The debate of how much and when to tip the wait staff of a restaurant or hotel has been done to death. I feel a tip is a reward for services rendered. The better the service, the larger the tip. Of course the opposite also holds true. If the service is bad, the tip decreases or at times is non existent.
My husband feels good service happens if a beverage glass is not allowed to sit empty. The longer it sits and if you have to wait for the waitress or waiter and flag them down for a refill, the tip diminishes. Of course if we have to wait an exceptionally long time for someone to take our order, we will get up and leave, telling the manager why we’re leaving. We did have an experience in a Po’ Folks restaurant where no one came to take our order. We were ready to leave when another server, not ours, noticed us. The manager came over and our entire meal was “on the house.”
I was in a Bennigan's in a Chicago suburb many years ago. There was a large group of us and we only ordered drinks and appetizers. Since we had people coming and going for several hours we ordered many drinks and several appetizers. We received the check and gave the waiter an amount that was only about $2 over our total tab. He came back and announced that we were cheap and it cost more than the tip to wait on us. That was very presumptuous on his part because no one had told him to keep the change. We were planning on leaving a decent size tip on the table. He was informed that because of his rudeness we wanted our change and he did not receive the tip we were planning to leave.
In 2005 I was visiting friends in Des Moines, Iowa and we went to tour the Bridges of Madison County. We stopped at the diner that was in the movie. There’s a dining room in the back that didn’t make it into the movie and we were seated back there. Our waitress was so lazy. We asked for things like drink refills, ketsup and mustard. We had to ask her several times and she never brought them. We ended up asking other waitresses for those things. When we were leaving my friends left a penny tip. I took a napkin and wrote her tip on it. “Smile a little more often and be a little more polite.” I know she saw it because she ran up to me with my camera which I’d left on the table just as I was walking out the door.
Last night we went to Olive Garden to celebrate our anniversary, the anniversary of my sister-in-law and her husband and their son’s 21st birthday. There were 6 of us. We got seated right away and the waitress was right there to take our drink and appetizer order. She came back a little later for our food order. Then we didn’t see her. Others were being served around us and there was wait staff in and out of our section but not our waitress. She came out with my brother-in-law’s salad, the rest of us ordered soup, and asked if our appetizers arrived yet. No, they hadn’t. She informed us she’d be back with our soup but didn’t have room on the tray. Then she showed up with our appetizers. Still no soup. A few other’s came out with our main course but still no soup. Just as we were beginning to eat our dinners the soup arrived. Now, do I eat the soup and allow the main course to get cold or forgo the soup and eat the main course. There was so much food at one time on the table we couldn’t move.
Is that a sign of poor management and service by the waitress or was it the fault of the kitchen as she’d told us? I tend to blame the waitress because she didn’t notice our appetizers hadn’t arrived. She had to ask us if we’d received them. She said she’d be back with our soup and never came back until someone else served our main course. She was very personable when talking to us but that doesn’t make up for the poor service.
I have to say, not all our experiences are bad ones. We went to Longhorn’s for steak. The waitress was on top of everything. She had a refill on our soda’s before the first one was empty. She was there asking of we needed anything else and how the meal was a few minutes after we received it. Very attentive and her tip reflected it. My husband actually called her over and gave her the tip after he told her what a wonderful job she had done and why her tip was larger than normal. Good service does not go unnoticed or unrewarded.
Is America Getting Dumber?
I ran across an article the other day that raised the question, Is America getting dumber? The answer in my opinion is no. I don’t think we are actually dumber, we are just getting lazy. We don’t HAVE to think anymore. Everything is figured out for us, ready made for us. No more imagination and no more thinking is required to do anything.
Kids no longer have to pretend when they play. Little girls playing mommy have dolls that cry, eat, move and just about anything else a real baby does. No more pretending with a stiff plastic doll that doesn’t do anything except open and close her eyes. No more cards or balloons in the spokes of a bicycle wheel to make the noise of a motor. Now kids have actual electric bikes they don’t even have to pedal.
Get a little older and you don’t even have to move off a chair all day to be entertained. Hook up a game console and you can do anything from playing tennis to killing your enemies with such realistic graphics you can almost feel the blood splatter.
I was in a hospital gift shop a few years ago and a candy striper was working the register. The woman ahead of me had to help her count out her change. When it was my turn my purchase was about $7.25. I gave her $10. I got $20 back. I had to show the girl how to count my change $7.25, $7.50 and up to $10. When I left I called the volunteer office and told them they would be broke in an hour at the rate that poor girl was handing out money. Reason for this is calculators are being allowed in grammar school. No more need for simple addition and subtraction. You don’t need to know how to read a map. We have Mapquest and GPS systems that give you step by step directions, they even measure out the miles for you. You don’t even have to have your own opinion. Your favorite celebrity will tell you what you think and how you you’re suppose to feel about everything.
