True story.
I needed carpet tape. Well, need is strong. Who really needs carpet tape?
The carpet in my living room was curling up, and I was tired of tripping on it every day. It finally dawned on me to buy carpet tape to hold it down. (The realization that I needed carpet tape happened so many days later, I’m afraid to admit it in writing). I had guests visiting; I had to solve this problem.
Where do you get carpet tape? Lowe’s, right?
As soon as I walked into Lowe’s, I was lost. You would think it’s simple, but where do you find carpet tape? Is it in Adhesives? Maybe. Or, is it in Flooring?!? Maybe. Or, both?
I went to both sections and could not find it.
I asked an employee who brought me back to Adhesives, and they showed me, amongst rows and rolls of other adhesives and tapes, the few remaining rolls of carpet tape. Yes, I missed it the first time around, but whaddaya want from me? I bake cookies. I write an events blog. I run for public office. I’m completely out of my element and overwhelmed in the cavernous aisles of Lowe’s.
I brought the carpet tape home, and it was OK, but not great. It kinda did the job, but I realized I needed something more substantial.
Fine. I googled ‘carpet tape’ and found dozens of carpet tape options. Twice in one day, for this seemingly minor task, I was completely overwhelmed.
A more substantial carpet tape exists, and, get this, it’s at THE SAME Lowe’s in Hudson, and, even better, it’s available for PICK UP! Where was THIS carpet tape when I was there earlier? I bet it was hiding in the Flooring department! I bought it online immediately and within an hour, received an email that the tape was available for pickup.
Yes, you can just order from Amazon, but why not shop at Lowe’s?
They’re a decent employer, local, and they are working on the Santa Village House for Winter Walk, which is a good reason to give them business!
I drove back to Lowe’s and showed them my online receipt at the Customer Service Desk.
They looked at me and said, “Yeah, just scan the code at the pickup locker where you came in, and it’s there.” Pickup locker? That big blue thing I passed on the way in? I’m such a luddite, where have I been? How did I not know this? I felt as if I was returning a video tape to the Blockbuster counter and the clerk just took it and tossed it in the return shoot.
I scanned the code on my receipt at the big blue pickup locker and like magic, a random door opened! My fully-paid industrial-strength carpet tape was there waiting for me. OH SIMPLE JOY! My entire day turned around!
WINNING!
In the future, this big blue pickup locker is going to save me the time and effort of walking aimlessly through aisles of Lowe’s, passing the one thing I need multiple times. I no longer have to sheepishly ask for assistant for every mundane task, with my pride and self-respect dangling in front of me.
The pickup locker is not only going to save me time, but also human interaction! Yes, we live in a small town, and yes, it’s all about the personal touch, I get it. But, I don’t need human interaction for every little thing, like carpet tape.
If you’re an introvert, the blue pickup locker is a godsend! It will change your life.
This is hysterical, just yesterday I went to Lowes and said to myself, “Who uses these lockers? People who want to check their coats (pets, spouses or kids) while shopping for gnomes and inflatable reindeer?”
Clearly, I am a little slow on the uptake.
Isn’t surprising that a retailer would create a service that discourages impulse purchasing opportunities?