An Evening With Wal-Mart
Some time between the drive to basketball practice and the gas station, I picked up a nail in my tire. Not just your everyday "Oh lookie, what's that silver thing in my tread?". No, we're talking about an old galvanized roofing nail that was stuck in a neat 45 degree angle on my sidewall. Immediately I knew that was going to be one very expensive nail seeing as how in most cases, sidewalls can not be repaired. So swearing to myself with Megadeth in the background, I rush over to Wal-Mart to get it fixed. The time? 18:07 EST.
OK, walk in the door and notice a bunch of people sitting around with four cars inside. Bad. Noticing that there are only two techs working. Really bad. Noticing the second tech is following the first tech around like a lost puppy...aww #@*&@# it's training night.
Get up to the counter, two hour wait at least. Start wandering around store (electronics, lawn & garden, hardware, GUNS???? (no sorry, can't sell to you if the wait is longer than thirty minutes in Tire & Lube), back to electronics, cell phone guy, and to lube hell. Nope, same four cars are in the same spots and "Junior" is looking really confused that the oil dipstick isn't in the glove compartment.
Wifey shows up, gotta get clothes for the oldest one. Take youngest to do homework and load up on caffeine. Complete that part of the mission and head back to lube hell. 19:45. Nope, car isn't on there. Wander around to find wife, find her in dressing room with daughter and somewhere close to $500 in clothes. Mumble to self that this is going to be the most expensive tire in history. Walk around the store two more times (can't work out tonight, have to get my walking in somehow) and crash back at lube hell.
Wifey comes back, she can't wait around any longer and wants me to pay for everything. Fine, no big deal, have fun. Wait another 30 miuntes. Finally at 20:35, the guy walks in with my keys. Final total?
Tire & Oil Change $61.02
All the other crap $125.76 and 2.5 hours of my life.
Comments
That is pretty cheap considering.
The last repair job I had was nearly ten times that total. Argh!
At least being at Wal-Mart you probably got to do a lot of interesting people watching.
Posted by: James Doney | March 3, 2004 2:17 PM
No, my last big repair was on my Ford Crap-o-Star. After several false starts we finally figured out what the problem was with the steering. In the end...$1,300. Oh and Ford knew of the problem, but since it was techincally cosmetic (turning the wheel sounded like thirteen cats were being skinned), it wouldn't recall the cars.
Posted by: Brian | March 3, 2004 2:23 PM
You know they set it up that way on purpose, don't you? :-)
Posted by: Dean Esmay | March 3, 2004 2:49 PM
It damn well seems like it!!!! (see my 100k post on my Honda).
Honestly, if Detroit wants me to buy their cars, make them as good as Honda does. Hondas are absolutely the best cars to own.
Posted by: Brian | March 3, 2004 2:54 PM