The most frustrating thing just happened
 

I ordered a Shimano M580 crankset from nashbar for $160. I had it delivered to my mom's place because I live in an apartment and don't trust my neighborhood with packages on doorsteps. Anyway, I rode over there yesterday, brought the package inside, drank some coffee, read the paper, and then rode back to my place to go to class. I forgot the package though. I left it sitting in the living room. "Dern it" I thought as I rode home, contemplating turning around to go and get it. But then I figured, it's not like I left it sitting on the porch. It was in the living room, next to the couch. I'd just get it later.

Well, about 8PM last night I rode over to my mom's place to pick it up. When I went in and noticed there was just air where my package used to be, I said, "Hey, Mom. where's the box that was sitting next to the couch?" She put her hands up to her mouth and in a nervous tone asked, "Why, was there something in it?" I could see it wasn't good. I told her that there was a $160 piece in there for my touring bike and she immediately apologized and informed me that she took the box to recycling. :eek:

We drove over to the recycling drop off bins and quickly found the outer box that it was shipped in, but there was definitely no crankset anywhere. :mad:

I have no idea how she could have managed to do it. It's not like a crankset is paper thin and easily missed. She wrote out a check, but come on... I can't take money from my own mother. I guarantee I will never forget to take my deliveries home ever again. Lesson learned. And I imagine that from now on my mom will collapse all boxes before taking them to recycling (like you are supposed to :rolleyes: ).

That is a serious downer!

I almost hate to make light of your situation, but maybe you should check eBay and Craig's list for good deals in your area... and maybe alert the LBS's so they can tell the seller that you are looking for your part and offer a reasonable reward. It isn't the sort of thing that someone is likely to have rescued from recycling to use on their own bike...

Wow, Shimano must've put that crankset on one helluva diet for your mom not to notice it being in the box... :)

She said she took all the newspapers and put them on top of the box then dumped that into the paper bin and then threw the box into the corrugated cardboard bin (without collapsing it). She said she was "in a hurry and wasn't thinking" (no kidding). I think I will call the local LBS and let them know. I could have missed it in the bin I suppose. I went back this morning to get more coffee cream from the store and check one more time with the aid of daylight rather than just a flashlight but the bins had been taken away with new empty ones in their place. Well, if nothing else, I have a funny memory about my Mom to share when I'm old and grey and sitting around with my bros and sis reminiscing.

Not to cast aspersions on your Mom, or anything, but have you checked your Mom's touring bike? :)

-- Mark

:roflmao: :roflmao:

Anyone ever notice that their moms tend to be really oblivious to some things (ok, well most things).....or is it just mine that is....

Sorry to hear, but I would've taken the money unless it would be a bit of a financial burden for her.

"I gave you life.....is a crankset really worth anything compared to that?"

I'd cash the check! You're obviously a better son than I am, that should be enough for your mother.

Believe me, as a long-time parent with adult children, your mother feels much worse than you do.

As a bicyclist, I'm sorry to hear about your losing a new crankset.

I believe it. My mother is a mother of seven adult sons and one adult daughter (that's six full years of being pregnant). Being a mother is her life and if she does something that upsets one of her kids, I know she feels horrible. The night it happened I was obviously upset and she felt horrible, but I made sure the next day to make it known that it's just a hunk of metal that could very easily be replaced and not to worry about it. I actually felt worse about making her feel bad than I did about the crankset.

I'm thinking next box you get from Nashbar will be full of good karma. It's tough to keep it together during a mini-disaster but you did good. Your Mom matters more than a "hunk of metal" -- I bet she'd treasure getting the old crankset (degreased and polished up) as a memento. Hope it all works out.

-- Mark

Excellent! Soon you'll both be laughing about this as the sting fades away.

Are you planning on replacing it with another of the same model?

Yep. I ordered it that same night. I figured the sooner I order it and get it installed, the sooner I can forget the whole mess. It should arrive tomorrow. (At my mom's place :eek: ) :D