I know for years there were reports that American students had the lowest test scores. Instead of encouraging students to try harder they lowered the bar so they could push more through to the next grade and out the door. The only problem with that, we now have adults that aren’t prepared for the real world. They aren’t prepared for a job where they have to think.
Thinking about this article and how we’ve become so dependent on machines for everything I’m reminded of the Zager & Evans hit from 1969. “In the Year 2525”
In the year 25-25, if man is still alive, if woman can survive, you may find.
In the year 35-35, ain’t gonna need to tell the truth, tell no lies.
Everything, you think, do and say, is in the pill you took today.
In the year 45-45, you ain’t gonna need your teeth, won’t need your eyes.
You won’t find a thing to chew, nobody’s gonna look at you.
In the year 55-55, your arms hanging limp at your sides,
your legs got nothing to do, some machine’s doing that for you.
Kids no longer have to pretend when they play. Little girls playing mommy have dolls that cry, eat, move and just about anything else a real baby does. No more pretending with a stiff plastic doll that doesn’t do anything except open and close her eyes. No more cards or balloons in the spokes of a bicycle wheel to make the noise of a motor. Now kids have actual electric bikes they don’t even have to pedal.
Get a little older and you don’t even have to move off a chair all day to be entertained. Hook up a game console and you can do anything from playing tennis to killing your enemies with such realistic graphics you can almost feel the blood splatter.
I was in a hospital gift shop a few years ago and a candy striper was working the register. The woman ahead of me had to help her count out her change. When it was my turn my purchase was about $7.25. I gave her $10. I got $20 back. I had to show the girl how to count my change $7.25, $7.50 and up to $10. When I left I called the volunteer office and told them they would be broke in an hour at the rate that poor girl was handing out money. Reason for this is calculators are being allowed in grammar school. No more need for simple addition and subtraction. You don’t need to know how to read a map. We have Mapquest and GPS systems that give you step by step directions, they even measure out the miles for you. You don’t even have to have your own opinion. Your favorite celebrity will tell you what you think and how you you’re suppose to feel about everything.
I know for years there were reports that American students had the lowest test scores. Instead of encouraging students to try harder they lowered the bar so they could push more through to the next grade and out the door. The only problem with that, we now have adults that aren’t prepared for the real world. They aren’t prepared for a job where they have to think.
Thinking about this article and how we’ve become so dependent on machines for everything I’m reminded of the Zager & Evans hit from 1969. “In the Year 2525”
In the year 25-25, if man is still alive, if woman can survive, you may find.
In the year 35-35, ain’t gonna need to tell the truth, tell no lies.
Everything, you think, do and say, is in the pill you took today.
In the year 45-45, you ain’t gonna need your teeth, won’t need your eyes.
You won’t find a thing to chew, nobody’s gonna look at you.
In the year 55-55, your arms hanging limp at your sides,
your legs got nothing to do, some machine’s doing that for you.
Effective Complaining
In the past several years I’ve started letting companies know if their products aren’t up to their normal standards or if there is something wrong with the product. Some companies thank you for your input by sending coupons for free products other times they just say “thank you” and that’s all.
I don’t complain to get free products I complain because it lets the company know there could be a problem with their quality control. How do you think they find out there’s a problem with tainted Tylenol, dog food or anything else that’s been recalled if someone didn’t bring it to their attention in the first place.
I remember when I was about 6 or 7 my mom notified Campbells Soup about a funny taste to their Chicken Noodle Soup. She saved the soup in case they needed it. Campbells actually sent a gentleman to our house to pick up the soup. He asked my mom what kind of soup she used and within a week we had tons of soup in our house. I think she ended up giving some to our neighbors.
The first time I complained was about Dole Fruit Juice Bars. I love the raspberry and they have little dark seeds in them. I was eating one and this seed was huge. I dug it out and it was a bug. Yes, you read that right. There was a bug in my bar. I put it in a small bag and wrote the company. Within a couple of weeks I received a call from Dole. Would I continue to buy their product? Of course, there’s always a chance of a bug getting into processed food. I’m sure there are a lot of things worse than a bug in there that I can’t see. But I really don’t want to know about them. Dole sent me a box to send the bug back and coupons for free Dole products.
About a year later I bought some Deans milk. I’d always bought the gallon jug but for some reason I got the ½ gallon this time. That bottle is the same height but a lot smaller in diameter. It fell over in my trunk and the milk leaked out. I'd noticed that a lot of companies put the little cardboard seal on the bottle before the plastic cap. This bottle didn’t have one. I wrote the company. A few weeks later they called me. They don’t put anything under the plastic and have never had a problem with leakage. It must have been something in the handling between the plant and the store. They sent me coupons for assorted Deans products.
