I'm talking to a friend.
She tells me that she ordered a book for her mom on eBay. After several weeks pass and she still hasn't received it, she contacts the seller. She gets a response blaming the delay on COVID. My friend cancels the order.
A charge appears on my Amex bill for a $6.52 purchase at Bed, Bath and Beyond. I did not make this purchase. I call, and after 60 minutes on hold I give up. So I write, and then receive this response:
Thank you for connecting with us. In our effort to provide live responses, we are focusing our resources on our telephone and chat options. We are not actively monitoring or responding to emails, temporarily.
Another COVID casualty: zero Custom Service.
And then there's this.
I buy a cleaning disinfectant called Microban at a small local store.
After reading reviews, I see that it contains some toxic ingredients that I'd rather not have in my house. Even the instructions make it sound lethal.
The next day I go back, receipt in hand, to return it.
"I'm sorry, we don't take any cleaning supplies back," the cashier tells me.
"What? Why? I just bought it yesterday."
"Because of COVID," the cashier says.
"What does COVID have to do with it? I can return clothes. I can return food. Why can't I return an unopened bottle of a disinfectant spray?"
"I don't know; it's just our policy."
It must be a secret policy because there are no store signs indicating this.
The manager is in the back of the store. He overhears the conversation and jumps in.
"Just take it back and don't argue with her."
Is his willingness because he thinks I'm right?
Doubt it.
I think it's more to do with his thinking I'm a pain in the butt and he'd rather I just leave his store.
COVID is a valid excuse for concern in many situations.
- Opening schools.
- Dining at a restaurant indoors.
- Going anywhere that's crowded.
- Getting a facial or massage or even a manicure.
- Sharing food.
- Using public transportation.
- Entertaining at home.
But returning an unopened disinfectant is just not one of them.
When I call a credit card company or some other business, I still get recordings saying, "Due to the COVID-19 situation, call/wait times are longer than normal....." Also, a friend of mine had an ongoing 2-week ordeal trying to communicate with and get a refund from BJ's for a liquid detergent that was poorly packed and therefore the contents oozed out in transit. The communication fiasco was due to the "COVID-19" situation, according to BJ's. If we ever get a vaccine, what will then be the excuse?
ReplyDeleteGreat reading your bloog
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