I'll keep this short since nobody is reading this anyway.
Pop-pop called a few days before their trip and mentioned he doesn't need the trailer.
Yay! We went through all this crap for nothing! Oh, did I mention the facility where they sell and install tires can do neither effectively?
In short, they couldn't get the tires ON the wheels for some reason. My mind has learned to block out traumatic experiences so I might forget some of this. Pop-Pop calls me about the tires and explains they're having this problem or that problem. They need to re-pack the wheel bearings so they ask him if they want a tight or loose repack. Hehehehehe....nevermind. Incredulous I explain to Pop-Pop to have them just repack the damn bearings and re-install the damn bearings. The manager (ahem) is nowhere to be found.
I have my wife call them back because we think the manager is hiding from us. She gets through, is put on hold and they're locating him now. It was funny at the time but as I stated I block out traumatic events.
They sold our tires.
Yes, they SOLD our tires. The tires we had specifically asked for and had on site at the tire-ruiner-facility. The doofus apologizes. I don't accept it. Oh yeah, Pop-Pop asked me to talk to them since I know a couple of things about vehicles and stuff. I asked him where and how quickly he could obtain a new set. He explained they have these nifty tires at the Tire-ruiner-facility. Great! Are they ST rated? "Huh?" Whatcha talkin` bout Willis?? They guy doesn't know the tires need to be rater for trailer duty. No tires for you Mr. Customer-man.
They get the new ones finally.
Did I ever mention this wasn't going well? These Tire-ruiners don't know how to install the tires, they don't know how to balance them, they don't know how to repack wheel bearings. What the hell DO they know?
Answer: Not much.
So, to cut to the chase I have brand new shiny tires on a trailer that once again never saw the duty it so desperately needed to see.
Poor little trailer...
Friday, July 31, 2009
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Sometimes.....
I really don't know why the hell I bother with my family. Sure, I love them, they're great but goddamnit they're nuts! They put the fun in dysfunctional.
Case in point:
Pop-pop asks me if he can borrow my enclosed trailer to take all the bikes, washing machine, dryer, sink, crystal, tables, living room accouterments, etc... down to Hilton Head. Ok I lied about all the stuff past the bikes but you get the point.
His logical rationale is, somewhere between 5 and 72 people, 6 bikes and 2 vehicles plus all the stuff they bring with them is too much to carry. I can dig it.
I arrange to clean it out, check the tire pressures and get the trailer to him this past weekend. We stipulate the tires need to be replaced since they're just shy of 10 years. He's ok with that given it will cost less to drag this trailer down to HHI than rent a U-Haul special. He asks me what size the trailer is and I explain it's a 6x10 enclosed single axle trailer. He's ok with this.
Saturday morning and we're off the see the Wizard with the trailer behind the big SUV. I'm flying down the twisty backroads and I don't even know its there.
We arrive safely and I back the trailer into the driveway. Let the fun begin. I know things are not going well when my father looks at it and mentions it's a big trailer. No it's not. It's a 6X10 trailer which isn't large by any stretch of the imagination. He's not convinced. I'm off to a trailer place to purchase some new safetay chains and a receiver/ball for his tow vehicle.
1530: I leave Cap City with only a receiver and ball because well, they're a trailer place so why the hell would they have trailer parts?
1555: I arrive at Home Depot in Germantown and begin to hunt down the pieces parts for my chain replacement. I'm in the hardware section and, lo and behold, they have trailer pieces parts; receivers, balls, chains, chips, dips, whips.
1615: I evacuate Home Depot with my parts in the bag.
1645: I arrive back at Casa Dey La Loco to install the parts.
1750: It's not going well, at all.
1820: I'm done. My mistake was purchasing chain that was a tad too thick for the links to connect to the hooks. Whats a tad you might ask? A tad is where you need to perform percussive maintenance to insert one thing into another. I messed it up, badly. However, it all locks together and regardless I wouldn't let the trailer go if I thought it was dangerous.
1825: I drag Pop-pop out to attach his tow vehicle to the trailer and test the lights.
It doesn't go too well.
1835: I've figured out the proiblems, corrision, and all he needs to do is have 4 wee little bulbs replaced and apply dielectric grease to the contact points. He'll do that when he has the new tires installed.
(side note:) he's been in the house giving morose updates as to the status of the lighting and other items of interest. My mother is fuming now.
1840: We're off to play test drive.