Since then I’ve complained to Solo when a package of their 16oz plastic cups were all stuck together. Out of 20 I had about 11 that were usable. I received a small cardboard suitcase filled with Solo products, several size cups, plates, bowls, and plastic utensils. You name it I had it. I’ve also gotten free coupons for Kotex, Pillsbury Cookies, Pepsi, Breyers Ice Cream and Rice-a-Roni.
To complain about a product you need to make sure you have a valid complaint and you need to do it nicely. You’re doing them a favor by pointing out a problem. I’ve called the phone number on the package, if there is no number I go to the website. A lot of companies now have an online form for you to contact them. I’ve also written a letter and sent it via USPS. Whether calling, or writing have the product packaging handy. They may need the codes off the package along with the size, when you purchased it and where. I always start by telling them that I love their product but I just had a bad experience and wanted to bring it to their attention so they’re aware of it. I then tell them what the problem was. I’ve always gotten a response. I’ve actually had to call Pepsi twice. The same problem with unfilled or under filled bottles kept happening so I called them again a few months after the first call. They again offered me free coupons. I explained that I’d already gotten some free coupons and that’s not why I’m calling but I felt there was a problem with their quality control. That was OK, they still insisted on sending me the coupons. What could I do, they really wanted me to have them.
If you like getting free products or saving money with coupons I found this great website savingmakessense.com. There are a lot of money saving ideas, printable coupons, freebies and rebates. There is also an online class "Coupons 101" on using coupons effectively and to your advantage.
I don’t complain to get free products I complain because it lets the company know there could be a problem with their quality control. How do you think they find out there’s a problem with tainted Tylenol, dog food or anything else that’s been recalled if someone didn’t bring it to their attention in the first place.
I remember when I was about 6 or 7 my mom notified Campbells Soup about a funny taste to their Chicken Noodle Soup. She saved the soup in case they needed it. Campbells actually sent a gentleman to our house to pick up the soup. He asked my mom what kind of soup she used and within a week we had tons of soup in our house. I think she ended up giving some to our neighbors.
The first time I complained was about Dole Fruit Juice Bars. I love the raspberry and they have little dark seeds in them. I was eating one and this seed was huge. I dug it out and it was a bug. Yes, you read that right. There was a bug in my bar. I put it in a small bag and wrote the company. Within a couple of weeks I received a call from Dole. Would I continue to buy their product? Of course, there’s always a chance of a bug getting into processed food. I’m sure there are a lot of things worse than a bug in there that I can’t see. But I really don’t want to know about them. Dole sent me a box to send the bug back and coupons for free Dole products.
About a year later I bought some Deans milk. I’d always bought the gallon jug but for some reason I got the ½ gallon this time. That bottle is the same height but a lot smaller in diameter. It fell over in my trunk and the milk leaked out. I'd noticed that a lot of companies put the little cardboard seal on the bottle before the plastic cap. This bottle didn’t have one. I wrote the company. A few weeks later they called me. They don’t put anything under the plastic and have never had a problem with leakage. It must have been something in the handling between the plant and the store. They sent me coupons for assorted Deans products.
Since then I’ve complained to Solo when a package of their 16oz plastic cups were all stuck together. Out of 20 I had about 11 that were usable. I received a small cardboard suitcase filled with Solo products, several size cups, plates, bowls, and plastic utensils. You name it I had it. I’ve also gotten free coupons for Kotex, Pillsbury Cookies, Pepsi, Breyers Ice Cream and Rice-a-Roni.
To complain about a product you need to make sure you have a valid complaint and you need to do it nicely. You’re doing them a favor by pointing out a problem. I’ve called the phone number on the package, if there is no number I go to the website. A lot of companies now have an online form for you to contact them. I’ve also written a letter and sent it via USPS. Whether calling, or writing have the product packaging handy. They may need the codes off the package along with the size, when you purchased it and where. I always start by telling them that I love their product but I just had a bad experience and wanted to bring it to their attention so they’re aware of it. I then tell them what the problem was. I’ve always gotten a response. I’ve actually had to call Pepsi twice. The same problem with unfilled or under filled bottles kept happening so I called them again a few months after the first call. They again offered me free coupons. I explained that I’d already gotten some free coupons and that’s not why I’m calling but I felt there was a problem with their quality control. That was OK, they still insisted on sending me the coupons. What could I do, they really wanted me to have them.
If you like getting free products or saving money with coupons I found this great website savingmakessense.com. There are a lot of money saving ideas, printable coupons, freebies and rebates. There is also an online class "Coupons 101" on using coupons effectively and to your advantage.
God, I'm Sorry
I admit it. Sometimes the thing that bugs me the most is me. If I’m in a bad mood I can be nasty and even though I know its wrong I can’t seem to stop myself. I have gotten better in the past 10-12 years but once in a while it just comes out like I’m possessed and afterwards I’m feeling bad and don’t know what to do. I always apologize for my behavior but I know that it doesn’t always help. Once the hurtful words or actions are out there you really can’t take them back. The damage has already been done.
