thirtysomething

“Please only purchase what you need. Returns WILL NOT be accepted on hurricane supplies purchased in bulk.”

It’s sad that we post signs in the hardware store telling customers essentially not to be greedy, but we have to do just that. Hurricanes and hurricane scares make people here Lose They Mind. Not without some justification. Katrina was broadcast live. The name Hugo said aloud here in Charleston will get you bitch-slapped. BUT, if you are so worried and anxious about a pending storm that you want to buy $300 worth of D-cell batteries for yourself, then you should probably evacuate before the mandatory ruling is given.

Yet, at the end of every hurricane season someone tries to return 10 packs of batteries, a case of candles, 50 sandbags, rolls of plastic & duct tape, and 3 first-aid kits.

Dude. Seriously. We order that in bulk just for the hurricane season. What am I going to do with your stuff that “You don’t need now that the scare is over”. Hurricane season is the only time of the year we stock cases of batteries, candles, etc. We can’t return those items to the regional warehouse, and we certainly don’t have the room to store hurricane supplies that you returned this season so that you can buy and return them next season.

This ain’t no lend’n library.

Ok. Now that’s off my chest.

We got slammed at the store today.

Contractors were coming in all day for shutter hardware. Apparently a lot of people have been putting off repairing their storm shutters. More than a handful of elderly women brought in elderly flashlights with elderly batteries to be replaced. I don’t even recall how many rolls of duct tape we sold.

All the weather radios were sold. Most lantern flashlights left, too. I think we have one first-aid-kit on the shelf. Plumbers candles were going like it was an 1850′s plumbing convention. We’re low on most other “hurricane supplies” (except for batteries) and won’t be re-stocked until the truck comes Friday morning.

On top of all the hurricane business, we had a record day in regular sales. All the sculpture students at the college were coming in getting MAPP gas and wire cutters. The regulars were all in today, and even a few tourists.

I’m beat and my back is screaming at me. Luckily, tomorrow is my day off. A bit of photography maybe??