Michael Hill Jewellers, what are your business practices?

Well this is ANOTHER installment in the continuation of the saga of the ring. Yesterday, two friends went with me to pick up my ring. Lo and behold the ring was at the store and no small miracle, a complete one at that. You may wonder at my astonishment but this repair was suppose to take two weeks. Michael Hill Jewellers has now had my ring for over three months. It was to be finished and ready for me in the beginning of March. It's now the end of May, what has happened to cause such a delay? When it did FINALLY come back the first time, it was the end of March. However, I was NOT informed until I took it upon myself to call and find out about my ring which was in the first week of April. It had been sitting in the store for a week and nobody gave me a call.

Not only was it there for a week but when we went to get it we saw that one of the stones was badly chipped and after closer examination another stone was found to be chipped underneath. Strangely enough, they exclaimed over the beauty of the ring before they showed it to us. Never saying anything about the fact that two of the stones were damaged. They would have let us walk out of the store with my $178.00 in their cash registrar and a damaged ring on my finger.

It was sent back to be repaired after we pointed it out and delay after delay after delay has incurred. It has been sent back twice because of bad repairs. So many excuses and no one kept me regularly informed of what was going on. The sales associates won't even make eye contact with me anymore not wanting to deal with my case. It has been an incredibly stressful process and the only reason that I did not come away with my ring yesterday was that the manager was not in to talk to me about giving me my ring for free or giving a substantial discount for this mess. Tuesday she is in and a small army of friends and family have offered to come out en mass and demand that I get satisfaction. So thank you all...I appreciate it.

Happy Twenty Month Anniversary!

Twenty months ago, Mike and I married in the swampy marsh lawn of the little church that my parents married in. Our wedding theme was medieval and a lot of the guests dressed up. We had peasants, a couple of nobles and fairies, one hobbit and a Scottish clansman with sword in tow. Ours was an unusual wedding...full of strange and wonderful happenings. First we caused quite a stir because without thinking how the church members would feel, we removed the 90 year old pews and placed them outside on the marshy land. Then, because our ceremony was at night, neighbours were very curious to what we were doing. Some thinking that we were a part of some cult because of the very druid sounding music. We had our groomsmen and ushers walk up along the pews with torches, they were to meet at the front to light a bonfire. Only...well, one torch fell apart and a small scuffle ensued trying to put it out. The audience silence was eerie. I think they were wondering if the whole place might go up in flames.

Lets see, what else? Oh, a train went by just as we were saying our vows. Two very talented girls favoured us with a song from Lord of the Rings while we signed the marriage certificate. Oh, and at the end of the ceremony we walked up the aisle to The Addams Family theme song. A very bewildered crowd of family and friends sat silently for a moment and then burst out into laughter while our bridemaids all snapped their fingers to the beat.

We had toast thrown at us for the best man's toast and the maid of honor stumbled through hers alternately laughing and crying. Wedding cake was stuffed up Mike's nose when we did the photo op, which his side of the family thoroughly enjoyed. A rubber chicken served as a fitting bouquet to throw and we had no problems getting people to stand up and fight for it. Mike took off my garter, a rainbow coloured wrap around monkey, but only after he took it off his brother. His reaction was priceless!

All in all, it was a highly successful wedding. We had our difficulties and trying times but as a couple, along with our family and friends pulled through it with love and laughter.

Saga of the Ring

I got a call last monday, my ring had come in on saturday but no one called me since it was Mother's Day weekend. Eventhough, a large note was suppose to have been attached to the repair file saying that I should be contacted IMMEDIATELY! Anyways, it took a couple of days before I was able to go and pick it up with my friend Denise. We went in and lo and behold, the ring WAS in. We proceeded to question and examine carefully about the repairs and the look of the ring. I have to say that there was a problem with the ring, AGAIN! An area of the bridge that holds the stones above the shank was not rhodium plated. I couldn't believe it. Horrible workmanship any way you cut it! To 'fix' a piece of jewellry and not go that one step further and complete the finish seems ludicrous!

When I pointed this out to the associate, "I asked if I was crazy or was this really so?" She examined it and confirmed that the rhodium plating wasn't done all the way around. So, again, Michael Hill Jewellers said that they would send it back free of charge. And, I have to admit, I didn't want them to have my ring. I seriously considered walking out of the store, ring in hand and sending it to another jeweller. But then I thought, "Why should I pay for a incomplete repair on my ring?"

It's suppose to be in today...Fat chance, I say!

Winner?

