Chloe Poppins

There’s a lot to be said for good customer service, and a quality product. And when a product doesn’t live up to its billing … good customer service can save, or destroy, the consumer/retailer relationship. Zappos has great customer service. I thought that their low priced, and sometimes free, shipping was fabulous … but it gets even better.

In January, I purchased some sandals to replace my FAVORITE Merrell sandals. I’d worn my favs for two years and they were in need of a permanent rest. So I found a style I’d purchased for Sophie and ordered them in January. I wanted to be ready when the heat arrived. I broke them out of the box about four weeks ago and have been enjoying them since. Today, I looked down only to discover that the stitching on my new shoes was coming undone. At first I thought that maybe it was just an aesthetic issue I could overlook for comfort, but no …. it turned out to be structural. So, I decided to call Zappos and see what, if anything, could be done.

Their Customer Service department was only too glad to help me. My shoe has been discontinued, but they found a similar style by another company and agreed to do an even exchange. In fact, they are sending my replacements out to me as I write this. They didn’t even wait to get the defective shoes back!!! They emailed me a shipping label to do the return, and said to try to have them back within 14 days. I can do that. The best part is … my new shoes will be here TOMORROW!! Awesome. I will definately be shopping Zappos again.

So, this morning … after stopping off for a fresh cup of coffee … I ran a few errands and ended up at the local fruit stand purchasing what may be the season’s last round of Strawberries. I took all four little (and not so little) munchkins into the shop and as we were leaving I was just shaking my head. Somehow we managed to spill a few strawberries and cause the untimely “rolling” death of a very large watermelon. I guess I should mention that we had already purchased ’said’ watermelon. It was amazing how quickly a LONG line formed in what had been a relatively empty shop just moments before.

As we’re buckling to leave, I said … mainly to myself …

Self … “I must have done something just really terrible.”

Sam … “Mom!  That is a VERY Lucy VanPelt way of looking at things.  You know that’s not the way it works.”

Self to Sam … “Do I?  (Smile) Yes, you’re right.  Sorry to be too much like Lucy.  It was just a rather difficult trip through the fruit stand.”

Sam … “That’s okay, Mom. Man is born to trouble, as surely as the sparks will fly.”

Self … “What?”

Sam … “Man is born to trouble, as surely as the sparks will fly.  You know … Job 5:7 … but I’m sure the rest of the day will be better.”

I had to laugh, and so yes the rest of the ride was much better.  :-)

Somewhere, I have a picture of Sophie that is very similar to this. I think it was from the weekend of Alex & Nichole’s wedding. This is my new favorite picture of Claire. She’d been playing with the cat and decided to remove her own hair elastic. The crazy hair is working for her though.

Claire

About three weeks ago, we brought home a new pet. We haven’t had a pet since our cat died almost 3 years ago, and the kids have missed Arial.   This is Cinder.

Cinder

This is Cinder’s new friend, Claire.  Claire likes to look for Cinder when she’s hiding… or napping behind the sofa in the sun room.

Looking for Cinder

After a long day in Columbia, SC on Saturday we were finished with National History Day.  Sadly, Mark was in Haiti and couldn’t travel with Sam this time.  Grandma and Grandpa stayed at home with Claire and Sophie, and two young cousins … but that’s another story … while Wilson and I traveled with Sam to the State Archive Center in Columbia.

Sam’s interview was at 9:50 A.M. and then we spent our day touring Columbia until the awards ceremony at 4:30PM.  Sam’s was the first name they called.  He won 3rd Place in the state, in his age division (6th - 8th), for the Historical Paper category.  The results are posted at the SC National History Day site, upper right hand corner.

The topic this year was “Innovations in History” and Sam’s paper was entitled MS DOS: Secret Agent of Change . This was quite an experience, and if 1st or 2nd place decides not to go to Nationals, then we’ll be going to DC in June as the alternate. But for now, our ride on the National History Day train is over. What Fun!!

Four more weeks and I’ll be able to pick up the sweet potato plants at the Farmer’s Exchange. Another week or so and I’ll be able to transplant the beans and peas into the garden. So, far so good … mix microgreens already coming up, and carrots too!!

Tiny Carrots

Tomatoes in the ground

The recently refurbished herb garden.

Don’t watch without a box of tissue. When you’re done, do something.

Sam, Claire and I will be walking in the Charlotte JDRF Walk on Saturday, April 17th to help find a cure for Juvenille Diabetes. One of Sam’s best friends has JD and this is the fourth year we’ve been able to walk with them. If you would like to donate to the Zach’s Force Team and support Sam in the walk, click Zach’s Force here. It looks like a great day for a walk!!

2008 Walk - Sam, Zach and another friend of Zachs

Usually we would all be going, but there is also a “Hike for Mike” to raise money for an education trust fund for Mike’s children. Mike died last year of cancer. So, Mark, Wilson and Sophie will be hiking for Mike.