Sunday, February 1, 2009

Thwarted. Denied. Stymied.

Update: The word on the street is that everybody had this same experience yesterday, only finding the Orla Kiely storage boxes and none of the dishes. The indefatigable Holly at Decor8 has discovered that the rollout date for the dishes and stuff is now February 15, and in fact, Target has updated their website to say this. So they'll probably get all the Valentine's stuff off the endcaps and replace it with the Orla Kiely. So I'm back down to DefCon 2.

We just arrived back in Atlanta from a weekend at the mountain house, with my parents in tow. Mom and Dad had been up in North Carolina for all of January, so Mom and I had two important items of business: to watch the first episodes of "Lost," which I'd tivo'd for her, and to go to Target to check out the Orla Kiely stuff. It's not like I'm obsessed or anything. I just didn't want to miss out on the lovely things.

So we walk in to Target and beeline straight to the housewares section. I don't see anything new anywhere. They still had the endcap with the storage boxes, but nothing else. No dishes, nothing in the table linens, nothing. So I nabbed a passing red-shirted employee. I asked him whether they had stocked the Orla Kiely, and he said no, but that it would probably happen "within the week." I gathered my thoughts and asked a pointed question. "Huh?" I said. He said, "We're kind of behind because of the holidays." I was like, "You mean like, the Christmas holidays that were over a month ago?" And he was like, "I'm going to walk through the little swinging doors that say 'Associates Only' now."

So I whipped out my handy iPhone. iPhone! And I got the number of the Target down the road. I spoke to the operator. She had no idea what I was talking about but got someone from Housewares. By then I could only croak, "Kiely. . .Kiely. . ." She told me to hang on, then she came back and said, "No, I don't see anything new over there." And I said, "Well maybe this week?" And she said, "Um, uh huh!" So they're behind too, apparently. Nobody seemed to feel any sense of urgency about this. Kiely! Kiely!


Did any of you go to Target today? Any sign of the stuff? My mom led me gently from the store, and only a trip through T. J. Maxx really took the edge off the pain. I now feel that my SuperTarget is not so super, but is in fact SlackerTarget. So we'll see.

It was still a nice-enough day.

18 comments:

Casey said...

I went to Target today but I was too busy trying to keep my nine month old from licking the shopping cart to notice. Sorry.

Michele said...

I spend too much at Target. So I keep my eyes down, get what I need then get out. I have no will power. It really is very sad.

Hootie said...

Perhaps the fates are staging an intervention.

But no matter what happens, always keep that little kitty mug that I like to drink coffee out of. Don't know where I'd be without little kitty mug. Hi kitty mug!

Keely said...

You know they're behind those 'Associates Only' doors snickering at you, right?

Kate said...

I went to Target on Sunday and there was no sign of it here in MD!

Ginny Marie said...

Those designs look so cute! Target had better get its act together.

I'm giving you an award for your fabulous blog! Stop by my blog to pick it up!

Christine said...

I am headed there sometime today or tomorrow. You've got me so excited about this designer-I've-never-heard-of that I know I'll have to look for it when I go. Although the fact that I'm in Oklahoma could mean we won't see it until April or so.

Coffee with Cathy said...

As much as I love Target stuff, I've never been impressed with Target customer-service. Your experience is pretty much the norm at Targets round here.

Sueann said...

What a devastating blow!! To be all revved about a designer and purchasing their items only to find out that the store could care less?! Unbefrickinlievable!!! I would be down too. And I don't think T J Maxx could soothe my pain. Just visiting here and feeling your pain. As told by La Donna!
Hugs
SueAnn

Sueann said...

Oops!! As told me by Lemon Drop...LOL
Hugs
SueAnn

Ivy Lane said...

Yikes! Patience and it will all be worth it!! Give the poor "red shirts" a break..they are only the messengers...!! :)

Sara said...

Dang! I hope you at least enjoyed your tivo.

I'm gonna have to do some recon for you up here. See if we're in the loop.

Be strong.

delaine said...

I am going to give my Target the opportunity to have the aforementioned goodies tomorrow. As far as a trip through TJ's to ease the pain- I think only Pottery Barn can do that.Will let you know.

Amy said...

Wow. You think you know a superstore...

It WILL happen. These times come to try our endurance. Those canisters and melamine serving trays WILL BE YOURS.

Christine said...

We have some of that line at the Target here in NJ, but I was way too distracted by the Valentine candy. Converstion hearts in Spanish!!!! No wonder my sister-in-law calls Target the "hundred dollar store." Good Luck in your quest!

Camp Papa said...

It's a mystery how I can so enjoy reading your posts while caring not at all about somebody's new line of dishes and household stuff. Go figure.

Lawyer Mom said...

Wow. Now I'm beyond curious. I, too, have never heard of Orla Kiely. But I'll sure be on the look-out.

cassie said...

so glad to know that i am not alone! even though they say that it is officially arriving on the 15th, aren't you still wondering if the plates will show up earlier? i'm concerned that if i wait they will sell out. i might have to continue making fruitless calls, on my iphone no less, to clueless target employees until the melamine is in my hands.