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Wednesday, June 18, 2014

The Funny Briefcase Story


I was talking the other day about The Mister and
the poor man's bad luck, which is an amusing joke
in our family.  A 10 minute repair turns into an all day
project.  He can pick the shortest check out line but
it will move the slowest, and on it goes.
We tease him that Murphy of Murphy's Law is
a twin brother that follows him everywhere!

One of the funniest stories came recently when he needed a new
brief case. He works for a foundation that supports our two
 local hospitals and he has an office at both places.
 He needed a bag that could hold his laptop along with several
large binders that he uses daily as he goes between offices.
His current brief case was looking tired, and it wasn't
wide enough to hold his new laptop. (yes the old one died! ha.)

He shopped online and found one on etsy.  It was hand crafted
and really beautiful.  It had a shoulder strap like he wanted and
it was the right size.  The creator was in Montana and even though
it was a new shop, he had two glowing reviews.
So he placed the order!

In a couple of weeks, a package came, delivered by DHL.
I had to sign for it, and I thought it was strange that it was
brought to our house by an international delivery company.
The package was smashed and shaped weirdly, but I thought
I'd let him do the honors of opening it himself.

Later that evening, the package was opened.
It revealed a very cheaply made, funny smelling,
oddly colored bag.  The quality was terrible!
The stitching was crooked, there were pencil marks
for the cutting of the pattern that hadn't been cleaned off,
and the cutting of the pieces that were sewn together looked
like a little kid did it with those preschool Crayola scissors!
And it was supposed to be monogrammed with his full name
 on the front flap but it wasn't there.

The Mister, who never likes to admit something is wrong
and really hates to return things, said he could clean off
the pattern marks and give it a good polishing with some
leather cleaner.  I, on the other hand, said that was out of
 the question and took photos of the worst parts and sent
them to the shop owner to demand a refund.  

While taking photos, I found the monogram!
It was on the shoulder strap.  His name was misspelled! lol!
Not only was it misspelled, but it was crooked, with a few
of the letters done so poorly, you couldn't read them. Oh my!

By then, we were laughing hysterically!
Oh Murphy!

Well the shop owner responded with a refund
and admitted that he was swamped with orders and 
had outsourced to another country on the other side 
of the world.  The leather wasn't calf skin, but goat.

That explained a lot!  The bag did look like it rode in the
 baggage compartment of a plane with an elephant sitting on
 it.  And the smell was unlike anything we'd ever encountered!

We were telling the story to Taylor and Lauren later that week
over dinner.  Taylor wanted to see the sorry bag and we had a
good laugh about it.  He said it looked like a bag a college student
would use....a distressed hipster bag.  He asked if he could have it
and we didn't object but said he might want to air it out
before using it to get rid of that goat smell.

And Taylor said, 'Dad, you're the president of a foundation!  You're
in your 50's!  You need something with more class than this!
You need to look the part!"  And The Mister told us about a bag
he really liked but it was expensive and he wasn't sure about
spending the money.  We all checked out the bag online. 
It was a Levenger bag.  Handmade in England.  Lovely! 
We insisted that he had to have it!   
 Besides, Father's Day was just around the corner! :)

Taylor took the old bag home and put it in their laundry room
to air out.  I texted him a few days later and asked about it.
His response...."The whole laundry room smells like goat!"  lol!

Later that week I ordered the new bag.
I got a good discount using retailmenot.com
and the thing has a life time guarantee!
And he looks like a business man instead of a college kid!
And since I did the shopping, Murphy didn't show up! ha.









61 comments:

  1. Now that is a funny story! I am glad the Mister has a swanky classy bag now.
    My attorney son carries his files and papers around in a big Rubbermaid tub - :(

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  2. Oh my goodness! I thought I was the only person with Murphy riding shotgun on my life! That's a funny story! I sure hope the Mister appreciates your effort in getting that refund. And I hope Taylor gets that goat smell gone. LOL

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    Replies
    1. You, too? lol.... I'm sorry (chuckle) ...no, really I am! :)

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  3. Very amusing for us but guess not for him at the time
    Just looked up Murphys Law and it seems very apt.
    I would have gone bananas with the supplier.
    Glad it was all resolved and he has a spanking new computer and a smart case.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. yes, well I went bananas for him. haha.
      I used to repo cars for a day job, so I have no problem being assertive if need be!
      He's all set now and looks good, too! ha.