It doesn't go too well. He's acting all quiet and reserved, like he's afraid....of....something. Wait! I know, it's the trailer. That hulking mass of shiny aluminum, steel, rubber and wood has him quaking in his boots but because he's accustomed to dealing with nerve racking situations he doesn't show it. He's one cool customer...that Russian...
Some background is needed. I've been dragging trailers behind me for many years. Some no longer than 12-14 feet, some as long as 40 feet and weighing in excess of 15,000 lbs. In that time I have managed to get stuck, nearly jack knife and damage pieces and parts so I have learned my lessons. I also learned early on not to look over my shoulder to guide the trailer into a parking space.
So, anyway, back to the story.
I take the tow vehicle and trailer down the hill to the court and proceed to demonstrate how easy it is to back this thing into a space. I also try to demonstrate the proper technique to follow when backing a trailer. I turn it over to him. In case you're wondering, no, he didn't fail miserably but he exhibited the exact same mistakes a newcomer to towing would exhibit. I expected this and it was easy to catch. Still with me?
We practice and practice and to be a smart ass I back the trailer from the main road, up the court, around the circle and back again. He's asking me how the hell I did that. Secret squirrel stuff.
Practice grasshopper, practice my, umm, father and you shall achieve trailer towing nirvana.
Some of the fundementals I've noticed over the years with trailers:
1: They always, well almost, always follow you wherever you go
2: They will almost always display electrical problems after you have made the connections, verified they work and then disappear as fast as you can find them.
2: You will inevitably round a corner and forget the trailer always takes a shorter path than the tow vehicle and boing! up it goes on the curb or you wipe out the odd sign/post/shrubbery.
3: The ability of the trailer to follow you without wagging its tail is directly proportional to the amount of weight you place ahead of the axle. I've had trailers whipping so badly in the ruts formed on highways I had to drive with the right side on the shoulder. It scares the crap out of you because it comes on suddenly.
So, back to Pop-pop. He has successfully backed the trailer into his driveway and blocked it and now he's offering me cash for taking it home. Sure, I'll take it home and I won't take the $$.
I insist I don't care and in essence I don't because I can drag that trailer around with me and it doesn't bother me. I like watching the rear tires on the trailer launch a foot in the air when I hit a dip in the road. Really, it's rather comical.
On the other hand I do care because its an admission of failure on his part and I don't want to see my prodigy fail. He must succeed! The fate of the entire world rests upon his weary shoulders and chicken legs! Ok, maybe not the entire world but our little corner of it is going to suck like a Hoover if he can't take control of this situation.
Mimi's pissed now. She refuses to discuss this. She refuses to consider any further discussions regarding this. She's to the point now if you were to light a match in her prescence she's likely lift off.
Pop-pop did it....
to be continued...
Case in point:
Pop-pop asks me if he can borrow my enclosed trailer to take all the bikes, washing machine, dryer, sink, crystal, tables, living room accouterments, etc... down to Hilton Head. Ok I lied about all the stuff past the bikes but you get the point.
His logical rationale is, somewhere between 5 and 72 people, 6 bikes and 2 vehicles plus all the stuff they bring with them is too much to carry. I can dig it.
I arrange to clean it out, check the tire pressures and get the trailer to him this past weekend. We stipulate the tires need to be replaced since they're just shy of 10 years. He's ok with that given it will cost less to drag this trailer down to HHI than rent a U-Haul special. He asks me what size the trailer is and I explain it's a 6x10 enclosed single axle trailer. He's ok with this.
Saturday morning and we're off the see the Wizard with the trailer behind the big SUV. I'm flying down the twisty backroads and I don't even know its there.
We arrive safely and I back the trailer into the driveway. Let the fun begin. I know things are not going well when my father looks at it and mentions it's a big trailer. No it's not. It's a 6X10 trailer which isn't large by any stretch of the imagination. He's not convinced. I'm off to a trailer place to purchase some new safetay chains and a receiver/ball for his tow vehicle.
1530: I leave Cap City with only a receiver and ball because well, they're a trailer place so why the hell would they have trailer parts?
1555: I arrive at Home Depot in Germantown and begin to hunt down the pieces parts for my chain replacement. I'm in the hardware section and, lo and behold, they have trailer pieces parts; receivers, balls, chains, chips, dips, whips.
1615: I evacuate Home Depot with my parts in the bag.
