registry frustration

This post may be incredibly boring to some of you, but may serve as a warning or source of help for others...

When we registered for this baby it was our 3rd time registering for a big event. First was our wedding, second was when we were expecting Malakai. This has by far been the most frustrating of all 3 experiences. We decided to register at Target (also for a 3rd time) whether or not someone threw a baby shower or anyone got us gifts in order to take advantage of the completion discount after the due date passed. This also meant we registered for a lot more items than we would have otherwise.

The process started out normal, scanning items in excitement as we envisioned our new baby using them. It took us much longer than we anticipated, which has been the experience just about every time. I experience the usual frustration of things going out of stock or becoming out of season, but just added replacement items as necessary.

Then Target decided to "update" their website. Unfortunately this update made their website basically impossible to use. Every other link would result in an "oops" message and most items on my registry weren't showing up. They did send a discount code as an apology to all who had this issue. Unfortunately, the website wasn't fixed so using the code (online only) became a new challenge.

After over half a dozen phone calls to their customer service reps and being transferred all over the place for about a week I finally got some resolution. It involved placing my order, calling in with the number, and getting my discount applied over the phone. Just placing my order online took several days because of the items I wanted not always being visible.

Another week has passed, part of my order is here, but one of the items is wrong and I haven't heard back after contacting customer service about the mix-up 5 business days ago.

Then came the in-store discount. I only ordered items online that were eligible for free-shipping. So there were some things in-store that we used the 10% completion discount to purchase. The frustration only mounted here. Like I mentioned I added a lot of items to make sure that our shopping experience would go smoothly. I was quite familiar with what items were on my registry and what their prices should be after over a month of trying to sort things out.

When we went through check out several items did not get discounted because according to their system they weren't on the registry. We went over to customer service to figure out the issue. For some things I had scanned a pack of white baby hangers but purchased a set of blue ones which apparently doesn't work with their computers. You have to get the exact item you scanned or added online. When I asked the cashier about adding things to my registry that weren't showing up for some reason, she told me that's not really the purpose of the discount as it's meant to be used to "complete" what is already on the registry. I asked her what the difference between adding them now and having added items online from home or in store the day or even hours before. She didn't have a good answer but was determined to be as rude as possible to not only myself but her co-workers. I nearly requested a manager but Ben kept me patient and we worked through it.

The main issue wasn't even that we had purchased items that were slightly different than what we scanned but that they had recently "reset" the baby section so that numbers had changed. For example, I scanned a dresser-top diaper organizer and purchased the exact one I had scanned but the item numbers had changed in the past month so it wasn't "technically" on my registry any more. This is obviously a huge flaw in their system. So the customer service gal added this item to our registry, returned it and let us repurchase with the discount, but wouldn't do this for the other items so we returned them as they weren't absolutely necessary and we weren't willing to pay full price for them and I was tired of dealing with her attitude. Plus, Kai was getting quite antsy after what was already a long shopping trip.

Now, I have a set of blankets from Target.com that are a completely different print from what I ordered. I'm hoping that the store has the one I want so I can easily exchange them. As for the rest of our items we have over a dozen that were shipped 10 days ago but the tracking status hasn't been updated since they shipped out. I'm excited for them to arrive, but slightly dreading how many more mistakes I'll find.

I know I'm not the only one to have issues with registries and especially with Target's recent issues, but it's almost unbelievable how many separate issues we've had just trying to prepare for little brother's impending arrival. Should we decide to have more children and register again in the future we will NOT make Target our main source if we can help it.

updates...

On Thursday evening while I was cooking dinner I started to feel a tightening on my left side from my back around to my hip. I figured it was just stretched ligaments and muscles and leaned on the counter to take some of the weight off. Then it suddenly tightened up was so painful I fell on the floor. Ben rushed in and supported me for a minute. The pain subsided for two minutes and then returned again. Ben immediately called my OB's office and we awaited the call from the on call Doc. About ten minutes went by and the pain didn't come back. I explained it to the Dr. and she thinks it could possibly be kidney stones. She said that I either had passed it or that I would feel the pain again as it passes. She ruled out contractions, and since the pain was gone I just relaxed like she told me to.
Ben looked it up online and apparently kidney stones are more prevalent in pregnancy than any other time. That night I emailed with a gal from the bump who had experienced kidney stones three times! What she described didn't sound like my experience. Apparently the pain I had is similar to when the stone passes into the bladder, but then you feel more pain when you pass it out...which never happened. I have an appointment with our OB on Wednesday and will chat with her about it then.

