21.12.11 Gloves & Grouse

There would seem to be a common trait regarding the design of gloves and their durability.  I bought Mrs MWSC some gloves and a coat for her birthday a few weeks ago, in Sainsbury's, while we were shopping.  The leather gloves were (and still are) red and it was the colour that made them just that little bit different, and more attractive.  They were only £12.

Some weeks on, just preparing them for a second outing, Mrs MWSC realised that the stitching around the thumb on one glove had come loose.  The result was a small hole in the material, at the seam between the thumb and forefinger.  Really annoying.  A visit to Sainsbury's today presented us with an opportunity to swap them.

The "have you got your receipt" question was posed at the customer service desk, and obviously seven weeks down the line, I was in no position to offer it.  The label said "Tu", so there was no doubt at all that they were from Sainsbury's.  Anyway, the young woman said she'd have a look and see if they could be exchanged.  There were none on display, so a call went out, resulting in a second level of input from a woman who suggested to the first one that checking the system might help.  A few taps on a keyboard later and we were all aware that there were nine pairs for sale.  So, No.2 went off to have a look.

Meanwhile, No.1 showed us the gloves that were available, the black and brown versions, each with a sticker showing a mark-down from £12 to £6.  It was at this point I learned that without my receipt, any refund would be at the £6 level and in the form of a voucher.  Pathetic, but at this stage I was still hopeful of another red pair being located - especially as the computer "said nine". 

After shopping for a bit, while the search proceeded, I learned from a "No.3" version of a customer service person that there were no red ones, nor were there any due to be delivered.  The options were to swap the red pair for a black or brown pair, or get a £6 voucher in exchange for the FAULTY goods because we could not actually prove paying £12 - even though it was the dregs of the stock available at £6 (none being red) and we were clearly down on the deal.  It was not about money, though; the red gloves were wanted.  We decided that it would be better to try and mend them than settle for something that wouldn't have been purchased in the first place. 

The lessons here are:

1. Keep every receipt for everything you buy, as you cannot trust anything in life anymore.
2. The system will always work against you, so never expect flexibility.
3. Sainsbury's is not quite as good as it likes to make out.
4. Stitching on gloves is commonly weak, leading to issues. *
5. Expecting Sainsbury's to try and offer a solution, such as locate another pair (whether online or via another store) is a wild aspiration.
6. There is only a 1.3% chance of there ever being an item "in the stock room" when there isn't one on display, and someone "goes to check".
7. Computer records that say one thing are always at variance with the fucker who goes to look, and returns to say another.

* Debenhams is no better - in fact, worse

As things stand, Mrs MWSC is on the lookout for some strong red cotton and the thinnest needle available, so that repairs to a glove can be undertaken.  Meanwhile, the £108 spent in Sainsbury's grates.  I think, on principle, that I will not be shopping there for a while - why would I?

While we are talking gloves, I'll explain the Debenhams link.  I was bought some gloves a year ago by TMWSC Junior and his Fiancee.  They were perfect; the best gloves I'd ever owned, snug fitting, smooth, warm and just excellent.  However, the stitching on one seam at the top of a forefinger came undone.  I too managed to equal the wear obtained by Mrs MWSC ref her gloves - I wore them once!

The trip to the store revealed that the season for buying gloves lasts three-quarters of the length of the Grouse Shooting Season.  Despite the absurd change in the UK's climate, and weather patterns that promise snow and biting winds any time from September through to April, no cunt can buy gloves except when they're made available.  Come December, shops are not re-ordering, so unless you are a standard size or want a standard looking glove, you'll have to go 'round the clock again'.  I can shoot Grouse from 12th August, but it's too early to buy gloves.  One must not pull the trigger after 10th December, long after any real choice in glove-buying has been reduced severely.  Yes, the Glove Buying Season is 1st September to 1st December.  Outside of these dates, no one can buy and within the dates, only what's been pre-ordered for stock can be considered for purchase.  "When it's gone, it's gone" has never applied more properly.

Debenhams had fuck-all in the shop, but some toffee-nosed cunt suggested that online shopping would be a way to deal with the FAULTY goods - NOTE: she looked at the glove with the loose stitches and I could see her thinking I'd done it myself to return them.  Cunt - I loved them and wanted to swap them, not the money back!  Anyway, the young chap went online, and the £25 gloves were there.  Having been assured that the gloves were exactly the same ones, he ordered on my behalf, and so I was to go home and wait for delivery.  I was looking forward to getting them instead of the £25.  The gloves were down in price but I have to pay for delivery, so it came to the same.  This was irrelevant.

The gloves arrived - they were NOT the cuntin' same!  I gave up, conceded defeat, and have not shopped at Debenhams since.

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