At the store they checked and said indeed my membership had expired. So I renewed the membership and proceeded to check out a pretty good stack of books. But the "Wimpy Kid" books were all ringing up at full price. Wait a second, I told the cashier, aren't those 40% off? She tells me, oh these are the hard cover, you probably want the paper backs. As there was no helper around who could go and get them at the time, I paid for all the other books except those and returned to look for the paperbacks .
Alas.
They do not come in paperback.
I learned this when I returned to the front of the store and spoke with two other workers. So I questioned why the books we not on sale in the store when they were online. Forty percent is a significant difference in books that are $16 and $17. Well! The two workers were eager to inform me that in the store we have to pay their wages and the light bill. They got a bit huffy. So I thanked them and said I'd just order them online in that case.
Or so I thought.
When I again entered my member number online, it again informed me that my membership had expired. So I called the customer service line and asked if they would help me with the order. I was told by the nicest of people that even though I had, in fact, paid my $25 in a store to renew my membership, the computer system wouldn't be updated for 24 to 48 hours. But . . . but . . . but . . . it's nearly Christmas and these books are for my grandson. Oh, she assured me, the books will definitely arrive by the end of next week.
I couldn't help it, I just started laughing. We both laughed. I told her it's pretty hard to imagine in this day of instant everything when I can surf the internet on my phone, that it takes up to 48 hours for a store computer to update the company computer. Boggles the mind. I asked her if she would please submit a complaint on my behalf at this unbelievable lapse in service for their good and loyal members. (I did not go so far as to say the word "Amazon".)
But with her assurances, I am waiting and will try again tomorrow and maybe the next day and try to order. If I am successful, I can get three books for less than the cost of two in the store. If I'm unsuccessful, I'll go back to the store. But then, will the computer know that I've updated my membership?
