I love supporting local business, but you've got to work with me here, people.

Lucy, thecutestdogever, is going to go to work with me every day. I work in an office and eventually she’ll be able to wander around wherever she likes, but while she’s still a puppy I need to put up a dog gate so she’ll stay in my cube.

So Robbie and I went to the local pet store. You know, the land of people who love animals and hate people. Good times.

I asked where they kept the dog gates and they pointed outside. Robbie and I checked them out and found one of those cheapie wood and wire ones. But then I noticed the price: $55!!! You’ve got to be kidding me! So we went back inside to grab a couple other items and head out.

The clerk saw we didn’t choose a gate and asked if we found them OK. I said yes, but honestly, um er hmmm, they were too expensive. (I was polite and didn’t mention that they were gouging their customers…) She then has the gall to condescendingly say “Well, we do have some dog toys out front that are only $1 if that works better for you.”

She’s lucky that I had Robbie along or she’d have a size 9 sandal up her ass this very minute. I hate rude folks.

Later I went online and found a great gate at amazon, and it will be here tomorrow for under $20 including fast shipping. I’m all for supporting local business, but this was ridiculous!

Oh, while I was searching online I found this gate:

gate.jpg

What kind of parenting is that? Is he in solitary? Why is she playing with him through the gate? Is he a demo model? Does he smell bad? Does he have Ebola? If so, where is her moon suit? Very disturbing.


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15 responses to “I love supporting local business, but you've got to work with me here, people.”

  1. MammaLoves Avatar

    Weird. My information just came up in the info fields as all code.

    Anyway…

    I love that you’d think to put a size 9 where the sun don’t shine. I’ll hold the person still while you do it. I hate rude customer service people. It’s your job dammit! Go work for the DMV if you hate people.

    So jealous Lucy gets to go to work with you.

  2. karrie Avatar

    Uh, me too, Mamma.

    That gate was one of the many we tried to contain the whirling dervish known as Maximus. It sucked. But it might be ok if your floors are really level. (ours are not–old house.)

    And yeah, weird picture. “Hey Mom. Move away from the gate so we get the whole gate in the shot.”

  3. dbNVkK3AwqzA9aZHaVJkkQuflEPqQgu_QPu80z4pXTY. Avatar

    Seriously, I have one of those in my shed. It’s probably a little dirty and needs to be hosed down but you can have it for free if you want it.

    I’m glad to just pass it on to someone who needs it.

  4. Beth Avatar

    That last post was from me. I don’t know what all those letters are about.

    BTW Sorry they were rude at the Pet Store. I hate that.

  5. James Mathias Avatar

    I know exactly where you’re coming from.

    I live in a very small town in Idaho, and just about every service or store I go into is a small town business, and just about every single one of them treats their customers like crap. I actually had my ISP tell me after calling to inquire about a 5 hour downtime that I wasn’t his only customer and if I wasn’t more patient he’d come and rip my install out. Now I already pay this guy $50 a month for just a slice faster than dial-up internet access, and I’ve never been rude to him, nor was I rude to him when I called, just making an inquiry.

    Turns out he’d already gotten 50 calls before me, in any case it was the wrong way to treat a customer. And if he wasn’t the only thing going in this town he would have lost my business.

    I own a small business, granted it’s in the global market, but I still treat every customer with respect and dignity. It’s a ridiculous notion to do otherwise.

  6. Smiling Mom Avatar

    Funny about the gate. :-) Shouldn’t they show the kid behind a gated stairway or something?

  7. Annie Avatar

    I have had people advise me to use a gate to lock my child in her room – ehm, no thanks.

  8. AbsolutelyBananas Avatar

    how annoying. just give me her license number and I’ll “accidentally” ram into her car for ya. (I’m a pro at this)

  9. Lisa Avatar

    First of all….lucky you! You get to take the pupper to work every day. My workplace is only moderately dog-friendly (as in, when the Boss is away).

    I feel the same way about small, locally owned businesses. Darn it, I want to give them my money, I really do. However, gigantic markups and bad service turn me away again and agin. (sigh)

  10. Oh, The Joys Avatar

    The funny thing is that if you put a one year old child behind a gate for a time out – even if there is another way out of the room – they will stand at the gate and wail.

    Mwa ha ha!

    Evil mama tricks!

  11. laura Avatar

    well, here is why we used the baby gate…

    http://adventuresinjuggling.blogspot.com/2005/07/wee-willy-winky.html

    …of course we live in a 2 story house and the picture of him was taken with him asleep dangling at the top of the staircase. it was a safety concern…or maybe another reason why i am such a slacker mom.

    lol

    at least my darling daughter #1 got busted for breaking curfew thanks to the time stamp on her camera.

  12. JayMonster Avatar

    Now, I am going to first defend the small business person (but please stick with me). Despite what you feel (and correctly in my not so humble opinion) is “too much” for that gate they were selling, it really may not qualify as “gouging” as you so charge. Small businesses often get stuck paying far more than other establishments, thus even if they keep their markups nominal, will still often appear “out of whack” with what a national chain can offer the same item for.

    That being said, did she think she was going to “guilt you” into buying the stupid thing? Or perhaps she is just a “front” and doesn’t… you know… actually want any customers. What a freakin’ asshat.

  13. Izzy Avatar
    Izzy

    Being condescending certainly isn’t going to sell any damn doggy gates. What a betch.

  14. Howard Avatar

    No more herring at IKEA?! My wife will have to subsist on the meatballs and sale items.

    *****

    http://surfcountry.blogspot.com

  15. Damselfly Avatar

    Hee hee, we got a gate at a baby shower that features a similar photo. The mom is giving a little girl a juice box or something. And she’s on the phone.

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