1645: I arrive back at Casa Dey La Loco to install the parts.
1750: It's not going well, at all.
1820: I'm done. My mistake was purchasing chain that was a tad too thick for the links to connect to the hooks. Whats a tad you might ask? A tad is where you need to perform percussive maintenance to insert one thing into another. I messed it up, badly. However, it all locks together and regardless I wouldn't let the trailer go if I thought it was dangerous.
1825: I drag Pop-pop out to attach his tow vehicle to the trailer and test the lights.
It doesn't go too well.
1835: I've figured out the proiblems, corrision, and all he needs to do is have 4 wee little bulbs replaced and apply dielectric grease to the contact points. He'll do that when he has the new tires installed.
(side note:) he's been in the house giving morose updates as to the status of the lighting and other items of interest. My mother is fuming now.
1840: We're off to play test drive.
It doesn't go too well. He's acting all quiet and reserved, like he's afraid....of....something. Wait! I know, it's the trailer. That hulking mass of shiny aluminum, steel, rubber and wood has him quaking in his boots but because he's accustomed to dealing with nerve racking situations he doesn't show it. He's one cool customer...that Russian...
Some background is needed. I've been dragging trailers behind me for many years. Some no longer than 12-14 feet, some as long as 40 feet and weighing in excess of 15,000 lbs. In that time I have managed to get stuck, nearly jack knife and damage pieces and parts so I have learned my lessons. I also learned early on not to look over my shoulder to guide the trailer into a parking space.
So, anyway, back to the story.
I take the tow vehicle and trailer down the hill to the court and proceed to demonstrate how easy it is to back this thing into a space. I also try to demonstrate the proper technique to follow when backing a trailer. I turn it over to him. In case you're wondering, no, he didn't fail miserably but he exhibited the exact same mistakes a newcomer to towing would exhibit. I expected this and it was easy to catch. Still with me?
We practice and practice and to be a smart ass I back the trailer from the main road, up the court, around the circle and back again. He's asking me how the hell I did that. Secret squirrel stuff.
Practice grasshopper, practice my, umm, father and you shall achieve trailer towing nirvana.
Some of the fundementals I've noticed over the years with trailers:
1: They always, well almost, always follow you wherever you go
2: They will almost always display electrical problems after you have made the connections, verified they work and then disappear as fast as you can find them.
2: You will inevitably round a corner and forget the trailer always takes a shorter path than the tow vehicle and boing! up it goes on the curb or you wipe out the odd sign/post/shrubbery.
3: The ability of the trailer to follow you without wagging its tail is directly proportional to the amount of weight you place ahead of the axle. I've had trailers whipping so badly in the ruts formed on highways I had to drive with the right side on the shoulder. It scares the crap out of you because it comes on suddenly.
So, back to Pop-pop. He has successfully backed the trailer into his driveway and blocked it and now he's offering me cash for taking it home. Sure, I'll take it home and I won't take the $$.
I insist I don't care and in essence I don't because I can drag that trailer around with me and it doesn't bother me. I like watching the rear tires on the trailer launch a foot in the air when I hit a dip in the road. Really, it's rather comical.
On the other hand I do care because its an admission of failure on his part and I don't want to see my prodigy fail. He must succeed! The fate of the entire world rests upon his weary shoulders and chicken legs! Ok, maybe not the entire world but our little corner of it is going to suck like a Hoover if he can't take control of this situation.
Mimi's pissed now. She refuses to discuss this. She refuses to consider any further discussions regarding this. She's to the point now if you were to light a match in her prescence she's likely lift off.
Pop-pop did it....
to be continued...
Friday, May 29, 2009
A minor irritation...
can quickly become a major one.
Some examples:
Interstate 66 in Northern VA is without a doubt one of the worst stretches of our Interstate Highway System in the United States.
Five days a week one can witness a 20+ mile congestion east bound. The depth and breadth of the stupidity exhibited in the design of this horrid stretch of road is staggering. The utter lack of planning and foresight (thats a funny word) causes spastic fits in most of the region's drivers that dare to ply the asphalt mistake.
The "clover leaf" interchanges are not the typical type at all. Rather than a true four leaf clover many of them have at-grade intersections which require one to wait for a traffic light then proceed. Yeah, really, that makes perfect sense, to nobody in particular.
Add to this another brilliant design; the interchanges that feed into it are often 2 lane ramps with no traffic metering to temper the flow. In effect everyone dog piles onto I-66 all at once.