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    2. Great you could fix it
      What a mess they made of the order.

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  4. Funny Betsy! poor M. I never think he had so many stories:)

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    Replies
    1. Yes, poor thing! But it was SO funny I just had to share. At least it ended happy! lol....

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    2. Yes good habve a happy end lol

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  5. Poor Mister! At least the story had a happy ending.

    I wonder if Taylor put the 'goaty' case and a box of baking soda in a Rubbermaid container and let it sit if it would help the smell disappear?

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    Replies
    1. I told him to fill it with dryer sheets. The baking soda is a good idea!

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    2. Make sure you keep us updated on the progress

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  6. That is so funny! Since you gave us the background of him always having something go wrong, that is. I am so glad you didn't have any trouble with the refund. His new case is beautiful. And, not only does it have the meaningfulness that it was from the whole family, there will be a funny story to go with it, too! Thanks for the story.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. yeah, it was fun to all go together and get it....it really is so much nicer than the one he ordered. And he loves it. Yes, the story to go along with it is priceless. haha.

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  7. lmao the college student goat vibe just didn't work?
    hahaha the goat smell sure would not be a perk.
    He should let you do it all the time
    Avoiding Murphy's bad luck chime
    There was an X-files episode about a guy who had good luck all the time
    Could do one on the mister who is reverse and in his bad luck prime
    And that just goes to show
    Never ever trust reviews when a few are in tow
    33% of all internet reviews are fake
    But at least a refund you were able to shake

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I knew you would laugh
      and the goat bag gaff.
      The new one is better tons
      even thought it cost more funds.
      haha.

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    2. Sometimes have to spend the dough
      Worth it in the long run at ones show

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  8. wow...really nice bag...

    and ha...goat...mmm...bet their laundry is going to smell wonderful for a while...
    you def knocked it out of the park for fathers day...
    outsourced to another country...wonder how many bags came back to bite him in the...
    well, you know goats...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We noticed he got quite a few terrible reviews right after ours.
      He got greedy and thought he could stretch his profits. Lost his whole shop instead. ha.

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  9. Poor Mister! Sounds like he is spending far too much time with Murphy! The new bag is beautiful though!

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    Replies
    1. It is beautiful and suits him very well. I wonder if Murph would like to carry the goat? ha.

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  10. Oh dear. I have my Murphy moments too... but maybe not as many as the Mister. And I certainly would not have put up with keeping it.
    The new one is very handsome and classy. Levenger have absolutely beautiful things - I have eyed a few over the years. We need a "before" pic of the goat bag! Laughing.
    Here is a link if Taylor needs some further help deodorizing. Lots of good tips. I know my Mom always used the newspaper one for various things including getting the smell out of boots/shoes or pickle bottles! Worked like a charm.
    http://www.howtogetridofstuff.com/how-to-get-rid-of-leather-smell/
    Good luck!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I thought I'd kept the photos of the goat bag but I hadn't. And Taylor wasn't home tonight to send me one. Let's just say that the Levenger bag is one million times better. lol.... I didn't know they had lifetime guarantees. Very cool.

      I'll pass along the info to Taylor...thanks!

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  11. Awwwwwww...I wanted to see a pic of the goat bag!!! Too, too funny. My hubby is always looking for a deal so I could see this happening to him. And he would insist on keeping it out of pride. Ha ha!

    Jane

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    Replies
    1. yep...it's a pride thing. Funny....I would be too proud to carry the thing! haha....

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  12. Your husband and I have the same kind of luck, lol!

    I remember working for a bank several years ago that used DHL frequently, even though we weren't ever shipping anything internationally. After awhile, the bank stopped using DHL because they had the same problem with packages being crushed like that.

