Two weeks ago, a deer literally ran into my car as I was turning onto my street and caused $4,000 worth of damage to my vehicle. After calling my insurance provider, I was advised to go to Gabes Collision on Genesee Street in Cheektowaga because it would "cut back on the paperwork." Ok, I am all about skipping signing on the dotted line a thousand times, and since my insurance "guarantees" their work, I figured I'd give them a try.
I dropped my car off the Tuesday after the accident and was told it would take about a week to finish because of the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. My claims adjuster would be in touch though with up-to-date information throughout the whole process. The adjuster called me every other day until Wednesday the following week when he called to let me know the car wasn't quite ready and it could be finished by EOD Thursday but he would call me to verify. Thursday came and went, then most of Friday and by 4 p.m. I called him to find out the status of Big Red. I left a voicemail, and received a call a short while later telling me to call Gabes myself to find out the status. Strike 1.
It was 4:30 p.m. when I called Gabes to find out that my car was indeed ready for pick up, but I had to get there by 5 p.m. when they closed... well, I work about a 1/2 hour away, so there was no chance that I'd get there by closing time. So Saturday morning, I picked up my car and headed to my mother's for a full day of Christmas shopping. As I drove, I realized that my heat no longer works and in fact cold air blows out of the vent. By the time I was able to call Gabes, the shop had closed for the day and would not reopen until Monday morning at 8 a.m.. Strike 2.
Monday morning, I called and left a message at 8:05 a.m. that someone should call me as soon as possible, because my heat was not working properly, and I had found two random car parts (small caps) in my cup holder that led me to believe that the car was not put back together properly. I left home by 8:30 a.m. because I had to get to work. On my way, it was freezing rain with no heat, which is bad enough, but now I also discovered another problem, my defogger was also not in working order. So, I have no heat, my windows are fogging up and freezing rain is sticking to my windshield. After taking extra precautions, I finally arrived at work, but I still have not received a phone call back from Gabes Collision and it's now after 9 a.m.
I waited until 9:30 a.m. and tried again. Amazingly, the shop was open and someone answered on the second ring. I asked to speak to a manager and explained my dilemmas. After telling the manager that I did not feel safe driving the vehicle, I was told that they would not send a tow truck and I would have to essentially suck it up, put my safety and others safety at risk, and make my way back to Cheektowaga. Strike 4 and 5.
Now for the kicker, after a 2 hour wait, I was then told the problem was fixed and that it was just an air pocket and those left over pieces were really no big deal, but they put them back in place to make me feel better. OK this now strike 6,7 and a million.
Are you kidding me!?!?! DO NOT tell me that these parts are not necessary. How dare you tell me that they are no big deal. Would you feel ok driving a vehicle that may or may not have missing parts no matter how superfluous these parts may be? I highly doubt that. Would you feel safe driving a vehicle with fogged up windows and no heat in the beginning of winter? I highly doubt that, too. And finally, would you be ok with someone speaking to your daughter or wife as you have addressed me. I highly doubt that also. Moral of the story. Do not take your vehicle to Gabes Collision on Genesee Street in Cheektowaga. They have horrible costumer service, and from what I can see, are highly incompetent.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Dog-Eat-Ring World Out There
Well, Thanksgiving left me little to be thankful for... other than my family and friends of course. Thursday morning, I woke up, made breakfast, watched a little of the parade and started to get ready for the day. I had a lot to do and not much time. Eric, against my advice, decided to go play in the "Turkey Bowl," which is a group of now 30 somethings playing two hand touch and running around like they're in their 20s again. Sidebar: this the same Turkey Bowl game that Eric tore his rotator cuff just the year before. I digress.
While he got ready for the game, I started baking and getting the food ready for the scheduled family visits later in the day. Eric left his wedding ring on the end table, put his spikes on and left for the big game.
As I baked, Marley sat by my side hoping I'd drop some tasty scraps for her to eat. Occasionally, I'd take a break and play chase or catch with her and also let her outside so she could go to the bathroom. All in all, it was a relatively quite day, which I should learn by now is always the kiss of death.
Eric returned home around 1:30, just in time for the asparagus to come out of the oven, and for me to jump in the shower so we could leave on time at 2:15. As I began the "beautifying process - washing hair, shaving legs, getting dressed and putting on make up, Eric was downstairs frantically searching for his wedding ring. He called up to me, asking me where I had put it... of course, I hadn't known that he didn't have it on, so naturally, I didn't put it anywhere. We moved furniture, searched other areas of the house, but to no avail. During our search, I went into the kitchen and noticed that while my asparagus were untouched, my oven mitt did not fair so well. All that was left was the bottom half of the mitt as the top half was consumed with no trace of its existence.
