Thursday, August 6, 2009

Treatise On Warranties and Verbal Guarantees

Are you really stopping to read this? What a boring title. Either you are really bored or a devoted follower. Because I am pretty sure I have none of the latter, trust me, there are more exciting things to do with your life than read a treatise.




Oh but who am I to judge, so read on....



(Yeah I lied, I'm not smart enough to write a treatise anyway)


Back when I got suckered convinced to buy my little blue EOS toy along with the sensible Honda Pilot for the kids (what, I never told the story of buying two cars in one day?)

I also got suckered convinced to buy a "scratch and dent" warranty along with it. For a mere $800 I was "guaranteed" 4 years of door ding and annoying scratch coverage - Bent Rims? Not a problem, new rims delivered. Scrape the side backing out of the garage? No worries, it's covered. Someone park a little too close? Yeah we fix that.

Fast forward 20 months. Right rear wheel-well/fender seems to have a "garage" scrape. No I did not do it but she-who-shall-remain-nameless knows who did.... There are a couple door-dings. The rear has a Parking Scrape from someone who got a little too friendly one Saturday night. Time to invest time for a repair.

Gee, what a surprise, the used car dealer where I bought my cars is out of business in this economy. Not to worry, a call to the 800-number on the warranty and they send a repair man to my house. OH yeah, this is good.

OK maybe not so good. Seems my cute little EOS is a whole lot of plastic. Plastic bumpers that wrap from wheel to wheel. And gee, guess what the warranty doesn't cover? If you guessed bumpers give yourself 5 points.

Fortunately, the lovely young man who came to fix my car is capable, customer-service oriented and, apparently, terrified of lawyers. And he's smart. First he fixed 372 scratches and door-dings I didn't realize I had. Magic? I think so. Something about compound and buffers and perhaps some voo-doo. The car was smokin' oh all except for the large scrape on the right rear fender. Helloo can we say verbal guarantee? Promises? Detrimental reliance? Unjust Enrichment? Consumer Protection Act? FTC? Pissed-off hormonal red-head? (hell one of those has to work, right?)

Guess who is coming back Monday with some Factory/Dealer match paint and a few tricks up his sleeve to fix the little - ahem - scuff mark on the fender?

I love a smart and scared subcontractor with a sense of justice....


12 comments:

DF said...

Red head?

ChiTown Girl said...

You rock! Now, if you can get him to do something for my 12 year old Malibu...

Jenn @ Juggling Life said...

I'm just going to copy all the terms in your last paragraph and spout them off at the appropriate time.

Actually, I have a good friend who is a lawyer that always feeds me a little terminology. It's amazing what a difference that can make.

Kalynne Pudner said...

Ha, I love it! Too bad I've never encountered anyone terrified of philosophers.

Kalynne Pudner said...

Oh, and by the WAYYYY...let's talk about verbal guarantees. I thought I was going to be treated to a treatise? (Yeah. You forgot "academic egghead" along with "really bored" and "devoted follower.")

J.G. said...

So much for the terms of that adhesion contract. Way to go!

Feisty Irish Wench said...

For a lawyer, you sure forgot to read the fine print huh? LOL

Perhaps you can give some kudos to the subcontractor and help him drum up more business as a thanks and appreciation for fixing the bumper anyway...even though on paper it was "excluded".

Margo said...

is it illegal to impersonate an attorney? Or can I at least say I know you?

Anonymous said...

I've been known to handle things this way myself a time or two

Gigi said...

Just dropping by via Modern Mom - love your blog!!! And you totally rock when it comes to getting things done - can you come by my house?

Stephanie said...

Hee Hee
I like Jenn's idea. My girlfriend once used her lawyer speak to talk herself out of a speeding ticket. Good to know it works for scratch and dent coverage too!

SabrinaT said...

WOW, right about now I wish you were my neighbor! Maybe then I could get my dishwasher, lights, garbage disposal, and the 500 other things wrong with my house fixed!! I would even take you out on the town for a Chu-Hi afterwards...

Glad you got your car fixed!!!