Oh, geez! We travel to Sanibel Island every Thanksgiving week. This time we got into the Sanibel Masters Art Show, so loaded up all of our show gear, and drove the larger, but older minivan. Already I've been anxious about this show since I've been reading about boulderbrook productions, and felt like a nimnal because my computer won't get me to the page that shows the artists' booth sites and the show map.
So yesterday we were about to go on a little shopping trip off island when my husband began bemoaning the fact that he didn't think he had transferred the bungie cords from the other car to the minivan, which prompted me to remind him that there are always many bungies in the basket with the tent sides. And suddenly it became evident by my husband's expression that something was really wrong! The basket with the tent sides didn't make it into the minivan!!!!
Hearts stopping and starting, we tried to brainstorm possible solutions for this megaproblem. We began by trying to look up party rental places in the area to see if we could rent sides. NO PHONEBOOK IN THE CONDO. We are not of the generation to immediately think of using the computer to locate things like this. Finally we got the names and numbers of 4 places. 2 of them asked for messages to be left. The other 2 don't have this type of thing. The messages were never returned.
I'm sure that I've read about people traveling to shows and renting equipment when they get there, but I came up at deadends on that route.
Next I thought that I'd try to see if I could purchase new sides and have them delivered overnight. The website for Undercover, my tent company, is under construction! If you knew me you'd be able to see my muscles tightening up, and my lovely calm demeanor slowly disintegrating.
Luckily I found another site, Hayneedle, where they had just what we wanted. Got the sides ordered and waited for our order confirmation, then waited to see if overnight delivery could be accomplished to Sanibel. We got the order confirmation and then waited for notification of shipment. Yesterday evening we got the notification of shipment and see by tracking that our tent sides are onroute, due to arrive before 4:30.
Now I'm on pins and needles, waiting for the delivery. Hopefully, disaster has been diverted.
I realize that sides are not technically necessary, but the breezes here and the sun here can be difficult to deal with, especially considering our jewelry displays. Whew! I will be so glad to see that FedEx truck!
Comments
And muttering! I forgot the muttering part!
The only instructions we found were included in the package that the sides came in and were all pictures. I couldn't get the blasted things to come together without unfastening the top part, and I only came to that conclusion after about an hour of pulling and tugging!
This has been an entertaining and enlightenting conversation. I'm so glad it all worked out in the end, Kathleen. Since you brought up the topic of sides...I, too, had trouble with my sides. Is there a secret that I'm not aware of? Are there any instructions somewhere?
Thank goodness Kathleen! I hope you have many sales to make up for the stress levels!
Ruth, I tried to respond to you yesterday, but for some reason couldn't make a comment. I did enjoy the discussion you referred to. We were on vacation when it originally came out. The poop in a group comment actually made me laugh outloud! It seems that tent sides were commonly forgotten.
Thanks, guys! The sides arrived in time. Carol, the HayNeedle service was excellent. I do swear, though, that the manufacturers of these sides have never actually tried to put them up themselves. I wish I could ask them to make the actual tent and sides look like the picture in the directions diagram! Don't want to complain about this wonderful rescue, though. We really got lucky this time! The weather was fantastic today, sunny and breezy, and is supposed to be the same tomorrow. Took in several orders for custom work, so that's good, too.
I hope everything arrived on time Kathleen! Let us know how it ended up!
I have used HayNeedle before for tent sides to go with a new canopy, and they delivered as stated. I was impressed. And when I talked with someone from the company, he couldn't have been more accommodating. AND, when I received a discount off of a purchase over X $$ a day later, they applied that discount to the order I had already placed with NO hassle, a simple phone call saved me an additional $30. So its rare for me to recommend a business, but they get my recommendation for excellent customer service hands down. I hope your experience is similar.
Kathleen - good luck, hope you get the sides delivered on time.
Just so you know you're in good company, there was a discussion on the forum earlier this year on this topic, might give you a few chuckles to realize you're not the only one!
http://www.artfairinsiders.com/forum/topics/what-have-you-left-behind