a little blah goes a long way

Its not that I expect to be treated like I walk on water just like I drink water and not the blood of good christian children....dramatic much. Well, the other day I went to Sam Flax (last week) which I hate in the first place, but I needed a portfolio and I could not find what I needed at the other friendlier neighborhood shops. I have spent thousands of dollars there in the past two years. I mean thousands between paper, book binding supplies, and ink cartridges. I know they have a great selection, but they are overpriced beyond belief. Case in point: rw2400 ink cartridge costs 14 dollars on amazon/most other places but Spam Flatulence charges 17 dollars. I did not realize how much I was getting ripped off until I found Adorama the most amazing camera and camera accessories store! And better than that if you cannot find what you need there go next door to AI Friedman where they sell all the art supplies/framing/paper goods one could ever want. Both stores are very reasonable. I found this out after I had already over payed at the Flatulent. SO I went back there to return the unopened inks. Note I checked on line to make sure they took back such things and there was nothing there saying they did not. I went in and asked to return them. To which the manager said "we do not take these back." I disagreed stated that it did not say they did not take them back on line. The guy looked at my receipt and said well we can only give you store credit b/c they were bought more than 10 days go. It was hardly 10 days after. I asked if their credit expired...and he said yes in a year....this was no good to me. I asked if there was anything they could do and that it did not say these things anywhere on the receipt. He was looking at the counter at this point and stopped talking to me. I asked again if there was anything that could be done as their store policy was not clearly stated....he did not answer stared at counter and the two other people there ignored my presence. I asked him to look at me when I was talking to him. He ignored me and I said I could not believe I was being treated this way and that I had spent a lot of money in their store...nothing...I walked out and cried.
I have never been treated so poorly by anyone. So defeated I went to Adorama...and there I was met by Jews lots of orthodox jews who wanted my money. They got me everything I needed and by got me I mean I asked where things were and this woman had someone bring everything up. And when they did not have what I needed they sent me next door to the Friedman. The jews stick together.
I am still so tired from that experience.
All this to put together my portfolio...which is taking so long I could platz. The main reason it has taken so long is I bought "water activated" hinging tape" without realizing it until I had opened it. I thought ok I can do this no problem it will be fine. Why would they make it if it did not work? The truth is I do not know why they make it to begin with. It does not work. It is too stiff to help the pages lie down flat when you flip them, getting it wet enough for the glue to work means when it dries the pages get warped, and the glue smells gross. I wasted an entire portfolio printing on it. That is 17 dollars in paper, time, 30 dollars in hinging tape (shitty hinging tape), and I do not want to think about how much money it is in ink. So to make a dumb story long do not buy water activated hinging tape. I have since bought black (they do not have white for some reason) linen self adhesive tape and it is perfect. I finally finished one book which I can send off to my agent and maybe I will recoop some of my pride as well as expenses when I am famous and can diss Sam Flax to the world for their shit service, bad prices, and stupid policies.
Do I have more to say...sure, but I will wait. And I have been doing a lot go drawing on the train so I will post some of those things soon.