Driving a Hard Bargain

Today has been one of those days where bits get attempted and bits get done!

Originally we had planned to take Tom out to W H Smith's in Harrogate, to purchase some books and toys for his birthday (which was a couple of weeks ago!)

Then yesterday the tumble dryer started making ominous rumblings. It sounded a bit like a brick was revolving in the drum!  It was not the best time to die on us, as Hannah had been up the week before with a request, could we tumble dry her washing as her tumble dryer had died on her.

For some time Dot had been wanting to purchase a new kettle because the present one was showing signs of rust in the bottom of it, and there was limescale on the neck of it.

Last week she had also seen a article in the Weekend Yorkshire Post Colour Section about a firm called Country Chic which was selling spindle backed kitchen chairs. The two we have in the kitchen are from way back, and she had decided that they needed replacing.

As we were heading for Harrogate she decided that it would also be a good opportunity to "kill at least three birds with one stone" and she would return the crutches she had been issued with a couple of weeks previously when she had been bitten by a farm dog!

First we had to call at the local Health Centre for the dressings changing on her leg, then we collected Tom and headed to Harrogate.

On the way to Harrogate we called in at the Blue Barn near Pool to purchase a large sack of Ruby's Weight Controlled Pedigree Chicken and Vegetable Dog Food. A 13 kg sack works out at considerably less than purchasing 13 x 1 kg boxes, and it lasts for a month.

Once in Harrogate we went down Knaresborough Road to return the crutches to the the casualty department of Harrogate District Hopspital.

Then we called in to Comet to have a look at tumble dryers. After weighing up the pros and cons we decided to purchase the same make and model that we already had, and Dot went off looking at kettles.

A very pleasant salesman tried to sell me a three year insurance policy, but I had already told him that the cost of such a policy more than paid for a new tumble dryer over a three year period, and I had not taken out an insurance policy on the original tumble dryer. As this machine had run constantly for about 6 years I really felt I had gained by not purchasing any insurance on the machine!

He then suggested we may like two spiky tennis balls to insert into the dryer to economise on the use of the electricity. They were supposed to keep you clothes from tangling and so speed up the drying process.

When I was told they were only £11.99 I suggested that if he was prepared to throw them in for the price of the tumble dryer I might be interested. Failing that I said I would put a pair of tennis balls in and save myself £11.99! I had already refused the next day delivery for only £20.00, or day after that delivery for £10.00 or a timed delivery on day three for £5.00. I told him I expected it delivered for nothing, and that is exactly what will happen!

Meanwhile Dot had decided on a new kettle and was told the price in the blue cross sale was only £29.99. She said she could get a similar kettle from M & S for about £20.00.

To get the sale of the kettle the salesman reduced it to £20.00!

[Note to all salesmen - Don't mess with the Bentley's - They drive a hard bargain!!!]

Next stop was W H Smith's where Dot was busy buying books on offer at three for the price of two, and Tom was bargaining for the goodies he had bought. The end result was that both of them got the goods at less than they had originally been offerred!

We then called at Country Chic to look at the kitchen chairs on offer, but decided that we would try other shops before we committed to the price they were asking!