There is nothing like a Monday-morning rant about things that don't Shine, to set your own work week on the right course. After two sub par experiences in less than 10 days, I have no choice.
The day after Thanksgiving, affectionately known as Black Friday (the busiest shopping day of the year), I went to the American Girl store to purchase my neice a holiday present. Almost through checkout, after having spent what was not an inconsequential amount of money, I asked the clerk for a gift box in which to package my neice's gift.
"I'm sorry, we are all out."
I don't want to sound too demanding or too highly strung, but "What?" It's noon on the busiest shopping day of the year; a day when you KNOW that droves of customers will be visiting your store to spend way too much money on clothes for dolls that, in many cases, have nicer wardrobes than their real life friends and you don't have a box in which I can present my gift?
That does not Shine.
The American Girl box is the same to a five or six year old girl as the light blue Tiffany box is to a grown woman. The gift simply looses oompff when it has to be presented in a generic gift box, a recylced shipping box, or an old boot box from the top of my closet. It just does.
Not to mention, it's a little like running a race and then stopping short just before the finish line.
You've developed a product that has a cult-like following,
designed little girl clothes to match their favorite doll's clothes,
built massive stores, fully equipped with hair salons and restaurants, just so little girls can treat their dolls to a day out on the town,
and you can't make sure there are enough boxes in stock, so that (1) I get to feel great about the gift I am giving and (2) you get to reinforce the branding you've worked so hard to create?
Really?
Poorly done, American Girl. Poorly done.
And you, Soft Surroundings, don't even get me or my husband started.
Your turn. Visit the comment section and rant or rave about your last shopping experience.
Shining off until...