Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

[Deleted User]

jmonroe said:

ab348 said:

Must be painful to have to shim all those outlets. I've never done that. Presumably just the outlet or switch itself gets shimmed? I assume the box in the wall has to stay where it is.
_______________________________________________________________________________

Unless you are a gluten for punishment, you never want to pull the box out to the new tile thickness. The outlet screws are usually long enough to allow for the new tile thickness. At worst you replace the outlet screws with longer ones (6-32 thread).

jmonroe

There's a ready-made solution for this issue and it meets electrical codes:



Most electrical codes will only allow you to shim so far without a barrier, which I believe is 3/8" in Colorado. These gang box extenders work well and come with longer screws. In my case, the layout of the tile left enough gap at the top that I also had to use shims under the top screw so the outlet had a firm base.

PF_Flyer

henryn said:

PF_Flyer said:

I DID have the camera for this. I assume it's a Mary K car, but I don't think I've ever seen a VW as one

They do say the best camera is the one you have with you.

Which means the camera in your smartphone, just in case that wasn't obvious to you. Which I guess it might not be, if you were actually out and about without a camera (i.e., smartphone)

My phone was in my pocket, turned off as it usually is. I'm a dying breed apparently. I can walk around and not need to be in constant communication with anyone. More folks ought to try it

jwm40517

Got an email from Hertz last night advertising their new Shelby GT-H "rent a racer". It will be available at about 15 or so airport locations. It is black with a lot of gold stripes and the 435HP engine. It had a lot of info on the original 1966 Hertz version.

jmonroe

'tyguy' said:

Most electrical codes will only allow you to shim so far without a barrier, which I believe is 3/8" in Colorado. These gang box extenders work well and come with longer screws. In my case, the layout of the tile left enough gap at the top that I also had to use shims under the top screw so the outlet had a firm base.
___________________________________________________________________________________

Yes, those box extenders come in handy. I've only had to use 2 of them so far and that was at a friends house about 3 years ago when he wanted ground fault receptacles installed in his bathroom and powder room after he did the tile work. I could have probably done the job without using them but the electrician that wired his house barely left enough slack in the wiring to pull the ground fault receptacles out so I made the decision to splice on some wire so that the electrons wouldn't be stretched to their limit and cause a problem because of that.

I'll never understand why someone (a so called registered electrician) is so afraid to use 2 more inches of wire. I know copper isn't cheap but c'mon man ! :@

jmonroe

henryn

PF_Flyer said:

henryn said:

PF_Flyer said:

I DID have the camera for this. I assume it's a Mary K car, but I don't think I've ever seen a VW as one

They do say the best camera is the one you have with you.

Which means the camera in your smartphone, just in case that wasn't obvious to you. Which I guess it might not be, if you were actually out and about without a camera (i.e., smartphone)

My phone was in my pocket, turned off as it usually is. I'm a dying breed apparently. I can walk around and not need to be in constant communication with anyone. More folks ought to try it

So you really did have a camera with you, you just forgot about having it?

stickguy

jwm40517 said:

Got an email from Hertz last night advertising their new Shelby GT-H "rent a racer". It will be available at about 15 or so airport locations. It is black with a lot of gold stripes and the 435HP engine. It had a lot of info on the original 1966 Hertz version.

I'm sure there are many disclaimers that you owe them your first born if you actually took it near a race!

jmonroe

PF_Flyer said:

My phone was in my pocket, turned off as it usually is. I'm a dying breed apparently. I can walk around and not need to be in constant communication with anyone. More folks ought to try it
__________________________________________________________________________________

You and me both.

I am so un-attached to my cell phone that when I do remember to take it with me, half the time I forget to turn it on. I've said to Mrs. j several times that if we ever have to cut expenses, that cell phone service is the first thing that is going to get whacked from our budget.

