Blankie War!

Let me tell you a little story about a blankie...

Us girls decided it would be great to get Hannah and Arhmin a blanket for baby Emory and Jodie. A little token from their aunts.

We went with Sonya's Baby Blankets online. We got a cute little nursery rhyme embroidered around the edge. All was on track for us to give the blankets to the girls over family vacation in Florida. Hannah received her blanket, but Arhmin's never came in the mail, which is why they are both holding Jodie's blanket above.

That was in August.

I wasn't too upset since I figured it would be in the mailbox by the time we got back.

It wasn't.

...and wasn't and wasn't and wasn't and no one would return my calls when I called to company to check on it's status. I called A LOT and eventually filed an complaint with the BBB of Dallas, which got me no where. I had John call and threaten legal action if no one would return our calls. nothing.

I concluded the phone harassing with a two week span of calling every single day. The phone number now goes directly into the voicemail of Mr. Todd Lilly who is listed under "media Inquiries" on their website. I think the last message went something like this..."Todd, it's Lisa. You should know who I am by now. Yep, still callin' about that blanket that I ordered in AUGUST and paid IN FULL for. I'm confused at why you are still taking orders for blankets online. Will they every receive their blankets? Probably not and we both know it. I guess I'll see you in a few days at your office!" That's right...I'm in Dallas and his company is also in Dallas...how convenient.

Today after a long day at work I decided to drive to the heart of Dallas, pay $7 for parking, find the right building, go to the 23rd floor and face this problem head on. I half way expected to see it boarded up with caution tape around it, but it wasn't that dramatic.

The door was unlocked!

I entered...
and walked right into a girl sitting in her desk. This was obviously not the front entrance.
"Hi, do you know anything about a blanket company that is supposed to be in this suite?"

Apparently this other company, that now occupies the space where our beloved blanket was manufactured, owns several suites and this was one of their side entrances. I chatted for awhile with the employees intrigued by my rather unannounced entrance. They told me all they could about Mr. Lilly and his horrible business. Here is what I learned:

He was a 1 person show. Not just the media inquiries go-to guy, he was the founder, labor and everything else behind this business.

When they came to check out the property for rent they saw his machine in the middle of the room with tons and tons of blankets piled up everywhere!

He was several months behind on rent

He moved out in the middle of the night!

They didn't have any forwarding info. on him, but told me on the 27th floor was the property management company and to check with them. So...I went.... and from the two ladies in the office I learned this info...

He was in the middle of a divorce. Not sure if it was before or after this business tanked

They kept the stuff he left behind in the office for 30 days before throwing it out. There weren't any complete blankets, but some blanket fabric. The rest was basically trash.

The post office guy over heard us talking and let us know he is still doing business, but out of his home & to call the post office to get his new address.

I got two addresses...one a house...one an apartment. I was guessing the house was before the divorce and the apartment was after.

At this point I feel like a detective!

I try the two new phone numbers I've acquired via google at my new pal Sherry's office on the 27th floor, but sadly neither of them work.

So I do what anyone would do....I decide to go to his apartment! Now I'm wondering if I'm a detective or the stupid girl in a scary movie that you know is going to die in the next scene. I call John and he gives me the go ahead, but I let him know what address I'm at in case this goes wrong...and I promise to not get out if it looks shady.

No speech prepared. Anger is pumping through my veins at this point. I'm ready to demand he hand stitch me a blanket before I leave! :)

I decide before I bang this guys door down I should check with the front desk to verify they have Todd Lilly in apt. 429. My wise detective skill possibly saved me ruining some strangers day because they did not have him at that apartment or at any other in their system. They had never heard of his company's name. it's a dead end.

Lucky for me I have the other address...where I suspected he lived with his wife before the divorce. I didn't know if his wife was still in the house and if I should involve her in this, but I did what any rational person would do....typed in my GPS to head straight to the house. :) I decided I'm not in Dallas everyday so I better leave with no regrets.

I pull up to find a "for sale" sign in the front yard. now or never right?

I ring the doorbell and get nothing. I peek through the windows (yeah..I'm a little creepy at this point) and find some furniture, but not a lot. It seems they left just a few pieces of furniture for staging, but it was obvious...vacant.

In defeat I did the last possible thing there was to do, which put me over the crazy line in case I wasn't there already. I called the Realtor and left a long message about how I've been trying to get in touch with the Lilly family. I've got a feeling creepy lady won't be getting a call back, but at least I can say I've tried everything I possibly can.

It's the principle.

and it's the fact that his website is STILL TAKING ORDERS. I have a feeling anyone placing an order won't be receiving it.

I may submit to this dead end of defeat...then again I may not. I may just keep on calling and emailing until this guy begs me to stop with a years supply of free embroidered blankets!

I also may do my best to involve the media.

I'm sure we'll have to find another way to get baby Emory her promised blanket, but at least for now...I can look her in the eyes & tell her I did everything I possibly could to get it for her! That is...when she's actually awake and I can see her eyes.

What we do...all in the name of fabric...