Consumer Reports - Sometimes You're the Fire Engine, Sometimes You're the Fire

I had a nice short story running around in my head tonight, but it sort of turned into one of "those days" the last couple of days so I will finish it tomorrow night if I don't get called out.

Work was great, but after dinner for Abby the Rescue Lab, there was four loads of laundry to be done at the Laundromat as the crash pad washer broke recently (not quite as visually entertaining as WalMart but close).  But then I got to pick up some much awaited packages from a Postal Store that's near the highway I travel on to and from the interstate and the crash pad. There was Peter Grants new Sci Fi book (including a note on the inside cover that said, among other thing, "Abby don't chew - Peter Grant", and what may be a draft of Jim Curtis's new book for which I'm going to be a beta reader.  I was looking forward to reading both of them as my own first novel makes it way through the publishing process like syrup meets liquid nitrogen (but my publisher is awesome and I was the queen of too many commas).  But also waiting was a box of some of my favorite bath and cosmetic products, all of which I was running seriously low on.

You know I love my Fangipani products (Indianapolis made and on my sidebar) as well as the wonderful Essential Oil products of Taproot Farms of Chickaloon, Alaska (a review on those another day).   But this company I ordered from today is a serious favorite, making not only some of the most delicious bath and beauty products out there but the ONLY lip gloss that passes the Range "Tactical Lip Gloss Test" for wear, natural colors, and ingredients free from harmful chemicals (and this tube has seen some abuse out in the field and still has never sprung a leak or lost the cap). Their Queen Bee Bath with Epsom salts, honey, goat milk and buttermilk is by far the best bathtub product I've ever used and I was hooked on the Honey Sugar Scrub after getting some as a gift.  Buy some for yourself, buy some as gifts for your bride, your daughter, a new mother in the family (they have very gentle honey based baby products).

Bee Naturals of Missouri.  Their founder Barbara,  a nurse, developed the original cream and salve products to help hands that were cracked raw and nearly bleeding even with using the best of commercially available products (most of which contain the chemicals that are as harmful to the skin as what you need protection from).  Do I know THAT issue. The products were a huge success and her line now includes products for everyone in the family as well as the color cosmetics I love. If you live in the St. Louis area, Barbara also has a little retail shop on the Mississippi in charming and  historic Clarksville, MO. (Clarksville is a little gem of a visit).

I've never ever had a late order or a wrong order but there is a first for everything  For as I opened my box, it was soon obvious I got someone else's order.  I checked my receipt.  Yup, I ordered the right products, they just weren't in this box.

My first thought was selfish annoyance, then realized, how many mistakes have I made, we all have made, even as  consummate professionals?  It happens to everyone.  So rather than complain, I sent the company the following, which I hope would make Barbara laugh:

Dear------

I received my order today, shipped to my ---------- address, so happy to have it as I am on the last bits of my cosmetics and am leaving for a business trip shortly.

I opened the box, and contained therein was the receipt just as pictured above.

What the box DIDN'T Contain was my order. (see photo attached)

Instead of all the products mentioned above, I received 3 deodorants, 2 facial fresheners and 2 men's products.  With the exception of one of the deodorants, none of it was ordered, nor a product I use.

I don't have my favorite Bee Natural makeup and bath stuff!

I picture myself driving two hours round trip to find some products as good as yours in the city.

 

I picture myself waking up in the morning looking like Granny on the Beverly Hillbillies.

I picture my twenty five years younger husband using the men's products and being stalked by super models.

I picture attempting to make a homemade honey sugar scrub out of all the great ingredients you use and remember the last time I did that when the top of the blender came off and it sprayed across the walls like shrapnel, immediately drying to hard cement that had to be removed with a putty knife.

I picture that little cupboard under the sink where there's a bottle of bourbon.

I'd be happy to mail all but the one deodorant back to you, but in the meantime could you please mail my missing  products (less a deodorant) to:
 

--  -----  -------

----  ------  -----

-------------   --  -----

and my husband will get them to me.
 

I realize mistakes happen (there's a reason I know that nose hair is flammable) and know you'll get it taken care of.

 

Thank you

Dr. Brigid


Update:  Barbara, the founder of Bee Naturals contacted me personally  My box went to a lady in Arizona who was probably as befuddled as I was  She got another box out in express mail to me immediately and included an extra item by way of thanks.  Now THAT is personal customer service you will NEVER get from the majority of beauty companies.

I did NOT lick the tube of tasty lip gloss you left on the bed.