day, someone could deliver it. 

Huh? Wait.. so you're telling me that at 7 something in the morning, when it was scanned as 'out for delivery', someone decided seven hours later that there was no one available to deliver it, and scanned it back into the system as a customer hold?? Because there was no one to deliver it?????

That ain't right. 

Someone needs change that verbiage because everyone I showed the emails and tracking info to, all say it reads like I'm not home and put a note on my door asking that deliveries go to the post office. Like I'm a snowbird and my mail is on hold for six months. If that's the case, who the hell knows when I'd get it. 

The postal service couldn't offer any other reasoning except the fact that that is how they deal with things. If there is no one to cover a route, things get scanned back in the system as customer hold, or at the very least, put in a bin to be mailed the next day (non trackable stuff). 

I swear... I like buying stamps and I like to mail stuff... but maybe there is a reason the postal service is failing. Especially since I rarely have problems with them. There are only two times I can remember actually having issues, and that was in April 2020 for a stamp order and sometime in the fall of 2003 because they lost 2 pieces of mail. One was a check a cousin sent me while I was at school, and the other was me actually mailing myself something to see why the check got lost. 

Both check and empty envelope are still traveling around Brookline somewhere. But hey, at least I got my stamps! 

I still will stick with now buying in person somewhere or waiting to see what I can pull from the internet, but I am still leery about using the brand site. They change hands too many times in the shipping process. Especially when the brand says they are in one state (California) but the package arrives from another (Connecticut). By using UPS and then USPS, it is asking a lot, and seems like trouble. Proof in both times I had to get a package from them - they fail to tell me something is not in stock, then it arrives super late. I try one of the products, and have a bad reaction to it. I tell them, they send me a different flavor, the delivery service won't deliver it until someone is available. It's like they say "one hand doesn't know what the other is doing", in a way. Guess it's more proof to stick to what I know, and stay in the brick and mortar stores until that goes by the wayside?

Whatever comes first...

Cheers;

See also (aka where the blog title comes from)

• Cat Stevens' own reboot of Where Do The Children Play?
• (I want this album! Anyone wanna get me the wax version plus the cd??)
• (Hell, I wouldn't even mind if someone got me the original recording on wax and cd as well)

See also (aka Amazon is currently having "Epic Black Friday" / "Holiday" Deals

• See Here
  

#Smellbad

 Children of 80's scifi fantasy movies... reminisce with me for a moment.

There is a certain Jennifer Connelly movie from 1986, where she attempts to "get to the castle beyond the Goblin City", to find her baby brother, in 13 hours. You figure out what I'm getting with already? Especially with the blog title? 

So this movie... has a couple scenes where the characters must enter a foul smelling, dead looking, scummy pond... where once you call the rocks (fwrends) to get out of the other side, they - the rocks -  fart as you step on them. No one likes to be trapped in the "BoES", but you can be sent there for disobeying the ruler. When everyone says "smell... bad..." and raises their hands to their faces, in hopes it'll shield them from the nauseating smell of noxious toxins, the characters finally get out alive. Even though I'm sure that stink has stayed on the actors... 34 years later.

Well... I tried the Native "Cactus Flower & Poppy Seed" deodorant stick today. I had finished the "Cucumber & Mint" yesterday (I take 2 showers a day during the week... due to working with the public during the pandemic. Don't hate), so I needed to start a new stick. 

Uhm... #smellbad is not the best way to describe things, but it's of similar stature. 

I personally didn't smell gross - the brand is surprisingly good at keeping me clean (and feeling clean). It's the fact this flavor - Cactus Flower & Poppy Seed - really did a number on me throughout the day. The smell is really pungent... like, imagine a gardenia flower... you know how that particular tree grows, and the aroma the flowers give out? That they're pretty to look at, but you can't be around it for more than 10 minutes without getting a headache? The type that you don't know where the throbbing is coming from within your dome and all you want to do is lay down... because you're afraid the smell is gonna make you yack? 

Yeah, I had that reaction today to the pit stick. I couldn't wait to get home and take a shower. But unfortunately I had to wait 10 hours to do something about it. 

Those were the longest hours of my life this week. And we set the clocks back an hour this past weekend. 

Yup... I learned a lesson about ordering stuff online. It's a crap shoot of what you're gonna get, but if you're getting things that smell, make damn sure you know what you're getting before you spend the dosh on it. 

I mean, the Cucumber Mint was good. It was soft enough in the scent department that it stayed mildly neutral all day, every day. I liked it. It was clean. I would order that again. But the Cactus Flower and Poppy Seed... well... I think it's gonna get the bottom of the bin smelling rather nice, because it's too late to return the stick (past the window of exchange), and I don't want to start trying to fight the company for a different smell, since I don't even know how the Blood Orange & Clove is going to be when I open that tomorrow. Remember, I got the Orange and Clove as a substitution because they didn't have the other scent I wanted. 

I totally got played with this purchased, that's for sure. It took almost a month to get to me, they didn't have a stick in stock (and failed to tell me), one of their fragrances STINKS (and it's supposed to be "sensitive" to boot!), and the customer service side of the ordeal is right shit. 

So... I'm gonna take my suggestion of "always do your research" to heart, and actually bite the bullet - I think I'm going to spend the extra money and buy in the retail stores rather than online. If I'm stupid enough to buy on Amazon, it'll be for the "Coconut & Vanilla" because I've had that before and know what it smells like. Otherwise, I don't think I'm doing this again.

You know how bad that sucks???

Stay hygienic. 

Cheers;