I said that I’ve gotten better in the past 10-12 years. At that time I didn’t even know how bad I was. I know I use to have fights with my mom in my head. I’d get upset with her over something, have the fight all scripted and choreographed and if she didn’t follow what I had written I’d get more upset. On June 2, 1994 I went to my first bible study and accepted Christ. I didn’t know what a change that would have inside me. I didn’t feel any different except for this hunger to learn more about Him. One day about 4-5 months later a friend of mine made the comment that I wasn’t sarcastic anymore. I thought I was and told her so. She came back with “you’re not as hurtful with it.” A few days later I was talking to a friend’s father. He’s the one who hosted the bible study I went to. I told him about that comment and he said the word he’d heard used to describe me was cynical. That was hard to hear. I realized that I was hurtful with my words and it had been getting around. I also realized that there had been a change in me that I wasn’t aware of but others could see.
I contemplated on those conversations over the next few weeks and found that I wasn’t as quick to fly off the handle. I no longer looked for a fight or argument. I was happier than I’d been before. Christ was working in me, I was a new person and it was wonderful.
Now I’m finding that sarcastic, cynical person is still there and once in a while she rears her ugly head. The difference now is that I’m aware of it. I’m aware when it’s happening even though I can’t always stop it and I’m more regretful afterwards. That doesn’t make it right but I’m finding I’m also being hurt by my words and actions. I’m hurting people I love which is something I never want to do. I’m putting relationships in jeopardy because I can only say “I’m sorry” so many times before it looses its meaning. After a while those words are just that, words.
In thinking why that hurtful person is starting to show herself again I realized that I’m not communicating with God as much as I use to. I took my focus off Him and started putting it on myself and things. I need to make a heartfelt apology to God and ask His forgiveness before I can truly expect others to forgive me. Then I can start to forgive myself. I need to start talking to God more and allowing Him to work in me and through me again. As my husband once said, we invited Him to come in but then we ignored Him.
I said that I’ve gotten better in the past 10-12 years. At that time I didn’t even know how bad I was. I know I use to have fights with my mom in my head. I’d get upset with her over something, have the fight all scripted and choreographed and if she didn’t follow what I had written I’d get more upset. On June 2, 1994 I went to my first bible study and accepted Christ. I didn’t know what a change that would have inside me. I didn’t feel any different except for this hunger to learn more about Him. One day about 4-5 months later a friend of mine made the comment that I wasn’t sarcastic anymore. I thought I was and told her so. She came back with “you’re not as hurtful with it.” A few days later I was talking to a friend’s father. He’s the one who hosted the bible study I went to. I told him about that comment and he said the word he’d heard used to describe me was cynical. That was hard to hear. I realized that I was hurtful with my words and it had been getting around. I also realized that there had been a change in me that I wasn’t aware of but others could see.
I contemplated on those conversations over the next few weeks and found that I wasn’t as quick to fly off the handle. I no longer looked for a fight or argument. I was happier than I’d been before. Christ was working in me, I was a new person and it was wonderful.
Now I’m finding that sarcastic, cynical person is still there and once in a while she rears her ugly head. The difference now is that I’m aware of it. I’m aware when it’s happening even though I can’t always stop it and I’m more regretful afterwards. That doesn’t make it right but I’m finding I’m also being hurt by my words and actions. I’m hurting people I love which is something I never want to do. I’m putting relationships in jeopardy because I can only say “I’m sorry” so many times before it looses its meaning. After a while those words are just that, words.
In thinking why that hurtful person is starting to show herself again I realized that I’m not communicating with God as much as I use to. I took my focus off Him and started putting it on myself and things. I need to make a heartfelt apology to God and ask His forgiveness before I can truly expect others to forgive me. Then I can start to forgive myself. I need to start talking to God more and allowing Him to work in me and through me again. As my husband once said, we invited Him to come in but then we ignored Him.
Whatever Happened to a Regular Television Season?
When I was growing up new episodes of TV shows ran from September through May or June. That was the season. There were 26 weeks or new episodes of shows. During the summer they ran reruns from the season that just ended. You might have had a show cancelled in January and a mid-season replacement that was waiting would start. Now a show is on for 4-5 episodes and it’s the season finale. You then have reruns from any of the past seasons. No order to them. You could be watching a rerun of an episode that ran only 2 weeks ago and the following week there’s an episode from 2 years ago. That wouldn’t have been a problem years ago when one episode was a complete story and it never carried on to the following weeks. Now every show is a continuation of the weeks before. Miss an episode and you’re lost the following week. Almost every show, even sitcoms are one continuing story, like a soap opera. I don’t know if that started with the introduction of the night-time soaps Dallas, Falcon Crest and Dynasty or before.
