Moving Part 2: The Oven Fiasco

Feb 18, 2025

Due to long equipment lead times, I purchased two HUGE ovens for our new space, BEFORE we even signed a lease for our new space...

Ahead of the game! So smart! Not so much...

After landing from a relaxing New Year's vacation in California, I received an email that these two, 4200lbs each ovens were on their way to our old warehouse from Pennsylvania on an extra tall 18-wheeler and would arrive on Monday at 8am...

Monday at 7:45am, in the 30 degree pouring rain, I sat in the parking lot, anxiously awaiting the truck.

Did the driver know we don't have a forklift?

Will he/she be willing to help us unload them?

In times like these, there is no help in worrying until you face the problems... You can't solve every problem by overthinking. Unfortunately. Or I'd be problem-free. 

Beep Beep The driver arrived in the biggest truck I'd ever seen. The entire top and front was covered in icy snow patches, due to weather up north. I ushered him like an aircraft marshal on the runway.

The driver, Oliver, was super kind, but I could tell he was tired and ready to get to his next stop.

"Where's your forklift?" He asked.

"Uh... We don't have one." I said.

"Oh man... Is it just YOU?!" He said nervously. 

"Yep, but we got this, I've pulled off heavier." I smiled and thought, "Fake it to you make it!"

He opened the truck door to reveal larger than life ovens... and I thought I was being Punked. 

"Holy moly." I said audibly. 

"Yea..." He said back self-consciously.

I set up the dock plate and Oliver unstrapped the ovens and took the pallet jack under the first one. I could tell, it wasn't budging when he pulled.

"Hey, I'll go to the back and push!" I said like hyper, naive 8-year old just trying to help out. 

It was hard to get a footing in the icy, wet truck floor, I knew my efforts were appreciated but not helpful.

But then, suddenly, the oven creaked, and moved forward - it worked! 

Oliver gained momentum and pulled the first oven on to the dock plate.

We're home free! I thought.

Until, I heard a BOOM. And the oven stopped moving.

"Uhhh... Do you have another pallet jack...? Looks like the oven is stuck in the end of the truck bed."

"Yeah! Uh.. Somewhere around here..." I ran back and forth in the warehouse. Truth was, I had no idea. Where was our other pallet jack? I swear we had one... Or maybe we didn't purchase that extra one back in the day (small businesses are cash strapped, one pallet jack had to work for us for the time being). 

I searched anxiously, knowing Oliver was waiting and getting more worried by the minute. 

"I can't find it, BUT, let me run next door and ask my neighbor!" My neighbor that I had never met... I now regretted not introducing myself... My mom would be disappointed I hadn't... But, desperate times come for desperate measures... Worth a shot to ask... I ran next door, dodging puddles in my Hokas and knocked aggressively the steel door, praying someone was inside. 

"Sure... You can use it. Let me open the garage door for you." The contractor said with a surprising tone in his steel boots and zip-up hoodie. What is this random girl up to? He probably thought to himself.

"Thank you SO much. I will return it within the hour and pay you in Pennies!" 

I ran back to Oliver and we secured both under the pallet and raised it off the ground. Both pushing from behind, the pallet creaked, and moved over the dock plate. "Thank you, Lord!" I thought to myself... There is hope!

The second oven moved more easily with two pallet jacks underneath, all 4200 lbs. But we hit a snag before the dock plate. Not again... I thought to myself.

"I have an idea..." Oliver shouted, and ran to the truck cab.

He disappeared for a moment, then loud beeping rang out, slowly the truck bed began to fall beneath the height of the dock. "It's working!!" I yelled.

Oliver and I move the second oven successfully onto the dock and lowered it.

"Now, I just have to tell my neighbor, Victor, this is here..." I worried about it blocking our shared dock. But for now, this would have to do. 

Oliver and I high-fived and snapped a quick selfie. Two ovens, off-loaded by pallet jacks, all before 9am... I think I felt every emotion that day... Worry, dread, excitement, exhaustion and ultimately glee. I thanked God for Oliver and his can-do attitude. 

 

Sometimes, you have to bring overwhelming positivity to the day, and hope others match your optimism.

Sometimes you have to make the jump before you can see the other side. 

 

Stay tuned for even more oven fiascos :) thanks for following along and supporting us.

 

Stay Cheesin!

Becca

P.S. If you’d like to help Pennies during this transition, order Pennies and merch at piedmontpennies.com or support a local retailer near you. We are shipping orders Monday - Friday (while supplies last…) and your orders give our team purpose and momentum during this transition. Thank you for being a Penny Pal!