Crisis Averted!

Why is it that when a retail store's inventory system shows that one widget is in stock, invariably that widget is no where to be found? Sometimes the system says that two — or even five or ten — are in stock, yet none exist in the store.

It's always at the most inconvenient time, too. Like when you're in one location that's out of stock and an employee calls over to another location for a stock check. "Well, their system says they've got two in stock. I've put on hold for you."

They've got a widget! And it's got your name on it. You hop in the car, drive umpteen miles to the other location, and explain that you've got a widget on hold. The employee looks at you, perplexed, and begins to explain how their inventory systems are not to be trusted. "But we can have one special ordered and sent to a store location of your choice."

The other location specifically asked this location to place one on hold and explained to you how it would be waiting for you when you arrived. And now they're telling you otherwise?

You've now wasted two trips to two locations of their crappy store, and you have no choice but to blog about it in an attempt to blow off steam.

And that is why retail inventory systems stink.