Frustrated and late, we left thinking maybe just maybe Marley ate the ring, too, but we still had faith that our "little" pup knew better. We came home between family meals to check on our dear labradoodle, but Marley seemed fine, so we went to Eric's side for dessert. However, still racking our brains to see if maybe one of us misplaced the band. We returned home, and I took Marley for a much-needed walk, then we went to bed with no ring and fearing the worst - that one of us would have to search for the ring after it has passed.
The next morning, Marley ate breakfast and I went Black Friday shopping with my mom. When I returned home a few hours later, Marley had already thrown up twice and was on her way to throwing up some more. It was time to call the vet. At the doctor's office, we were told that there was no evidence that pointed to bloat or a blockage, but we needed to be leery of the oven mitt, and not the wedding band. So we authorized an xray, so we could rule out emergency surgery, and right there on the screen was the evidence we needed - she did indeed eat the symbol of our vows and lifelong commitment to eachother. The good news, she didn't need surgery, the bad news we were $200 poorer and we'd be looking through her poop for the next few days.
Marley felt much better after the doctor gave her a shot and some fluids, and was up to her old antics... causing a raucous. Saturday came, and by 6 p.m. Marley had eaten two meals and digested them. I had the unfortunate luck of taking her outside when it was time to pass the ring and the remaining bits of oven mitt. Not only was I thoroughly disgusted because of what I was doing but also, because I had to pull the ring off of the oven mitt like it was a finger. I couldn't look at my pup for two days and I can only hope that she learned her lesson and will not be eating valuables or oven mitts anytime in the future... this better not be another kiss of death statement or Marley will have some splainin' to do!
While he got ready for the game, I started baking and getting the food ready for the scheduled family visits later in the day. Eric left his wedding ring on the end table, put his spikes on and left for the big game.
As I baked, Marley sat by my side hoping I'd drop some tasty scraps for her to eat. Occasionally, I'd take a break and play chase or catch with her and also let her outside so she could go to the bathroom. All in all, it was a relatively quite day, which I should learn by now is always the kiss of death.
Eric returned home around 1:30, just in time for the asparagus to come out of the oven, and for me to jump in the shower so we could leave on time at 2:15. As I began the "beautifying process - washing hair, shaving legs, getting dressed and putting on make up, Eric was downstairs frantically searching for his wedding ring. He called up to me, asking me where I had put it... of course, I hadn't known that he didn't have it on, so naturally, I didn't put it anywhere. We moved furniture, searched other areas of the house, but to no avail. During our search, I went into the kitchen and noticed that while my asparagus were untouched, my oven mitt did not fair so well. All that was left was the bottom half of the mitt as the top half was consumed with no trace of its existence.
Frustrated and late, we left thinking maybe just maybe Marley ate the ring, too, but we still had faith that our "little" pup knew better. We came home between family meals to check on our dear labradoodle, but Marley seemed fine, so we went to Eric's side for dessert. However, still racking our brains to see if maybe one of us misplaced the band. We returned home, and I took Marley for a much-needed walk, then we went to bed with no ring and fearing the worst - that one of us would have to search for the ring after it has passed.
The next morning, Marley ate breakfast and I went Black Friday shopping with my mom. When I returned home a few hours later, Marley had already thrown up twice and was on her way to throwing up some more. It was time to call the vet. At the doctor's office, we were told that there was no evidence that pointed to bloat or a blockage, but we needed to be leery of the oven mitt, and not the wedding band. So we authorized an xray, so we could rule out emergency surgery, and right there on the screen was the evidence we needed - she did indeed eat the symbol of our vows and lifelong commitment to eachother. The good news, she didn't need surgery, the bad news we were $200 poorer and we'd be looking through her poop for the next few days.
Marley felt much better after the doctor gave her a shot and some fluids, and was up to her old antics... causing a raucous. Saturday came, and by 6 p.m. Marley had eaten two meals and digested them. I had the unfortunate luck of taking her outside when it was time to pass the ring and the remaining bits of oven mitt. Not only was I thoroughly disgusted because of what I was doing but also, because I had to pull the ring off of the oven mitt like it was a finger. I couldn't look at my pup for two days and I can only hope that she learned her lesson and will not be eating valuables or oven mitts anytime in the future... this better not be another kiss of death statement or Marley will have some splainin' to do!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)