*falls onto a bar stool* Somrthing hot, please? Bartender's choice.
I just spent an hour and a half channelling my mother.
College Boy waited till
today to buy GF's gift. She wanted jewelry, he asked her for suggestions, she gave him 4, all emerald pendants.
Except the makkis nutso (of course). "Real" jewelry stores are way out of his price range (of course). And it's too late to order online (of course). JCP had what she wanted... in theory. But staff ignored him and werent' knowledgable re: stock. So he went to Macy's where he got snapped up by sales staff right away (of course). Total after tax: $140. He came home for supper tonight with sparks shooting out of his hair.
I told him that was way too much--and he agreed. He didn't even like the pendant--it was simply the only thing at the only store that actually had someone to help him. But he's desperate. She's already back at her parents' house getting stuff ready and he's driving there on Saturday.
So I fired up my laptop and channelled my Google-fu. (This is the part where I was like my mom. She doesn't have a laptop, but she is totally the Chuck Norris of obsessive shopping research.) After I found and he called 6 stores that either only had stuff online or everything not hugely expensive was out of stock, we think that he has 2 workable options. Bon-ton, JCP (in a different mall), and Piercing Pagoda. (<-- who knew?) He should top out at about $65.
He's hitting the road tomorrow morning. Tonight it's freezing and rainy and his temper is frayed. He went back to his apt. to watch Star Wars and (he said) plot the demise of several clueless salespeople. I told him I wanted the book rights.
Live and learn, young man. Live and learn.