I give up!

So I thought March was a great month for shopping since all my sewing projects fell apart.  Not so much.  This has also been a terrible month for shopping.

This first shopping story isn't really a problem, just weird.  Consider it a warm-up for the latest shopping disasters.

Back when I was trying to make a nice evening outfit for DH's banquet, I purchased 10 yards of Bemberg black lining and 2.5 yards of a tan Bemberg.  This is how it arrived.



Huh?  I love that they rolled the black lining.  Awesome, thanks!  But why is the tan lining haphazardly wrapped around like a Tootsie Roll.  This is just weird.  I'm guessing they have men who don't sew working in the orders fulfillment department.  I know it doesn't really matter but if you were fulfilling fabric orders, would you ever treat someone's fabric like that?

So then I ordered several wool jerseys and cotton lawn fabrics on clearance from Denver Fabrics on March 5th.  I still haven't received this package...because they chose to ship by FedEx SmartPost.  I've only received one other FedEx SmartPost package and that was a disaster too.  I ended up having to go pick it up myself.  The way it works is FedEx rapidly delivers your package to the destination city and then the USPS is supposed to take over from there.  You do get a tracking number from FedEx that tells you what is going on when it is in FedEx's hands.  After that you should expect another 2-3 business days before USPS finally delivers it to you.  So the last scan on the Denver Fabrics order is from March 12th and it says the Memphis USPS has it.  I gave it 6 business days before I called the post office to find out where it was.  They claimed they have never received it.  So then I called FedEx.  Their rep says they delivered it as far as Memphis and then sent it to Arkansas, where it has sat in a warehouse for 7 days.  Folks, Memphis is the freakin' NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS for FedEx.  The airport is busiest at night because of FedEx.  You can't find one person in this town that doesn't know someone who works for FedEx.  Yet, they can't manage to deliver to Memphis.  "You'll get it in a week or two."  No apology.  No "how can we make this up to you?"  Just a "take it or leave it."  And that's the answer I got from Denver Fabrics too.  They could care less that I still haven't received my order.  They just lost a customer.  I've spent hundreds of dollars with them in the past but I'm finding lately that I would rather spend a little more and be treated fairly.  Bye, bye, Denver Fabrics!

So next up is my dress form.  I finally caved and bought a dress form.  After much online research and consideration of my budget, I opted for the Uniquely You.  I bought from Atlanta Thread & Supply Company for $159.00 USD and they threw in a free pair of Mundial 8-inch bent trimmers.  The scissors arrived immediately and the dress form came faster than expected.  I was giddy with excitement.  Until I opened the large box to find my dress form isn't complete.  This is what I have:



A foam dress form and the base.  No cover.  No alteration instructions.  This dress form doesn't work without the cover.  A little bummed but still optimistic, I called Uniquely You and left a message.  I called a few days later and left a message.  I called ATS and asked for their assistance.  They promised to re-fax my order to Uniquely You to "pressure" him to fulfill my order.  "He's a one-man operation and doesn't return phone calls."  So why the hell are you doing business with him?!!  I paid you, ATS, and at no point did you indicate that another supplier was filling this order.  You simply said it was shipping from another warehouse.  I've had this big-busted foam contraption in my home for a week now with no cover and no return call from anyone.  I'm glad I put this on my Visa because I have a real bad feeling about this.

And there is the SmartFlix drama, of course.  Apparently they have cancelled my subscription but I have yet to see a refund.

And lastly, not a sewing or shopping-related issue but money to spend nevertheless.  I'm scheduled for a minor surgery on April 8th.  Yesterday I went to the hospital to complete my pre-surgery work-up.  They had the nerve to ask for my deductible and co-insurance...2 weeks before the surgery, even before they drew any blood or anything.  "We haven't done jack for you yet but we want to be paid now."  (I'm paraphrasing, of course.  They didn't actually say that.)  I've spent hundreds of dollars over the last month and don't have much to show for it so no, you won't get my money until you actually provide me with the agreed upon service.

I love to shop.  I mean L-O-V-E to shop.  I love it even more than chocolate, which is saying a lot.  Yesterday was payday and I didn't want to buy anything.  These retailers have killed my shopping spirit!  I guess I don't really need anything (except all the crap I've already paid for).  I guess it's back to sewing now since shopping isn't going well for me.  I did finally watch my Palmer & Pletsch pants-fitting DVDs (fitting and sewing) and they are AWESOME!  I wanted to buy the rest but I'm not shopping...until I get all the other crap I've paid for.