When I was growing up the only time a story continued throughout a season was when Lucy Ricardo and Samantha Stevens were pregnant. Those little storylines had to carry on throughout the season because the actresses were pregnant in real life. They couldn’t ignore their expanding waistlines but they didn’t carry anything else over from episode to episode. You didn’t miss anything if you missed a week and even if you did miss an episode you knew you could watch it during the summer. Now you miss an episode and you may be able to catch it in a week or two or not for another year.
Another thing that bugs me is the start time of some of the shows. Instead of starting on the hour or half hour they start or end a few minutes before or after. 8:58, 9:01. It’s ridiculous. Now you have to decide if you’re going to miss the first few minutes of a show or the last few minutes of a show on another network.
I like some of the cable stations. Miss an episode and you can always catch it again in a couple of hours or any of the next 4 times it’s shown throughout the week.
When I was growing up the only time a story continued throughout a season was when Lucy Ricardo and Samantha Stevens were pregnant. Those little storylines had to carry on throughout the season because the actresses were pregnant in real life. They couldn’t ignore their expanding waistlines but they didn’t carry anything else over from episode to episode. You didn’t miss anything if you missed a week and even if you did miss an episode you knew you could watch it during the summer. Now you miss an episode and you may be able to catch it in a week or two or not for another year.
Another thing that bugs me is the start time of some of the shows. Instead of starting on the hour or half hour they start or end a few minutes before or after. 8:58, 9:01. It’s ridiculous. Now you have to decide if you’re going to miss the first few minutes of a show or the last few minutes of a show on another network.
I like some of the cable stations. Miss an episode and you can always catch it again in a couple of hours or any of the next 4 times it’s shown throughout the week.
Patience Is a Virtue
Patience Is a Virtue
A while back I was in a Freds store near where I worked. I was purchasing some supplies for work and while I was at it I picked up a couple of things for home. Since I could expense the items for work I wanted to pay for them separately.
I gave the clerk my debit card for the first purchase and everything went smoothly. She rang up the second purchase and I handed her my debit card. UH OH! She made a mistake and rang it up as cash not credit or debit. She asked the manager what to do and was told I needed to fill out a form for a refund and it needed to be handled on the other register but he was too busy to help right now. I couldn’t understand why they needed to issue a refund when I hadn’t paid anything. I stated that and was told that I needed to fill out a form. The form requested my name, address, phone, and driver’s license number. I’m surprised they didn’t want a blood sample and my first born. I explained that I’d give them my name only because I didn’t give them any money and I’m not getting any money in return. The clerk kept telling me I couldn’t leave the store until this was done. She also couldn’t ring up any other customers because her register was frozen with my transaction which couldn’t be corrected until the manager was available. I gave her everything and told her she could fill out the refund form herself on her time and I wasn’t wasting anymore of my time. I was informed I couldn’t leave the store because I’d be stealing. STEALING WHAT? I was only going to take my first purchase with me which was already paid for.
By now there were about 4 people behind me and the man directly behind me kept saying “patience is a virtue.” I calmly ignored him but was getting a little steamed. He repeated again “patience is a virtue, it says so in the bible” Then his daughter, about 7 years old, pipes up with “he’s right you know.” Now, I have to tell you I love kids. I think they’re one of the best things on earth but I saw red. This little snot nosed brat had no business getting involved and her father was butting in where he wasn’t wanted. I calmly but sternly said “this doesn’t concern you.” The man tells me that was no way to talk to his daughter. I shot back with “I believe I was talking to both of you.” He then proceeds to tell me to watch my %&*#$% language around his daughter. WHAT!!!
Finally the matter was resolved and I left. I called my husband and told him what happened. I was starting to calm down but was still a little upset.
A couple of days later I passed a church on the way home from work with a sign out front. “Have As Much Patience With Others As God Has With You.” I told my husband about it when I got home and he just repeated “patience is a virtue.” About a week later I was watching a program on PBS and Maya Angelou was hosting. One of her lines was “they say, patience is a virtue.” AAAHHHHHHHHH, I couldn’t believe it. Three times in two weeks. I realized God was trying to tell me something. He was beating me in the head with it. I needed to calm down and not be so quick tempered with people and situations.
After that realization I stopped seeing and hearing that message but about 2 months later I was getting inpatient about something we were going to be doing. On the way to work I was praying and asking God for guidance when I got the message. “Don’t be so impatient, it will happen when it’s time.”
I guess God had to remind me that “Patience Is a Virtue.”
A while back I was in a Freds store near where I worked. I was purchasing some supplies for work and while I was at it I picked up a couple of things for home. Since I could expense the items for work I wanted to pay for them separately.
