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A few weeks ago, Staples was advertising a labeler machine. It appealed to me because after the Easy Rebate, it would be free.
I like free.

I did not pay much mind to what brand of labeler to buy. I just figured that there would be some kind of sale/rebate signage near the product when I got there. I skimmed the advertisement, unaware of every detail, except the fact it would be eventually be free. Details can slow you down.

When I got to the store, I walked around gathering some of the sale items I came for. I thought I’d find the labeler section of the store while I shopped.

After making my way around the perimeter of the store, I surrendered to the fact that I would need to ask someone where the labelers were or we’d be there until closing, wandering in circles.

Assuming there was only one labeler on sale, I asked the sales person, “Where are the labelers that are on sale?”

He took me directly to the right aisle, pulled it off the peg and handed it to me.

“Is this the right one?” I asked, straining to look up to the spot where he pulled it to see what the tag said. Indeed it was on sale, though I did not really look as closely as I should have.

I walked to the front of the store to make my purchase.

About the time we got to the front of the store, a thunderstorm came up. After one particular bright flash of lightning and crash of thunder, the lights went out. Emergency lights in the store came on about a minute later.

We had to wait about 30 minutes for the cash register computers to reboot in order to check out. All this time, I could have looked at a sales paper to verify that what I was buying was indeed the would-be free labeler. Instead, I stood there, admiring the labeler’s cool features.

When I was finally able to check out, the cashier handed me my receipt. I noticed there was an Easy Rebate for another item I bought, but not for the labeler. Still, it did not occur to me I might have purchased the wrong labeler.

Arriving home, I went online to look for the rebate information I would need. That’s when I noticed that the rebate to make the labeler free was for a Casio Labeler. I had bought the Brother Advanced Deluxe Labeler Model PT-1880 P-touch system (for home and office).

The Brother Labeler indeed was on sale. When you took into account the $30 instant rebate, that adjusted the price to $20 — the same price the Casio Labeler was before the $20 rebate.

I was disappointed. After all the effort of going to Staples and waiting out the storm, I had a choice to make. Did I keep the labeler I had or go back to Staples the next day and exchange it for the one I meant to buy?

I called my husband, who works within the office-supply industry. I told him what had happened and asked his opinion about the two labelers. He suggested I just keep the one I had because it was such a good price and, in his opinion, a superior labeler.

I decided to follow his advice. I opened the labeler and got it set up according to the instructions. I tried to turn it on, but it did not respond. I flipped the machine over and checked the batteries. They appeared to be in the right position, so I got some other batteries in case the first ones needed a recharge.

I still got no response. I even tried using a wall adapter, which only resulted in furthering the frustration. I repackaged the labeler unit and placed it in the bag.

Because I would have to return to Staples after all, I went online to compare the two labelers and their features. The Casio one would do the basic job of labeling and would be free after rebate. The Brother one gave me an excellent price and far more features than the Casio.

Thankful that this was my biggest problem for the day, I went to bed indecisive about which labeler should come home with me the next day — provided the Staples I went to still had both to choose from when I arrived.

By the time I got to Staples the next day, I decided that I just wanted to do an even exchange, choosing the Brother Labeler with all its bells and whistles. I never even asked to look at the Casio. I knew the Brother Labeler would serve me well as an organization tool around the house and any other labeling emergencies that I faced in the future.

Since bringing the exchanged Brother Labeler home, I have been quite pleased with its capabilities. It is easy to use and prints with clarity. I can do far more with this labeler than I would have been able to with the free labeler, including buying special replacement label tape that can be used outside.

The labeler I ended up with was not free, but in the battle of free versus features, features won hands down. It was worth all the trouble to end up with a labeler that was just right for my home.
It’s going to take a certain amount of restraint not to place a “Linda Vestal” label on everything I own.

Linda Vestal is a wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend living in Gibsonville. Contact her with comments or story ideas at lindavestal@triad.rr.com