I was reading the Sunday newspaper and saw something that caught my eye. It was a folding pocket knife with an inlaid engraving of a old time locomotive. I ordered two, both to be used an gifts a few months later.
Time passed. The check was cashed. Nothing arrived in the mail. I had not written down the address of the company so I went online to find them. Nothing. I looked at the back of the check to get clues from the rubber stamp. Nothing. The two occasions came and went and I purchased alternative gifts. I kept the cancelled check in a special box on my desk. I kept thinking the package would arrive unexpectedly one day. It never did.
Yesterday I received a letter. When I saw the return address it looked familiar. Yes, it was the company I had ordered from. I tore open the letter to read it.
Dear Connie Green,
Thank you for ordering. The items listed below are permanently out of stock. We apologize for any inconvenience. Your payment will be applied to your next order. We hope we have another opportunity to serve you.
Sincerely,
Name Withheld - Customer Service Representative
Why am I taking up space here to tell you this story? I had ordered these gift items on September 16, 2006. Yes, it has been almost two years now, and they are finally contacting me. No, you may not have another opportunity to serve me. You never served me in the first place. I called the company today - at least I now had a phone number - and asked for my $82.90 to be refunded. I'll let you know when the check arrives, but I won't be surprised if it is 2010 when that happens.
In case you are wondering which company this is - they are called Collector Gallery and are located in Holmes, Pennsylvania.

