Buying Trixie

I bought a new laptop Saturday. If you missed the story of the untimely (in my opinion) demise of the previous computer, scroll down and read Saturday's post.

I've named my laptop Trixie. I chose that name because Trixie is one of a handful of names I holler at inconsiderate drivers on the interstate. (i.e. DO YOU NOT HAVE A TURN SIGNAL THERE, TRIXIE?) and sometimes I have the need to holler at my computer. So I just went ahead and named her. (And no, she doesn't have a turn singal.)

Anyway.

I drove to the Best Buy over in Kokomo and wandered the laptop aisles, a bit confused. (Totally lost.) A really nice guy named Daniel came over and asked if I needed help. (Boy was that a loaded question...)

So I explained my basic computer needs and he explained my basic options...careful to keep my (ridiculously low) budget in mind and my (equally ridiculous) cluelessness about things such as computers! He had it narrowed down to about one for me, and I noticed a couple standing over to the left listening to his pitch to me. (I've since named them Frick and Frackette.) I said to my nice new friend Daniel, "I think I'll go with that one," pointing to the one he'd given his best vote, and he said, "Um...there was one left here on the shelf just a minute ago. Where did it go?"

At the same moment, we saw Frick and Frackette hustling around the corner with my laptop in their hands.

Yes indeedy. They stole the advice he gave me and walked right off with the computer they just heard me say I wanted.

Daniel was not happy about that and went to search the recesses of the store for any remaning laptops. (Meanwhile a couple of other nice guys came up to see if I needed help and I'll admit I didn't use my inside voice when explaining that someone else had taken the computer I'd planned to purchase. They may or may not have been in earshot.)

The manager came over after a while and apologized profusely and said he could sell me the floor model at a discount if I wanted. I'm sorry - did I hear the word discount?? Yes please!!

So he took it to clean off the demo software and Daniel and I launched into a fascinating conversation about costs, warranties, and the one remaining day until my dessert fast is over. (I'm honestly not sure how that sneaked in.)

It was in that conversation that I found out a demo software removal takes TWO HOURS. How I wished I had a poker face, but alas, I do not, so he got the full horror look...because I had to get home for a birthday party! I finally said, "You know what? It doesn't matter. Do what you have to do and it's really fine."

He said, "You have the best attitude I've ever seen."

I'm sorry, what?!?!!?

I almost asked for that in writing. I've never been told that in the entirety of my life.

We went over to start the purchasing process and he said he wished all his customers were like me. (How bad are the people who shop there? Seriously!?) I smarted off about something a couple of sentences later and he said he loved my sarcasm. I told him I was really sorry to be sarcastic, but the options at that point were sarcasm or tears and I was pretty sure he didn't want the tears.

But you want to know the best part of the whole day? He said I looked 22. Seriously! He said that! I said, "Well the hair dye is working its magic then."

In the end, I got the computer and the demo removal only took about 1/2 hour. I was home in a jiffy...and feeling pretty good about looking 22 and having a good attitude!!

As for Frick and Frackette...well, I'll simply shake my head and say (in my best British accent) - "naughty customers."