    Your husband's new bag is really nice!

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    Replies
    1. Well, I can't totally blame DHL since the packing was nonexistant. It wasn't stuffed to keep it's shape and put in a box. It was basically just had plastic taped around it and that's it!

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  13. Oh my goodness! This really did make me laugh! Your husband and I must be long lost Murphy twins because I have that kind of luck ALL the time. His new bag is lovely. And much deserved I am sure.

    Shari

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    Replies
    1. He's going to be so glad to hear that he is not alone in his Murphy family! haha.

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  14. Oh Betsy - that's a great story .. and I'm so pleased goat doesn't cross the ocean - but a really good quality Lavenger bag does happily fly first class over the pond! It will last for a long time .. and that's the best ... and what an excellent Father's Day prezzie .. bet he's chuffed!! Cheers Hilary

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    Replies
    1. Yes, you can't do better than Levenger and it is a stunning bag. He is chuffed...in fact the first day he carried it he emailed and said he looked like a million bucks. lol....

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  15. What a crazy story! Such a BAAAADDD briefcase! ;-} Good thing The Mister has you to help him along...

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    Replies
    1. lol....so baaaaad! And yes, he has NO idea. lol...

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  16. I am relieved to know The Mister was blessed with a new briefcase suitable for carrying to work.
    Good thing he has you.
    :0)

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  17. I'd love to see a picture of the "goat bag." Great story!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah, I didn't keep the pictures I took of all the flaws. Not sure I even took a pic of the whole bag.

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  18. Aw these grilled burgers for dinner sounds delicious!

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    Replies
    1. Don't they? Dinner is in an hour and I'm starved! ha.

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  19. Oh dear!!! I am glad that you swooped in and saved the day! I hope that Taylor can get rid of the "fragrance" xx

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  20. Being the butt of jokes is no fun and especially hurtful to husbands. I has an effect on their self-image. You may want to think about how it must hurt him.

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    Replies
    1. Oh, Ginger! You must have missed the parts where I said that he laughed, too...and that this is a fun family joke. The Mister is the first to admit he has Murphy along with him where ever he goes. We have a sense of humor and it is all in fun.... and with love. He isn't the butt of any jokes. He knows about this post, too...and isn't hurt in any way. Laughing with each other about the calamities in life is a healthy way to live and that's just how we roll here. I've read your comment to him and he said "Oh brother....take it light, Ginger!" :)

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  21. LOVELY BAG! The NEW one of course! I forgot to tell you this today at work...tell Taylor the bag I ordered from same country as The Mister's smelled pretty bad (GAMEY) too...we stuffed it with dryer sheets and that absolutely took care of the smell after a couple of days!

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    Replies
    1. I will tell him that! I had suggested dryer sheets but I don't think he tried that!

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  22. LOVELY BAG! The NEW one of course! I forgot to tell you this today at work...tell Taylor the bag I ordered from same country as The Mister's smelled pretty bad (GAMEY) too...we stuffed it with dryer sheets and that absolutely took care of the smell after a couple of days!

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  23. Oh my! What bad luck!

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    Replies
    1. Poor guy...we we had a good laugh about it and now he has a beautiful one!

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  24. Love this story. Good thing The Mister has you or he wouldn't have any good luck! :)

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    Replies
    1. I'm going to tell him you said so, Yuji! haha.

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  25. did I miss the part that you got a refund? did you have to send it back when you or if you were refunded? The new one is very nice, lol, your poor husband, lol, I have had two bad experiences on EBAY, never went back! Sad but true, if you do me wrong I remember like an elephant, lol, goat is a bad smelll, lol!!! They are adorable though,

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    Replies
    1. Yes, he got a refund and the guy didn't want us to return the bag. But I don't blame etsy as a whole...love shopping and selling there! But we won't be going back to his store. I think it's shut down anyway.

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  26. Poor Mister of you..but its better that you intervened and got the refund..the new bag is really very nice..loved your story..:)

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    Replies
    1. Yes, the new one is much better! lol.....poor guy. But he's happy now! :)

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