{ Blank Denim jeans; Aeropostale tee; Jessica Simpson bag & Mateo suede booties via Hautelook }
Hey-o! Look who forgot she’s a blogger last week…
I woke up this morning completely exhausted from the holiday weekend and made plans to be out of the shop by noon so I could enjoy a leisurely afternoon with my ratty sweatpants and a borrowed DVD set of the first season of Shameless.
I threw on my favorite jeans and an ambitious pair of never-worn-but-very-loved shoes, and made my way to work. My staff knew I was hightailing it out of there early as soon as they spotted my feet. Anything over a 2″ heel means I’m not sticking around long.
I decided the morning would go faster if I ran all the deliveries, so I took the first load to one side of the county and then then the second to the other. My last trip wrapped up dangerously close to the Sam’s Club. I’ve been itching to reinstate my membership, and if I run out of toilet paper again I’m going to scream, and one thing led to another… $45 and a very awkward photo later, I was a card-carrying insider to all things bulk.
I walked all over that giant box store, oblivious to any feet discomfort, because it’s difficult to concentrate on anything when you’re surrounded by 10-lb tubs of mayonnaise.
After an hour of aimless wandering, I filled my cart with God-knows-what (essentials, duh) and headed to the checkout. I found a reasonably-populated line and carefully unloaded my treasures onto the belt: 50-roll packs of paper towels and toilet paper, cases of Pellegrino and Luna protein bars, 8-packs of Clorox wipes, enough hand soap to keep us sanitized through winter, etc. Oh, and an $8 paperback copy of The Fault in Our Stars, which I’ve been dying to read.
My total? $189. A steal, really!
I reached into my bright yellow crossbody, extracted my credit card, prepared to swipe… and then the cashier sweetly dropped a bomb. “Oh, I’m sorry, we don’t take Visa charge, unless it’s a debit.” She went on to explain the types of payment they do accept, none of which I had immediately available. I always carry a checkbook! Except today.
I was flummoxed. And screwed; I only had two [now useless] Visa credit cards and a $20 bill on my person. All I wanted was to get my gigantic paper products and snacks off the belt and into my car.
Suddenly my feet hurt.
As people piled up behind me in line and I tried to wrap my brain around the [increasingly embarrassing] situation, I became that annoying customer who mumbles useless statements ad nauseam:
“You don’t take Visa charge? Who doesn’t take Visa charge? I had no idea you didn’t take Visa charge.” Repeat.
After exhausting every option I could think of — “Do you take Paypal?” Of course they don’t; this isn’t the Internet, Keira — the seriously kind and patient cashier put everything back in my cart and sent me to customer service to apply for a Sam’s Club credit card.
I considered it… I really wanted those paper towels, dammit! Then I came to my senses. Another credit card is the last thing I need. Defeated and dejected, I pushed my full cart to the side and made my way to the exit.
But wait! I wasn’t leaving empty-handed. I went back to my abandoned cart, dug out the paperback, and used the cash I had on hand to make it mine.
So I kind of spent over $50 and an hour on The Fault in Our Stars?
It better be good, John Green.
Sam’s, I’ll be back for you; and next time I’ll be ready.
The Comments
laurenswardrobe
I love the jeans in this post, I think they would look amazing on! I have a blog too and would love if you could have a look :) http://www.laurenswardrobe.com
Katherine Gonzales
I’m not that much of a internet reader to be
honest but your blogs really nice, keep it up! I’ll go ahead and bookmark your website to
come back in the future. Cheers
keiralennox
Katherine GonzalesThank you Katherine!
Leah Grace
Really enjoyed this post. I’m a big fan of Costco; just have to make sure you remember what you already have and not get sidetracked :-)
Erin E.
What?! No Visa?! That should be illegal! Or at least they should be required to post gigantic signs everywhere because I would have been in the exact same situation! Thank you for this entertaining PSA :)
mywordspictures
Great post. Love the outfit!
poutineandprada
At least you had fab shoes on! Love those:)
Kayla
I would read a story like this (or any story) from you every day. Just so you know, we don’t need outfits all the time. Any post is acceptable. =)
keiralennox
KaylaAww, thank you so much for this, Kayla! I really appreciate it :)
Victoria Olmo
Haha, I love this! It sounds like one of those stories you can always tell. Great move on still buying the book!
annacarew
The fault in our stars is incredible… oh and i love those heeled booties
Poojitha
your articles are very nice and all , but I never see u replying to any of the comments anybody posted. why?
keiralennox
PoojithaI try to reply to comments but, admittedly, I’m not as good at it as I’d like to be. My business (unrelated to the blog) consumes the majority of my life, but I try to carve out time to interact with readers and respond to questions/comments. Some weeks are better than others. I’m working on it! :)
shannonwaisath
1. A Fault in Our Stars is AMAZING, you’ll love it
2. Shameless is also AMAZING
Better luck on your next Costco visit.
http://yourstrulytwins.wordpress.com/
Joanne Mason (@joannealma)
Great outfit, totally sucky situation!
