CHASE SAPPHIRE - IS THIS ANY WAY TO RUN A CREDIT CARD COMPANY?

I've had the same credit card for a decade.  I use it for everyday purchases and simply don't care about mileage points; a pretty "diamond" card; first dibs at concert seats, etc.   I just want a decent rate on my card and convenience.

So with that in mind, my family was at the beach last week and one evening we went into a small local gallery.  They had some cool art glass and my wife mentioned she really liked a piece they had on display. Since her birthday was coming up, I snuck back to the store and bought it for her.  As it was late in the evening, the gallery said they'd pack the piece and I could pick it up the following day.

And that's what happened.   Fast forward a week.   We give the package to my wife for her birthday.  She opens it and discovers the piece is cracked.   The crack isn't obvious, but if you look you can clearly see this thing is damaged.  Given it cost $500, I contacted the gallery; sent them an email with a picture of the damage and asked what my options are.  Remember, they packed the item and I was very careful with the package.   Anyhow, the gallery said they'd get back to me which didn't exactly give me a warm and fuzzy feeling so I decided to contact my credit card company to see what my options were.

The first credit card specialist I talked to listened to my story and told me there were two routes to consider - an item protection program and a consumer protection program option.  Both of these were apparently options I had on my card (which I didn't know about and wonder what they're costing me).  When I asked her for details on how to pursue those options she told me I would have to talk to a specialist.  I was then forwarded to a different department.   After providing all of my account information to the second account specialist I was told the program required me to mail the item to a company warehouse, but the item couldn't be damaged.  When I pointed out this was a broken piece of art glass so it was damaged, I was told the item protection program wasn't an option, but I could try the consumer protection program.  When I asked for the details I was told that wasn't her area, but she would be happy to forward me to another specialist.   After providing the third specialist with my account information she told me to hang on while se read the consumer protection program materials to see whether I was covered - good up to $500; can't claim more than $50,000 over the life of the program; have 60 days to file a claim ...   all good.  Whoops, antiques and collectables are excluded from the program.  Yes, art glass is a collectable.  

I kind of saw that coming.  To drag out this misery, I asked what other options I had.  Could I simply file a dispute on the original purchase ?   Yes, but that wasn't something she could help me with.  I would have to work with a different specialist (I'm thinking I'll end up back with the first person I spoke to).

At this point I had already spent 30 minutes with my credit card company and decided I would give the gallery a chance to make good on the damaged item.   They were nice enough to tell me they'd get back to me the following day.

I'm pissed at myself for not having checked the glass myself.  I'm mad at the gallery for having sold me a damaged item; but above all I'm upset at the credit card company for their BS.   In fact, I'm think I may take up the next offer I get from the Navy Federal Credit Union.

RATE YOUR MUSIC "FAVORITES"

I've belonged to an online music review group (Review Your Music) for a couple of years.   The site lets you upload information on bands; submit album reviews, and  has a bunch of other functionality.  Over the years I've dumped a bunch of the BadCatRecords record reviews on to the RYM site where I occasionally get comments from other users.   Earlier in the week I hit the 100 "favorite" mark - 100 of my 2,200 reviews had been tagged as worth reading by other site users.   Yeah, I know 2% isn't statistically significant, but there was something nice about hitting 100 (actually 101 as I type this.

END OF SOCCER SEASON

So soccer season ended for our ten year old and it ended on a high note.  Playing his last game, Ryan spent half the game on defense and half the game as a fullback.  Playing defense he was mega aggressive, repeatedly stopping the other teams offense.  In the fullback position he took three shots on goal - one went just right of the goal; one went just left of the goal, and one went over the goal (even the coach was laughing).  Luckily Ryan also made a perfect centering pass that resulted in a goal.  Final score was eight to one which left The Gladiators with a five and one season.

NEON SIGN PHOTOS

SERIOUSLY - BOYCOTT ABERCROMBIE & FITCH

Their clothing is ugly to start, but why would anyone buy clothing from this elitist bunch of blow hards?  It should be interesting seeing what being elite does to their bottom line.

ANNOYING BEYOND WORDS - WE BUY CARS ANYTIME TV AD

Without any doubt, this has to be the most annoying ad on television at the moment (and there is plenty of competition out there).  Maybe it's just me, but whenever it comes on TV I feel a sense of frustration, rage, and nausea:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXiJBp7HK5o

Seriously, would you sell your car to these folks?  Judging by the ad's production standards they don't look like they'd have the corporate resources to buy a stolen bicycle, let alone a nice car.  More to the point, would you buy a used car from this outfit ?  And who do they think a thin white guy in a cheap suit showing off some second rate, borderline spastic dance moves is going to appeal to ?   Yeah, there are lots of 18 year old wannabe gang bangers who are going to see the ad and think "Let me sell my Mercedes and get some quick cash here."   The ad's been on the air since at least 2010, so hopefully it is close to the end of it's life.

REDSKINS VERSUS REDTAILS - GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION

I don't consider myself to be a radical by any stretch of the imagination.  I
guess I'm conservative when it comes to financial issues, but I'm pretty liberal
when it comes to lifestyle issues.  The one area where I find myself increasing
frustrated is government trying to address every issue.   There doesn't seem to
be a week where I don't some across a story where local government is trying to
make a decision for the people they're supposedly representing.   Living close
to Washington D.C. provides a goldmine of such stories.

One I stumbled across the other day has to do with a long simmering debate on
whether the Washington Redskins should change their name to something less
offensive to native Americans.  In theory I can see why the name would be
offensive to an American Indian.  My problem is the way it's being dealt with. 
In this case the District of Columbia Counsel (not exactly a hotbed of ethical
behavior), wants to push to have the name changed to The Washington Redtails. 
In case you're wondering what a Redtail is - it's a nickname of the Tuskegee
Airmen (a group of World War II African American airmen who broke the color
barrier).   The Counsel's resolution includes the following explanation:
"Washington's name has been dishonored by association with the word 'Redskins",
because it is well known in America and in nations afar that American Indians
have experienced utmost suffering and disrespect over the years."

I can't argue with that, but I'd suggest the Counsel should be looking at more
important issues that forcing a professional football team to change their name. 
If they've got the time to take on such important issues as this, then maybe
they're not really necessary to the Washington D.C. taxpayer.  By the way, last
time I checked, the Redskins don't even play in Washington, D.C. anymore.  They
practice in Virginia and play their games at a stadium located in Maryland. 
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/dc-council-may-push-washington-redskins-into-washington-redtails/2013/04/30/456cb72c-b1a7-11e2-bbf2-a6f9e9d79e19_story.html