Last week I officially withdrew from school. I was working on my Master's degree in the evenings. The plan was to take a year off once baby arrived, but a lot of complications with the program basically forced me to leave sooner. I'm glad I did- I feel so much more relaxed and at ease. I feel like I can really focus on getting our house together and getting ready for baby!

On Saturday Ben, my mom, my sister, and I registered at Target. It was a lot of fun, but also fairly exhausting. We were glad to have my mom there to offer advice. Even though it's been 16 years since she was pregnant, she is known for keeping up on things like recalls, safety, and sales. I also registered at Babies R Us (#84492299) and can't decide between two travel system sets. I HAVE to have the crib from BRU though- which is a bummer since the nearest one is two hours away!

The family shower is tentatively set for the Saturday before Mother's Day in May. I have to communicate this to my MIL and have her contact my mom to get the planning started. I haven't had any offers from friends and I'm worried that I won't be able to invited them to this shower because of how many people it would be. My family alone is huge, but we're combining both sides. On top of that, many of my more distant friends have expressed interest in being invited to the shower...


Today Ben and I are home sick. He's been sick for almost a week now and I got his bug as we thought I would. Sore throat, cough, sinus congestion...all the fun stuff! I've been sleeping on and off all day and resting on our lovely new couches.

Baby Weekend!

Ben and I went up to Portland this past weekend for a wedding. We went up early and had lunch with my best friend and her husband in West Linn. She hadn't seen me "looking" pregnant yet, she tried to feel the little guy kick but he was being shy.

We went from there to the wedding and saw two former co-workers who haven't seen me since before I was pregnant. It was fun to see them.

Then we went to Gresham and stayed over with a girl friend of mine from college that also hadn't seen the pregnant version of me yet. Baby did kick for her- she was excited to be the second to feel it. Ben was the first (if you don't count the u/s tech...).

The next day Ben and I went on a shopping extravaganza! Eugene doesn't have a Babies R Us so that was my main goal for the day in Portland, was to experience BRU and possibly register. We actually started out at the Old Navy because the one in Gresham has maternity and ours does not. I got a ton of new clothes, so excited!

Then we went to IKEA though...neither of us had ever been, so it was quite the overwhelming adventure. We weren't really looking to buy...just checking things out. They have some of the funniest baby/kid stuff there. Our child will eventually have the following items:

But I wasn't too impressed with the cribs. They didn't seem to have multiple levels to adjust the mattress and they were kind of boring.

Next we went to Babies R Us. We went up and down every single isle and it was so much fun! We didn't formally register because my main registry will be at Target and I want to double check that they don't carry what we want first- then I'll register online at BRU.

We looked at carriers, Ben wants a front carrier like a baby bjorn and I want a sling carrier. I've read that it makes sense to get two anyway so you aren't constantly adjusting for who's wearing the thing.

We then discovered the infanct car set/stroller travel system that we want and then fell in love with the matching play yard and high chair.

There was also a bedding set that I liked, but doesn't totally match the nursery. I think I'll just get the sheets, they are white with blue and green circles, it's by KidsLine and it's called "Bubbles". There are turtles in the theme, but along with an octupus, fish, and other sea life.

We also settled on a crib we want. I originally was looking for the Da Vinci Paker or Kalani cribs, but they didn't have them in the store. I also really want a non-converable non-drop side crib that has low enough sides for me to lean over. That's a lot of requirements, but I think I found them in the Carter's Classic Sleigh crib with an Espresso finish. It's a beautiful thing...and Ben loves it too! yay:)

There's a shelf at the bottom and it's very sturdy. Also, there's a matching changing table and dresser that we'll probably register for, but most likely won't get or be able to purchase ourselves...but I can dream, right?

Well in the interest in not making this post any longer than it already is, to summarize our trip we went to Bridgeport Village in Tigard {one of my fave shopping places} and ate at California Pizza Kitchen, browsed at The Container Store and the Apple Store {for Ben}, then stopped at the Outlets in Woodburn- got a great deal on a cute mimi maternity dress at motherhood and some adorable outfits at Carter's. Finished off with hot pretzel's at Auntie Anne's and were on our way home!