I gave the clerk my debit card for the first purchase and everything went smoothly. She rang up the second purchase and I handed her my debit card. UH OH! She made a mistake and rang it up as cash not credit or debit. She asked the manager what to do and was told I needed to fill out a form for a refund and it needed to be handled on the other register but he was too busy to help right now. I couldn’t understand why they needed to issue a refund when I hadn’t paid anything. I stated that and was told that I needed to fill out a form. The form requested my name, address, phone, and driver’s license number. I’m surprised they didn’t want a blood sample and my first born. I explained that I’d give them my name only because I didn’t give them any money and I’m not getting any money in return. The clerk kept telling me I couldn’t leave the store until this was done. She also couldn’t ring up any other customers because her register was frozen with my transaction which couldn’t be corrected until the manager was available. I gave her everything and told her she could fill out the refund form herself on her time and I wasn’t wasting anymore of my time. I was informed I couldn’t leave the store because I’d be stealing. STEALING WHAT? I was only going to take my first purchase with me which was already paid for.
By now there were about 4 people behind me and the man directly behind me kept saying “patience is a virtue.” I calmly ignored him but was getting a little steamed. He repeated again “patience is a virtue, it says so in the bible” Then his daughter, about 7 years old, pipes up with “he’s right you know.” Now, I have to tell you I love kids. I think they’re one of the best things on earth but I saw red. This little snot nosed brat had no business getting involved and her father was butting in where he wasn’t wanted. I calmly but sternly said “this doesn’t concern you.” The man tells me that was no way to talk to his daughter. I shot back with “I believe I was talking to both of you.” He then proceeds to tell me to watch my %&*#$% language around his daughter. WHAT!!!
Finally the matter was resolved and I left. I called my husband and told him what happened. I was starting to calm down but was still a little upset.
A couple of days later I passed a church on the way home from work with a sign out front. “Have As Much Patience With Others As God Has With You.” I told my husband about it when I got home and he just repeated “patience is a virtue.” About a week later I was watching a program on PBS and Maya Angelou was hosting. One of her lines was “they say, patience is a virtue.” AAAHHHHHHHHH, I couldn’t believe it. Three times in two weeks. I realized God was trying to tell me something. He was beating me in the head with it. I needed to calm down and not be so quick tempered with people and situations.
After that realization I stopped seeing and hearing that message but about 2 months later I was getting inpatient about something we were going to be doing. On the way to work I was praying and asking God for guidance when I got the message. “Don’t be so impatient, it will happen when it’s time.”
I guess God had to remind me that “Patience Is a Virtue.”
Extended Warranties Update
After my very stressful day Friday I was able to calm down some over the weekend. This morning I called Chrysler Corporation. I filed a formal complaint. They also gave me the name of the owner of the dealership. I called the dealership and asked for the owner by name. He’s no longer the owner but the person who answered the phone did give me the new owner’s name. He’s not available. I was transferred to the General Manager. I was pretty much told by him that he could waive any fees he wants but he won’t. I told him at first I was upset with CNA for giving me false information. Then I was upset with the original owner for misrepresenting the warranty I was sold. Then I became upset with their service manager for his lack of doing his job which was informing me of the possibility I’d owe a diagnostic fee. And I was upset with the business manager for the way he tried to placate me with his false concern. I was now getting upset with the general manager. I was informed by this manager that the reason I was upset was because things aren’t working out the way I want them to.
I called Chrysler Corporation back to add to my complaint and let them know the owner on file is not the owner anymore. In doing this I found out my original complaint was filed and it’s going to be looked at by Chrysler internally and then it’s going to the dealership. I was given a reference number for my complaint and told I can call back anytime to see if there are any updates and they may be contacting me if they need more information.
I was going to write a letter to the State’s Attorney General’s office but I think I will wait and see what Chrysler does first.
I’m happy with an apology. Just someone to say “we were wrong’ whether it’s with the information I was given by CNA, the misrepresentation of the policy by the dealership or the dealership saying they failed to inform me about the possibility of a diagnostic fee.
I called Chrysler Corporation back to add to my complaint and let them know the owner on file is not the owner anymore. In doing this I found out my original complaint was filed and it’s going to be looked at by Chrysler internally and then it’s going to the dealership. I was given a reference number for my complaint and told I can call back anytime to see if there are any updates and they may be contacting me if they need more information.
I was going to write a letter to the State’s Attorney General’s office but I think I will wait and see what Chrysler does first.
I’m happy with an apology. Just someone to say “we were wrong’ whether it’s with the information I was given by CNA, the misrepresentation of the policy by the dealership or the dealership saying they failed to inform me about the possibility of a diagnostic fee.
Extended Warranties
I've had experience with extended car warranties in the past. I always felt they were a waste of money. The part that goes bad always turns out to be the part not covered in the warranty.
