****Please don’t forget about the Pediascribe contest going on right now! Don’t pass up your chance to win!****

*stock photos, not my house.
Yippie! We finally went out and bought a dishwasher to replace the one that hasn’t worked in close to 6 months! Remember the old song by Katrina and the Waves? “Walkin’ on Sunshine?” That’s been my theme song today! The dishwasher will be delivered tomorrow. It will need to be installed at some later date, but I’m giddy just knowing it’s on it’s way.

Like most other things in our lives, there were some problems purchasing it. We went to Sears. I already had done some research online, so I pretty much knew what I was looking for. When we stepped into the appliance department, I saw an associate there who we had dealt with in the past. Let’s just say she wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed. Just our luck, she was the only employee in the department (and probably all of Sears) who wasn’t busy with a customer. So she was the only one available to accost us and ask if we needed help. Shucks. We played the “we’re just browsing” card. It stalled her momentarily, but she was back quickly, eager to earn her commission. As we looked over the dishwasher, we noticed a small, round vent. You can see it in the second picture on the open door. Not having ever had this on any previous dishwasher, we asked “Not the Sharpest Tool” (NtST) about it, and she himmed and hawwed and finally said, “It looks like it might be some sort of vent thingy.” Ya think? This ain’t rocket science, it’s a dishwasher. That you’re trying to sell us. To earn a commission. Maybe you should know a bit about it.

To protect her self esteem by making it look like she knew something, she pointed out the sign by this dishwasher. And then she proceeded to read it to us running her finger under every line of it as she read. Word for word. The entire sign. Wow. Thanks.

We started to act more aloof. Hoping she’d go away. Finally she took a hint and wandered off. Quick, now was our chance to find someone who MIGHT be able to help us. Ah, there, near the refrigerators. So we non-chalantly wander over there. This new associate sees us and approaches us. She says, “Thinking of buying a refrigerator to match your dishwasher?” Ha. Smooth. We indicate we just have one question about the dishwasher and wondered if she could help us.

She says, “That’s not my department, but let me get you someone who can help. Oh, look, someone is available now.” Mortified at being sent back into NtST’s care, we turn, and there is new girl. This associate yells out across the appliance center, “Amanda, can you help these folks with a dishwasher?” NtST snaps her head around and glares. Amanda quickly comes over, informs us of the current rebate promotion, and promptly sells us the dishwasher. In the meantime, NtST is fit to be tied. She is bopping from associate to associate in the appliance department, talking wildly and waving her arms. Our little spy, KT, wandered over to play with the controls on one of the stoves, just to get a better listen. She returned to tell us NtST was, in fact, talking about us and telling the others how she really DID try to help us.

After the transaction was done, delivery was scheduled, and payment was made, we started toward the car. Looking at the receipt and the rebate form they had given us, I realized Amanda must actually have been NtST’s twin, separated at birth. Our rebate form was outdated. We were two days late to qualify. Back to the appliance section. We find out that promotion had indeed ended, so we got a form for the new promotion (which is actually $10 better than the original deal). But then, from a totally unrelated salesman, we found out we qualify for not one, but TWO, rebates. Instead of getting the $50 rebate Amanda had told us about, we’ll receive $110 in rebates.

Another thing we realized only after we were home. NtST’s twin, Amanda, had failed to offer us the extended warranty package. I don’t believe we would have purchased it, but usually they are pushing that sort of thing.

And something I realized after admiring my dishwasher’s specs on the internet last night. Well, it doesn’t have a heated dry cycle. Yup, just air dry. So I’m trying to tell myself it’s a good thing and that I’ll save a ton of money in energy bills.

After all of this, I’m still giddy. I’m still looking forward to having a dishwasher again. So much so that I’m not doing dishes from now until it’s installed! After all, I’ll want to have something dirty to put in it.

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