Gigi Fontenot
I love it… plus I can completely understand the Sam’s thing as my boyfriend just got us a membership – which I didn’t think we needed until I was walking around Sam’s. We needed it, everyone needs it!!!
keiralennox
Gigi FontenotEveryone does need it! My parents bought us a membership a few years ago for Christmas, and I was all, “what the heck am I going to do with 20-lb bags of rice?” But it’s worth it for the stockpile of toilet paper alone. ;)
sashilove21
First of all, I love the shoes! Second, I have totally done the same thing! I loaded up my Sam’s cart with everything I needed…cashier rang up $200 just to find out….they don’t take Visa CC. So embarrassing. It’s 2014 people! Time to accept all forms of money.
keiralennox
sashilove21Get it together, Sam’s Club!
sewfabmom
The same exact thing happened to my mom and I at Costco. One laptop and a Samsung tablet, to the register we go and then we don’t. It is such an odd thing when stores don’t accept all forms a payment. Aren’t they hurting them selves in the end? I guess not because all my mom did was apply for an American Express and a Costco membership. So a laptop and a Samsung tablet and we are off!
keiralennox
sewfabmomThey know exactly what they’re doing, don’t they?
Socially Awkward Fashionista
I’ve had this happen to me in different store way too many times to count.
saraspunza
So funny! You will love the book. If you don’t you cannot be human…
Jess
Aw man. I hate the spending hangover after the deal buzz dies… http://beautyreviewsbyruby.wordpress.com/
Joanna
Who doesn’t take visa?? That’s just silly
erin
Ugh that is my one beef with Sam’s/Costco… I’m always in a panic when I make my way to the checkout… does my checkbook have at least one check in it?? (I’m notorious for forgetting and walking around with it empty and useless full of deposit slips… who uses those anymore? Hello, atms?!) I feel your pain!
keiralennox
erinHa, this made me giggle! There’s nothing worse than opening your checkbook to write an emergency check and seeing the deposit slip staring you in the face.
FatFreeFashion
It happens! Love the outfit, though!
Lindsay xx,
http://www.fatfreefashion.com
Palmtrees and Happiness
The crazy thing is, this EXACT thing happened to be about two weeks ago when I needed to throw a party at work and all I had was a Visa and some cash on me, my face pretty much said oh shit. No more CC’s!
http://www.palmtreesandhappiness.com
keiralennox
Palmtrees and HappinessThey should have a mercy policy for people buying party supplies. Especially work-party supplies. You can’t go back to the office empty-handed!
Amy
Sound like you had one hack of my shopping experience
rambleonrockstar
I adore John Green. He writes beautifully and doesn’t dumb things down simply because he’s writing for a younger audience.
I also love stores like Sam’s Club and Costco. Though I do notice I end up buying useless items that I totally “needed” at the time.
keiralennox
rambleonrockstar“He writes beautifully and doesn’t dumb things down simply because he’s writing for a younger audience.” <– Nail on the head.
Kathryn from Schoolmarm Style
The Fault in Our Stars is actually worth it! Those paper products would have helped though. You definitely need tissues for that book.
theoxfordowl
Don’t worry, I think we’ve all done something like that before! :P
notrecloset
Amazing yellow spring bag :)
http://notrecloset.wordpress.com
conmaldita
i like the shoes!!
luxeandlinen
love this outfit!
dearaligrace
Love those booties and that little purse!
KhoaSinclair
If the shoes kute, oh well! haha
http://www.khoasinclair.co
keiralennox
KhoaSinclairAgreed! Cute shoes make every situation better.
Bead Charmer Girl
Stores like that make my mind malfunction. Thankfully we have other options. But if you enjoy it, best wishes.
keiralennox
Bead Charmer GirlClearly I don’t belong there, ha!
Jenn
Reblogged this on jenniferbogus13.
sland24
1st… The Fault Within Our Stars is one of my favorites, 2nd… This definitely describes my life on the daily. You don’t know how many times this happens to me…you would think I would learn? nope…. Bahahha I am excited to read on!
keiralennox
sland24Glad I’m not the only one! ;)
I’m several chapters into TFiOS, and I’m really enjoying it so far.
sland24
keiralennoxKeep on my friend!!! It makes you happy to be alive!!!
kaiusemily
Reblogged this on KAIUS EMILY .
DeDivahDeals
Which is exactly why I don’t renew my membership to Costco! Great share, thanks.
divinedeals71
I’m officially obsessed with those booties! By chance do you remember the style name? Google isn’t being much help when I search for ‘Mateo booties’
divinedeals71
divinedeals71Nevermind, I answered my own question! The style name is ‘Mateo’, duh!
keiralennox
divinedeals71Glad you found them! I bought them on Hautelook a while ago, so I think they’re a discontinued style. You may be able to find them on eBay, or 6pm?
anolivedaily
I always struggle with whether or not bulk is actually better. I have been burned a few times having to throw away massive quantities of food (I have to stop going to Costco when I’m hungry). However, I have to say my giant 2 gallon bottle of Windex has been the best thing ever. I have cleaned just about every surface in my house 10X over and it’s not even a quarter gone. Best purchase ever.
keiralennox
anolivedailyI struggle with the bulk conundrum myself… For home, it’s not practical because it’s just my husband and me. But for our business, I’m all about stockpiling paper/cleaning supplies.
And let’s be serious, you can never have too much Windex. ;)
marameodesign-dev6.com
I constantly spent my half an hour to read this weblog’s content every day along
with a mug of coffee.
Miss Alice Beauty
Epic shopping experience, haha. Great post and love the pop of color in the outfit!
missalicebeauty.wordpress.com