We've all heard those stories of auto mechanics ripping off women, right? You know, "....and the air in your tires was worn out, so we had to replace it. Oh, and the viscosity of your headlight fluid was waaaaay low, so we fixed that, too, while we were at it."
I for one just laughed when I heard of those stories....I didn't believe them....until it happened to my wife. It was back during one of the Bush Administrations when K took her car in for an oil change. It seems she had never heard of the term "upselling". (Today when you look it up in Webster's Dictionary you'll see the definition and K's picture right beside it.)
SHE: "....and I had my oil changed today. It was fun. I got to sit in this nice room stocked full of vintage magazines, and I got to watch TV, too."
ME: "Well, that's nice, dear."
SHE: "Yes, and it only took about an hour, and costs $248. I paid with the debit card."
ME: "Umm....wait....oil change?....$248? TWO HUNDRED AND FORTY EIGHT AMERICAN DOLLARS?"
SHE: "Uh huh."
ME: "Damn! What kind of oil did they sell you?"
SHE: "I dunno, but the nice man explained it's a very special kind required for Toyota 4-cylinder 'internal combustion' engines. And thank goodness he noticed that my engine was suffocating."
ME: "Umm....suffocating?"
SHE: "It seems there's a filter that cleans the air that goes into the engine. Mine was dusty, and they just happened to have a new one sitting on a shelf in the back, so he installed it for me."
ME: *I should have known better, but I had to ask anyway.* "How much was that?"
SHE: "$49.95"
ME: "DOH!"
And that was the last time she was allowed to visit a mechanic.*
Fast forward to April, 7 2013. K was going to run errands, do a little shopping, and get her car washed. Sounded innocent enough, right?
SHE: (Later that afternoon) "....and I bought these dresses....all on sale! And the car looks great....$44."
ME: "Wait....you paid $44 for a car wash? OMG! They must have seen your picture on the 'Easy Mark' Wall of Shame".
SHE: "But they vacuumed out the inside, too, AND put Armour All on the tires."
ME: "DOH!"
But I love her anyway. ;)
S
*And no, I don't think that was the old "incompetence" trick guys use to get out of vacuuming or doing the laundry.
