diff --git a/cwms/api.py b/cwms/api.py
index 56cac1c..cdb605a 100644
--- a/cwms/api.py
+++ b/cwms/api.py
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@
 import base64
 import json
 import logging
+from http import HTTPStatus
 from json import JSONDecodeError
 from typing import Any, Optional, cast
 
@@ -72,9 +73,9 @@ class InvalidVersion(Exception):
 class ApiError(Exception):
     """CWMS Data Api Error.
 
-    This class is a light wrapper around a `requests.Response` object. Its primary purpose
-    is to generate an error message that includes the request URL and provide additional
-    information to the user to help them resolve the error.
+    Light wrapper around a response-like object (e.g., requests.Response or a
+    test stub with url, status_code, reason, and content attributes). Produces
+    a concise, single-line error message with an optional hint.
     """
 
     def __init__(self, response: Response):
@@ -91,23 +92,37 @@ def __str__(self) -> str:
         message += "."
 
         # Add additional context to help the user resolve the issue.
-        if hint := self.hint():
+        hint = self.hint()
+        if hint:
             message += f" {hint}"
 
-        if content := self.response.content:
-            message += f" {content.decode('utf8')}"
+        # Optional content (decoded if bytes)
+        content = getattr(self.response, "content", None)
+        if content:
+            if isinstance(content, bytes):
+                try:
+                    text = content.decode("utf-8", errors="replace")
+                except Exception:
+                    text = repr(content)
+            else:
+                text = str(content)
+            message += f" {text}"
 
         return message
 
     def hint(self) -> str:
-        """Return a message with additional information on how to resolve the error."""
+        """Return a short hint based on HTTP status code."""
+        status = getattr(self.response, "status_code", None)
 
-        if self.response.status_code == 400:
+        if status == 429:
+            return "Too many requests made."
+        if status == 400:
             return "Check that your parameters are correct."
-        elif self.response.status_code == 404:
+        if status == 404:
             return "May be the result of an empty query."
-        else:
-            return ""
+
+        # No hint for other codes
+        return ""
 
 
 def init_session(
@@ -227,6 +242,12 @@ def _process_response(response: Response) -> Any:
             return response.text
         if content_type.startswith("image/"):
             return base64.b64encode(response.content).decode("utf-8")
+        # Handle excel content types
+        if content_type in [
+            "application/vnd.ms-excel",
+            "application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet",
+        ]:
+            return response.content
         # Fallback for remaining content types
         return response.content.decode("utf-8")
     except JSONDecodeError as error:
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index b34c316..bf9fbdc 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 name = "cwms-python"
 repository = "https://github.com/HydrologicEngineeringCenter/cwms-python"
 
-version = "1.0.0"
+version = "1.0.1"
 
 
 packages = [
diff --git a/tests/cda/blobs/blob_CDA_test.py b/tests/cda/blobs/blob_CDA_test.py
index 62f8fa6..6e67606 100644
--- a/tests/cda/blobs/blob_CDA_test.py
+++ b/tests/cda/blobs/blob_CDA_test.py
@@ -59,10 +59,20 @@ def _find_blob_row(office: str, blob_id: str) -> Optional[pd.Series]:
 
 
 def test_store_blob_excel():
+    # Create an empty file with the excel extension
     excel_file_path = Path(__file__).parent.parent / "resources" / "blob_test.xlsx"
     with open(excel_file_path, "rb") as f:
         file_data = f.read()
-    mime_type, _ = mimetypes.guess_type(excel_file_path)
+
+    # Get the file extension and decide which type to use if xlsx or xlx
+    ext = excel_file_path.suffix.lower()
+    mime_type = mimetypes.guess_type(excel_file_path.name)[0]
+    # Some linux systems may not have the excel mimetypes registered
+    if ext == ".xlsx":
+        mime_type = "application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet"
+    elif ext == ".xls":
+        mime_type = "application/vnd.ms-excel"
+
     excel_blob_id = "TEST_BLOB_EXCEL"
     payload = {
         "office-id": TEST_OFFICE,
@@ -72,12 +82,16 @@ def test_store_blob_excel():
         "value": base64.b64encode(file_data).decode("utf-8"),
     }
     blobs.store_blobs(data=payload)
-    try:
-        row = _find_blob_row(TEST_OFFICE, excel_blob_id)
-        assert row is not None, "Stored blob not found in listing"
-    finally:
-        # Cleanup excel
-        blobs.delete_blob(blob_id=excel_blob_id, office_id=TEST_OFFICE)
+    row = _find_blob_row(TEST_OFFICE, excel_blob_id)
+    assert row is not None, "Stored blob not found in listing"
+
+
+def test_get_excel_blob():
+    # Retrieve the excel blob stored in the previous test
+    excel_blob_id = "TEST_BLOB_EXCEL"
+    content = blobs.get_blob(office_id=TEST_OFFICE, blob_id=excel_blob_id)
+    assert content is not None, "Failed to retrieve excel blob"
+    assert len(content) > 0, "Excel blob content is empty"
 
 
 def test_store_blob():
@@ -133,3 +147,16 @@ def test_update_blob():
     # Verify new content
     content = blobs.get_blob(office_id=TEST_OFFICE, blob_id=TEST_BLOB_UPDATED_ID)
     assert TEST_TEXT_UPDATED in content
+
+
+def test_delete_blobs():
+    # Delete the test blob
+    blobs.delete_blob(office_id=TEST_OFFICE, blob_id=TEST_BLOB_ID)
+    blobs.delete_blob(office_id=TEST_OFFICE, blob_id="TEST_BLOB_EXCEL")
+
+    # Confirm deletion via listing
+    row = _find_blob_row(TEST_OFFICE, TEST_BLOB_ID)
+    assert row is None, "Blob still found after deletion"
+
+    row = _find_blob_row(TEST_OFFICE, "TEST_BLOB_EXCEL")
+    assert row is None, "Excel blob still found after deletion"