Off to the upmarket hardware store to buy a stainless steel tap for the kitchen. The fancy designer has given 'The Font' the model number. All we have to do is pick it up and pay for it.
The man behind the counter doesn't want to be bothered. He studiedly ignores us in the hope we'll go away. Finally, hopes dashed, he raises his head and says 'Yes ? ' in a way that indicates that customer service is not his forte. 'The Font' explains why we're there. The man listens and yawns. '' How am I supposed to know about your tap ? " . He's given the paper on which the order number and the model number are written. He looks at the piece of paper and purses his lips. There is a moments silence. The man looks at the note, turns it on its side and looks at it again. Finally he turns it over and looks at the back. After a brief pause he announces '' there's no such order and there's no such product . I would know". And with that he stands up and walks away.
Sometimes one is reminded that Anglo-Saxons don't comprehend the finer elements of rudeness.
Suitably chastened we go to the local DIY hypermarket store and spend twenty minutes choosing a tap. Whoever knew there were so many different types ? Angus is delighted that the one we've chosen is a fifth of the price of the one that we were supposed to collect from the 'fancy' supplier. Every cloud has a silver lining.
The effects of Sophie's haircut are more obvious this morning. Both on her chest...and on her muzzle. Her brother remains unshorn. Both exude happiness. Perhaps Bob a little more than his sister.
17 comments:
Of course the delightful duo exude happiness - isn't this going to be the best day ever, and tomorrow even more so? And Bob won't need another bath for a while - unless it's very muddy!
We hope that M. Red Trousers doesn't throw a fit and refuse to fit the tap you've chosen, just because it doesn't come from the very fancy hardware store... muttering something about compromising his artistic integrity.... Oh Angus, you and 'The Font' are so very brave - all of us will be holding our breath....
We always thought the purpose of a business was to sell stock.....
Yes, I too am worried about Red Trousers' reaction to you compromising his design vision with a cheap(er) hypermarket tap…
On grooming - for the parts of Bertie that don't get hands stripped, i.e. his underbelly, rear end and face, I have been recommended to use 'thinning scissors' for the more natural look.
Cheers! Gail.
Mr red trousers will. I'm sure, have other matters to become agitated over !
Come to France .....
How would you keep a PON still enough to use scissors ? 90 seconds with the electric shears seems a more practical approach. Grooming does however have to be stretched out over several day - or in Bobs case - weeks.
Ah.I had not considered the 'PON factor'. Bertie these days stands relatively still, at least for a few minutes, if I chose the right moment and place him on a mat in front of a nice warm fire.
Ah French "customer service", and I use the term loosely. I remember it well.
Don't knock your grooming Angus, Leah went to a professional groomer yesterday and now looks like she really has got Princess Leia's hair buns on her head!
'The Font' has finally earned capitalization! Cheers!
Not sure now if I'd want to travel to France....is everyone as rude as that? Love the Sophie look....very 80's; a decade I loved! :)
As someone who recently had to buy new taps for both kitchen and bath, be careful of price: Read the reviews and check on what's inside. I found out, to my chagrin, that the less expensive ones often have plastic innards that wear out after only a short time. The very expensive bath tap I chose has brass inside and won't start dripping after six months. Thus sayeth my contractor, who wouldn't be caught dead in red trousers.
We've gone for the same make as we had in Scotland - Grohe . Lasted forever. German engineering !
Thankfully, very few are like this. Those that you do find are gold medal winners in the rudeness stakes !
The worst was the man at a chic hotel in Paris.. The room had brown carpets, brown suede walls, brown bedspread, brown curtains and heavy brown mahogany furniture. When I wandered down to the front desk and asked if he had a room that was less 'brown' I was told that as I had no taste I'd probably be better off staying in a Holiday Inn.
I think you need to take the PON's with you, they would melt even the coldest and rudest of people! --Or Sophie would tell them off for you!
I read this post this morning as per usual but I was so taken aback that I was at a loss for words....I think I still am...what a rude salesman.
So glad you found a nice reasonable faucet....I can see red trousers throwing his hands in the air and crying "Zut Alors!! What is dissss?" when you hand it to him....photos please.
I would only ever have Hans Grohe taps. They do last forever as you say.
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