Just Hand Over the Computer and No One Gets Hurt

OK, show of hands....how many of you remember the song "Suspicion?" Yeah, I know, I am really dating myself here, but it's been running through my head ever since yesterday when the sprightly young James called to tell me there was "bad news" on the computer front. It seems the lovely computer I had picked out, the Lenovo with all it's bells and whistles could not be mine for the price we had agreed upon but for over a hundred and fifty dollars more.

Apparently as near as I ever did get this it was due to some error in his telling me about changing the operating system from Vista to Windows, and my lack of some crucial disks from my old computer which might have made this possible. What it came down to though was that I could pay the hundred fifty bucks ....or.....I had to settle for a different computer. It was a different brand, one of the ones frequently sold in the "big box" stores. It had similar features to the Lenovo but it was not what we had agreed on Saturday, it was not the one he told me had such great dependability that he had "never seen one in for repairs" like the Lenovo. It had a different screen, one aircard vs. two....and he was, for some reason pushing it on me. I really could not afford to take the $150 hit, I needed the computer, so in the moment, I caved.

I had to take my old one in at lunch time for the data transfer anyway so I told him "fine, whatever, I'll see you at noon." But it was not all sitting well. I did not want the other computer. And I kept thinking about how hard he pushed that other one. What was that about, anyway? Dealer promo or something? Suspicion! And I was already bonding with that sleek little Lenovo, seeing her on my cute antique desk, imagining myself blogging away on her in bed late into the night. I was not happy about the other brand! Or the feeling that I might have been highjacked. When I got over to the store, James was out to lunch. Grace abounds! Even in computerland, I think. So I had a great chat with first another cute little high-school looking sales guy and then the store's owner and shared my concerns about not wanting computer B, why I wanted XP and not Vista in the first place, and despite glaze over, I think I even understood some of what they told me. Happy endings. The Lenovo is mine. OK, it is costing me $35 more. And I did go with the Vista operating system. I'm reassured that it will all be ok. That the compatibility horror stories I've heard in the past about Vista have been worked out, and the extra memory my $35 is getting me will take care of any other concerns. I told the man I hope he's truthin' me on this because I work across the street....it's really easy for me to get here, I could be here a lot....and I blog! He (who by the way looks a bit like the angels on my holy cards from grade school) smiled beatifically and said, "Yes, we want you to be happy." Indeed we do. He has no idea!