If there is anyone that can live without a cell phone it's me.

jmonroe

stever

Mine runs about $50 a year - have to buy $10 worth of minutes every three months or they expire. I try to remember to put it back in the car after charging it since that's where I'm most likely to need it. The shutter speed on the camera takes me back to MS-DOS boot days.

My mom is 94 and her health is failing along with her eyesight and hearing. My brother just tried an AARP recommended Jitterbug cell for her since that's cheaper than a landline in TN ($49!), but you can't just pick it up and answer it. He's going with the landline - false advertising for sure.

PF_Flyer

henryn said:

PF_Flyer said:

henryn said:

PF_Flyer said:

I DID have the camera for this. I assume it's a Mary K car, but I don't think I've ever seen a VW as one

They do say the best camera is the one you have with you.

Which means the camera in your smartphone, just in case that wasn't obvious to you. Which I guess it might not be, if you were actually out and about without a camera (i.e., smartphone)

My phone was in my pocket, turned off as it usually is. I'm a dying breed apparently. I can walk around and not need to be in constant communication with anyone. More folks ought to try it

So you really did have a camera with you, you just forgot about having it?

Nope. My camera is my camera, and my phone is my phone. My phone is NOT my computer, or my TV, or my video game system, or whatever else it is that has people's faces buried in them at all times. We just had a person with headphones on and phone out hit by a car here. I don't know how that doesn't happen multiple times every day around here.

There's a whole world around us to look at... and be aware of

tjc78

@jmonroe
"I'll never understand why someone (a so called registered electrician) is so afraid to use 2 more inches of wire. I know copper isn't cheap but c'mon man ! :@"

My Mom's house (built in the 50s) has absolutely zero slack on all the outlets. They barely make it out of the box. When I replaced them all it was a brutal job. Many of them I had no choice but to extend. I swear they left the staples loose, wired the outlet and pulled the wire back.

As for those box extenders, they work great. I had to use them in our kitchen (Home Depot sells a kit with the extenders and longer screws) because we carried our granite up the wall and it extends out over 1".

henryn

PF_Flyer said:

henryn said:

PF_Flyer said:

henryn said:

PF_Flyer said:

I DID have the camera for this. I assume it's a Mary K car, but I don't think I've ever seen a VW as one

They do say the best camera is the one you have with you.

Which means the camera in your smartphone, just in case that wasn't obvious to you. Which I guess it might not be, if you were actually out and about without a camera (i.e., smartphone)

My phone was in my pocket, turned off as it usually is. I'm a dying breed apparently. I can walk around and not need to be in constant communication with anyone. More folks ought to try it

So you really did have a camera with you, you just forgot about having it?

Nope. My camera is my camera, and my phone is my phone. My phone is NOT my computer, or my TV, or my video game system, or whatever else it is that has people's faces buried in them at all times. We just had a person with headphones on and phone out hit by a car here. I don't know how that doesn't happen multiple times every day around here.

There's a whole world around us to look at... and be aware of

My point was that you had a camera in your pocket and forgot that fact. I do not use my cell phone while driving, I don't even use it while walking. But I do use it, as a computer, as an internet access device (compare prices while in a store shopping), or as a camera if something comes up that I need to record.

Last year some dingbat ran over me, did about $900 worth of damage to my car. I pulled over, so did she. I used my cell phone camera to record her driver's license and Insurance card, and then took pictures of my car, her car, her face, and the street where the incident occurred. She told me that I would never collect, because "both of my parents are lawyers". But I did collect, and the pictures were a major part of why I did. Her story was so full of holes that even her own insurance company did not believe her lies.

Just because you don't like the way other people are constantly using their cell phones (a position with which I happen to agree), does not mean that you should not avail yourself of the technology that is available to you.

stever

Well said - you should give @PF_Flyer a call and tell him that Mano a Mano.