My apologies for not posting sooner...Been rather busy and haven't thought up anything fun or interesting to write about other than the continuing saga of THE RING. Thought that I should spare you that until another day. But something unusual did happen today, I received an phone call from a woman that couldn't pronounce my name. She proceeded to remind me how we spoke at a mall when a friend of mine and I entered a draw for a cosmetics basket from Mary Kay. Uh no, she's calling to tell me that I didn't win but wouldn't I like her to come by and show me the wonderful line of products Mary Kay has to offer? But strangely enough, apparently I WAS the winning name drawn. What? I couldn't even recall what I had entered to win...Well, turns out it's $150 of Mary Kay products. I had to laugh! Now I've got to pick out some products and it may turn out to be beneficial for my friends and family rather myself. My skin is really sensitive and there are many ingredients that I can't be exposed to. Don't know if this a blessing or a perplexing problem...


http://www.marykay.ca

Lost Ring

I may have to post a reward to find my ring. I'm beginning to think that the store I brought it to has misplaced it and just doesn't want to tell me. I ended up going to the jewellers today with my friend, Denise. She had asked me if I would like her to make a stink in the store over that fact that my ring STILL ISN'T IN! So, we went to the store and talked to the only associate that didn't know anything about my ring. She flipped through papers and looked confused. Finally the assistant manager Kate came over and said that she just phoned the jeweller and said that the ring would be in tomorrow, thursday night. The ring was ready! But after some pressing, Denise and I finally got her to acknowledge that the stones that had been laser cut would be put together today or tomorrow. Kate said that she would phone me when she had the ring in her hand and said not to come to the store until she called. I think she doesn't want to see me again!

Denise says that she wants to come with me to get the ring when it comes to raise a little hell...lol Though, I think my friend Michelle will do that too...B said that she'd be there in spirit...

A child is born

Some years ago...a small soul(5lbs, 5oz) took her place in world, on Mother's Day to boot. Eventhough she could have gone home, her mother, a student at university had three weeks of classes and no one to take care of the precious baby at home. The doctor and mother came to the agreement that little baby, Jaime, should stay in the hospital until mom could finish school. Strangely enough, Jaime, was found to have jaundice and had to be kept hospitalized for three weeks. Amazing how it came about...Except for one thing, the mother, collected Jaime after only a week. She couldn't be apart any longer, it was too difficult.

So, Jaime went to school with her mom. The school was not too keen on having a wailing child in its classes, but Jaime never did end up crying in class. She already had a fine education, having gone to university with her mother to listen to the anthropology and art instructors for the last nine months. But now she lay in her bassenett beside her mom's chair to soak in the knowledge for herself. Jaime's mom is convinced that the little baby girl listened to these lectures too. She'd look down at Jaime to check how she was doing and Jaime's little face would be turned upward paying attention to all being said. Jaime also became a model for her mom's fellow classmates, aspiring artists, and there are works of her all over the world. Model and student at three weeks old...

Mom finished her courses and I got a head start on my education. Thanks, Mom!

Ring Woes

My ring is still not in(after being in to be repaired for almost three months)...the salesperson said that it would be in on saturday, then tuesday, then friday...When will it appear?! My birthday is in a couple of days and the store said that it would most definitely be in BEFORE. What is going on? I've gotten explanation after explanation and nothing resolved. As my friend, Michelle, just asked, "I wonder if it has to do with the ring or just how they are running things?"

My patience is at an end. WHERE IS MY RING?!?

Number One

"..you don't hold with that saying, 'Everyone look after himself, and take care of number one?' "

"..that is a selfish, heathenish saying, whoever uses it; and any man who thinks he has nothing to do but take care of number one, why, it's a pity..."

I read this last night, again, and it still impacts me after all these years. I listen to people and am sadden when I hear this mantra ring loud and clear in everything they do, say and believe. I don't understand how this belief helps someone. From what I often see, it not only distances but impresses upon everyone around a hardness of character that is arrogant, base and sometimes even cruel. For such a popular idea of 'me first, you later, if I think about' it makes me shutter. I think that it is a horrible, cowardly way of going through life. We are creatures of dependance, we need to be around people. To converse, argue, sympathize...to interact with those around us is precious. If you think of yourself first all the time, you soon find that others choose not to be around.

It is lonely when you think of no one else but yourself.

Speak loudly and carry a beagle!

I look outside and wonder why I am not enjoying the beautiful weather. There are no bars or guards that prevent me from opening the door. I have no moat or drawbridge around my house that makes it difficult to get out. No kidnapper has me tied up. Yet, my freedom has long been gone and I have never gotten it back. Against demons I have fought and to world I have won, but I still have my challenges.

One of which is that I do not go out alone, unless it is sunny and I have some task to do. But, I prefer to have someone with me. I do my shopping with my husband or a friend. Once in a blue moon I walk down to the corner store and mail a letter, but it is hardly ever a pleasant walk. I am too often stricken with an intangible, but familiar fear.

I don't spend time in my front yard for the same reason. I've longed to have very tall bushes or a tall fence put in so that I might be able to go out and read on a blanket some sunny afternoon. You could do that in the front yard with out the walls, right? But, every fiber of my being tells me to get out of danger. I feel a sense of panic, my throat becomes ash and my heart beats faster and faster. I end up gathering my books and blanket up and heading inside because I can't stand it any longer.

I do go out and like going for the occasional stroll, but it is something that has to be planned around other people. I need to schedule these walks into their days and whims. Which doesn't always coincide with my days and whims. But to walk to the park alone and swing on the swings is unthinkable.

Some days I wish I was like Sally, of the comic strip Peanuts. When she got bullied at the playground, Sally's motto became, "Speak loudly and carry a beagle!"







http://www.peanuts.com/comics/peanuts/index.html