Buh-bye Moolah
It's been a while since we had our car "done".
Done, meaning oil change, lube, tune up, etc...
Y'know. Done.
So my brilliant plan today was to try and get as many things done today as possible, since I had the car for M's orthodontics, after taking A back to work.
On my list of "To-do's" was to get the car done, and since it could be done in a "Jiffy",and my time was a bit limited... I went there.
Imagine the tech's suprise when I pull up, he asks me what I'd like done, and I say "What do you do?"
Instantly,I realized how that sounded... I turn 50 shades of red...while I tried to back-pedal and begin again, with a less "proposition"-sounding reply.
"Um. I mean... oh, that sounded bad. What I mean is, what services on my vehicle are offered?"
He's a young, cocky, mediocre looking, loud talking post-teen... gives a semi- chuckle... as if to say "As if!, Old lady". He does, however, make googly eyes at my nearly 16 year old, sitting in the passenger seat.
ack. sicko.
HELLO!? The mamma is sitting RIGHT HERE.
He shows me the list of stuff they offer.
I decide to get a tranny flush, lube oil/tune special, and new fuel filter. He quotes an approximate amount before taxes and then motions for me to go into the waiting room, mentions it will be about 30 min. Fine with me.
There was a young woman and an older gentleman sitting int he waiting room. He calls her name, to come to the garage. She comes back fuming.
"Everytime I come in here, they tell me I need something else, other than what I ask for, done . Man. I hate feeling pressured, and I hate that they seem to take advantage of women." I smile at her..and a tiny, little pluck of worry picks at the back of my brain. She pays her bill, and leaves... when they call them man over to check out something in the garage. "According to our diagnostic, you need a radiator flush." The man says, "No, thank you."
Hm, says me.
I'm thinking... "Well, I'm paying a small fortune, for just about everything to be done, surely they won't do that to me."
Ah. Ignorance--so blissful.
He comes out and says that I need a radiator flush... and a few little nit-noy things.
Um. no thank you.
He then gives me the schpeal about how he can't guaruntee blah blah blah.
I resist.
He goes back and reports that 'mrs. tightwad doesn't want those things done'.
Ok, he didn't really say that.. but he may as well have. Using that "well, alright.. suit yourself, but don't blame me if your car blows up on your way down the street..." sort of voice... nearly broke my resolve.
So, he decides to have me settle the bill. When the price is approx. $50 more than what he quoted, I question him.
Most of you know how much I hate confrontation, so this is a huge step for me.
He says that I must have misunderstood him. He stands there waiting for me to pay. I mention to him that it is very poor business, what they are doing to people and that I would reccomend to everyone to STAY AWAY from their little 'blink-and-you'll-miss-it, not-so-Jiffy" garage....all while pulling out the plastic. He takes my money... and I'm fuming as I sit down, waiting for them to drive the car through.
A few minutes later, he calls me over, in a "psst...wanna-bye-a-watch" sorta way...
He offers me 2 free games of bowling at the local bowling alley, as a personal "I'm sorry you just got suckered" prize.
Bowling.
At the place that is missing a an "L" on the markee... so it just says "BOW_ING". At the place that smells like urine and lysol.
woot.
For as much as I just shelled out, I should have at least gotten my own, personalized Bowling ball. Or shoes.
*sigh*
"If you're playing a poker game, and you look around the table and can't tell who the sucker is, it's you". ~~Paul Newman
Done, meaning oil change, lube, tune up, etc...
Y'know. Done.
So my brilliant plan today was to try and get as many things done today as possible, since I had the car for M's orthodontics, after taking A back to work.
On my list of "To-do's" was to get the car done, and since it could be done in a "Jiffy",and my time was a bit limited... I went there.
Imagine the tech's suprise when I pull up, he asks me what I'd like done, and I say "What do you do?"
Instantly,I realized how that sounded... I turn 50 shades of red...while I tried to back-pedal and begin again, with a less "proposition"-sounding reply.
"Um. I mean... oh, that sounded bad. What I mean is, what services on my vehicle are offered?"
He's a young, cocky, mediocre looking, loud talking post-teen... gives a semi- chuckle... as if to say "As if!, Old lady". He does, however, make googly eyes at my nearly 16 year old, sitting in the passenger seat.
ack. sicko.
HELLO!? The mamma is sitting RIGHT HERE.
He shows me the list of stuff they offer.
I decide to get a tranny flush, lube oil/tune special, and new fuel filter. He quotes an approximate amount before taxes and then motions for me to go into the waiting room, mentions it will be about 30 min. Fine with me.
There was a young woman and an older gentleman sitting int he waiting room. He calls her name, to come to the garage. She comes back fuming.
"Everytime I come in here, they tell me I need something else, other than what I ask for, done . Man. I hate feeling pressured, and I hate that they seem to take advantage of women." I smile at her..and a tiny, little pluck of worry picks at the back of my brain. She pays her bill, and leaves... when they call them man over to check out something in the garage. "According to our diagnostic, you need a radiator flush." The man says, "No, thank you."
Hm, says me.
I'm thinking... "Well, I'm paying a small fortune, for just about everything to be done, surely they won't do that to me."
Ah. Ignorance--so blissful.
He comes out and says that I need a radiator flush... and a few little nit-noy things.
Um. no thank you.
He then gives me the schpeal about how he can't guaruntee blah blah blah.
I resist.
He goes back and reports that 'mrs. tightwad doesn't want those things done'.
Ok, he didn't really say that.. but he may as well have. Using that "well, alright.. suit yourself, but don't blame me if your car blows up on your way down the street..." sort of voice... nearly broke my resolve.
So, he decides to have me settle the bill. When the price is approx. $50 more than what he quoted, I question him.
Most of you know how much I hate confrontation, so this is a huge step for me.
He says that I must have misunderstood him. He stands there waiting for me to pay. I mention to him that it is very poor business, what they are doing to people and that I would reccomend to everyone to STAY AWAY from their little 'blink-and-you'll-miss-it, not-so-Jiffy" garage....all while pulling out the plastic. He takes my money... and I'm fuming as I sit down, waiting for them to drive the car through.
A few minutes later, he calls me over, in a "psst...wanna-bye-a-watch" sorta way...
He offers me 2 free games of bowling at the local bowling alley, as a personal "I'm sorry you just got suckered" prize.
Bowling.
At the place that is missing a an "L" on the markee... so it just says "BOW_ING". At the place that smells like urine and lysol.
woot.
For as much as I just shelled out, I should have at least gotten my own, personalized Bowling ball. Or shoes.
*sigh*
"If you're playing a poker game, and you look around the table and can't tell who the sucker is, it's you". ~~Paul Newman
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