Here's a snap of his phone out there in PA complete with his number. Hm, drat, I've momentarily forgotten the name of his exchange. Seems like it was BR something....

jmonroe

'tjc' said:

My Mom's house (built in the 50s) has absolutely zero slack on all the outlets. They barely make it out of the box. When I replaced them all it was a brutal job. Many of them I had no choice but to extend. I swear they left the staples loose, wired the outlet and pulled the wire back.
________________________________________________________________________________

The worst skimping I ever ran into was when I was helping Son #2 replace a faucet in his bathroom off of his bedroom about 10 years ago.

I was under the vanity as he was feeding the faucet down from the top and I bumped the cold water supply line that was running horizontally under the vanity. All of a sudden I hear water running. It was coming from the other side of the partition wall where the toilet was. I saw the wet spot on the wall and I tell my Son to run down to the basement and shut off the water.

I get out my drywall saw and cut a hole at the wet spot. Looking me right in the face is a 90 degree elbow and the end of the copper tubing that came out of the 90. I pull both the 90 and the tubing towards each other and the tubing only went into the 90 about a sixteenth of an inch and I'm not exaggerating about that. My Son says, "how does something like that happen"? I said the idiot who ran the tubing probably measured to the 90 and didn't allow for the take-up into 90, so he pulled whatever slack he could get and only got a sixteenth of and inch. He didn't want to sweat in a longer horizontal piece of tubing and just made the sweat joint with what he could get. I had a few pieces of short tubing and a few couplings and 90's with me so I get the torch out make the repair. All done in about 15 minutes. I left the drywall repair for him to do after I left. He said that took him at least an hour to do and then painting. Oh yeah, let's not forget about the painting. His wife said, "OH, since you have to paint that repair spot, this is a good time to change the color in here".

My Son is the third owner of this house and how someone didn't bump the horizontal run before this happened, I'll never know. I told him he was damn lucky that his wife didn't bump it going after soap or toilet paper or whatever else was stored under the vanity because she probably would have never even noticed the water was running until she saw water coming through the ceiling below, hours later. My Son then asked me the real scary question, "how many other joints were made like that in this house"? I did not have an answer to that question but so far he has not had another problem.

That is why, when I hear someone say they are a registered electrician, plumber, car mechanic, etc. those words mean absolutely nothing to me and why I try to do everything myself whenever possible. Which, on a car is becoming almost impossible today.

jmonroe

qbrozen

solar panel install being completed today. Town inspection next friday. Not sure when the power company will get around to approving and allowing us to turn it on. I'm told the current lead time is about 7 weeks but we could get lucky.

houdini1

jmonroe said:

'tjc' said:

My Mom's house (built in the 50s) has absolutely zero slack on all the outlets. They barely make it out of the box. When I replaced them all it was a brutal job. Many of them I had no choice but to extend. I swear they left the staples loose, wired the outlet and pulled the wire back.
________________________________________________________________________________

The worst skimping I ever ran into was when I was helping Son #2 replace a faucet in his bathroom off of his bedroom about 10 years ago.

I was under the vanity as he was feeding the faucet down from the top and I bumped the cold water supply line that was running horizontally under the vanity. All of a sudden I hear water running. It was coming from the other side of the partition wall where the toilet was. I saw the wet spot on the wall and I tell my Son to run down to the basement and shut off the water.

I get out my drywall saw and cut a hole at the wet spot. Looking me right in the face is a 90 degree elbow and the end of the copper tubing that came out of the 90. I pull both the 90 and the tubing towards each other and the tubing only went into the 90 about a sixteenth of an inch and I'm not exaggerating about that. My Son says, "how does something like that happen"? I said the idiot who ran the tubing probably measured to the 90 and didn't allow for the take-up into 90, so he pulled whatever slack he could get and only got a sixteenth of and inch. He didn't want to sweat in a longer horizontal piece of tubing and just made the sweat joint with what he could get. I had a few pieces of short tubing and a few couplings and 90's with me so I get the torch out make the repair. All done in about 15 minutes. I left the drywall repair for him to do after I left. He said that took him at least an hour to do and then painting. Oh yeah, let's not forget about the painting. His wife said, "OH, since you have to paint that repair spot, this is a good time to change the color in here".