The next peeve; Virginia State Police; they sit on the shoulder...watching...waiting...sulking....dreaming of doughnuts, looking for HOV lane scoff laws so they can write them an expenseive piece of paper. Oh, did I mention that due to their vigilance the Knuckle dragging Neanderthals who plod up and down the road on the way to their jobs slow down to look at the fine Office resplendent in their charcoal gray trooper lid.
As Miagi used to say: FOCUS DANIEL-SAN!
Next up; Hybrid drivers. I hate them, for their smugness, their inherently poor financial sense (who the hell in their right mind would buy one of these things without first doing the goddamn math??) And the final insult, they can travel all by their smug, lonesome selves secure in the knowledge they get a bloody pass from the Commonwealth for purchasing a Hybrid when they should also be relegated to driving in the same lanes the other single drivers use. No, the state deems them heroes and they must be rewarded.
The last and certainly not the least of the problems with I-66; The aforementioned Knuckle dragging Neanderthals who actually utilize the utterly ridiculous roadway.
Here's a protip; If you can't walk and chew gum at the same time put down the phone and stop talking/texting, applying makeup, reading and generally doing everything BUT doing what you're supposed to be doing. My wife will attest to my dismay and disgust at them. There have been quite a few times when we approach some doofus flapping her gums to her friend, no doubt telling her about the last episode of American Idol or some other innocuous BS. So, I saddle up along side her and she's oblivious to her surrondings when I hit the horn. BEEEEEP! She's officially upset. She flips us the bird, the wife responds and yells something about paying attention and some other expletive. We win.
Is this going to change? Not one wit. It will be this way forever but I can take comfort in the fact in my 24+ years behind the wheel and 10 years in Northern Virginia I have seen many things and driven through all kinds of weather and never had a single problem getting the two very most important people in the world home safely.
I forgot to mention every time I approach the ramp and prepare to merge my wife grabs the "Oh shit" handle and I giggle at the fact I have to change 6 completely congested lanes to reach the hallowed HOV lane then I usually do it in one calculated motion.
Some examples:
Interstate 66 in Northern VA is without a doubt one of the worst stretches of our Interstate Highway System in the United States.
Five days a week one can witness a 20+ mile congestion east bound. The depth and breadth of the stupidity exhibited in the design of this horrid stretch of road is staggering. The utter lack of planning and foresight (thats a funny word) causes spastic fits in most of the region's drivers that dare to ply the asphalt mistake.
The "clover leaf" interchanges are not the typical type at all. Rather than a true four leaf clover many of them have at-grade intersections which require one to wait for a traffic light then proceed. Yeah, really, that makes perfect sense, to nobody in particular.
Add to this another brilliant design; the interchanges that feed into it are often 2 lane ramps with no traffic metering to temper the flow. In effect everyone dog piles onto I-66 all at once.
The next peeve; Virginia State Police; they sit on the shoulder...watching...waiting...sulking....dreaming of doughnuts, looking for HOV lane scoff laws so they can write them an expenseive piece of paper. Oh, did I mention that due to their vigilance the Knuckle dragging Neanderthals who plod up and down the road on the way to their jobs slow down to look at the fine Office resplendent in their charcoal gray trooper lid.
As Miagi used to say: FOCUS DANIEL-SAN!
Next up; Hybrid drivers. I hate them, for their smugness, their inherently poor financial sense (who the hell in their right mind would buy one of these things without first doing the goddamn math??) And the final insult, they can travel all by their smug, lonesome selves secure in the knowledge they get a bloody pass from the Commonwealth for purchasing a Hybrid when they should also be relegated to driving in the same lanes the other single drivers use. No, the state deems them heroes and they must be rewarded.
The last and certainly not the least of the problems with I-66; The aforementioned Knuckle dragging Neanderthals who actually utilize the utterly ridiculous roadway.
Here's a protip; If you can't walk and chew gum at the same time put down the phone and stop talking/texting, applying makeup, reading and generally doing everything BUT doing what you're supposed to be doing. My wife will attest to my dismay and disgust at them. There have been quite a few times when we approach some doofus flapping her gums to her friend, no doubt telling her about the last episode of American Idol or some other innocuous BS. So, I saddle up along side her and she's oblivious to her surrondings when I hit the horn. BEEEEEP! She's officially upset. She flips us the bird, the wife responds and yells something about paying attention and some other expletive. We win.
