Wednesday, June 20, 2007
It's 1:49am and I'm WIDE AWAKE
It was probably the little cockroach that I saw crawling across my rug earlier. I've lived here 5 years. This is the SECOND COCKROACH EVER in this house. Plenty of spiders...but cockroaches? Nope. Blech. I'd better get re-used to it...I'm moving away to the Roach Capital of the USA. I jumped on it. Damn thing didn't die. It just ran in a circle so I jumped on it again. I can still see one of its legs wiggling. Whatever. It hyped me out and now I'm awake. So I decided to BLOG AGAIN, but this time about my little excursion today.

So you guys all know that I'm moving. Being the cheapskate frugal person that I am, I went to several storage places today in search of cheap boxes. HA. I say HA! and HA! again. There is no such thing as cheap boxes. Now - I remembered one storage place that was advertising moving boxes at .25 cents each. BONUS! So I went over to that storage place. I walked into the place...and the fight was on.

First - I asked for used boxes...do they sell them? Well - apparently, this little question pissed the lady right off, and also apparently - she was the OWNER of the joint. "We don't sell USED boxes." she stated. She looked like someone was holding a turd under her nose while she said this. I said - "Fine! What about the boxes that you were advertising on TV for 25 cents?" "Well - we DO have those...but there is a limit of 3 per person."

That frickin' commercial on TV said NOTHING about only 3 per person but...ok - I was there, I'd get my boxes. "That's fine. I'll take three" "Ok - where's your coupon?" "My coupon?! What coupon?!" I watched the lady. She rolled her eyes. Counted to 3, felt that 3 wasn't high enough and counted again. Then she sighed, like this: *SSSSSSSSIIIIIIIIGGGGGHHHH!!!* and informed me that I could find the coupons in the back of the telephone book. "Your commercial didn't say ANYTHING about a required coupon, OR a limit of 3 per person." I stated flatly. "Well - that's the rules and that's the way we do things around here."

So fine. I'll play her little game. I went home, and found the stupid coupon in the phone book. I also found a coupon for packing tape in a "2 rolls for $1" special, and TWO coupons for the three box special. Then I went to my parents house and raided their phone books for additional coupons. You see....there are three of these specific storage places in town, and the coupon BLATANTLY said - "Good at any location".

And a' shopping I did go. I figured I'd save her location for last.

But alas...luck was NOT on my side. First - I had my eldest daughter, Ashy with me. I like to call her the Informer. We walked into the first storage store, and picked up our three moving boxes, and two rolls of tape. The grand total of this purchase was $1.89. COOL! I tried to convince the guy behind the counter to let me use more than one coupon, but he said: "Noooooo....my mom's kinda strict about the one coupon per customer thing." (DING DING DING...bells are going off in my head.) "Your mother?" I asked "Yeah..she runs the one over on Western. I run this one, and my sister runs the one on Hardy." "Hey mommy!! That means his mom is that grouchy lady at the other store!!" chirped Ashy. "Ummm...yeah - I think I met your Mom." I said. "Oh. And she was grouchy?" he asked. "Well - yeah. I didn't have a coupon". "Oh - that's bad news," he shook his head solemnly. "She's BIG into coupons...." "Oh! Well - thanks for the boxes bye!" and we left.

We went to the storage place on Hardy, but apparently Sis was out to lunch. So we went back across town to the original storage place where I'd been shooed out boxless. But THIS time, I had my coupon. I bopped into the shop, where MAMA met me head-on. "You already got your three boxes for today, so you'll just have to leave. You can't get any more." "WHAT?! " I yelled, "This does NOT say only 3 PER DAY. It says 3 per CUSTOMER, and I'm just now walking in." "Yes well, it's PER DAY, and I know that you already got three boxes. You'll just have to go." And she smiled at me all smug as if she knew she'd won or something. Which she did NOT.

Instead of going off on her, and telling her what I REALLY think...because my child was standing there...I looked at Ashy, smiled and said "My!! She really IS a grouchy old lady, huh? Let's go sweetie!" and we left.

But I'm not done!! You see...I have friends!! And Family! And they were all ready to play my game!

I explained the whole situation to them, and passed out my little coupons. Some of them even went and clipped their OWN coupons out of their own phone books. My dad went first. He's retired, so this was a lot of fun for him. According to him, he walked in, and selected three boxes, then handed over his coupon and paid for them. Then he looked at the lady as she wished him a good day, and said "You know what? I heard you were GROUCHY!" and then he left. Then my best friend went over about 3 hours later. She got some boxes, handed over her coupon and told the lady that she'd heard she was GROUCHY. Meanwhile, my sister-in-law was the OTHER storage place buying boxes, and informed the guy there that she'd heard his mother was GROUCHY! My mom went to visit the sister, who'd not been involved in the original discussion - but was told that her mother was grouchy as well.

