Crime is out of control in L.A. To better protect my self when I am out and about, after spending 2 days researching this product, today I ordered the above pepper gel via Amazon.
It is small but effective. And clips on my belt or pocket for fast activation if necessary. And it was only $10. I looked online on Sabre.com, the maker, to find out where I could go buy it and get it t-o-d-a-y but could not find it anywhere in a store near me. I wanted it n-o-w but Walmart didn't have it, Target didn't have it, Rite Aid didn't have it. Nobody listed in google had it in stock for store pickup today. I ordered it via Amazon. It was $10. Plus shipping. $5.99 for shipping. OK, $16 plus tax was a good price for something. a legal weapon, that could repel an attacker, that could save my life. And usually whatever I order on Amazon gets here fast. I happily placed the order. Wait a minute! After placing the order I noticed something. It said the shipping would take a month! WHAT? I have to wait a month to protect myself with this product? I want it n-o-w, within a week, not a month.
I called Amazon. I asked why the shipping would take a month. I said, "If the item is not in stock it should be listed as "out of stock". It wasn't out of stock. It was coming from Texas. "Texas?" I said. "That should only take a few days, maybe a week total, not a month!" The Amazon rep said, "The seller is Sabre, the manufacturer. If they say shipping takes a month, we can't do anything about it. Do you want to cancel the order?" I said, "No, not yet. Let me think about it. Maybe I'll contact Sabre and see if I can get it faster."
I called Sabre. They looked it up and said that they were not the seller, they said Amazon was the seller. "What?" I exclaimed. "Amazon said YOU were the seller. What's going on here?" Sabre insisted that they were not the seller or the shipper.
I hung up confused. And upset. And wondering when I would get the product I bought that could protect me, could save my life. Upon doing the research prior to me choosing this particular product there was no other pepper spray or gel or self-defense item that was small and portable and hidden enough for me to conveniently carry around, legally. So, what did I do?
Nothing. I did nothing. I will sit here and wait and hope that shipping takes only a few days not a few weeks. And, as usual I will continue to be aware of my surroundings and in the interim hope I won't need a weapon to defend myself from a criminal or a crazy.