I thought weekends were for resting...
Jul. 16th, 2006 10:26 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
cabensonMrs. CB and I spent the weekend rolling from one car place to another in search of the ideal vehicles at the ideal price. Were we successful? Hell yes! but I'll get to that in a minute.
Have you ever had a really bad "customer service" experience? One that was bad enough that simply shrugging it off wasn't an option? One that has you writing letters and boycotting businesses? We had an experience like that yesterday. Most of you have heard of Wendy's Hamburgers. Columbus is the "home" of Wendy's International and just as NYC has a Starbucks on every block, we have a Wendy's everywhere we turn. And we go there at least once a week, if not more when we are really busy.
We usually do take-out, but yesterday we wanted to talk cars, so we went inside to eat. I was paying for the order while Mrs. CB grabbed napkins and ketchup and such. As I was getting my change, I saw Mrs CB slip and fall. There was grease all over the floor-someone in the kitchen must have had it on their shoes. Not watching the clerk because I was asking the wife if she was okay, the change didn't make it from the clerk's hand to mine. As I am turning to apologize for dropping that one penny, the clerk actually said, "Dang! You don't need to grab it out of my hand! It's not my fault!" I think you can imagine my shock. I lowered my voice and gave her The Look. I explained that I couldn't have grabbed it from her hand because I was paying attention to my partner who was sprawled out all over their greasy floor. I was pissed beyond pissed, but surprisingly, kept my cool. I did ask to see the manager but the manager never came out. We're going to write a letter of complaint, not so much because the kid behind the counter was being a little bitch, but because we asked to see a manager and no one came out- hell, no one even asked Mrs. CB if she was okay except me. And really, someone could have been seriously injured. Thank god Mrs. CB is a tough old broad.
She did take her frustration out on a Ford dealer who was unfortunate enough to treat my gal like a "stupid woman". She was looking at a Focus and said, "Oh it gets 25 and 28." The salesman said, "Those numbers signify how they measure the miles per gallon." I seriously thought of just running back to the car and taking off, but if I had, I would have missed Mrs. CB dragging this guy from car to car to car in 90 degree heat even though she had no intention of purchasing one of their cars.
So, yeah, cars. We left today in my 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier Sport Coupe to check out a dealer's inventory and came home with:
A 2006 Toyota Matrix XR for me in Indigo Ink Blue with a light gray interior. This car is marketed as a wagon, b ut it's really a compact SUV Power package, great mileage, 6-disc CD player with 6 speakers, AUTOMATIC for my poor back, power sun roof- it's the car I really wanted for a deal we could not pass up. And I got $1000 more in trade-in for the Cav than I thought I would.
Mrs. CB fell in love with a 2006 Toyota Corolla Sport in Impulse Red-it looks like a candy apple- with a dark charcoal interior. She has the power package and the sport package and OMG! a 6-CD player. Her Imprezia had a cassette deck. And you know what? Mrs. CB looks really good in it too!
So this week is gonna be a little less busy now. I go back to the surgeon tomorrow-although the infection seems to have let up, there is a hard mass there again. I think we may just try to have the thing removed when I'm off next month. What's one more surgical scar on my back?
My niece and nephews are visiting my parents for the next 2 weeks so I need to try and get up there to see them. We see The Dixie Chicks a week from tonight- SO looking forward to that show. Bruin got mad and hissed at me last night. We have since made up (kitty treats and shredded cheese!)
The most important thing happening this week is something I just learned about a few hours ago. My stepmother has been diagnosed with breast cancer and is having surgery on Tuesday. It looks like they caught it in time, but she and my dad never want to worry us kids so we don't know a whole lot about what's going on. She's really one of the most wonderful, caring and giving people I have ever had the pleasure to know, so if you have a few extra prayers hanging around Tuesday morning, send them her way.
Okay, I think that's about it. Have a good Monday, people! And drink lots of water and stay cool!
Have you ever had a really bad "customer service" experience? One that was bad enough that simply shrugging it off wasn't an option? One that has you writing letters and boycotting businesses? We had an experience like that yesterday. Most of you have heard of Wendy's Hamburgers. Columbus is the "home" of Wendy's International and just as NYC has a Starbucks on every block, we have a Wendy's everywhere we turn. And we go there at least once a week, if not more when we are really busy.