My Son is the third owner of this house and how someone didn't bump the horizontal run before this happened, I'll never know. I told him he was damn lucky that his wife didn't bump it going after soap or toilet paper or whatever else was stored under the vanity because she probably would have never even noticed the water was running until she saw water coming through the ceiling below, hours later. My Son then asked me the real scary question, "how many other joints were made like that in this house"? I did not have an answer to that question but so far he has not had another problem.

That is why, when I hear someone say they are a registered electrician, plumber, car mechanic, etc. those words mean absolutely nothing to me and why I try to do everything myself whenever possible. Which, on a car is becoming almost impossible today.

jmonroe

jm, my youngest son is like you, and he sure didn't get it from me. IMO, being able to "fix things" can be learned to a certain degree, but the really good ones are born with the talent and a certain mindset. I would equate it to someone who can play a piano by ear, sing in perfect pitch, or do complicated math in their head.

[Deleted User]

qbrozen said:

solar panel install being completed today. Town inspection next friday. Not sure when the power company will get around to approving and allowing us to turn it on. I'm told the current lead time is about 7 weeks but we could get lucky.

Awesome that the panels are up. Hope the approvals go through faster than expected. Ours took a week and it was torture.

stickguy

I'm just happy I was able to slash my kwh cost (starting the beginning of next month, at the next reading cycle). Just in time for the summer pool/AC season. that was one drawback to the solar. By the time it kicked in, would have missed the summer season.

snakeweasel

venture said:

I'm a few days behind - trying to catch up, but I'm really glad to see how nice the back splash looks. Why? I have 4 giant boxes of a very similar tile to put up when our kitchen re-do is almost finished. Not really looking forward to cutting all that glass around the outlets and switches (and there are a bunch). Maybe I'll get a respirator to wear.

We did ours and it looks pretty good for my handiwork. Cutting the glass really isn't that bad, just score it and snip and your done.

snakeweasel

stever said:

Hm, drat, I've momentarily forgotten the name of his exchange. Seems like it was BR something....

Is this it?

carnaught

Mike....waiting to hear how your test results turned out...

Know that we're all here for you if you wish to discuss it.

driver100

"jmonroe">

I am so un-attached to my cell phone that when I do remember to take it with me, half the time I forget to turn it on. I've said to Mrs. j several times that if we ever have to cut expenses, that cell phone service is the first thing that is going to get whacked from our budget.

If there is anyone that can live without a cell phone it's

me.



+1

abacomike

carnaught said:

Mike....waiting to hear how your test results turned out....

The doctor still hasn't gotten the results from the radiologist.  I don't know why there are no results yet - the films were sent to the radiologist on Tuesday afternoon.  It only takes a couple of hours to read them and type up a report.  I am somewhat concerned the results are delayed.  Saw my doctor this morning - he said as soon as he gets them he will call me immediately.

So, the waiting continues.

driver100

PF_Flyer said:

henryn said:

PF_Flyer said:

henryn said:

PF_Flyer said:

I DID have the camera for this. I assume it's a Mary K car, but I don't think I've ever seen a VW as one

They do say the best camera is the one you have with you.

Which means the camera in your smartphone, just in case that wasn't obvious to you. Which I guess it might not be, if you were actually out and about without a camera (i.e., smartphone)

My phone was in my pocket, turned off as it usually is. I'm a dying breed apparently. I can walk around and not need to be in constant communication with anyone. More folks ought to try it

So you really did have a camera with you, you just forgot about having it?

Nope. My camera is my camera, and my phone is my phone. My phone is NOT my computer, or my TV, or my video game system, or whatever else it is that has people's faces buried in them at all times. We just had a person with headphones on and phone out hit by a car here. I don't know how that doesn't happen multiple times every day around here.

