Target has a bull's eye on it's forehead!

I'm getting very irritated with Target. They came out with this great big catalog of holiday toys with prices to last all month long. In it there is a race track that I wanted to get Zane for his birthday last week.

Exhibit A:

Smokin' deal, right?!?!?

I started early in my quest to get him this toy. I began as soon as the ad was out. Alas, it was not on the shelves during my first visit to Target. Nor my second. I inquired about shipment days all the while thinking, "I have plenty of time. If I can't get it on time for his b-day, I'll give it to him for Christmas." I visited two more Targets in the hope of finding this elusive speed raceway.

This morning I realized that I only had 3 more days before the ad expired. I called Target as soon as it opened. The boy/employee on the other end of the line was courteous, if not vaguely out-of-it.

Me: "I was wondering if you had any Hot Wheels Race Aces Speed Shift Raceway race tracks (heavy breathing) in stock."

Boy/Employee: "Let me check for you."

Boy/Employee: "Ummm, no, unfortunately we are out of stock at the moment."

Me: "When is your next shipment due?"

B/E: "Ummm, we should be getting a, ummm, shipment within the next to weeks."

(TWO WEEKS!!!)

Me: "Okaaayyy. If I come in can I get a raincheck for this item?"

B/E: "Ummm, unfortunately we cannot offer a rain check on items that use a store coupon. "

Me: "This particular item does not have a coupon."

B/E: "Oh. Ummm....unfortunately...ummm...we can only offer rainchecks on items that are advertised at lower than their original price."

(Did I somehow break the time/space continuum and am now speaking to someone in Bizarro World?)

Me: "Correct me if I'm wrong but it states in the ad that the original price is $32.99, and it is advertised at $16.49. Since that is (clearly, you numb-skull) lower that the orginal price can I get a raincheck?"

B/E: "Ummm. Please hold."....talking in the background with another clueless employee I'm sure...."Ummm, ma'am, unfortunately we only received a limited quantity of this item and they are sold out."

Me: "........."

I really didn't want my holiday shopping to be marred such ugliness. I want to purchase gifts for my loved ones with choirs of angels singing and bunnies frolicking at my feet.

I'm torn between going down there to speak with a manager in person or just letting it go and finding another toy (at another store) for Zane.

Here's what's holding me back:

"Our life is frittered away by detail.... Simplify, simplify." Henry David Thoreau

I think I should take Mr. Thoreau's advice and simplify. So that's what I'm thankful for today: simplicity. And that I didn't spend my morning driving to Target to confront the manager.

But if I just happen to be in the neighborhood in the next 2 days......who knows.