We usually do take-out, but yesterday we wanted to talk cars, so we went inside to eat. I was paying for the order while Mrs. CB grabbed napkins and ketchup and such. As I was getting my change, I saw Mrs CB slip and fall. There was grease all over the floor-someone in the kitchen must have had it on their shoes. Not watching the clerk because I was asking the wife if she was okay, the change didn't make it from the clerk's hand to mine. As I am turning to apologize for dropping that one penny, the clerk actually said, "Dang! You don't need to grab it out of my hand! It's not my fault!" I think you can imagine my shock. I lowered my voice and gave her The Look. I explained that I couldn't have grabbed it from her hand because I was paying attention to my partner who was sprawled out all over their greasy floor. I was pissed beyond pissed, but surprisingly, kept my cool. I did ask to see the manager but the manager never came out. We're going to write a letter of complaint, not so much because the kid behind the counter was being a little bitch, but because we asked to see a manager and no one came out- hell, no one even asked Mrs. CB if she was okay except me. And really, someone could have been seriously injured. Thank god Mrs. CB is a tough old broad.
She did take her frustration out on a Ford dealer who was unfortunate enough to treat my gal like a "stupid woman". She was looking at a Focus and said, "Oh it gets 25 and 28." The salesman said, "Those numbers signify how they measure the miles per gallon." I seriously thought of just running back to the car and taking off, but if I had, I would have missed Mrs. CB dragging this guy from car to car to car in 90 degree heat even though she had no intention of purchasing one of their cars.
So, yeah, cars. We left today in my 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier Sport Coupe to check out a dealer's inventory and came home with:
A 2006 Toyota Matrix XR for me in Indigo Ink Blue with a light gray interior. This car is marketed as a wagon, b ut it's really a compact SUV Power package, great mileage, 6-disc CD player with 6 speakers, AUTOMATIC for my poor back, power sun roof- it's the car I really wanted for a deal we could not pass up. And I got $1000 more in trade-in for the Cav than I thought I would.
Mrs. CB fell in love with a 2006 Toyota Corolla Sport in Impulse Red-it looks like a candy apple- with a dark charcoal interior. She has the power package and the sport package and OMG! a 6-CD player. Her Imprezia had a cassette deck. And you know what? Mrs. CB looks really good in it too!
So this week is gonna be a little less busy now. I go back to the surgeon tomorrow-although the infection seems to have let up, there is a hard mass there again. I think we may just try to have the thing removed when I'm off next month. What's one more surgical scar on my back?
My niece and nephews are visiting my parents for the next 2 weeks so I need to try and get up there to see them. We see The Dixie Chicks a week from tonight- SO looking forward to that show. Bruin got mad and hissed at me last night. We have since made up (kitty treats and shredded cheese!)
The most important thing happening this week is something I just learned about a few hours ago. My stepmother has been diagnosed with breast cancer and is having surgery on Tuesday. It looks like they caught it in time, but she and my dad never want to worry us kids so we don't know a whole lot about what's going on. She's really one of the most wonderful, caring and giving people I have ever had the pleasure to know, so if you have a few extra prayers hanging around Tuesday morning, send them her way.
Okay, I think that's about it. Have a good Monday, people! And drink lots of water and stay cool!
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no subject
Date: 2006-07-17 02:47 am (UTC)As is typical for someone nursing along a 13 year old car, I frequently have in the back of my mind 'the list' of cars I'd pick from if the Integra died today. Toyota's are looking good to me. They obviously worked for you and Mrs. CB! Congrats, Congrats! I think my first test drive would be the Yaris. Did you look at that one?
I (and I'm sure you and Mrs. CB, too) can't wait to raise a glass and toast the end of your back issues...
Most importantly: Sorry to hear about your stepmother. You bet I'll have some prayers to spare.
no subject
Date: 2006-07-17 03:00 am (UTC)I can vouch for Toyotas; we've got a 13-year-old car of our own, a Camry with 190K miles, and it's still running beautifully and our mechanic says we could get another 5 years out of it. (I'd rather *not,* of course!)
no subject
Date: 2006-07-17 03:53 pm (UTC)I would love a new or newer car, I just don't want a car payment until it's absolutely necessary.
no subject
Date: 2006-07-17 10:49 pm (UTC)We are very pleased with not only the deals we got, but the service we received at Toyota as well. When the finance guy found out we were a couple, he offered to re-write the loans in both names (which we declined because we had just waited an hour so he could play interpreter to some chick who didn't have Teh Credit) And the car is perfect! Just high enough without being obnoxious. Of course I make up for that part ;)
Thanks for the thoughts for my stepmom-every little bit helps.