what is it with me and trying to buy new ryan adams albums? first it was the harrowing experience going to buy the last album, jacksonville city nights, and now tonight, all i wanted to do was go buy 29.

best buy had the cheapest price, but i knew that they wouldn’t have the cd out in the racks. since the hurricane, and before really, they have become completely inept at putting new music out unless its some overplayed sound alike band, or maybe the new swan song of some crappy rap star. and then when you ask them about said new cd, they have no idea what you’re talking about. ‘ryan adams, do you mean bryan adams?’. anyway, so i knew i would have to order it online and go pick it up in the store. it was cool, i used my gift card, and done. get the email, so i planned on rolling over there tonight before meeting a friend for coffee. i get to bb, and sure enough, no new album in the rack…’ha’ i thought, i had outsmarted them. so i go stand in the product pickup line which somehow has been combined with the return/i’m a stupid dumbass line. i stood in line starting about 7:30 and proceeded to witness the “i’m a stupid dumbass” line in action. first it was the lady who was trying to get a refund for an opened video game that her son was saying did not work. not exchange it for the same game, a refund. so the little best buy girl says “no you can’t do that. we can get you another one since you say it doesn’t work”. this lady would have none of that. she proceeded to rant and rave when the manager got there, and told him how the policy was misleading. did i mention we’re standing at the customer service desk where there’s a GIANT display of the official policies, including the one about ‘no refunds for opened music/games/movies’. then the lady says how her son purchased it, and he is a minor, so he should have been more properly notified so either he or the adult he could be with can read it. the policy should be in bold. (the ‘minor’ was like 15) this went on for about 15 minutes during which the manager said “if the game doesn’t work, we’ll get you another one, open it, and make sure it works before you take it home”. even that didn’t work, but eventually when it was apparent she was not going to get a refund, but just a new game, she disgruntedly went to the back to get the new copy. the couple in front of me were complaining loudly about how they were in the back of the store and no one was helping them. so…., you’re in an overcrowded store with about half of the normal staff, i wonder how you could not be getting helped. they kept complaining about how the manager was being a jerk, and the guy in front of them turned around and said “you’re dealing with not enough staff and someone trying to do something they know they can’t do. i totally see his point”. the lady kind of backpeddled on her complaining a bit, and i added “you can’t return an open video game for a refund ANYWHERE”. she finally shut up. fortunately they were able to pick up whatever they were getting at the front rather quickly, which left me to be the next in line. suffice to say, i had to call my friend and tell him i’d be late. when i finally got to the front of the line, i didn’t even look to see what cd i got, i just took it and left vowing not to go there for a long time. just another exciting chapter of “the overcrowded parish”. no wonder i’m looking to move.

oh, and the new album kicks ass! (not that i haven’t already heard it a few times already)