There's a whole world around us to look at... and be aware of

I hardly know how to answer my cellphone so it would take me hours to figure out how to take a picture.

driver100

henryn said:

PF_Flyer said:

henryn said:

PF_Flyer said:

henryn said:

PF_Flyer said:

I DID have the camera for this. I assume it's a Mary K car, but I don't think I've ever seen a VW as one

They do say the best camera is the one you have with you.

Which means the camera in your smartphone, just in case that wasn't obvious to you. Which I guess it might not be, if you were actually out and about without a camera (i.e., smartphone)

My phone was in my pocket, turned off as it usually is. I'm a dying breed apparently. I can walk around and not need to be in constant communication with anyone. More folks ought to try it

So you really did have a camera with you, you just forgot about having it?

Nope. My camera is my camera, and my phone is my phone. My phone is NOT my computer, or my TV, or my video game system, or whatever else it is that has people's faces buried in them at all times. We just had a person with headphones on and phone out hit by a car here. I don't know how that doesn't happen multiple times every day around here.

There's a whole world around us to look at... and be aware of

I used my cell phone camera to record her driver's license and Insurance card, and then took pictures of my car, her car, her face, and the street where the incident occurred. She told me that I would never collect, because "both of my parents are lawyers". But I did collect, and the pictures were a major part of why I did. Her story was so full of holes that even her own insurance company did not believe her lies.

Just because you don't like the way other people are constantly using their cell phones (a position with which I happen to agree), does not mean that you should not avail yourself of the technology that is available to you.

Good point....I may try taking a picture with my cell phone...just in case of a similar situation.

abacomike

Got a call from the body shop - bumper arrived there this morning.  He said the car should be ready tomorrow - late morning.  He said I can drop the loaner car off at the collision center and pick my car up directly from them instead of going to the dealership.

driver100

abacomike said:

Got a call from the body shop - bumper arrived there this morning.  He said the car should be ready tomorrow - late morning.  He said I can drop the loaner car off at the collision center and pick my car up directly from them instead of going to the dealership.

Some good news!

oldfarmer50

jwm40517 said:

Got an email from Hertz last night advertising their new Shelby GT-H "rent a racer". It will be available at about 15 or so airport locations. It is black with a lot of gold stripes and the 435HP engine. It had a lot of info on the original 1966 Hertz version.

Good luck trying to actually book one.

Only 435hp? Mine has that. I would think a Shelby would be a step up.

abacomike

driver100 said:

Got a call from the body shop - bumper arrived there this morning.  He said the car should be ready tomorrow - late morning.  He said I can drop the loaner car off at the collision center and pick my car up directly from them instead of going to the dealership.

Some good news!

Yes, got a change!

explorerx4

@abacomike,
I would tell the body shop that you will pick up your car at the dealer so they are able to verify it was done correctly. After all, the repair is between those 2.

oldfarmer50

qbrozen said:

solar panel install being completed today. Town inspection next friday. Not sure when the power company will get around to approving and allowing us to turn it on. I'm told the current lead time is about 7 weeks but we could get lucky.

I'd really be interested in seeing if your installation pays for itself. I don't remember if you bought or leased.

abacomike

explorerx4 said:

@abacomike, I would tell the body shop that you will pick up your car at the dealer so they are able to verify it was done correctly. After all, the repair is between those 2.

Good point explorer - even though they are part of the same conglamorate, each is individually managed.  I will tell them to drive it over to the dealership and that I will pick it up there - thanks for the good advice!

jmonroe

Mike said:

Good point explorer - even though they are part of the same conglamorate, each is individually managed. I will tell them to drive it over to the dealership and that I will pick it up there - thanks for the good advice!
_______________________________________________________________________________

I'm kinda torn about how this should be handled. My first thought is, the less hands that touch your car before you pick it up the better. Then there is what 'explorer' said, "take delivery from the dealership".

