Not All Who Wander Are Lost

Not All Who Wander Are Lost
June, 2019 - Mount Denali, Alaska

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Christopher Columbus Museum and Redbox

Our park is located 4 miles from Columbus, Wisconsin.  Many times we have driven past a sign marking the street that leads to the Christopher Columbus Museum.  Today we decided to take a look.

The museum is housed in an old canning factory, now the Antique Mall & Museum, which is the largest antique mall in the state.  This mall is 3 stories of room after room of antiques.  I’m not into antiquing; but, in my opinion, much of what I saw looked like overpriced junk  :)

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The museum displays souvenir memorabilia from Chicago’s 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition (World’s Fair). Daniel and Rose Armato, owners of the store, began this collection in 1981 to honor Christopher Columbus' (500 years) 1942-1992 Quincentennial Celebration.   I didn’t take any pictures inside because I wasn’t all that impressed.  There were several display cases, but items were not very well marked.  I really didn’t find it all that interesting.

On Tuesday we decided to try renting a movie from Redbox.  There is a box outside of the Walgreens in Columbus.  I went online and reserved Percy Jackson and the Olympians.  When I got to the box, it was jammed so I couldn’t get the movie.  No problem, they hold it for you for 2 days so we went back yesterday to get the movie.  This time it told us it didn’t recognize the credit card I entered online.  I knew I was using the right card, and I was rather disgusted by now. 

Kevin suggested we just go ahead and get the movie through the regular rental process and call Redbox when we got home.  I called and, of course, they couldn’t explain why this had happened; maybe something to do with the fact it was jammed the first time I tried to get it.  If you don’t pick up the movie you reserve after 2 days, they charge your credit card.  You guessed it, we were charged twice for the same movie.  They assured me they would credit my account, but it takes 3 days.  Geez!!

By the way, I liked the movie.  It reminded me of National Treasure or Night at the Museum; wholesome family entertainment.

We haven’t given up on Redbox.  It actually seems to be a great system.  I think is was just unfortunate we had a bad first experience. 

This leads me to a warning.  Make sure you check your credit card statements carefully each month.  I can’t tell you how many times I have found errors.  In the last 2 months alone, DirecTV has overcharged us twice, Verizon double billed us for the first month of our air card, and now Redbox double billed us.  The companies always correct the problem when I call them, but how many people don’t check!  I’m beginning to think companies do this on purpose!  I can think of many better ways to spend my time other than to be calling customer service centers!!!  I feel better now that I got that off my chest :)

Don’t wish upon a star – Reach for one!

5 comments:

  1. Sorry you had a couple of frustrations. I agree with you about checking your statements. I have caught a few thing over the years.

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  2. You certainly are having a time of it with your entertainment. :( Maybe you should get rid of the tv and computer, and just read a book. :)...just kidding.

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  3. I wholeheartedly agree with checking credit card statements. I check mine at least twice a month, along with my bank online. I've caught a few things!

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  4. The first time Mike and I encountered the red box Candid Camera should have been around. It was a total hoot. I think we've got the hang of it now.

    Thanks for the heads up on the checking of accounts. We do that and its great advice.

    Mike & Gerri (happytrails)

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  5. We've used Redbox for a while now and have had no problems with them at all. One time we got a bad movie. We called them and got a credit. I do watch and make sure we are not charged twice. Occasionally we haven't gotten the movie back within the 24 hours and had to pay an additional $1.00

    We bank online, and I have my account set up to shoot me an email daily of the balance. You can get notification if there are online charges, amounts over a preset amount...etc. You can choose what kind of alerts you get. I check every few days. A lot can happen in a months time.

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