Is this going to change? Not one wit. It will be this way forever but I can take comfort in the fact in my 24+ years behind the wheel and 10 years in Northern Virginia I have seen many things and driven through all kinds of weather and never had a single problem getting the two very most important people in the world home safely.
I forgot to mention every time I approach the ramp and prepare to merge my wife grabs the "Oh shit" handle and I giggle at the fact I have to change 6 completely congested lanes to reach the hallowed HOV lane then I usually do it in one calculated motion.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Vacation notes....or, "What I did for a week away from work in 129,000 easy steps"
Act
August 29th, 0800:
We left the homestead, with DDB (Double DingBat) managing the the property. We're on our way to IAD!
0840: Called PopPop to check on his status. He's turning around because Mimi forgot her medication. Argh! No worries, we have plenty of time. We plan to meet at my office in Reston VA. and the flight doesn't leave until 1150. My daughter has had suspicions about this for a week or so now. It's damned difficult to keep anything from children that involves this much preparation. Couple that with her insane amount of intelligence and you have a recipe for discovery.
a
0925 Breakfast is served. All is well. Mimi and PopPop arrive shortly thereafter.
0945 The cars arrive to shuttle us to the Airport.
::::nini rant::::
Our foray into the bowels of Dulles Airport include passing through the wonderful oxy-moronic conflagration called Security. The sublimely indifferent and obviously shallow TSA officials, err, worker drones blather on every few seconds about HAND CHECK...BAG CHECK, NO ALARMS..... What??? No one arrives. Our items are waiting there on the table, waiting to be nuked and examined and summarily ignored.
5 more minutes have passed...
Why, dear god, WHY can't people pay attention to the simple directions given them? When the TSA folks tell you to take your laptop out of the bag, please, for the love of god take it out! One droll yet ignorant looking person comes back through the metal detector to take his laptop out of the bag after it passed into the X-Ray machine. He gets the stink eye from me...
Still no movement. Indifference abounds. It's a palpable feeling. One that permeates your very being and causes fits of spastic rage. Ok, thats not exactly true but it was beginning to piss me off a bit.
We finally begin to move forward, our parcels are heading into the Nuclear Pizza Oven to be scanned and prodded while carefree non-English speaking or personnel entrusted with the safety of this great nation, who may or may not have a GED are poised to stick their grubby paws into our belongings. Oh, did I mention PopPop has had 2 operations to replace his right knee? Yep, thats right kids, he will set off every metal detector from Dulles to Atlanta. And, that very same TSA which refuses to profile takes aside a 69 year old man with Chicken legs and begins to "wand" him.
1025 We're through security and making our way to the infield terminal somewhere near Leesburg. We still have plenty of time to get something to eat. PopPop is behaving oddly. He's at the age where he's like old worn out socks. The more you walk around the more they fall down. He just kept tripping over everything. He was overheard making the comment that "They don't respect old people."
1150-1340: The flight....from hell.
I had the presence to pre-select our seats and we have the whole row to ourselves. My daughter is sitting on the opposite side next to Mimi and the wife and I are all alone on the left.
It starts out innocently enough. A young girl of 3 is kicking the seat. We strike up a quick conversation with her mother and we find out they're staying at the same resort we are. Great....I can barely contain my enthusiasm. The condensed version follows.
Her son is next to her now playing with the airflow. My wife and I are trying to snooze for a few minutes and having no luck. Did I mention he was kicking the seat? Yep, he did more of that too.
We're making the final approach into Orlando and someone farts. Badly. The cabin fills and we're being slowly asphyxiated. Jesus it stinks and I start making comments about it. Even my parents are victims to the odors and we have an idea who it is. I want off this plane.
Cut to the resort. We need provisions so off we go. Did I also mention that PopPop is directionally challenged? Left is right, right is left, etc... So, we make our way to WaMart aka WalNuts. We need various sundries, mayo, ketchup, mustard and other items. However, we're only there for a week. So, here's the exchange:
Me: "Why bother with jars of mayo, etc..? Lets take some packets of stuff ad save some money?"
PopPop: "Good idea. Fran, open your purse."
We stuff the packets into her purse and she's getting the feeling this is somehow stealing.
It's not, it makes economic sense.
To be continued....
August 29th, 0800:
We left the homestead, with DDB (Double DingBat) managing the the property. We're on our way to IAD!