How about this...follow the driver from the collision center over to the dealership to make sure he isn't hot rodding your car. If he is go home and cry and after the tears have dried let us know and we will have countless ways for how you should handle this.

jmonroe

abacomike

Thanks, JM.  Give me some more things to stress out about! 

stickguy

Mike already missed the obvious answer. Just leave it at the dealer, and take home a new one instead!

abacomike

stickguy said:

Mike already missed the obvious answer. Just leave it at the dealer, and take home a new one instead!

They have nothing that I want - or that I can afford! 

carnaught

abacomike said:

carnaught said:

Mike....waiting to hear how your test results turned out....

The doctor still hasn't gotten the results from the radiologist.  I don't know why there are no results yet - the films were sent to the radiologist on Tuesday afternoon.  It only takes a couple of hours to read them and type up a report.  I am somewhat concerned the results are delayed.  Saw my doctor this morning - he said as soon as he gets them he will call me immediately.

So, the waiting continues.

Well, bad news usually generates a timely phone call directly to the doctor. Since bad news travels faster than good news, hopefully this is a good sign.

roadburner

oldfarmer50 said:

<

Only 435hp? Mine has that. I would think a Shelby would be a step up.

The 2007-2008 Shelby GT was just a GT with a Ford "Racing" intake, suspension, and some zoomy stripes/trim.

thebean

carnaught said:

Well, bad news usually generates a timely phone call directly to the doctor. Since bad news travels faster than good news, hopefully this is a good sign.

This has been my experience also.  The bad news came soon after the tests.  Delays meant things were OK.  Here's hoping this is the case with you, Mike.

abacomike

thebean said:

carnaught said:

Well, bad news usually generates a timely phone call directly to the doctor. Since bad news travels faster than good news, hopefully this is a good sign.

This has been my experience also.  The bad news came soon after the tests.  Delays meant things were OK.  Here's hoping this is the case with you, Mike.

Sure hope you and carnaught are correct.  But remember, this was sent to the radiologist "stat" - like the results were needed ASAP.  I would have thought they would have responded quickly since it was a "stat" order.

stickguy

the medical system is a massive machine. You can't always rush it along.

bwia

Prince is dead but his hit song little Red Corvette will live on forever in my memory. I actually met Prince in 1975 at an MPLS night club. He was a serious musician even back then.

May he RIP 

venture

snakeweasel said:

venture said:

I'm a few days behind - trying to catch up, but I'm really glad to see how nice the back splash looks. Why? I have 4 giant boxes of a very similar tile to put up when our kitchen re-do is almost finished. Not really looking forward to cutting all that glass around the outlets and switches (and there are a bunch). Maybe I'll get a respirator to wear.

We did ours and it looks pretty good for my handiwork. Cutting the glass really isn't that bad, just score it and snip and your done.

Scoring and sniping? How about a wet saw? I've done so much tile work over the years I went out and bought one.

If it doesn't plug in or use a battery, I'm hesitant to use it anymore.

Nice job.

snakeweasel

venture said:

snakeweasel said:

venture said:

I'm a few days behind - trying to catch up, but I'm really glad to see how nice the back splash looks. Why? I have 4 giant boxes of a very similar tile to put up when our kitchen re-do is almost finished. Not really looking forward to cutting all that glass around the outlets and switches (and there are a bunch). Maybe I'll get a respirator to wear.

We did ours and it looks pretty good for my handiwork. Cutting the glass really isn't that bad, just score it and snip and your done.

Scoring and sniping? How about a wet saw? I've done so much tile work over the years I went out and bought one.

If it doesn't plug in or use a battery, I'm hesitant to use it anymore.

Nice job.

