Friday, January 19, 2007
When we asked the kids what they wanted for Christmas, Hunter said that his number one choice was a Transformer: Cybertron Optimus Prime. I wasn't surprised about the Transformer part, but it was the first time he had mentioned Optimus Prime. I knew I had seen Cybertron Optimus Prime last Christmas but figured Hunter recently decided on that specific character from watching Transformers, or from watching commercials during his other shows on Cartoon Network with frequent toy pitches.
When I didn't find Optimus Prime at Toys R Us on Dec. 11th, (and I didn't want to pay their shipping) I looked on Hasbro.com to find out where else I might find it and I saw this. Twice as many Transformers. Including Cybertron Optimus Prime. That combine together. Cooler. Cheaper. Plus a DVD. Ho ho ho! I hitched up the reindeer and headed to the Norwalk Costco the next day ... no luck. None to be found.
After getting back from Costco, I looked on eBay, and there were several available through Buy It Now just above retail price, with available priority shipping. Hmm. It's a possibility ... Later that day I finished most of the shopping at Wal-Mart, and happened to find this. What he asked for ... But I had caught a bug, and the remedy came in a two-pack. So I bought the insurance plan, but made sure I saved the receipt.
Even 8% sales tax is cheaper than shipping, so a couple of days later, I checked the Port Chester, NY Costco. It's a really cool 2-story warehouse, complete with a set of conveyor belts for transporting customers and their carts up and down. However it does make a "quickly run inside and check" trip take longer than it should. No luck there either.
My plan was then to check the Milford Costco over the weekend, then if I couldn't find it, order it from eBay. The only problem was that I didn't make it to Milford until Monday, Dec. 18th. I checked the toy aisles, and their neighbors - I looked high and low. I looked next to the GI Joe, behind the R/C flying boats, next to the Star Wars Mr. Potato Head, but alas, there were none to be seen - not even a price tag over an empty palette. Shucks!
Before I left, I asked a customer service rep to run an inventory check - 0 units left in stock, status "ready to delete" the item from the computer. He also looked up the inventory at other nearby stores. I asked about other stores in New York State, and the computer inventory showed everywhere in the region (Maine to Virginia?) was out except for Hazelet and White Marsh, which each showed 39. Hmmm.
As it turns out, that is Hazelet, New Jersey and Baltimore, Maryland. Now the compulsive bargain hunter in me began researching a trip to Hazelet (note to self: call ahead before driving...) but the 200-mile, 3+ hour round-trip, with NYC bridges and $10+ in tolls ... eBay shipping started to reason with Mr Frugal, and won out.
So I got on eBay and immediately purchased the 2-pack Buy It Now with priority shipping. Good! Christmas is saved! If it gets here. It was guaranteed to ship that day with priority, with a 2-day estimate. It should get here. (Could I convince Hunter to defer opening plan B if I needed to? Could I substitute for a few days? Was that me or the Grinch talking?) By this point Shana & I had decided Optimus would be Hunter's Santa gift. But that was more reason that it should be the two-pack. Oh well, I will cross the plan B bridge only if necessary...
The next day, I had planned on stopping by the Norwalk Costco on the way home to pick up a few things. Our weekend baking had nearly exhausted the flour and sugar, and in talking to Shana on the phone that day she mentioned paper plates. But I got busy at work and ended up not having time to stop on the way home.
A couple from our ward offered to babysit that night so Shana & I could get out together. Shana tried a few times to talk them out of it - but they insisted. So we ended up going to the Milford Costco for flour, sugar, and paper plates. I had done a majority of Shana's Disney DVD shopping just the day before, so I wasn't going to let on that I had just been there.
I did show her a Mannheim Steamroller Christmas collection, and asked her if she wanted to get it (it was on her list) but she realized we already had one of the CDs. She said "Its not fair for you to buy something, then show it to me at the store as a test if I really want it." I said, "I didn't do that!" then breathed a sigh of relief that I decided not purchase it the day before. (Whew!)
I played the piano for a bit, as they had several upright and grand pianos as part of a holiday promo sale. A few minutes later, a man said no one would pay 10 grand for a piano, as he scornfully laughed himself silly. I guess he expects all pianos to come from neighbors' garages or something. Actually I knew he had no concept of worth, or value, nor appreciation for music. I considered pointing out the grand at the end of the aisle for 3 times that price, but I found I had no words for him.
I had several times that night begun to tell Shana about a GI Joe toy that I was considering getting for me - mostly because Costco had a deluxe version (with extras) available for less than $20, while Target, Wal-Mart and TRU had the plain version for $35-40. I thought it was cool, but the appeal was mostly the bargain (remember what I said about the compulsive bargain hunter ...) So I took Shana to show it to her. As I approached the GI Joe palette, I noticed the R/C flying boats were almost gone in 2 days. I guess several procrastinators had found their dream toy and made a run on it ... there it is! T-H-E-R-E I-T I-S!THERE IT IS! There it is! Cybertron Optiumus Prime and Wing Saber! I was telling Shana the GI J ... It can't be. I looked there yesterday! Someone must have returned it or something. More likely it had fallen out of Santa's sleigh. Incredible! I felt like I had willed it into existence. Shana asked if I could cancel the eBay purchase, and I said I didn't think so but I would certainly check. It wasn't until the next store that I finished telling her about the GI Joe and why I wanted to show it to her. But that was so trivial now.
Wow! I GOT it! I got IT! I got it! I got it I got it I got it I got it! WOW! I was electrified. I was ecstatic. I chuckled as I saw it at on the car seat as Shana got out at the next store, and smiled as I carried it out of the car into the house. I could hardly wait another week for Hunter to see it!
That night I checked into the possibility of canceling my eBay order. It did not seem likely, but I thought I should check. I could do a Costco return, but I would still be out shipping. (Welcome back Mister Frugal.) I couldn't see any out - and confirmed that eBay's Buy It Now policy was immediate sale, no cancellations. Hmm. Too bad. Let me check on the shipping progress to see where it is. Hold on - my item status should be Paid For, not Pending. I paid immediately upon buying. I had better check PayPal. Multiple lines?? - Oh that's right, they put a debit from purchaser then a credit to buyer ... but there are still too many lines. They double-charged me! no .... Wait! One line says refund. Why did they do that? Probably a mistake. I wonder when they will reswipe. Here's a reference to another record ... and a note: "This item is sent from CA via Fedex ground; we are afraid that it won't be on time for you. Therefore, we refund the money to you." No way! No WAY! NO WAY! They canceled the transaction on me! YES! Yes yes yes yes yes! Under any other circumstance I would have been mad, but I was elated!
So many coincidences ... I was so excited I couldn't wait to tell Shana. So I tried to wake her up. When I couldn't, I resigned to wait and told her when I heard her stir.
Too many coincidences ... Without a doubt, it was a Christmas Miracle. I marvel that this was a quest, and a trivial one as far as quests go, so I did not even ask for help in finding the toy. I did not request divine intervention, nor did I expect it, but it was granted nevertheless. As I related my experiences to people at work, they too saw a providential hand involved. One co-worker said it gave her chills, while another simply pointed heavenward. I did not need the toy in order to have a good Christmas, nor did Hunter. He would have been none the wiser. While the scripture says "Ask and it shall be given" I had not asked, but had been given. Generously. He does know the thoughts of our hearts, and we are given not only according to our needs, but also according to our wants.
posted by Mark # 8:02 AM 
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