In 2005 I purchased a new/used 2005 Dodge Caravan. It was new in that it was new for me and still had, what was left, of the new car warranty. It was used in that it had been a car used by a rental agency like Enterprise or Budget. It had about 26,288 miles when I got it. When I purchased the car the dealer approached me about the extended warranty. At first I didn't think so but my husband pointed out that it was a used car and had a shorter time left on the present warranty. Not to mention the dealer told us it covered EVERYTHING. That's the key word here, EVERYTHING.
A few months ago the passenger side window stopped working. At first it didn't work in damp weather but eventually it stopped totally. That's not a huge problem. We rarely drive with the windows down and usually not the passenger side but it would be nice to be able to open it up once in a while. Not too long after that the power door locks stopped. The remote would flash the lights and open the back hatch but not the other doors. The button inside the car was the same. This is a pain because there are only 2 locks outside the car. Driver's door and back hatch. Need to get inside the car and manually unlock other doors if you have passengers.
Since I never received any paperwork for the warranty I wasn't sure if it had expired. I do remember being told I could take it to any dealer for the first year, after that I had to go to the original dealer. A call to the dealer and I found out that dealership was sold and the warranty contract went with the old owner. Numerous phone calls later and I get the contract number and the phone number of the warranty company, CNA. A call to CNA and they tell me the warranty is good until 4/2009 or 80,000 miles. I have 72,000. I was also told I had a diminishing deductible. Go to any dealer and I have to pay a $100 deductible but go to the original dealer and it's waved. Now, where do I go? The original dealership is still there under a new owner, they said it’s not their warranty. The original owner is 200 miles away and they tell me it’s not the same dealership so it’s not their warranty. Several more calls and it's finally decided that the NEW owners at the ORIGINAL site I bought the car would honor that agreement. I have to add there is a Chrysler dealer 5 minutes from my house but I'm going to drive over 70 miles round trip to save $100. I also need to point out, and this is very important, every person I've spoken with from the business manager and service manager at the dealership to the claims department at CNA has been told exactly what the problem is with the car. I specifically asked CNA "IS THIS COVERED?" Answer was "YES."
Yesterday we drive to the dealer. I explain to the service manager exactly what's going on. I add that I don't have my contract but do have the contract number, who I spoke with at CNA and that I've spoken numerous times with his business manager and was told the deductible was being waved. He takes my keys and directs us to the waiting area.
Two hours pass and the service manager comes in. Good news and bad news. That should have tipped me off, there was no good news. Warranty won't cover anything. The door lock is a problem with a computer memory chip and it needs to be flashed. HUH?????? Somehow this chip got corrupted. The window needs a new motor. Total cost $400+. I tell him I don't have the money and to forget it. Now he tells me I have to pay $85 or he won't release my car. I started seeing red. He's holding my car hostage. Back to the business manager. He feigns sympathy and calls CNA. When he gets off the phone he tells me I have a Powertrain warranty. My husband wants to know what the door locks and window have to do with the powertrain and why did CNA tell me they were covered. I feel the warranty was misrepresented when it was sold to me. I was lied to when CNA told me the problem I was having was covered. CNA now tells me that they couldn't diagnose it over the phone because they didn't know what the exact cause was. It's not their fault. WHAT??????? If someone would have just said "We won't know if it's covered until the mechanics look at it and if it's not you'll be responsible for the diagnostic fee." That's all it would have taken. But NO, that's not what was said. There’s a lot of shifting of blame back and forth between CNA and the dealership.
When I get home I call CNA. Person I’m speaking to is the same person the dealership spoke with earlier. He's now upset and making comments about the business manager. Says he told him it was NOT a powertrain warranty. It covers other things just not these particular parts. I was told by the dealer the motor on the window needed replaced. CNA rep says they were told it was the Window Regulator. Which is it? He tells me that on some cars they're a package. In order to replace the regulator you have to replace the motor and even though the motor is covered, it's not the part that failed. Now I'm really getting mad but still maintaining my composure. That's a hard thing for me to do but I am trying. Another call to the dealership and the business manager tells me he really wants to talk this over with me but I'm upset and he won't talk to me like this and he'll call me Monday morning. Back to CNA to talk to a supervisor. I get another person from the claims department who wants to hear my story. This guy is the most helpful so far. He informs me that the dealer can waive the diagnostic fee and most do. I'm advised to talk to the owner of the dealership, NOT an employee. The owner is the one who's name and reputation is out there. He’s the one spending thousands of dollars for advertising and most will waive any fees just to keep the customer satisfied. Back to the dealership. They won’t give me the owner’s name. I’m told he’s not involved in this. I'm calling back on Monday morning AFTER I call Chrystler's Corporate office to let them know what's going on and getting the owner's information from them.
At first I was upset over being lied to by CNA and that the original dealer misrepresented the warranty they sold me. Now I'm upset over a LOT more and I think a letter to the State's Attorney's office is in order.
