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A comedy of errors
Mar. 31st, 2005 05:00 pmMel Brooks said something like this: "Tragedy is when I get a paper cut on my finger. Comedy is when you fall into an open manhole and die."
Since you're not me, you'll think this is hilarious.
At about 11:30, I went to Mobil Lube Express in Brandon to get an oil change. As the technicians worked under the hood, I heard one of them get shocked. A few minutes later I saw them fumble a large pair of pliers into the engine. Lo and behold, when they asked me to start the car, the engine wouldn't start. After about an hour of maddening bumbling, they finally told me that the oil filter had touched an exposed wire on the starter, and it arced. They said I should call a tow truck, and if my mechanic said they were responsible, they'll pay for the repairs. (They also insinuated that the starter was just old and therefore liable to break.) As my mechanic said to me over the phone, it's hard to imagine how this could NOT be their fault.
As a further indignity, they made me pay for the oil change. I insisted that it should be on the house because of the inconvenience, but they said if they agreed to pay for the oil change, they wouldn't pay for the repairs. I paid under protest and don't much trust their assurance that they'll reverse the charges if they were at fault.
The tow truck showed up later than AAA said it would, but that's not news. When we got to the garage, the driver informed me that he could only accept cash or check. I had neither.
Bless Olin Mott -- the manager took cash out of the till and added it to the bill. That sort of flexibility and courtesy is just one example of why I trust them. Another example: they ordered a new starter before I even arrived, so that I wouldn't have to wait for the parts to be delivered.
Now I've been told that they'll reimburse me tomorrow because they don't have enough cash today. So that's another lost lunch hour, or a slow commute home. I really hope they don't screw me, but I need the car today and I'll take them to small claims court if necessary.
They're also trying to use their tax certificate (#39-8012375519-3) to avoid paying tax on the repair. My mechanic says that's tax fraud because they're not reselling the service to me, they're giving it to me. I might report this to the Florida Department of Revenue. My mechanic suggests that it'll get flagged at the end of the year anyway and trigger an audit. I'm not sure I have that much faith in the system.
I'll lose five hours of vacation because of this, but if the district manager makes good on his promise to pay for the repairs and the oil change, I will be satisfied (albeit grimly).
And as blog is my witness, I'll never go to a lube joint operated by that company again.
Since you're not me, you'll think this is hilarious.
At about 11:30, I went to Mobil Lube Express in Brandon to get an oil change. As the technicians worked under the hood, I heard one of them get shocked. A few minutes later I saw them fumble a large pair of pliers into the engine. Lo and behold, when they asked me to start the car, the engine wouldn't start. After about an hour of maddening bumbling, they finally told me that the oil filter had touched an exposed wire on the starter, and it arced. They said I should call a tow truck, and if my mechanic said they were responsible, they'll pay for the repairs. (They also insinuated that the starter was just old and therefore liable to break.) As my mechanic said to me over the phone, it's hard to imagine how this could NOT be their fault.
As a further indignity, they made me pay for the oil change. I insisted that it should be on the house because of the inconvenience, but they said if they agreed to pay for the oil change, they wouldn't pay for the repairs. I paid under protest and don't much trust their assurance that they'll reverse the charges if they were at fault.
The tow truck showed up later than AAA said it would, but that's not news. When we got to the garage, the driver informed me that he could only accept cash or check. I had neither.
Bless Olin Mott -- the manager took cash out of the till and added it to the bill. That sort of flexibility and courtesy is just one example of why I trust them. Another example: they ordered a new starter before I even arrived, so that I wouldn't have to wait for the parts to be delivered.
Now I've been told that they'll reimburse me tomorrow because they don't have enough cash today. So that's another lost lunch hour, or a slow commute home. I really hope they don't screw me, but I need the car today and I'll take them to small claims court if necessary.
They're also trying to use their tax certificate (#39-8012375519-3) to avoid paying tax on the repair. My mechanic says that's tax fraud because they're not reselling the service to me, they're giving it to me. I might report this to the Florida Department of Revenue. My mechanic suggests that it'll get flagged at the end of the year anyway and trigger an audit. I'm not sure I have that much faith in the system.
I'll lose five hours of vacation because of this, but if the district manager makes good on his promise to pay for the repairs and the oil change, I will be satisfied (albeit grimly).
And as blog is my witness, I'll never go to a lube joint operated by that company again.
