The Recliner Misadventure

For many years, Bob was a serial recliner buyer. He always loved the chair for a couple of weeks until its shortcomings began to show. After a year or so, he was usually in the market for a new one -- until he found the great Hooker Esme recliner in August of 2018.

Two days after our move-in date, we were expecting the delivery of a new couch for the family room so I decided to move the recliner blocking a traffic lane near the west window. Bob was out, but he had adamantly objected to my plan before he left the house. Since I'm accustomed to moving furniture on my own, so I went ahead anyway and all was well until I plugged in the chair and tried it out. After a few seconds, I heard terrible sounds under me.

Seems the power cord was too short and the power supply itself got caught in the chair mechanism. Crunch, crack, pieces all over the floor. I jumped out of the chair and turned it over, failing to unplug it. Sparks were flying and I managed to give myself a shock, not too bad and perhaps something of a punishment for my foolishness. I gathered up most of the pieces and put them in a baggie. I immediately called the sales rep from HOM Furniture who had sold Bob the recliner and was working with us on current purchases. 

Bob soon arrived home and, not for the first time in the 37 years we've been married, I found myself on the wrong side of stupid, though this was my first chair offense. More pieces of plastic fell out of the chair onto the new carpeting. Cat moved into the doghouse and a long month of anguish began.

A new part was ordered but rejoicing soon turned to frustration when it turned out to be the wrong one. I contacted the manufacturer myself and somehow the right power supply was ordered and we received it a few days before my birthday. Miracle of miracles: we connected the part, plugged in the chair and tested functionality. All perfect after five agonizing weeks.

The pricey wrong part was returned and the full price refunded after dozens of text messages, emails and phone calls, extending an issue that could, and should, have been resolved within a week or so. There may be limits to what can be blamed on COVID-19.