0840: Called PopPop to check on his status. He's turning around because Mimi forgot her medication. Argh! No worries, we have plenty of time. We plan to meet at my office in Reston VA. and the flight doesn't leave until 1150. My daughter has had suspicions about this for a week or so now. It's damned difficult to keep anything from children that involves this much preparation. Couple that with her insane amount of intelligence and you have a recipe for discovery.
a
0925 Breakfast is served. All is well. Mimi and PopPop arrive shortly thereafter.
0945 The cars arrive to shuttle us to the Airport.
::::nini rant::::
Our foray into the bowels of Dulles Airport include passing through the wonderful oxy-moronic conflagration called Security. The sublimely indifferent and obviously shallow TSA officials, err, worker drones blather on every few seconds about HAND CHECK...BAG CHECK, NO ALARMS..... What??? No one arrives. Our items are waiting there on the table, waiting to be nuked and examined and summarily ignored.
5 more minutes have passed...
Why, dear god, WHY can't people pay attention to the simple directions given them? When the TSA folks tell you to take your laptop out of the bag, please, for the love of god take it out! One droll yet ignorant looking person comes back through the metal detector to take his laptop out of the bag after it passed into the X-Ray machine. He gets the stink eye from me...
Still no movement. Indifference abounds. It's a palpable feeling. One that permeates your very being and causes fits of spastic rage. Ok, thats not exactly true but it was beginning to piss me off a bit.
We finally begin to move forward, our parcels are heading into the Nuclear Pizza Oven to be scanned and prodded while carefree non-English speaking or personnel entrusted with the safety of this great nation, who may or may not have a GED are poised to stick their grubby paws into our belongings. Oh, did I mention PopPop has had 2 operations to replace his right knee? Yep, thats right kids, he will set off every metal detector from Dulles to Atlanta. And, that very same TSA which refuses to profile takes aside a 69 year old man with Chicken legs and begins to "wand" him.
1025 We're through security and making our way to the infield terminal somewhere near Leesburg. We still have plenty of time to get something to eat. PopPop is behaving oddly. He's at the age where he's like old worn out socks. The more you walk around the more they fall down. He just kept tripping over everything. He was overheard making the comment that "They don't respect old people."
1150-1340: The flight....from hell.
I had the presence to pre-select our seats and we have the whole row to ourselves. My daughter is sitting on the opposite side next to Mimi and the wife and I are all alone on the left.
It starts out innocently enough. A young girl of 3 is kicking the seat. We strike up a quick conversation with her mother and we find out they're staying at the same resort we are. Great....I can barely contain my enthusiasm. The condensed version follows.
Her son is next to her now playing with the airflow. My wife and I are trying to snooze for a few minutes and having no luck. Did I mention he was kicking the seat? Yep, he did more of that too.
We're making the final approach into Orlando and someone farts. Badly. The cabin fills and we're being slowly asphyxiated. Jesus it stinks and I start making comments about it. Even my parents are victims to the odors and we have an idea who it is. I want off this plane.
Cut to the resort. We need provisions so off we go. Did I also mention that PopPop is directionally challenged? Left is right, right is left, etc... So, we make our way to WaMart aka WalNuts. We need various sundries, mayo, ketchup, mustard and other items. However, we're only there for a week. So, here's the exchange:
Me: "Why bother with jars of mayo, etc..? Lets take some packets of stuff ad save some money?"
PopPop: "Good idea. Fran, open your purse."
We stuff the packets into her purse and she's getting the feeling this is somehow stealing.
It's not, it makes economic sense.
To be continued....
Thursday, August 7, 2008
It's the customer service, STUPID
I know this may come as a shock to some of you that read this but there are some in the auto repair industry that lie. (shocking, isn't it?)
The latest round of stupidity comes from none other than Koons Honda of Manassas Va. We dropped off our 2008 Accord due to what sounded like two rabid cats mating inside a metal can. (it's the best analogy I can think of so bear with me) I dutifully
generate the appointment via their website and arrive at the predetermined time. The Service Advisor, (name removed) greets me or whatever you wish to call it and I begin my condensed diatribe regarding our injured vehicle.
I explain to him the front end vibrates at high frequency when applying the brakes. This occurs only when they are up to operating temperature. I also tell him the rear brakes are likely worn since it sounds like they are hitting the wear indicators. (refer to rabid cat reference above) I also explain one of the rear speakers vibrates badly at an undetermined low frequency.
