What were your best and worst consumer experiences this week?

By Rita R. Robison

Which consumer happenings cheered you this week and which ones made you want to scream or weep?

Here are my best and worst consumer experiences this week:

My best: Getting help from a friend with bedding

I’m having visitors. Since I haven’t had company for a long time, I’m short on sheets and blankets.

I got lucky. I was telling a friend about how much I had to do to get ready for my visitors, including buying new sheets. She said she could lend me sheets of different sizes. She has lots of company.

I didn’t have to buy new sheets. My friend also lent me a few blankets. What luck.

My worst: Bad advice from Verizon Wireless

When I was getting ready to leave Madrid on my recent vacation, I plugged in my cell phone so I could call the person who was going to pick me up when I arrived.

I heard a zapping noise. My cell phone wasn’t compatible with the electrical system in Spain.

When I returned home, I went to the Verizon Wireless store. The manager, who happened to be the person helping me, said I’d probably fried the battery.

Since it’s an older cell phone, he said they didn’t have a new battery. After checking the Internet, he said I could order one from batteries4less.com for $14.98.

I ordered the battery. It wasn’t the right size. I could fit the battery onto the cell phone, but I couldn’t get the cover on.

My cell phone worked for a couple of hours, then lost its charge. I plugged it in for two days, and it wouldn’t take a charge.

I’m disappointed the manager gave me the wrong information about the battery I needed. I wasted $14.98 plus $6.95 for shipping for a total of $21.93.