Mon May 18 08:01 EDT 1998
Weekend Update: May 15-16

I took Friday off to work on the Chicken Coop.  That's what the
structure was by the pool.  I'm sure the previous owner also used it
for storing tools because it's footprint is 8x12 and tall as any room
in your house.  I'm turning it into a bath house.  Joy will be
bleaching the place soon to eradicate (if possible) and remaining
reminders of the chickens.

Painting Contractor Number 2 has begun work on the house, and we
couldn't be more excited.  One side (we have many more than four) has
been scraped and primed.  The primer is a kind of purple so i am sure
the town is abuzz already.  The painter was good enough to brush on a
5x7 foot section in the corner, next to the trim coat we selected so
we get get a better idea of the color we have chosen.  I will be
taking pictures and hope to get them on the internet by the time we've
completed the job.

On Wednesday of last week, we had a repairman in to try and fix our
television, which is covered under the Circuit City extended warranty
plan - we pay nothing.  The repairman was unable to repair it and had
ordered a part that would take 10-14 days to get in.  in the meantime,
he suggested we call CC and get a loaner that our plan covers.  On
Friday, I called CC and after much checking on the phone was told to
come and pick it up.  I arrive around 5:30.  (I'm also on errand to
pick up materials for the bath house down the street at Home Depot.)
I signed a paper and then was asked if my TV was in the shop.  I said,
"no, it's a 50" TV; it is inoperable because it needs a part that is
on order."  "I'm sorry but we can't give you this (loaner) TV unless
yours is in our possession."  "Excuse me?"

After explaining the lunacy of the policy, I was told that I could buy
the TV and bring it back within 30 days under the "no questions refund
policy."  I said, "if I leave here with a TV, it won't be that 27"."
I went out to the car where Joy was wondering what was going on.  She
stormed into the place with a lot more force than I was giving.  We
walked over to the TV section and hailed a salesman.

"I want the most expensive TV you have here."  The salesman's face lit
up like Christmas.  "I will be returning it in a week or so."  The
salesman's face got one of the Maalox moments look.  We explained that
store policy would not permit us to take home a loaner but would
permit us to buy any TV and bring it back within 30 days.  Two things
come to work here: (1) the salesman gets commission on what he sells,
but loses points for what is returned, and (2) when a return comes
back, they put it on the floor as an "out of the box" special
discounting it by at least 15%.

The salesman listened to our story and said, "surely we can do
something about this policy." But it was to no avail, despite the fact
that we got no fewer than three sales persons and other personnel all
agreeing with us.  They went into a pow-wow in the back room and came
out and said, "we're sorry, but we can't let you have the loaner."

"Fine, We'll take the 36" Panasonic for $2199.99."  The salesman
wouldn't write it up because it would bump him out of his "President's
Club" membership.  Some no name clerk took our credit card and they
loaded it into the back of our van.

Well, I had no peace over the whole thing, not to mention that two
strong people can barely lift a 36" TV let alone me and Joy (or Uncle
John Parker who would have helped if he could).  If I opened the box,
I would cost CC at least $330, which I felt were their just desserts,
but as time progressed I was feeling less and less spiteful, although
my sense of injustice still lingered.  (They could have given me a TV
for less than it would have cost them for me to open the box, open the
manual packet and then return the TV.)

Instead, I returned to CC on Saturday and told them to take it back,
unopened.  I was angry the night before and now I don't want to play
the game.  (It did cross my mind that really spiteful people could
have opened the box of the $2200 TV, return it and buy a different one
and repeat the process.)  A different manager was at the service desk
and I told her the story.  Apparently, she had more authority than
anyone the previous night because she got me a 27" loaner for the
signature I wanted to use all along.  CC will be getting a detailed
letter from me.

On Saturday, we also held a Metcalfe-Parker yard sale.  The Parker's
brought the good stuff and people paid for their trip and dinner
someplace.  We enjoyed the day and made enough for Pizza.  One item of
note, not counted in the yard sale till: I sold the '73 Big Indian
Pinball machine.  I'd been toying with the idea of finding a Phantom
of the Opera machine and need to sell Big Indian and Comet to do so.
So I put out a half-hearted sign on my mailbox and lo and behold,
someone came in and bought it.  It was my first machine so it was kind
of heart wrenching, not to mention back-breaking; those things are
HEAVY!

There's more but I'll quit here.  Lots of projects happening all at
once but we're looking forward to a spectacular summer.  (We'll get
that sign painted, Uncle Ken, in the next few weeks and send you a
picture.)

Love from us to you,

Mark

P.S.  I would have sold that 36" TV for $2300 at the yard sale but I
had no inquiries.  ;-)

Surfin'   ***       Mark Metcalfe
 the    ***  \o     Cadence Design Systems, Inc.
'Net   **** \ |\    270 Billerica Road, MS04
      ****** <<     Chelmsford, Massachusetts 01824
     *******  \     Phone: (978) 446-6451
-----------------   Fax:   (978) 446-6351