Amy, this entry is for you! :-) **wink, wink** Thanks for reminding me!!

Ok, here's the basic rundown...

Over the weekend, Ben had called AAMCO Transmissions and made arrangements for us to take our dually truck down to Charlotte from Asheboro to have the transmission worked on. Ben does all the maintenance on our vehicles, but transmissions are the one thing he doesn't know a lot about. He especially does not know about automatic transmissions.

So we get up at the ass-crack of dawn on Monday morning and Ben drives the truck while I follow him in the Saturn. We drive the hour+ that it takes to get down there. As we pull up to the shop we notice that the gas station in front of the shop has bars on its window. Then we notice that the paint is peeling off the outside walls of the shop building. We pull around to the parking area behind the building and the security fence has been plowed down on one side. Immediately we start having feelings regret. But, we decide to at least meet with the shop manager, Jim who Ben spoke to over the weekend.

The two men talk for about 30 minutes and Jim answers most of Ben's questions. Then they start to discuss the warranty packages. There were two available to us and Jim quoted us a price. Ben decided that he'd think it over and let Jim know which one he'd want when the work is complete and we come back to pick up the truck. Before we leave, Ben asks for the warranty pamphlet that describes in detail about the different options available to us.

As I'm driving and Ben is reading, he comes across a very important sentence that says basically that if a vehicle has been converted from a passenger to a commercial vehicle or if the vehicle is already a commerical vehicle, then NO warranty will be applied. In other words, it will become null & void. Ben begins to panic. He's unsure if his truck is considered a commerical vehicle. We make a few calls and finally call the DMV in Florida. We're told that because his truck weighs over 5000 lbs. that yes, it is considered a commerical vehicle based on the weight. Ben decides to then call the 800 customer service number that Jim showed him in the warranty book. He asks the rep on the other end of the phone what is AAMCO's definition of a commerical vehicle. It is at this crucial moment we first learn that each AAMCO shop is INDIVIDUALLY OWNED AND OPERATED and that the definition of a commercial vehicle is up to the descretion of the owner. In other words, if Jim authorizes the warranty then all is well and good. HOWEVER, if we break down and say have to have work done at an AAMCO shop in Miami, FL they may or may not honor that warranty. Pretty shifty, eh?

So, in a slight state of panic, Ben calls Jim from his cell. He explains to Jim what we have found out. Jim tries to reassure Ben that our warranty will be good anywhere, yada yada yada. Well, you know how that goes. Unless you get it in writing..... etc. Ben tries to explain to Jim that he can't just take him at his word. Ben further gives Jim the example that we were sent to Key West for our JOB and told to go there by our BOSS and we did as instructed and when the voucher got to accounting, they denied the claim and as a result we lost $3000 of our personal money out of pocket. (this issue is still in arbitration for those of you wanting to know) Jim doesn't "get it". He keeps telling Ben to "take him at his word" and "you just have to have faith in me". Well that doesn't fly with us any more.

So after a long discussion as we're driving from Charlotte, NC to Greensboro, NC (Ben had to be to work at noon) we decide that we do not want AAMCO do work on our truck and we'll have to find someone else to fix the transmission. It was an exhausting day driving all those miles only to find out that work done to our truck would not be covered in the warranty.

We decide to stop into Starbucks.

The cashier asks Ben very cheerily, "How are you today?!?" Ben instinctively says, "Good, thanks." I walk up behind and say, "Boy, if that isn't a canned response then I don't know what is!"

Now I've caught the cashier's interest. She wants to know more. Ben and I hurriedly explained what we had just gone through with the truck, AAMCO and the lack of warranty. We are so angry that no one stands behind their work anymore. Jokingly Ben finally says, "So, bartender can ya fix me a strong drink?" The cashier laughs and smiles sympathetically at our plight. She asks us what we want. Ben orders a Venti Soy hot chocolate and I order a Short Soy hot chai latte.

Ben opens his wallet and sifts through his singles and asks how much. The cashier just shakes her head. We don't get it at first. Ben says, "No, really how much is it?" She shakes her head again. "No charge. It's on me." We're dumbfounded. Tears spring to my eyes. I get all sentimental. I say, "Damn! You're making me cry. I'm such a sap. Thank you so much." The cashier teasingly said, "YES! I made a customer cry. I've always wanted to do that." (It was very funny the way she said it.) So we joked about that for a moment and Ben and I took our drinks, tipped the cashier, and walked out with our heads held high, our spirits lifted and our pride intact.

I feel good knowing that there are still a few kind, generous, and down right good people out there!

Thought Of The Day:"Guard well within yourself that treasure, kindness. Know how to give without hesitation, how to lose without regret, how to acquire without meanness."--George Sand (1804 - 1876)

Until next time... peace, love & HEALTH!!!