Cheryl on the Web

About the small things in life that seem oh so big

And time stood still .. part 2

Posted in Storytelling, Expat Talks by Cheryl on 19 June 2007

If you read my post about alarm clocks around 2 weeks ago, you may remember how happy I was to have finally found a great new alarm clock from Grundig, after arduous searching. So, you can imagine my disappointment when, shortly thereafter, I discovered that the very first “1” on the alarm clock displayed more like a “d” than a 1. At the Media Markt, the store where I bought the clock, I returned it for a new one .. so you can probably understand my growing frustration when the replacement had an alarm that incremented one minute every second. Set the alarm for 07:00, wait 60 seconds, and then check it, only to discover the alarm is now set for 08:00! Even cooler: hold down the alarm button to view the alarm time, and watch the alarm magically increment itself.

Having developed the patience of a saint over here in Europe - where quality and customer service run far behind that in the US - I went calmly back to the Media Markt to exchange the second “dud” for yet another. I would have to follow the same twisted, dare I say stupid process as the previous time: before entering the store, I had to register at the front desk that I was bringing something back, explain why, and give my name and address to a woman who wrote everything on a paper form. Then in the area of the alarm clocks I had to search around for a store employee to help me. I then had to explain again why I was returning the clock; the employee had to get me a replacement; then I had to repeat to him my name, address, etc. so he could type it all into a computer. Then the employee had to leave the store’s consumer area and go to an office so he could make a copy of the original receipt. Then he returned with the receipt, after which I got to go wait in the check-out line only to show the cashier all the paperwork and then proceed to the exit.

As if this wasn’t enough: the third alarm clock had a radio that didn’t work. In fact, I dare say they forgot to build the radio into the third one; in any case, there was no tuner and no sound - even though the tuner and volume knobs were present. And, like icing on a cake: to get my money back, I had to return to the Media Markt and spend another 15 minutes looping through their dare-you-want-to-return-a-product obstacle course just to get my 30 euro back.

I am back to using my screaching nature sounds alarm clock. Cry, cry.

3 Responses to 'And time stood still .. part 2'

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  1. on June 19th, 2007 at 21:57

    hahaha Time isnt on your side this time Cheryl. if you drop by you can have my naf naf clock ok

  2. Jav said,

    on June 20th, 2007 at 14:33

    Funny you say that, i supose the whole tiresome process is to make less people bring stuff back. And i bet it works.

    when i used to work in a supermarket, it was as simple as seeing the recipt of purchase and scannin it with the item; bam, that was it. Money back or exchange. It encourages bringing stuff back though i suppose.

    Maybe Tim should just become your alarm clock? :p


  3. on June 20th, 2007 at 22:55

    Jav i don’t think that that is a good idea… although she will be awake she will never be able to leave bed hehehe

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