Breakdown gremlins were entrenched in my house
- col-lee-elliot-aging-graciously
- January 11, 2023
- 683
Post holidays, there are a few observations and comments to be made in looking back. First and foremost, my homemade sauerkraut was absolutely delicious. Many thanks to my mentors, the Woodwards, who taught me this craft. I will do many more next year and try to grow the cabbage more successfully in my own garden — just another little blessing to look forward to.
The breakdown gremlins were well entrenched in my house over the holidays. The refrigerator, two cars, overhead garage door, TVs, printer, iPhone and a multitude of little annoyances brightened our days.
The problems probably stem from age and use, expected in this day of designing for obsolescence. Where does one turn for help during these times? Well, to customer service, of course. Except there doesn’t seem to be any.
First, you can’t call the store where you purchased the item. Local stores do not take calls from troubled customers. You have to go directly to “the top,” where nobody knows what is going on. They will tell you that.
Here you are in your small town, having purchased items in the next larger town that carries them, and they don’t work. “The top” may or may not answer your call and definitely will lose you to a busy signal at least four times.
When you do reach a human, who may or may not be a scammer, they can’t help you because you have to get your help from the store where you purchased it or the manufacturer, neither of which can be reached by phone.
Further, the phone answerers are rude, and there is so much background noise from all the people trying to get service that you can’t hear half of what they are saying.
The scammers have managed to infiltrate phone calls so they, not the company, are giving you advice, some of which is “I need to take over your computer so that I can see what the problem is” or “You will need to go to this certain store in this certain town. The cost is only $250. They are the only ones who can fix it for you.”
The wasted hours are infuriating. However, before I disparage all customer service, the garage door fixer was polite, prompt, fair and good. I am more than appreciative.
I have always had a Christmas gift for anyone whose services I use throughout the year. Until recently, I had the same mailman, who was cheery and chatty and made the trek through the muddy, snowy or rainy yard to my mailbox. Suddenly, I have a different deliverer every day and often do not receive mail more than three days a week. No rewards here.
Another small problem is my newspaper carrier, who is more than reliable, did not put his return address on his Christmas card, and I do not want to send his gift to the paper, which is not at the address listed any more, for fear he will not receive it. So, carrier, if you happen to see this, please leave me your address.
One final holiday comment: I am trying so hard to cull my whole house. I have too much stuff. Being of sentimental bent, I have a hard time parting with everything, especially kind handwritten cards from friends and family.
Even worse, as I look through my address lists and note the names and addresses of those loved ones I have lost, I cannot remove them. At my age there are many, and each one, as I come upon it, jars me.
They are gone, no need to keep those addresses any more. But I will because each jar brings back memories of the person and the place at that address. And what better gift is there than a fond memory during the holidays?