A wet saw would work great. I don't do enough of this type of work to justify the expense. So I went with one of these:

stever

Okay, can't stand it - here's my coffee table top I made last year. Be fun to find some "fake" plastic tiles and do the hood of the van. The real things would weigh a ton! No air brush artists in here?

stickguy

good old manual ripper works fine for ceramic. Might not be as good for small glass as the snippers. Don't really have to make that many cuts. It helps that the pieces are so small, you got a chance to avoid as much cutting.

stickguy

but power tools are fun!

qbrozen

oldfarmer50 said:

qbrozen said:

solar panel install being completed today. Town inspection next friday. Not sure when the power company will get around to approving and allowing us to turn it on. I'm told the current lead time is about 7 weeks but we could get lucky.

I'd really be interested in seeing if your installation pays for itself. I don't remember if you bought or leased.

I am buying. The solar market isn't really a "wait and see" proposition. The way it works in NJ is a gamble, to be sure. Right now, however, and for all of 2016 so far, solar credits (SRECs) are selling for about $280 ea. This new system is projected to produce about 18 SRECs per year. That's $5k. At my current rate of 16cents/kwh, it will also save me $2880/yr in electricity cost from JCP&L. Cost of the system after tax credit is $56k. So the system will theoretically pay for itself in about 7.5 years, give or take.

After that, all electricity it produces is free to me PLUS I will get to pocket the money from selling SRECs for an additional 7.5 years (systems earn SRECs for 15 years).

Now, can the SREC market go down? Absolutely. I have already seen them dip to about $100 during the few years I have had solar in my other home. And could it underproduce? Again, absolutely. But the system is guaranteed and warranteed for 25 years, which means they pay me if it underproduces. So even if you cut my SREC average value in half and add in 10% underproduction, I'm looking at 10-12 year payback.

driver100

I don't know a thing about solar panels etc., but, coming from a family that questions everything, what happens if the solar panel people go out of business in year 3?

henryn

Ah, yes, the bodyshop and the dealership service department. I have a story about that. Us old fogeys have a story about everything.

Back around 1999, I had a new Ford F150. It got caught in a hail storm, and suffered pretty severe damage. I think the truck cost about $12k new, and the damage was about $4k. I had already identified a leak in the A/C hose, and was planning to get that fixed at the dealer under warranty. So I dropped off the truck on Monday morning at the dealer service department, showed them where the hose was leaking, and asked them to take it down the street to their body shop after repairs were completed.

“No problem, we’ll be happy to take care of it for you.”

I had, of course, already talked to the body shop, gotten an estimate, which was approved by my insurance company. The body shop was expecting my truck, and they had already told me it would take about one week for the repairs. I had even arranged to get a rental car at the dealership, covered by my insurance because of the hail damage.

All of this is on Monday morning. Fast forward to Friday afternoon, I call the body shop. No, my truck isn’t ready. Matter of fact, they haven’t seen my truck. I call the service department. They have no idea what I’m talking about. They finished with my truck on Monday, and I picked it up.

“Uh… No, I didn’t. Where exactly IS my truck?”

“Hold on, we’ll look for it.”

I left work, drove to the dealership, arriving about 45 minutes later. Half of the dealership employees are frantically searching for my truck. They finally find it in an auxiliary lot about a mile down the road. The service manager and I exchanged a few words, none of which would bear repeating here.

I complained loud and long everywhere I could, including the BBB, which did absolutely no good. But my insurance company took their body shop off of their list of approved repair facilities, so I did some good there.

PF_Flyer

stever said:

Well said - you should give @PF_Flyer a call and tell him that Mano a Mano.

Here's a snap of his phone out there in PA complete with his number. Hm, drat, I've momentarily forgotten the name of his exchange. Seems like it was BR something....

LOL... you should have seen my phone book when we built the house. It had instructions on how to make a call that were very much like party line instructions, and that was 1986.

I didn't forget about the phone, it's just NOT a camera. It's waaaay slower than my camera and has that annoying half second wait that let's you move and blur the photo. Yes, some folks do take some amazing photos with their phone. But if you have a camera bag over your shoulder and an SLR slung around your neck, people tend to let you walk ANYWHERE because they think, "He must be a photographer"

That's how I walked onto the stage at a summer Beatlemania concert here