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Pictured above (top row from left to right): /1/ the original
top – hard to see the broken threads on the bottom /2/ the
aforementioned broken threads /3/ the original black ring. One of my many administrative assistants (more precisely, the person who objected loudest to epoxy) was delegated responsibility for finding a replacement. She could not locate a replacement parts section on the Farberware webpages. She missed that customer service has a mailing address in Fairfield California – about 30 miles and 30 minutes north. Instead, a pair of Univen glass percolator knobs (one of which is shown above in the middle of the bottom row) were bought on the internet. In the interim, the now-disabled kettle was staying in the kitchen as it was feared students would touch the now-vacant opening and potentially get mildly scalded. However, the absence of the kettle was noticed, and several students went to the kitchen to see it. I explained more than once to each class that /1/ the old top was broken /2/ a new top was coming and /3/ the kettle would be fixed soon. The pressure was on and increasing: the Univen glass percolator knob, which is probably marvelous in the correct context, did not fit. A hastily formed committee of top individuals was formed but could provide no strategic insight other than I should call Farberware. A very nice Consumer Relations Representative named Audrey asked for some photos of our wounded warrior. Before I had a chance to ask if I could drive to Fairfield, pay and pick up the part she gave me a tracking number for the replacement. That, boys and girls and vendors everywhere, is how you do customer service. All done – right? Not quite. Keen-eyed readers will have noted that the new part (far right on the bottom row) is blue. The original was clear. The students, the kitchen staff and the cinematographer ALL like the blue. In fact, the idea of having multiple tops with different colors echoing the color of the various teas is popular here – never mind that the clear top was so one could see the color of the coffee. In Tai Chi Chuan and many other martial arts it is all about the accessories. So we are buying several new teakettles – all with blue tops – and the other older kettle with a clear top will be reserved for my personal use as befits my exalted position. |
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