The Gift that Almost Wasn't

I just had to blog about this, because it will be something that I will eventually look back at and laugh.  I hope you have all night...

E and I had always planned on getting Mills a gym set.  My plan was for his 3rd birthday, but being that he has absolutely NOTHING to climb or play on in our backyard, we had decided that this year would be our best bet, especially since he loves to slide and swing.  He is more capable now, than we expected.

Attempt #1:  I had been "eyeing" a certain gym set since last summer. They way it is set up, length and width wise, is more appropriate for our smaller backyard not to mention that it is just adorable.   It is exclusive to Toys "R" Us, and cannot be purchased elsewhere.  I found it on sale in the spring, but had no idea that the sale ended the next day.  I totally missed out.

Attempt #2: Luckily after a few weeks, I just happened to be online and saw it on SALE!   I am a sucker for sale only pricing. My thoughts: I will just order it now by phone, do a "site to store" since they don't have it in stock, and we'll just drive down and pick the thing up!  

Previously,  I had been to Toys "R" Us and talked to someone who explained to me that they did not have it in stock, but it could definitely be special ordered with no problems.  They told me that it would take 1-2 weeks to get it in. 

Anyone who has ever used Wally World's  "site to store" knows the routine.  You find an item online that is not carried in the store, order it, and they will ship it to the nearest store with FREE shipping.  How awesome is that? 

I called T-R-Us, ordered the swing, and did a "site to store" to the nearest T-R-Us.  Later after checking my email, I received a message from them telling me that my order had been cancelled. No explanation.  I had worked so hard trying to get the thing.  Can you see it now?  Steam, rolling out of my ears!  I was curious, confused, and down right...well, mad!  I called the 800 number and asked the nice man why my order had been cancelled.

* Note to self and to anyone else who did not know this:  Toy's "R" Us site store goes like this:  You order the item, pay for it online, and pick it up at the store IF that store has it in stock.  NOTHING is shipped to the store.  What is the point in that?  If it had been in stock, I would have just drove down, paid for it there, and brought it home.  The man then explained to me that I could just order it online and have it shipped to our house.  Newsflash!  Shipping was $369.  Yes, just the S&H.  No, I did NOT order online and have it shipped.  I missed the sale.  Again. 

Attempt #3:  Monday, June 27:  I had been checking online for a sale every single day for the past 3 weeks.  That day was my lucky day.  "Ridgeview Wood Clubhouse Gym set, on sale, 20% off!"  Wooo hooo!  My plan:  After work, we're driving down and special ordering it. This is it!  I called first, made sure it was on sale, and asked if they need full payment or a certain percentage down.  They told me that is was definitely on sale until Saturday, and that I could pay a percentage upon ordering.  Great! I thought.  Then, the nice man informed me that upon checking, the warehouse was completely out of them.  None.  Zero. Zilch.  "When will they get more?" I asked.  He then proceeded to tell me that they would probably be out of them until next spring.  He checked other stores in the area for me and there were none.  He then told me that the online warehouse was completely different than the in-store warehouse and that the online warehouse had several.  I asked if he could get one from the online warehouse and he told me no, but that I could order it online and have it shipped to my home.  Yeah...for $369 extra!  No can do!

The new G'town T-R-Us had one on display and would not sell me the display, but offered to find the nearest store that would have it in stock.  The girl was very kind in telling me that the nearest store to carry the ONLY ONE LEFT IN THE STATE, was in Franklin.  My honest to goodness thought was none other than, "crap!"  In my mind, I am hearing the tune to "Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen."

I got home from work that day and I was beyond frustrated.  Just ask E.  It was not good.  I then decided that I would just pick another gym set.  Well, NONE of the gym sets under $1000 were available anywhere near us.  Franklin T-R-Us' had a few, not to mention the one we had picked out.  So, regardless of which one we wanted, we would have to drive to get it.  I know what you're thinking.  Walmart does have them, but I had been persuaded by a few parent friends of mine to avoid a certain brand.  To us, this was the best for the money.

Oh how sweet, wonderful, awesome, and fantastic the hubby is....

Erik agreed to driving to Franklin on Wednesday morning, IF they still had the gym set and would hold it for us.  I called the next day, they said that they did have one left and would hold it for us only after explaining that we were 3 hours away.  I told the nice man to please write my name in blood on the thing.  He assured me that it would be there when E and his "riding buddy" arrived. I told him that he had just made a very sad mommy a very happy mommy, and that he would not want to deal with E if he arrived there and it had been sold! 

 A tank of gas is much cheaper than $369 S&H, AND we managed to get it on sale.

 I cannot even say that there is a moral to this story.  Minus the 6 hours spent on the road and the fact that I nearly pulled my hair out and bit my newly grown out nails, we came out ahead!  Go us!

Oh the things you will do for your children.  And as Erik would probably say, "your wife!"  I owe him BIG TIME! 

This gift, was from:  Mom & Dad, Nana, Pops & Dee, Gram, Papa B & Aunt Morgan, Uncle Cameron & Aunt Kim

MILLS IS SOOO LUCKY! THANK YOU!





He was so excited!