The mystery of the missing remote is solved

 If you read yesterday's post, you saw at the very end a note that the technician was on his way to the house. WAY ahead of schedule—he was scheduled to come in the afternoon but arrived at 9:30 AM instead. I quickly notified my SIL, who had just gotten out of the shower. 

Well, it's hard to believe, but the technician fixed the problem and was gone before we even knew what happened. I told you—those tech guys are smart!!! 

The issue? I'll try to tell the story in a few sentences. At DH's request (because we got a smart TV a few months ago), we got a 4K receiver. It's supposed to give a better signal or picture—I have no idea. Anyway, it took me months to remember and have the time to make that request. The box arrived at the end of September, and our service was switched on October 6 as requested. So far - so good! 

When DH went to install the new box (which did NOT come with a remote), he could not pair the new receiver to our existing remote. So we have been trying to get a new remote. That was the issue all along—we needed a remote. 

Why didn't we get one? It was only when the call was escalated that we found out the true story because everyone else told us totally different stories. When you place a totally new order, you get the receiver and a remote. Easy. But when you CHANGE your box (like we did), you don't get a remote because you are to use the existing one. That sounds totally logical. 

Except our remote was so old that it was not Bluetooth-enabled. No one explained that, except dear sweet Chloe in escalation. What I don't understand is why it took so long to get a remote. And the best part --- that order that everyone kept telling me this past week that was coming -- guess what? It never landed on our doorstep yesterday. It was supposedly a completely new box. NOTHING. 

If that technician had not arrived with a new remote, I might have resorted to physical violence. Do they let you blog from jail? 

That's the part that was so frustrating—THREE times they tried to send us the remote, but nothing. THREE times --- how hard can it be to place an order? 

So Chloe, in escalation, came to the rescue and had a technician deliver the remote. It's not rocket science! And what's worse is that NO one ever mentioned that the orders were pending because of potential postal strikes, and no one thought to use a courier? I eked out all these details by listening and asking questions, but it still didn't make a difference. 

There are two problems with our service provider (make that ALL call centers) - the people in these call centers are NOT well-trained, and the second is that the service providers are so enormous and have MULTIPLE systems that do not talk to each other. The front-end staff also does NOT have any authority. They are given scripts and are likely told not to deviate from them. 

It's the same in any industry: the people who actually chat with consumers are the least paid, the least appreciated, and the least trained. While the fat cats sit in their offices, make oodles of money, and don't get hassled by little problems. It's disgusting. This is ANY industry -- nursing, teaching, you name it -- it's a huge problem. 

The bottom line is that the TV works, and DH watched it last night, and I'm guessing he'll be glued to it tonight during the first game of the World Series. 

I feel like writing a short and sweet letter to our service provider -- I know the problem (and it's the same for so many others), so why not step up the game for the training of the call center staff (oops - that costs money), and they would have much happier consumers. HEY -- the world would be a happier place if people were better trained. 

The issue is NOT just with that service provider. It is with ANY service provider, and they are only as good as the training in their call centers. So the big question is why? Why wouldn't they spend a few dollars to train their staff better? 

Well, I had threatened to cut all my services. And thank goodness for Chloe because she saved the day in the NICK OF TIME. I had even at one point suggested that a technician deliver the darn remote, but that was nixed because the lower-level support people did NOT have that authority. It's a crazy situation, but it's fixed. 

There's only one problem to deal with. What do I do with all my FREE time? LOL.

I had a great day visiting—that's what this trip has turned into. I never know what I'm going to do when I come -- it's always a crap shoot and depends on other people. So I visited with my cousin while she cut my hair and did a fantastic job!! I might have to fly out every time I need a haircut! LOL. Now that would be silly. But I'll make sure I get a haircut every time I come. 

Then I picked up one of my aunts, who lives close to Mom and Dad, and loaded up her walker, and we were off to visit another aunt and uncle (98) who live in the local regional care center. I guess it's like a nursing home. We had a great visit with both of them, and it was good to chat. I think everyone needs to visit a nursing home -- it's an eye-opener, and it just goes to show that we need to take care of ourselves. That's one place, though, where those front-line workers are happy, and I see them very attentive to their consumers. Bless their hearts, because I can imagine the job is not a fun one! 

In the wing where my uncle stays, one of the doors had a curtain over it instead of a door. It appears the occupant was rather angry one day and kicked the door down. He didn't get a new door—just a curtain. 

There is one thing that I am NOT happy about -- all my aunts are in their 80s, and if I were to go by them, I see walkers in my future! ACK!!! But that's why those exercises are so important: stand-up/sit-down, walking, stretching. I do NOT want to follow in the family history. 

I'll do what I can. 

Then I spent a good deal of the day doing errands (Mom never leaves the apartment), and Dad hates shopping, so there are a few things they needed! I goofed on a couple of things, so I need to make some exchanges this morning. But we visited the accountant and got answers to all the questions. I think we have one last question for the bank, and then I hope everything settles down. 

While selling the farm was a very good thing, it caused a major blimp in their life for two years, and this is the end of the second year. Next year, things will be "normal" again! I'm not a tax/financial expert by any means, but I'm learning a lot. 

And I will say that their accountant is the sweetest person; she cares about her clients and is so patient. She's a keeper. 

So I'm off to the Saskatoon Quilt show today, and even though I'm not in my hometown, I have a feeling that I'll be chatting and meeting with a lot of people! As a matter of fact, I'm meeting someone from one of my classes. She lives in Calgary and happens to be in town, so we're having lunch!! 

It's going to be fun. There was even a segment on the news last night advertising the show and chatting with the featured quilter, Debra Barlow, who is local to Saskatoon. 

I have more visiting when I'm back, and OH MY GOD -- can you believe what my Mom asked me to do yesterday? I almost fell over dead. If you remember, a couple of years ago, I arranged a bunch of teapots on the top of her kitchen cabinets. I'm sure they have not been touched in years, and I was asked if I could dust them!!!!

I have a memory from when I was about 13. My Mom had TONS of knick-knacks in the old house we lived in. My job was to dust the knick-knacks, which I hated. So much work for nothing. I remember telling her that when I grew up, I would NOT have knick-knacks in my house, and I would hire a cleaning lady. By the way, she still has a ton, but fewer knick-knacks. 

Both predictions came true. While I have lots of paperwork in that office, there have never been many knick-knacks in my house, and there are even fewer today. And for almost my entire life, I've had a cleaning lady. Now I have to "lower" myself onto a chair, then onto the kitchen cabinet, to dust those DAMN teapots. Can she not see I'm OLD?

Sigh -- I'll do it tomorrow. Patience, but there are times when my patience runs thin, especially when I'm here. I won't go into details, but her attitude (and this is NOT about the teapots) drives me mad. That superior attitude, especially towards my Dad - well, I could kill her. 

I have to say that my parents have influenced me a lot. My Dad, mostly about what and how to do things, and my Mom, mostly how NOT to do things. That is so weird. Of course, my Mom isn't all that bad, but there are days!!!

Well, I need to get moving—I need to get my breakfast (Tim and I have breakfast every morning), then run my return errands, and then hit the road for the quilt show. 

Sorry, no pictures today. 

And did I mention that it starts out COLD (below zero in the morning, then warm and sunny in the afternoon)? Plus, the sun doesn't rise until 8 AM, and it gets dark early! 

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!

PS - I do not need to buy anything at the quilt show. I do not need to buy anything at the quilt show!