I have wanted a new air purifier for a couple of years now, but I just didn't want to spend the money. My old one has been squealing and grinding for at least 5 years, but I always struggle with that "want or need" philosophy. I truly believe I entered the "need" category this winter.

I have two German Shepherds who never stop shedding, along with two cats and I seem to be sneezing a whole lot these days, not to mention that my nose is either stuffed or running most of the time. So after convincing myself I needed a new air purifier, the search was on. I knew what I desired but it also had to be the price that I wanted.

I longed for a Honeywell small room purifier, but most of them which I had seen in stores and online always hovered around 85 to 100 bucks. Too rich for my limited income for sure! Black Friday rolled around and I saw one at a well-known home improvement/lumber/grocery/pet food/a little bit of everything store for $59. That was it!

But, I didn't want to fight crowds so I checked out their website, same product, same price with free delivery to the store! Great!

Only two days later I got a slip informing me to come and pick it up, and yesterday I finally took the time to do it. Good thing I had time! What a customer service nightmare!

The order pickup slip instructions indicated to "proceed to the (Name of Store)/Special Order pick up area located in the back of the store" to retrieve the item. So I walked to the back of the store and searched the entire length of the store for the "special order pick up area".

This store is famously staffed with numerous employees whose goal seems to be to avoid eye contact with customers at all times.

Finally one young man in the kitchen appliance area asked if he could help and then proceeded to inform me that the place I was looking for wasn't in the store at all, but outside in the lumber yard area!

So out I went, found the entrance and after a less-than-pleasant encounter with the grouchy gatekeeper found my way to the correct place in an obscure area at the back of the yard.

No one was there, but a sign said products were arranged alphabetically, so I got out and started looking. No luck.

Finally a young man on a fork lift drove up and I asked him if he could help me. He said there was supposed to be someone else here to help, but since it was close to 3 o'clock that guy "must have left"!

This nice young man retrieved my air purifier and I headed back toward "grouchy pants".

Grouchy Gatekeeper repeatedly pressed his nose into the back window of the RAV to see the product I had picked up and just as I was about to volunteer to open the tailgate, he came to the window, shoved a dark Ipad at me and asked me to sign it with my finger. I couldn't even see what I was signing, but I was still laughing and shaking my head as I rolled up the window and drove out of the parking lot.

No doubt, customer service at its very best!

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