Staving off temptation
I could have bought another computer this evening. The will to resist was about as low as it can go, and I was right there, in front of a display of a dozen different netbooks. Except. The only model that made sense was a Dell, and Future Shop doesn’t really sell Dell computers. They facilitate the ordering process, and allow you to pick up your order in the store instead of having a pesky delivery truck bring things right to your door. In real terms, no thanks for all that invaluable service. An extended warranty with that, sir?
But the idea was still tugging at my purse strings, so I called my friend over at Dell (yes, he was in India, which meant that we didn’t spend much time on idle chitchat about the lovely weather we’re having this evening). I know what I want (and what I can afford): the Mini 10V model with no extras. The delivery time was quoted as 7 to 10 working days; I don’t intend to work the week after next, so goodnight and that’s that.
Further to our dealings with warranty on a game console. The support people did email us a prepaid UPS label, suitable for printing (and framing, if so desired). I took the box from the new machine (different company, same concept), packed the “dead” machine inside with 2 litre plastic pop bottles for shock absorption, taped thing closed with a half-roll of plastic tape (that we use around the mailroom), stuck my preprinted address info into one of those clear plastic envelopes (that we use around the mailroom) and bundled the driving team into the car.
The trip to UPS took about fifteen minutes, followed by about fifteen seconds inside their client centre, followed by another fifteen minutes back across town. Good think rush hour was over. Now we sit and wait for the next chapter in this fascination serial.
