What can I say....except that this has been one of those weeks! The week started out good, because my friend Deborah loved her house. I was SO glad! It has been exciting to hear what a blessing that was to her. Then, things were going ok until I was involved in a wreck on Wednesday. Nothing serious - a lady hit me from behind and my car slid and hit the truck in front of me. The only car that had damage was mine. The guy in front of me had a trailer hitch on his truck and it poked a hole in my bumper. Then, today, my car died at the post office. Actually, it was the battery that died, but nevertheless - I couldn't drive my car because it would not start. So I call one of my co-workers to come give me a boost so I could go buy a new battery. Oh joy.
That's where the real fun began.
It has been 6 years since I last purchased a battery for my car, so I had forgotten some of the finer points of purchasing a battery. Well, most places around here will let you purchase a battery and will install it for you for no extra cost. Evidently, they build up the price just a bit to cover that. Not a whole lot, mind you, just a little. Well, I go to this place that was recommended by my co-worker. He said this guy had been really fair - had even recommended he take his car somewhere else for some service work he needed done. So, that sounded good to me. I mean, if the guy will give up business to be fair to the customer, how bad can he be? Well, I think there is a different standard when it comes to a woman needing work on her car.
I was in desperate need of a battery (I couldn't turn my car off and I was running out of gas) so I had to get a battery fast! Well, I go to this guy to get my battery, expecting a cost of around $70 or $80. But no, it was $115 - $82 for the battery and $26 for labor (plus tax). Remember, it's been 6 years since my last battery, so I figured that the price had gone up that far. Well, I call my dad to let him know what was going on and he reminded me that they shouldn't have charged me to install the battery and I should call them and take it back (or at least see if they would refund the money.)
So, I go call another place and ask what price they charge for the same battery. Their price? $92 (that is including tax!) A difference of $23. I know that may not sound like much, but for me, that was a lot of money that I shouldn't have paid. Besides that - it was the principle of the thing. So I go call the man who sold me the battery and tried to clarify why I had paid $26 for labor when most other places don't charge a thing. He told me that was what they did and he wouldn't take the battery back (or give me my money back). So I told him "thank you. I'll be sure to let other people know about how he handles his business." I believe he took advantage of me because I was a woman. I am sure he knows that other places don't charge for installation, so he could have recommended I go somewhere else (like he did for my co-worker). This is not the first time I've been taken advantage of in regards to automotive repairs (I won't bore you with other stories) and I'm sure it won't be the last. I will tell you this - I will know more about my car and take more time in selecting who I do business with the next time!
Now, before people start going off on me - I am not a victim. I hate the whole "victim" mentality people use. I know I could have saved myself a lot of grief if I had just called a few places and found the best price. It's not totally that guy's fault. It just aggravates me that I should even have to worry about this kind of stuff. Whatever happened to honesty and integrity? Whatever happened to chivalry? Whatever happened to looking out for the women? If I had been that guy's daughter, I guarantee he wouldn't have charged me for the labor!
Anyway, it was a lesson to me. First of all - research, research, research and call around - no matter how long it takes! Secondly, it was a reminder to me that I should treat all people fairly and equitably. Treat them the way I want to be treated. I know I've been guilty of not doing that. You know those people that come into your life - they look, act or smell funny. They dress weird or have unusual tastes in everything. Those people who are not like - "us". Well, I've been guilty of not treating them the way I would want to be treated. But I promise you this - I will not do that so quickly the next time one of those people cross my path! I hope I will remember this incident and take a moment longer to be nice to them. After all, isn't that what we all want for ourselves - to be treated right?
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