Buying the "Happiness" Bookshelf

My father is a Korean War combat veteran, and in September 2001 I accompanied him on a return trip to Korea, something he promised himself he'd do after the war ended.  I was running out of bookshelf space and thought that an eighteenth century style Korean bookshelf would be the perfect souvenir.  One could be shipped back for about $250.

We considered several bookshelves including an attractive one with vertical lattice work backed by paper.  The salesman assured me that the paper was "unbreakable" and would last thirty years.  After seeing one with every section of paper busted, I had the good sense to steer clear of this type.  I did not, however, have the good sense to stay away from the solid wood "Happiness" bookshelf and agreed to buy one.

The Korean salesman explained that there are usually warehouse charges of about $50.  A written explanation of what to expect and what we needed to do would have been useful, but undoubtedly we wouldn't have bought anything had we known the real truth.   He asked whether we'd like to buy insurance for the shipment for acts of war or natural disaster.  Thinking that this was a ripoff in the tradition of American extended service plans, I asked him if anything had ever happened to one of his shipments.  He did not answer and the matter was dropped.  Fortunately, the Taliban Navy would not be a problem.

Bookshelf with "unbreakable" paper.	Center bookshelf had excessively "cute" designs painted on the doors.
The ironically named "Happiness" bookshelf.	My father with the furniture salesman.

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