So I go to Menard’s last night to pick up 25 UltraDeck 16′ deck “boards”. I have that in quotes because they are a composite of plastic and some wood fibers and not really boards at all. So anyway, I’m in Menard’s and they sell me 25 of these and I get the piece of paper to take to the back yard. I also get some deck board fasteners and some 1 1/2″ screws to hold the fasteners down and some 3 1/2″ screws for the 4×4 posts that are going up. I’ll probably also need to get some 2″ screws later, but those can wait. Oh yeah, I also got a level to make sure that the 4×4 posts are plumb.

So you’re wondering why this is titled “Frustration”, right? Here’s the deal. I set the passenger seats flat in My Element so that I can haul 16″ boards. I think I can get at least a dozen of them in it and hoping I can get all 25 so I only have to make one trip. I get out to the lumber yard part of Menard’s and first off the doofus at the security gate can’t tell me where the deck board are. I’ve got to drive around the lumber yard looking for deck boards. (Can you say “incompetent”? Sure - I knew you could) And then for the REALLY frustrating part. I finally find the bin with what I want and there is one board in it… one stinking, lousy board. How the heck can they sell me 25 when they only have 1?!?! So I wait there for about 5 minutes and no one comes by - another frustration. Then I get back in My Element and head back to the Customer Service area.

The folks are really nice about it but what it boils down to is that there was an error entering inventory and they were shorted one “bundle” on the last delivery. OK, so I talk with the guy and actually get a few ideas about what I’m going to do to the deck; maybe this wasn’t so bad. I also learn from the gal behind the desk that they could deliver this for under $20. Hey - no wear and tear on My Element and drop all 25 off for under $20? Cool! But wait - that’s more frustration. I call them today to sort out the delivery thing and find that no, it’s not under $20 - it’s almost $50! ARGH!

Here and I thought the good business model was to underpromise and overdeliver!