Fiasco at the Depot...

Its almost time to head on out of the 'ville and journey back to the great state of Texas. I've been cleaning and packing and finishing up some minor repairs around the house before I go. The latest and most complicated repair has been the back screen door. Riley decided to create his own doggie door, so it was in great need of replacement.

I headed to The Home Depot, intent on replacing the door and basking in the light of my independence. Got to the Depot (after forgetting to measure the old door) and estimated the measurements of the appropriate door simply by standing next to it and imagining walking out into the backyard... perfectly planned strategy. I picked out my door and headed to the cashier to pay for it. Checked out (dropping a whopping $71.01... in cash) and continued on my merry way. Easy, right?

INTERLUDE: I have a habit of instinctly and immediately throwing receipts in the nearest trash can. I know its a horrible tendency (especially when my measurement estimation strategy is involved), but they annoy me and I hate them. Im pretty sure I threw my receipt in the trash can right outside the HD.

Continuing... I get home with my beautiful new screen door, look at it for a moment as I try to determine how on earth I will take down the old one and replace it with the new one. I was baffled.... so I called my Dad (so much for independence). He informed me there has been invented a glorious item called a "Screen Door Replacement Kit"... allowing one to replace not the entire screen door (frame and all), but just replace the screen! He assured me that it wasn't too unbelievably difficult but was much less expensive.

Back to the Depot, screen door in hand (receipt.. not in hand). I arrive at one of the customer service counters to meet a lady who is apparently not having the best day. I tell her my story, complete with meaningless details, as most girls would. I can tell she's getting impatient. She says I can exchange them.

"But can I get my money back?" I ask, hoping for a miracle.

"Not without a receipt you can't," she says, as if she was trying to punish me for even attempting this task which was so obviously out of the realm of my abilities.

"Even if I was in here not 15 minutes ago?!?!" I replied, in a slightly elevated tone.

"Well you dont have your receipt do you?"

I was really frustrated at this point and intent on not spending $70 on a Home Depot gift card. What the heck would I do with that?! Buy some lumber for my next construction project? Sadly, probably not.

So I asked her to hold on to my screen door. "Ill be back in a few minutes. Im gonna go look through the trash for my receipt". (I have no shame, people).

She didnt even try to stop me (which is secretly what I was hoping she would do). I went out the the trash can and started snooping through. One of the workers in the parking lot moseyed on over and asked if I needed help. I assumed he meant assistance with my customer service issue, but he probably meant the psychiatric kind. I explained my problem. As I was talking, the guy who originally checked me out walked up.

"I remember you... what's the problem?"

I repeat.

"Maybe Tiffany can help us out" he says as we re-enter the store.

Come to find out, Tiffany CAN help us. She called the Customer Service Office (which was conveniently located about 3 steps from where little miss No Smiles was standing at her check out counter, waiting for my return. One of the guys in the office had helped me earlier with my purchase and actually remembered the counter I had checked out at. They looked up my receipt, and BOOM... they returned my $71.01 dollars in cash.

Then I paid $7 for my screen door replacement kit and left to finish my project (which I did successfully... with a little help from two wonderful friends).

So thats the story of why making friends at Home Depot is ALWAYS a good idea... and keeping receipts is probably a smart choice too.