Rain check saga has sunny ending

Dear Action Time: You've assisted me before, so here I am again.

In September, Zayre advertised a small desk on sale for $19.99, asavings of $10 to $20 off the regular price. I thought a mini-deskwould be just right for my daughter, but the store was out of them.I was issued a rain check. I've called the store several times andam always told, "When the manufacturer sends us the desk, we'llnotify you." Come on! How long am I supposed to wait? It's beenseveral months. My girl probably will be finished with collegebefore Zayre figures out what's going on. IMPATIENT

Dear Impatient: Zayre wants you to shop somewhere else - and onan expense account, no less! A consumer affairs representative forthe company apologized for the delay, explaining that the reorderingand delivery process usually takes less than six or eight weeks.

Since the item still is not available, she came up with anunusual solution: Find the same desk, or a comparable one, at any oneof Zayre's competitors. Buy it and she'll arrange for the storemanager to reimburse you fully.

We hope your daughter won't keep her desk as messy as ours hereat Action Time.

Dear Action Time: My stomach hurts. The reason is simple: I'mhungry.

Last fall, I applied for food stamps and received them. Exactlyone month later, I went to pick up the next batch at the currencyexchange, but was told the stamps had been sent back to Public Aidbecause I hadn't picked them up in time.

I didn't understand, but my caseworker quickly filled me in. Shesaid the system is set up so that the first two books are deliveredin the first month. In short, I had the wrong pickup date.

Well, I have found a job since then. But I still need a fewbucks for groceries to tide me over until that first paycheckarrives. My caseworker no doubt has been trying to unravel theproblem, but this paperwork bunk is practically starving me to death.

HUNGRY

Dear Hungry: Get your grocery list together. Our Public Aidcontact assured us $87 worth of food stamps have been mailed.

Dear Action Time: Being an avid football mom and appreciatingthe efforts of high school athletes, I wanted to congratulate theMount Carmel High school players and their coaches for winning thestate championship.

I sent a congratulatory telegram to the school, but laterdiscovered, to my disappointment, the wire was never received.

Western Union was on the ball, though, when it came to adding thecharge, $28.06, to my phone bill. When I contacted the company, asupervisor said she couldn't remove the charge. I don't believe it.

FAN

Dear Fan: Don't believe it and cheer up. A Western Unioncustomer relations representative said he has resolved this matter toyour satisfaction. Senior/action Banging the store's radiator draws heat

Dear Action Time: A friend of mine is 79 years young. I usethat description because she usually feels she can do it all. Well,this time she can't.

She bought a new furnace from Sears a few years ago, with theunderstanding she could purchase new radiators down the line. Butwhen she finally returned to Sears, she was told radiators are notsold separately; they are included only in a furnace package.

The best Sears could do was suggest places scattered about thecity where she could shop. Hey, that's fine for a much youngerperson, but not for an elderly woman who has dizzy spells and othermedical problems. She has no family, either.

If I had a car, boy, I'd take her anywhere. But I don't. I'mnot signing my name, just hers. If you can find a solution, I'drather Sears contact her and say there was a mixup or something.She's very proud and won't accept help. NEIGHBOR

Dear Neighbor: Gotcha. Mum's the word with us, and we havereason to believe the woman's local Sears did its part.

We understand she accepted the store's offer to drop by and giveher an estimate on what she needs. Evidently, your friend still hasher dignity.

Senior/action appears Tuesdays and Fridays. The Action Time staff includes Charles McWhinnie, Bill Cunniff andRoy Smith