The next day, Efiwym, my wife, and I talked about returning the Roku©. She was looking online and found out that a big box store had it for seven dollars cheaper. I kind of felt bad about not going back to the store I bought it from and just exchanging it. The salesclerks were nice, and I did not feel right. However, when I checked online, the store did not have any in stock. That was my out. I would say I needed it today and I could not wait until next week to get it. Yeah, that would be my line. Efiwym, a savvy shopper, did not think I needed a “line.” She said, “Just return it.” We did not need to go to that particular store. It was further away than a store near us, so that is where I headed.
Efiwym decided to go along because we needed some additional items at the big box store. We headed to the other electronic store to return the Roku©. Again, the salesclerk was very nice and sympathetic. Because I bought it at another store, they had an “inventory issue.” It had nothing to do with me, but with reconciling their inventory at the other store. The time delay made me unnecessarily uncomfortable. I felt like I was deceiving them. Another salesclerk got involved. I told them I just wanted a refund because the stores did not have it in stock. Nonetheless, the other salesclerk still went to the back of the store to retrieve the right Roku©. When he got back there, he contacted the salesclerk up front to let her know they did not have any in stock. I dodged a nonexistent bullet. He asked if I wanted them to order it. “No No!,” I said in my head, but replied, “Just a refund, please. I need it today.” Then I asked the salesclerk if she needed my credit card. Oops! I reached for my wallet. I left it at home. Oh no! The jig was up. My supposed scam was exposed. She just replied, “No, I can just put it back on your card.”
Efiwym was looking at phones and she returned to find out why there was a delay. I explained to her what was going on. She responded to the wallet thing, “You’re just getting old.” Yeah, I heard that a lot lately. She also mentioned to the salesclerk, that the other store gave me the wrong Roku. It was really me who grabbed the wrong one, but I liked that part of the story. After the two salesclerks figured out how they were going to solve the “inventory issue,” we were on our way. No wallet, no license, so, I was relegated to being a passenger, but I did not mind.
I had a good laugh in the car about the episode. But I knew Efiwym thought I was a full-blown idiot.
We headed to the big box store and walked to the grocery part of the store to get some storage bags. Efiwym had this process figured out. Bring the storage bags back to the electronics part of the store so they can check us out there. Never a wasted second with her.
We searched around the aisles until we found the Roku©s. The model Efwym wanted was not the same price as the online price. She found a salesclerk, and asked if she could get the online price. Again, what a savvy shopper! He said, he could “price match it.” She was confused at first. No, we want the online price,” she replied. Yes, he said, “We can price match the online price.” We escorted the salesclerk to the aisle where the Roku©s were locked in a glass case. She pointed to the one, and I stopped her, and told the salesclerk that I wanted the one with the 4K+. When we got to the checkout counter, she asked why I wanted the more expensive 4K+, and not just the 4K. I told her it was the model I had before. She replied, “Do you need a voice-controlled remote? That’s the only difference.” No, I don’t! While we were bantering back and forth about the Roku©, the salesclerk was ringing up the one I picked. Efiwym stopped him and let him know I screwed up. Which I did. We could save seven dollars by buying the one without the “plus.” Well, that just created a debacle. He needed to void the sale and then he was needed by another salesclerk to get the theft-prevention devices off ten TVs another customer just purchased. So, we stood around as Efiwym, just shook her head. “I know I’m old,” I told her. Once we were checked out, we headed home, and I would install the Roku©, after supper.