I hand over the keys and off I go.
::Cut to 10 AM yesterday morning::
I receive a call from (name removed) telling me what I need. This is a summary of what he said for the sake of brevity.
He explains my front tires are likely out of balance, (BS) which is causing the vibration. Nevermind the fact the vibration is not speed induced but rather....you know what I mean. He also states the rear brakes, specifically, the inboard pad on the left side is down to the wear indicator. Ok, dragging caliper or defective parking brake, take your pick. Honda actuates their parking brake not with the tried and true method of wee little shoes inside the rear rotor. Rather, they use a mechanical linkage to the actual caliper. Again, ONE pad out of four is worn below specifications which means the caliper is dragging on the left side.
(A side note about my background. I have applied a wrench to most everything that has wheels on it save 18 wheelers. I have taken engines that were torn down to a bare block dumped in the rear hatch and re-assembled them. I know how cars work, I understand how ancillary components function and I damn sure understand the theory and operation of automobiles.)
Back to the story....
The "advisor" informs me it must have been our fault and we left the parking brake partially engaged. Again, BS, since there are visual and auditory indicators. We went around and around and I finally told him for the billionth time I was not going to pay for this even though the warranty for normally replaceable items is 12 months/12,000 miles a non replaceable part caused the failure.
It gets better...really...
The "advisor" explains the vibrating speaker issue to me and states it was due to the vibration in the front end. Wait, you mean to tell me the vibration in the front end transmits to the speakers even when stopped with the engine off? Brilliant! He's so bloody full of BS his eyes are brown.
The next go-round was the front end vibration upon applying the brakes. This indicates warped front rotors. He explains yet again this is due to incorrect tire pressures and tires that are out of balance. Can you say BS? I sure can and I called him on it again.
wait, it gets better again...
I told him under no circumstances would I be paying for these repairs since the defective, covered parts induced failure in the non-covered parts. He refused to budge so I told him to stop work and get my car out of there.
::Cut to 5:30 PM:::
We arrive at the Stealership armed with information and secure in the knowledge I really want a death cage match with this liar. I can feel the adrenalin flowing. I check out from the cashier with a $0 balance and ask to the see the Service manager. He arrives shortly thereafter and I begin to explain my side of the story. He agrees the issue with the rear brakes must be due to a dragging caliper and after I tell him I am taking it to Pohanka Honda in Fredericksburg he offers to put me in a free rental and they would take care of the problems. He restored my faith in people and this entire sordid process if for only a day or two. He did the right thing by mitigating a rapidly deteriorating situation. He kept me from having to wait in another dealer's lounge for the better part of a day banging away at my laptop trying to do some work. However, (isn't there always a however?) I shouldn't have to go to this length to get acceptable customer service. I shouldn't have to be on my toes and look for lies within the advisor's words.
It all boils down to the advisor not betting on having a customer who is knowledgeable in how this process works and they prey upon the weak and ill informed.
The real fun will begin when work is complete on my car and I have a chance to confront the advisor. I can assure you he won't like what I have to say and I will make it my mission to see he thinks twice about doing this again. I will have a conversation with him and the service manager. Lets see how he likes being raked over the coals.
The latest round of stupidity comes from none other than Koons Honda of Manassas Va. We dropped off our 2008 Accord due to what sounded like two rabid cats mating inside a metal can. (it's the best analogy I can think of so bear with me) I dutifully
generate the appointment via their website and arrive at the predetermined time. The Service Advisor, (name removed) greets me or whatever you wish to call it and I begin my condensed diatribe regarding our injured vehicle.
I explain to him the front end vibrates at high frequency when applying the brakes. This occurs only when they are up to operating temperature. I also tell him the rear brakes are likely worn since it sounds like they are hitting the wear indicators. (refer to rabid cat reference above) I also explain one of the rear speakers vibrates badly at an undetermined low frequency.
I hand over the keys and off I go.
::Cut to 10 AM yesterday morning::
I receive a call from (name removed) telling me what I need. This is a summary of what he said for the sake of brevity.
He explains my front tires are likely out of balance, (BS) which is causing the vibration. Nevermind the fact the vibration is not speed induced but rather....you know what I mean. He also states the rear brakes, specifically, the inboard pad on the left side is down to the wear indicator. Ok, dragging caliper or defective parking brake, take your pick. Honda actuates their parking brake not with the tried and true method of wee little shoes inside the rear rotor. Rather, they use a mechanical linkage to the actual caliper. Again, ONE pad out of four is worn below specifications which means the caliper is dragging on the left side.
