So. My suitcases didn't come.
Yesterday when I found their pert little "sorry we missed you" note in my mailbox, I called and made my little "appointment," which consisted of me clearing my calendar for tonight and not leaving the house from 5 pm to 10 pm so they could take their own sweet time in getting here. I waited... and waited...At 9:30, when it began to be clear to me that they were not coming, I called up headquarters yet again, where it was ascertained that the Nice Young Lady that I talked to yesterday had forgotten to fax the order, and my suitcases were not in the delivery truck.
I expressed my extreme dissatisfaction (pretty darn eloquently, considering I had to do this all in German--ask Heather, she heard my side of the conversation, at least) and asked (well, sort of demanded) to speak to a manager, whom I asked how they were going to rectify the situation. We made another "appointment" (my third now) for tomorrow, and he said that he hoped the suitcases would arrive promptly this time.
"Excuse me: you hope? Who has the authority to do more than hope around here, please, and may I speak to him? I want your word that the suitcases will be delivered tomorrow."
After a pregnant pause, I had his word and hung up.
I am going to be charged 12 cents for every abominable minute of my conversations with these people, even though their incompetencee is at fault.
Have I mentioned how much I hate telephone conversations in German?
One perk to this whole mad fiasco is that I have proven to myself that I am capable of indignant eloquence when pressed, even in German. That's something, I guess. I still want my stuff back.
Thursday, February 17, 2005
Rage against the machine
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4 comments:
I understand your frustration with airports. Italian airlines aren't much better... They bump you off of flights and leave you stranded in India.
Anyway, thanks for the comment on my blog. The Lutheran world is often very small (I'm guessing you're Lutheran, from some of your comments on your blog... I could be wrong... wouldn't be the first time...).
And I'm guessing you're a Wartburg College grad? Several of the people I claim as friends went to that fine institution. There's a chance you might know one another.
Anyway, I've just been struck with a fear that I'm late for a church meeting, so I am going to run and stop this comment that really turned into babble.
Wow, you totally edited that down -- but it works. It's a very effective blog entry, just like your very effective phone conversation with DHL last night!
I'm off to answer my crazy fun English-translated-into-German-by-Outlook email now.
I'm proud of you!
Having stood and faced an angry Jess Nipp in my day, I can only say I'm glad I don't have your suitcases.
As far as you know.
Thanks, guys. Yeah, it definitely could have been worse: my luggage could have made it to Berlin while I was shunted off to India or Fiji or Timbuktu (and man, would that have been awful :-)...
When I posted this, I was definitely going for the "effective blog entry" rather than the "thorough play-by-play transcription." Don't want to lose anyone through boredom.
Um... yeah, to any of you who might have been confronted by Angry Me in the past... sorry about that (although chances are you deserved it?). It takes a lot to get me worked up usually, but then I have to yell or rave a bit before I feel better. :-)
If ANY of you has my suitcases, cough them up now. Or else.
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