We had so much fun. I've got 27 BOXES in my garage...that cost me 25 cents each. And TOMORROW? I'm going to go in and ever so sweetly ask for my 3 boxes since it's a different day......
 
posted by Norman at 11:39 PM | Permalink |


14 Comments:


  • At Thursday, June 21, 2007 6:30:00 AM, Blogger A couple of newer paintings 2019

    Good for you, Norman. Tell her you're going to call the radio station and sue her for false advertising.

    Is there anyone near you that's moving in? Ask them for their used boxes. I've done that before. They're usually happy to get rid of them.

     
  • At Thursday, June 21, 2007 7:36:00 AM, Blogger tazzie

    You can also try places that use daily shipments. Like bookstores. I used to work at one and we were always giving out boxes to people.

     
  • At Thursday, June 21, 2007 9:34:00 AM, Blogger ADW

    That's a great idea.

    Sometimes grocery stores will give you their used boxes...

     
  • At Thursday, June 21, 2007 10:36:00 AM, Blogger Nicki

    You are my idol. I didn't think it was possible, but I'm even more in love with you than before.

    And not dearly - queerly.

     
  • At Thursday, June 21, 2007 1:10:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous

    That was freaking priceless!!! You MUST tell us how it goes tomorrow. ha ha ha ha ha

     
  • At Thursday, June 21, 2007 7:44:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous

    That is Awesome. I hate people like that. GROUCHY! And department stores are great for boxes. The one I used to work at got 3 trucks a week, and a TON of boxes. And we were more than happy to save them for people who were moving. I'd ask there!

     
  • At Thursday, June 21, 2007 11:59:00 PM, Blogger Ace

    That rocks!

    I wish I had a coupon, too. I could use the boxes.

     
  • At Friday, June 22, 2007 2:11:00 PM, Blogger Cassie

    Too funny!! Have to let us know what she says when you go back.

     
  • At Friday, June 22, 2007 2:40:00 PM, Blogger Silliyak

    Yeh, If you have one leftover, go back and try to get your money back.
    Anything for a blog entry.
    My cat broke her leg, and when I saw the xray all I could think was OOOH that'd be awesome for the blog!

     
  • At Saturday, June 23, 2007 6:39:00 AM, Blogger Michael

    businesses like that piss me off. I'd report them to the better business bureau indicating deceptive advertising.

    You made me laugh though.

    Take Care
    Michael

     
  • At Saturday, June 23, 2007 5:14:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous

    NORM!!!!!!!
    I AM SAM I AM, remember me?????
    this has absofuckinglutely nothing to do with your blog, but i just had to tell you.
    my daughter and i just got back from lucaya cay.bahamas.
    while she got ready for dinner, i went to the casino. 24 was VERY,VERY good to me.
    always bet 24, and think of me when you do.
    good luck in san antonio

     
  • At Sunday, June 24, 2007 10:38:00 AM, Blogger Lisa

    Way to make the system work for you girl!! Serves her grouchy ass right! LOL

     
  • At Sunday, June 24, 2007 8:25:00 PM, Blogger Norman

    Sandra - ooo!!! I didn't think about the radio station thing!! I ought to do that!! I'm friends with the morning DJ!!!

    Tazzie - We actually got tons of boxes now from my old work. I called the shipping department and asked if they could give the boxes to my friend. He'll bring them to my house for me! BONUS!

    ADW - Not OUR grocery stores. They make you buy them for $1 each. And they smell like rotten food!! blech!

    Freak - I know it. you want me!

    Vety - Well, my dad told her she was grouchy, and then the next day I showed up over there for my boxes. She gave me the old prune face and THEN I cancelled my storage unit from them. She didn't see THAT coming! It was frickin' hilarious cuz she kept burbling something about how she didn't know I was already a customer blah blah blah....ROFLMAO!

    Talula - I didn't think of the department stores. I'll check there next time I go up!

    Ace - I can send you a coupon!!!

    Pack of 2 - It wasn't hard to outfox her. I'm smarter. LOL!!

    Cassie - She actually apologized to me because I cancelled my storage unit!!

    Silli - that is frickin' hilarious! I never thought about asking for my money back!! ROFLMAO!

    Michael - hmmm... that's an idea! I could do that, couldn't I?!

    Anon - SAM !! YOU OLD SOB!!! You bet MY numbers again!!! I bet you were wishing I was beating the hell out of you when it hit!!

    Lisa - She was VERY grouchy!!

     
  • At Friday, December 28, 2007 8:56:00 AM, Anonymous Anonymous

    I found your blog looking for moving boxes in Amarillo - if they still have coupons in the new phonebooks... I've got friends and family, too! I bet we can suck her box inventory dry in two weeks or less!

     
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