Tuesday, July 12, 2016

When is a Cardboard Box Worth $18.10

I mentioned in an earlier post about needing repair on my magnifying lamp.  When the repair was completed (with six replacement parts), I received a bill for: $20.25 in parts, $36.00 in labor, $20.29 for return shipping, and - get this - $18.10 for the shipping container!  I have never before had a company charge me for the cardboard box! Especially since I sent the lamp to them in a cardboard box that they could have re-used had they wanted to....  I can't figure out why they don't add a penny or two to each of their parts, to cover the cost of the cardboard boxes.  That would be a lot easier to tolerate than having to pay for the box.

On String and Little Dinky Scissors

Well, a number of years ago, a good friend accompanied me to a national EGA Seminar. This was his first experience with needlework.  As we reconnoitered the set-up at the hotel/convention center, we walked past the on-site needlework shop set up by a local vendor.  He asked, "Oh, is this where you buy your string."  I responded that yes, that is where we buy our floss and thread, but that string was for wrapping packages, not for needlework.  Since then we've had a standing joke about string.

More recently, I was in need of a scissors sharpener.  I had used my regular needlework scissors, without thinking, for cutting metallic thread.  Oh, did you really think we needleworkers could get by with one pair of scissors?  We have scissors for cutting regular thread, serrated scissors for cutting metallic thread, curved blade scissors, straight blade scissors, extra-sharp/extra-thin scissors for cutting fabric threads when doing hardanger, I could go on and on.  Anyway, I ended up with a curved blade scissors in need of sharpening and not knowing where to turn.  There used to be a travelling scissor sharpener in town who stopped by various locations, like JoAnn's Fabric and Crafts, on a regular basis.  But no more.  My concern was finding a sharpener who could work on curved blades.

Well, my friend went hunting and found a sharpener.  When he gave me the man's business card, he assured me that he had asked and the man could do "even little dinky scissors."

So, all is good.  My  curved-blade scissors are sharpened.  And guess what, the next time I was stitching, I automatically reached for them as I was about to cut some metallic thread and came so close to making the exact same mistake, but fortunately caught myself in time and set them down and picked up the right scissors.