So, we purchase the car.  It’s swell.  Really.  It has plenty of pep and lord knows we hardly ever stop at a gas station anymore.  But here’s the deal.  We attempt to order the Hybrid stickers that will allow us to travel in the carpool lanes and are told by the dear DMV that the car doesn’t exist, and it hasn’t got license plates even though as I talk to them on my portable phone, I am standing in front of the car looking squarely at it and its license plates which we had already rec’d from the DMV weeks earlier.

Numerous phone calls, many hours and letters later, the DMV finally acquiesces that yes indeed it was their system that had not been updated and our car did exist along with the plates that they originally had sent us.  Finally, weeks go by and we receive our blessed stickers – hallelujah.

Yesterday I receive a shipment from a local store through a delivery service.  The timeframe for delivery is a wonderful window of 4 hours.  You know the drill.  I ask oh so politely, could they please call from the delivery previous to mine to give me an update on when they might arrive.  Yes, they say, they will do that.   As I sat at home yesterday, I received no call.  They arrive 20 minutes after the 4 hour mark.  Last night, I received a call that the delivery company would like to schedule a date when they can deliver furniture I’ve ordered.  As we talk, it is clear the caller has no idea that I already had a delivery yesterday from the company which employs him.    And because I have not yet unboxed the headboard/footboard and bed frame, I’m not entirely certain the caller isn’t correct, but I’m thinking it couldn’t be true, that there actually is more to deliver.  How many boxes can a bed frame be in?   It doesn’t seem to make sense what he is saying to me.    Out to the garage I trudge, phone in hand.

After much discussion and a review of all the SKU numbers (of which there were about 8) on each of the boxes delivered today, the person in Ohio (I’m in the CA area) realizes that he is trying to schedule delivery for a box that is already in my possession.  It is the last SKU number some 25 digits long that triggers the computer data in his system.    He says with no trace of irony "well, I guess that’s it then.  No problem."   No moment where he might have said – sheesh thanks for figuring this out for me, or, sorry to have bothered you and glad we didn’t schedule a delivery for another 4 hour window that we wouldn’t make and that wouldn’t have produced one thing, nope, he just says "I guess that does it, then.  Click...."

YIKES.

One last example, please bear with me.  I had a total knee replacement recently.  I discovered while perusing my mountain of bills (which totaled  $100,000) that I was being overcharged  $11,000 for various services  in multiple ways.  When talking with all the "vendors" and the insurance company it was apparent that NO ONE really had a clue about the whole picture, or the little details, it seemed to me that I was actually not only getting a knee replaced but apparently was also getting screwed – and not for free.  Thankfully, I was able to help them sort out the overcharges and saved our family a whopping $11,000.  I’m feeling lots better at least about that.  Remember Elisa's post?  There were many times I felt as if this is one way the insurance companies make their profits.

And frankly, I’m telling you I am really worried.  And I think you should be too.  Who is minding the store?  Is anyone else worried out there?    I sure am.    What say you, oh wise and experienced MTers?  Are we doomed?