(A side note about my background. I have applied a wrench to most everything that has wheels on it save 18 wheelers. I have taken engines that were torn down to a bare block dumped in the rear hatch and re-assembled them. I know how cars work, I understand how ancillary components function and I damn sure understand the theory and operation of automobiles.)
Back to the story....
The "advisor" informs me it must have been our fault and we left the parking brake partially engaged. Again, BS, since there are visual and auditory indicators. We went around and around and I finally told him for the billionth time I was not going to pay for this even though the warranty for normally replaceable items is 12 months/12,000 miles a non replaceable part caused the failure.
It gets better...really...
The "advisor" explains the vibrating speaker issue to me and states it was due to the vibration in the front end. Wait, you mean to tell me the vibration in the front end transmits to the speakers even when stopped with the engine off? Brilliant! He's so bloody full of BS his eyes are brown.
The next go-round was the front end vibration upon applying the brakes. This indicates warped front rotors. He explains yet again this is due to incorrect tire pressures and tires that are out of balance. Can you say BS? I sure can and I called him on it again.
wait, it gets better again...
I told him under no circumstances would I be paying for these repairs since the defective, covered parts induced failure in the non-covered parts. He refused to budge so I told him to stop work and get my car out of there.
::Cut to 5:30 PM:::
We arrive at the Stealership armed with information and secure in the knowledge I really want a death cage match with this liar. I can feel the adrenalin flowing. I check out from the cashier with a $0 balance and ask to the see the Service manager. He arrives shortly thereafter and I begin to explain my side of the story. He agrees the issue with the rear brakes must be due to a dragging caliper and after I tell him I am taking it to Pohanka Honda in Fredericksburg he offers to put me in a free rental and they would take care of the problems. He restored my faith in people and this entire sordid process if for only a day or two. He did the right thing by mitigating a rapidly deteriorating situation. He kept me from having to wait in another dealer's lounge for the better part of a day banging away at my laptop trying to do some work. However, (isn't there always a however?) I shouldn't have to go to this length to get acceptable customer service. I shouldn't have to be on my toes and look for lies within the advisor's words.
It all boils down to the advisor not betting on having a customer who is knowledgeable in how this process works and they prey upon the weak and ill informed.
The real fun will begin when work is complete on my car and I have a chance to confront the advisor. I can assure you he won't like what I have to say and I will make it my mission to see he thinks twice about doing this again. I will have a conversation with him and the service manager. Lets see how he likes being raked over the coals.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Wow, I did it.
Don't cry for me Argentina... I've been using this Internet thingy for, oh, 15 years now and finally decided to get off my lazy ass and create a (drum roll please...) blog. Whoopee for me.
Ok, thats out of the way and it's time to move on to bigger and more important issues.
Whats on my mind you ask?
My sister.
She has her own blog she's been posting to for some time now and she's dealing with the dreaded "C" word. Thats right, Cancer of the breast variety.
We've been at odds over many things in our lives, particularly her view of the world and we haven't always communicated with each other in a exemplary manner and frankly sometimes we really thought we meant it. In reality I love my sister. She's the only one I have but faced with the spectre of losing a part of her body to cancer it changes one's perspective yet again and it's scaring the hell out of her.
I'm cutting this short due to pressing work related issues. I'll delve into the finer points, should I have any, in furture ramblings. She'll be fine. She'll survive this. She'll live long and prosper. She'll be a better person for it as well.
to be continued....
Ok, thats out of the way and it's time to move on to bigger and more important issues.
Whats on my mind you ask?
My sister.
She has her own blog she's been posting to for some time now and she's dealing with the dreaded "C" word. Thats right, Cancer of the breast variety.
We've been at odds over many things in our lives, particularly her view of the world and we haven't always communicated with each other in a exemplary manner and frankly sometimes we really thought we meant it. In reality I love my sister. She's the only one I have but faced with the spectre of losing a part of her body to cancer it changes one's perspective yet again and it's scaring the hell out of her.
I'm cutting this short due to pressing work related issues. I'll delve into the finer points, should I have any, in furture ramblings. She'll be fine. She'll survive this. She'll live long and prosper. She'll be a better person for it as well.
to be continued....
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