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Someone left a comment on a story here saying that this site is "random". I'd never thought about it before, but she was right. It is kinda random I guess. There is no real theme, but then it's just a personal blog, it's not intended to solve the worlds problems or sell heaps of widgets.
Speaking of problems, I had a few car related ones this week. The most embarrassing was when I parked my car in the valet parking section of the Market Place car park in town and then locked the doors. You are supposed to leave it unlocked with the keys in it so that they can shuffle the cars around as people start to leave. I've been getting over the flu so I'll blame that on the sudden attack of brain fade. Ali's son was a bit grumpy with me because they couldn't get into it. I asked if the other cars around were able to get out and he said "Yeah, we lifted yours with a forklift". I hoped that he was joking and rushed to level 8 to find my car out in the middle of the bit where cars are meant to drive with cars going either side of it to get out. I got some filthy looks!
The other problem made me angry, and it takes a lot to make me angry these days. I disconnected the battery leads in my Mitsubishi Verada the other day to clean up the terminals as they were getting a bit gunky. I forgot that this would make the stereo think that it had been stolen and go into "I'm not turning on for you thief until you prove you are the real owner by putting in a four digit PIN" mode. Unfortunately I wasn't given any documentation with the PIN on it when I bought the car. No worries I thought, just ring the friendly Mitsubishi dealer (DJ Motors - the same ones that rip you off by charging heaps to program your remote when it takes you 5 seconds to do it yourself once you know how), and guess what? They really were friendly and helpful. "No problem" the guy said, "just bring it in to the service centre and we will give you the PIN". Couldn't be easier! In I went, but unfortunately the friendly guy on the phone had been replaced with the wicked witch at reception. The first question she asked was "So do you get the car serviced with us?". "No" I replied. "Well we will have to charge you $25 dollars and you will have to wait for a technician to become free". I wasn't very happy with this blackmail concept, so I politely asked why it mattered where I had my car serviced given that I had no choice but to come to a Mitsubishi dealer for the PIN. The witch said again that they would do it for free if I agreed to have my car serviced with them in the future. I explained that I had already bought a Mitsubishi car and that this must surely be enough to expect some Mitsubishi service, but no, apparently that counts for nothing, the important thing is the on going servicing of the car. The witch called over a big guy who said (and I quote his exact words here) "If you aren't a customer of ours then you have to pay the $25. If you don't want to pay then you can leave". I spat at this point and took his advice, jumping in my car and attempting to leave. A few minutes later I realised why the big guy looked so happy as I drove off. There is a bloody boom gate at the exit and you need a card to get out. He obviously knew that and had set me up. I then had to park my car and walk about 400 metres back to the service department. The witch realised what had happened and couldn't have been nicer. She leapt out of her chair to give me a card, but big guy was no where to be seen. I bet he was out the back laughing his head off with his mates. Welcome to Mitsubishi service! My next step is to write to Mitsubishi Head Office and point out the way that their customers (the ones who buy their cars) are treated by their dealers (well at least by DJ Motors). I'll let you know how it goes.
I'm still waiting for a reply from the people who sent me that funny email about their Dad on his bike. Perhaps they won't. That would be sad!
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