Great Deal!

Since we moved here I have been wanting a silk tree. I periodically checked Craigslist but never found anything I liked. I had my eye on a 6-foot Areca Palm at Michael's, but it cost $100 and I figured I would eventually use a 40% off coupon if I didn't find anything else. I didn't want to pay $60 though. Then last week they had all their greenery on sale for 50% off so I made it there on Tuesday. I searched the store in a panic because there were none left in the section I'd previously seen them. Then I was shown another section that had a few more trees and there it was, just one left...broken.
You can imagine my disappointment, but then my will to strike a bargain set in and I was determined. Not only was the tree broken, but so was part of the plastic pot, which meant it wouldn't stand up straight. I put the tree in my cart and found the manager. I explained I still wanted it and wondered if it was repairable. He said it is, but he would give me a discount. We walked over to the designers' counter and he asked them to fix the tree and replace the pot. While one fixed it the other took me over to pick out a pot. Apparently she has the same tree and had the perfect pot in mind for it (a square bronze-looking thing, which would be my first pick). Unfortunately they were out and won't get another shipment for a couple weeks. The woman who fixed the tree suggested a basket, but if I'm getting a free pot, I didn't want to settle for a basket. I took a gamble and said I would come back for the pot when it's in stock. They sent me to the register with my tree in a box and a bag a moss to help fill the bigger pot once I get it.

The whole time I wondered what kind of discount I would get. For all intents and purposes, the tree was repaired and I was getting the pot replaced with something much nicer, and free moss to boot. I told the cashier that the manager had said I get a discount on the tree, but he didn't say how much. Rather than calling him over, she said, how does 40% sound? Seriously??? Yes, I got my $100 6-foot Areca Palm for $30, plus a free pot (hopefully)!

I brought it inside and took a knife to the other half of the pot. In the picture you can see the left side at the bottom where I had to cut it. Now it stands up straight, and looks just like it was intended to look. Isn't it beautiful? It ads so much to the room. I can't wait to see it in the new pot. I just hope they remember me when I go back in next week. Maybe I'll wear the same sweater. Don't worry, I took names.