Thanks for nothing, dude.

About two weeks ago, Matt and I went to A & E The Graphics Complex to get a quote on wedding invitations. We didn't really like what we were seeing in the books at retailers, so we thought we might design our own. With that in mind, we took an invitation that we liked over there to get some ideas. Now, while I am definitely NOT going to recommend A & E, the people seemed very friendly and nice. But instead of getting ideas, which I kept saying we wanted, they acted like we wanted an exact replica of someone else's invitation. Before I could say anything, the invitation was confiscated and we were told we'd get a quote in two days. That was a Friday, but even by the following Friday we hadn't heard from them. In the interim, I designed our invitations myself, saving a million hassles and a lot of money. Finally, last Friday it had been two weeks and still no word, plus they had a family member's invitation that my mom had carefully saved. So... this morning I called over there and talked to the designer who had promised us a quote and this, I swear, is a faithful representation of that conversation.

Mary: Hi, I talked to you about getting a quote on invitations a couple weeks ago, but we never heard from you, so I am hoping I can come pick up my original.
A & E dude: Oh yeah, you know there was a Bridal Extravaganza that weekend I thought y'all might have gone to and found something there instead.
Mary: Umm, no we didn't go to that. We went to A & E to get our invitations and we were waiting on a quote from you.
A & E dude: Oh, you should have gone. One of my fraternity brothers went and said it was amazing.
Mary: ... Well, we didn't want to; it's not really our style. Do you have any information for me?
A & E dude: Okay, well our printer said the minimum order is going to be 500 and I thought that might be too many. Also, did you know that these invitations are handmade? They're handmade.
Mary: Yes, I knew. We didn't want that exact thing, we just wanted a quote on paper and printing costs.
A & E dude: Oh, well if you'll give me a few days I can get those for you.
Mary: Uh, no thank you. I want to pick up my invitation. Can i come by now?
A & E dude: Sure, dude.
Mary: Okay, thanks.

So when I get there, he comes out with a photocopy of a woman's business card that says her services included "Tatted Stationery Doilies" and the address is in Magnolia. (For those off you not familiar with the Houston area, Magnolia= FAR!) Not only that, but instead of offering a business phone, the number on the photocopied card is a pager number. Does she also sell crack?

So he hands me this and says "I think maybe she'll have something you want."

Though I thanked him for his time, I think we all know that acquiring a pager number for a woman who specializes in doilies is probably not going to be helpful to me. And may I also inquire as to the nature of tatted stationery? Seriously, wtf is that? Maybe I will page this woman and see. (By which of course I mean: I will not page her ever.)

So a big, enthusiastic thumbs down for their totally odd, unprofessional practices and total lack of caring when I mentioned I'd been waiting two weeks for a quote that was to come in two days.

Bridal extravaganza. Hrmph. Whatever, dude.