Have you ever been driving down the highway and seen someone on the side of the road, in the poring rain, wearing a suit, changing a flat tire…and thought, “Sucks to be him?” Well let me tell you about my day.
On my last business trip, everything went wrong. My broker had a family emergency and could only make the first day’s appointments, meaning I would have to do the next two days on my own. That was not a problem. I do this often so I don’t really need someone to hold my hand, but I had to shuffle hotel reservations and I didn’t have all of the files I would have had if I knew I was on my own. None of this bothered me though, I adapt. It just meant I would spend some more time on the cell, as I drove by myself.
So there I was about an hour into a 3 or 4 hour drive constantly on the phone trying to re-organize my schedule when a torrential downpour breaks out. So I hang up to concentrate on the road, not to mention my cell was about dead anyway, when it happened. THUMP! REEEECK! It’s got to be a flat. So I get to the side of the road and step out to take a look when I notice, “Wow, It really is coming down.” One wheel is completely shredded and the other doesn’t look to happy either. Not a problem, this is a rental car, I’ll just call them.
So starts about the most infuriating call I’ve ever had. I mean, you would think this had never happened to anyone driving an Avis car before. I was very succinct and full of information,
ME: “I’m Southbound on I-75 about ½ mile from exit 423 about 10 min. from Lake City and I have one possibly two flat tires.”
AVIS IDIOT: “What?”
ME: “I’m Southbound on I-75 about ½ mile from exit 423 about 10 min. from Lake City and I have one possibly two flat tires.”
AVIS IDIOT: “What City is that near?”
ME: “I’m sorry is the connection bad”
AVIS IDIOT: “No I can hear you fine”
ME: “I’m about 10 min South of Lake City”
AVIS IDIOT: “What City is that near?”
ME: “Look my cell is about to die, I’m maybe 40 min. North of Gainesville.”
AVIS IDIOT: “Oh, Gainesville. And what is wrong with the car?”
ME: “I said I have one, maybe two flat tires, my cell phone is dieing and it is raining.”
AVIS IDIOT: “That’s right, you did say a flat. Can you tell me what exit you are near.”
ME: “Could you get a pen or something…I have very little time left on my cell. As I said, I am about ½ mile from exit 423.”
AVIS IDIOT: “Hang on…4…23??”
ME: “Yes”
AVIS IDIOT: “I’m going to put you on hold”
ME: “No I can’t…my cell is about to die. Take down my number and call me back.” Then I give her my number
AVIS IDIOT: “Hang on….let me get some paper….OK….what was that again.”
ME: “ARRRRRGH!”
So I hang up and think I got two choices fix it myself or call AAA. I look at the rain. I look at the cars passing within inches of me at 90 mph. I call AAA. As soon as I get through and start to give them my card #, my cell dies (of course). So I get out of the car and open the trunk…then take another look at the cars speeding by. Now, I like to think I’m a bit of a handy guy. I’m no wuss. I can change a tire. But, It’s only ½ mile to the exit, and I’m a runner.
So I change into my running shoes (a suit with running shoes is a good look), grab my cell charger (my car charger had a short in it…I originally thought the plug in the rental car didn’t work. Of course that made me that much happier at Avis) and sprint through the rain to the nearest gas station. The looks I got at the gas station were priceless, but finally, I charge my phone and call AAA (who by the way, were great). By the time I make it back to may car AAA’s truck is there. In 20 min. I’m on my way again and and I get a call from Avis suggesting I call AAA…I hang up on them.
Anyway, what did I learned from all this? A AAA membership is invaluable, Avis Roadside assistance sucks and I can make pretty good time running in a suit.
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