In 2005 I purchased a new/used 2005 Dodge Caravan. It was new in that it was new for me and still had, what was left, of the new car warranty. It was used in that it had been a car used by a rental agency like Enterprise or Budget. It had about 26,288 miles when I got it. When I purchased the car the dealer approached me about the extended warranty. At first I didn't think so but my husband pointed out that it was a used car and had a shorter time left on the present warranty. Not to mention the dealer told us it covered EVERYTHING. That's the key word here, EVERYTHING.
A few months ago the passenger side window stopped working. At first it didn't work in damp weather but eventually it stopped totally. That's not a huge problem. We rarely drive with the windows down and usually not the passenger side but it would be nice to be able to open it up once in a while. Not too long after that the power door locks stopped. The remote would flash the lights and open the back hatch but not the other doors. The button inside the car was the same. This is a pain because there are only 2 locks outside the car. Driver's door and back hatch. Need to get inside the car and manually unlock other doors if you have passengers.
Since I never received any paperwork for the warranty I wasn't sure if it had expired. I do remember being told I could take it to any dealer for the first year, after that I had to go to the original dealer. A call to the dealer and I found out that dealership was sold and the warranty contract went with the old owner. Numerous phone calls later and I get the contract number and the phone number of the warranty company, CNA. A call to CNA and they tell me the warranty is good until 4/2009 or 80,000 miles. I have 72,000. I was also told I had a diminishing deductible. Go to any dealer and I have to pay a $100 deductible but go to the original dealer and it's waved. Now, where do I go? The original dealership is still there under a new owner, they said it’s not their warranty. The original owner is 200 miles away and they tell me it’s not the same dealership so it’s not their warranty. Several more calls and it's finally decided that the NEW owners at the ORIGINAL site I bought the car would honor that agreement. I have to add there is a Chrysler dealer 5 minutes from my house but I'm going to drive over 70 miles round trip to save $100. I also need to point out, and this is very important, every person I've spoken with from the business manager and service manager at the dealership to the claims department at CNA has been told exactly what the problem is with the car. I specifically asked CNA "IS THIS COVERED?" Answer was "YES."
Yesterday we drive to the dealer. I explain to the service manager exactly what's going on. I add that I don't have my contract but do have the contract number, who I spoke with at CNA and that I've spoken numerous times with his business manager and was told the deductible was being waved. He takes my keys and directs us to the waiting area.
Two hours pass and the service manager comes in. Good news and bad news. That should have tipped me off, there was no good news. Warranty won't cover anything. The door lock is a problem with a computer memory chip and it needs to be flashed. HUH?????? Somehow this chip got corrupted. The window needs a new motor. Total cost $400+. I tell him I don't have the money and to forget it. Now he tells me I have to pay $85 or he won't release my car. I started seeing red. He's holding my car hostage. Back to the business manager. He feigns sympathy and calls CNA. When he gets off the phone he tells me I have a Powertrain warranty. My husband wants to know what the door locks and window have to do with the powertrain and why did CNA tell me they were covered. I feel the warranty was misrepresented when it was sold to me. I was lied to when CNA told me the problem I was having was covered. CNA now tells me that they couldn't diagnose it over the phone because they didn't know what the exact cause was. It's not their fault. WHAT??????? If someone would have just said "We won't know if it's covered until the mechanics look at it and if it's not you'll be responsible for the diagnostic fee." That's all it would have taken. But NO, that's not what was said. There’s a lot of shifting of blame back and forth between CNA and the dealership.
When I get home I call CNA. Person I’m speaking to is the same person the dealership spoke with earlier. He's now upset and making comments about the business manager. Says he told him it was NOT a powertrain warranty. It covers other things just not these particular parts. I was told by the dealer the motor on the window needed replaced. CNA rep says they were told it was the Window Regulator. Which is it? He tells me that on some cars they're a package. In order to replace the regulator you have to replace the motor and even though the motor is covered, it's not the part that failed. Now I'm really getting mad but still maintaining my composure. That's a hard thing for me to do but I am trying. Another call to the dealership and the business manager tells me he really wants to talk this over with me but I'm upset and he won't talk to me like this and he'll call me Monday morning. Back to CNA to talk to a supervisor. I get another person from the claims department who wants to hear my story. This guy is the most helpful so far. He informs me that the dealer can waive the diagnostic fee and most do. I'm advised to talk to the owner of the dealership, NOT an employee. The owner is the one who's name and reputation is out there. He’s the one spending thousands of dollars for advertising and most will waive any fees just to keep the customer satisfied. Back to the dealership. They won’t give me the owner’s name. I’m told he’s not involved in this. I'm calling back on Monday morning AFTER I call Chrystler's Corporate office to let them know what's going on and getting the owner's information from them.
At first I was upset over being lied to by CNA and that the original dealer misrepresented the warranty they sold me. Now I'm upset over a LOT more and I think a letter to the State's Attorney's office is in order.
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