<< March 20, 2007 >>
i <3 ne
hmm, today is the 20th, you say?
i went to bed last night with it snowing outside. i woke up this morning and it was warm enough to go for a run in shorts and a t shirt. a shivering bird told me it's going to be in the teens tomorrow.
the following is a summary of why yesterday was not an awesome day:
i have been putting off trying to get my luggage fixed since it was damaged by air canada almost two months ago. but the repair claim is only valid for 60 days (exceptions must be made), so it's time to get to it.
the damage claim only had toronto-area repair places. so i spend a good half-hour trying to find a phone number, or a list of repair places on air canada's web site. not much luck. so i think at this point i call one of the places in toronto; maybe they know. they said to call the 888 number, as if i should know it by heart. after he reads it to me, i notice that it's the 888 number printed on the damage claim. ok.
so i call air canada and eventually get a offshore call center. the woman seems pretty confused by my story ("your luggage was... damaged?"), but manages to provide a name and phone number. i call them up, they're in pittsburgh, and don't know anyone to call in boston. so i call air canada back.
the guy tells me that i can drop it off at any fed ex drop off location, and they will send it out to get fixed. he stressed that i should be sure to include a note saying where it should be returned, and that unfortunately he could not help me find a fed ex drop off location. i said i could probably manage that part, but to where do i send the luggage?
"just drop it off at any fed ex drop off location; they know where to send it."
i have dealt with fed ex before, and they are nowhere near that competent. does he actually believe that fed ex has become not only sentient, but omnipotent? he probably doesn't even know what fed ex actually is. i ask. he doesn't understand the question.
i ask how fed ex knows where to ship them. "they have a list." what fortune! this is precisely the list i'm calling to find out about! maybe he could tell me what places are on this list? before i go and humiliate myself at fed ex trying to explain how they're just supposed to know where i need my package sent?
he gives me the name. it's the place in pittsburgh. i hang up and sigh.