It’s December and that means it’s coffee time with Deborah, Coco and you! I’m going with my usual Starbucks Winter Blend with collagen and Chobani Peppermint Mocha creamer.
Over coffee I’d tell you it’s my birthday month. It seems to sneak up faster and faster every year. The Caveman asked what I wanted and I didn’t even know what to tell him. You do reach an age where you just don’t care about stuff anymore. I am there. I’m sure I’ll be delighted with whatever he chooses…except for a new dutch oven. I do not want housewares for my birthday. You’ll understand what I mean when you read on.
Over coffee I’d tell you the holiday decor is mostly up in our house, with the exception of the tree. I can’t seem to get myself going on that. I’ve been diffusing Woodland Walk essential oil blend from Now Foods. It’s the perfect blend of fresh holiday evergreen aromas. So calming.
Over coffee I’d tell you that while I love a good cup of coffee or two in the morning, my go-to afternoon pick-me-up is some Winter Sangria seltzer water from Trader Joe’s infused with one of these B-12 Energy Boost Sticks from Now Foods. Remember to save $10 off your $40 purchase at nowfoods.com with MARCIANOW10.
(Google images)
Apparently the Grinch works in the Housewares department at Macy’s
Over coffee I’d tell you how bummed I was when the enamel on my cast iron Dutch oven bubbled up and chipped off IN a recent batch of chili. Poor Caveman managed to get a mouthful. Talk about buzzkill. Cast iron Dutch ovens are pricey and I think they should be a purchase that lasts a lifetime. Clearly this one did not. I skimped and went with the Martha Stewart brand at Macy’s vs splurging on Staub or Le Creuset, which have a lifetime guarantee. I took it back to Macy’s (which is an ordeal in and of itself, since said Dutch oven weights about 20 lbs) anyway to see if there was anything they would do. To my dismay the manager suggested I burned something (I didn’t), then said I must have used it in the oven “at very high heat” (I didn’t) and finally she went so far as to say they were also sold at Kmart as well (I didn’t buy it at Kmart). To make a long story short, I was given the poorest of poor customer service. They say a happy customer tells a friend and while an unhappy customer tells the world. They got that right. So disappointing.
What would you tell me over coffee? Would you pursue the damaged Dutch oven? Or should I let it go?
Wow. I guess Macy’s is no Nordstrom’s when it comes to customer service. I have a few Le Creuset pieces and LOVE them. i would say I don’t want anything, but I think the truth is that if I want something, I buy it. 😉 I keep clicking on Facebook ads and so of course they are multiplying. I’m about to open Starbucks Christmas blend. Maybe it will give me mojo to put up our tree.
Eek! I have a really old cast iron dutch oven, which will last forever but it’s a little small. Every time I look at getting something bigger I see reviews exactly like yours. On a related note, it’s been forever since I went to Macy’s and I don’t see a reason to break the streak.
The hubs and I rarely give each other gifts. In pre-pandemic times we used to give ourselves long weekends at the beach, these days it’s more like Couples Chipotle nights;-)
Oh wow, what poor customer service. I wouldn’t let it go with Macy’s – I would pursue this. Somehow, the worse the customer service, the more I’m inclined to follow it up until I get what I’ve asked for.
I like the idea with diffusing Woodland Walk essential oil. Maybe that does the trick and you don’t need to get a tree!
Oooh, that’s bad customer service! We had a lot of issues with our sofa purchase but Walter E Smithe made it right. I even talked to one of the Smithe girls. They have a customer for life. Macy’s? They’re no Marshall Fields. Maybe you should contact Martha?
I have Le Creuset and I had to return a pan, which they replaced. Well worth the splurge, IMHO.
Despite the fact that that’s atrocious customer service, I would think about how hard their jobs are right now. How stressful it must be. Of course if it was me, I’d probably never buy anything at Macys again (oh wait, I never have).
I’ve also had dutch ovens (several) forever & never had that happen. Homegoods/Marshalls is a great place to get them, btw.
I think a lot of people are having trouble getting into the holiday spirit. Although I always have a long list of stuff I want, we both get what we want so there’s a no gift exchange policy for Hannukah, because I don’t need tchokes!
We have a dutch oven that is probably 25 years old maybe a wedding gift? Anyway, that thing is indestructible! I doubt you will get far with trying to return it. Maybe the new one is your birthday gift. I did not want anything for my birthday either and we decided our trip was both of our birthday and holiday gifts this year. That sparkling water flavor sounds good-I rarely hit up a TJ but I might for that
Customer service? I thought the customer was always right? That’s a buzzkill, indeed! I’m with you on not needing (or wanting) any gifts. The hubs and I pretty much buy for ourselves whenever we see fit, so there’s no need for anything special on Christmas, our anniversary, or even birthdays…though we still seem to do it anyways LOL
Customer service is not what it used to be. We have a Le Creuset and I LOVE it. I use it for everything. Some things are worth the splurge. And you should be able to burn something or put it in the oven on high temps. Sorry Marcia. 😕
That’s really a bummer about Macy’s, but I’m actually not surprised. The one in the mall here used to be so great but the overall appearance of the store, and the customer service, has gone down so much. It’s so disappointing. Can you possibly contact the Martha Stewart company? If others have complained, maybe it was a defective item and they would be willing to replace it for you.
Hmm yeah as Coco said, clearly Macy’s is not following Nordstrom’s lead in the customer service department! Bad customer service really irks me so I’d probably push the issue with them though I wouldn’t count on them to change. I have a Le Creuset dutch oven that we’ve had forever and love it – pricey but well worth it.
That woodland walk essential oil sounds like one I need to order!
So sorry about your customer service experience at Macy’s. Ugh!!! frustrating! My son got me a La Creuset one several years ago and I love it. I understand about not wanting it as a Christmas gift, though. I like to give and receive experience gifts rather than stuff, but it is tough to do that this Christmas.
Ahh, I love your mug! 😀 Happy birthday month too!
So sorry to hear about the Dutch oven. That sucks!! 🙁 🙁 I feel like I’d feel indignant enough about that crappy customer service to pursue, but I’ve also been really tired lately so I don’t know if I really actually have that much fight left in me, haha. I’ve heard amazinggg things about Le Creuset! My cast iron set is from Lodge — I need to use it more!
That’s really disappointing about the Dutch oven! I don’t have one so I have no idea about the longevity but ew that she accused you of buying it at Kmart!
I personally wouldn’t pursue it, just because I don’t have the patience for it, but my next purchase would be a Le Creuset. From any of Macy’s competitors.
My goodness, I would pursue that, possibly via social media! Grrr. And happy birthday month! My brother in law just bought his wife a soup-maker for Christmas! I mean, I gave Mr LIz money for his birthday and he spent it on a soup-maker, but that’s different, right?