TheBanyanTree: Calm Before the Storm

[Theta Brentnall]

At 07:50 AM 1/24/04 -0600, Margaret wrote:

>Like the cardinals, I'm at the feeder fighting.  I want a new job and a car
>that's my own.

When I was young, I refused to do anything that might make people think of 
me as an "hysterical female."  Now that I have some age and, hopefully, 
wisdom, I have discovered the joys of tantrums.  If you still don't get any 
action from the car dealership, consider standing in the middle of the 
showroom and having a good, two-year-old-style screaming fit.  Well, on 
reflection, I don't scream, I just talk VERY LOUDLY, in what my kids called 
my best parade ground command voice.  The one that carries to the far edges 
of a football field.  Best time would be maybe a Saturday, when there are 
lots of shoppers in the show room.

~~I am TIRED of being jerked around by the repair department here.  You 
have had my car now for TWO WEEKS and you haven't done ANYTHING.  I have 
been infinitely patient and you have abused my patience past the breaking 
point.  Do you think I am some helpless, feeble WOMAN you can just 
ignore?  I have had ENOUGH!  I want my car fixed and I want it fixed 
now!  I want you to pick up the tab for the rental car that I've had to pay 
for because of your utter INCOMPETENCE and indifference.  If I'm not in my 
car tomorrow, I'm calling VW headquarters, the local newspaper and tv 
stations, the Better Business Bureau and the State Attorney General's 
office for fraud investigations.  ~~

By this time, the sales manger is running around you like the proverbial 
headless chicken, trying to shush you; the salespeople are trying to herd 
the customers to the lot outside (where they don't want to go - it's 
freezing and the show's inside) and the general manager has been summoned 
to resolve the crisis.  Now, don't let them herd you into a little room 
somewhere - you still want the audience, but you are willing to lower your 
voice.  Very clearly state the issues to the general manager:  you want 
answers and a definitive, unmissable deadline to be driving your car off 
the lot; you want the rental car paid for, and by the way, here's the total 
out of your pocket to date; and since you don't like the rental car, you 
want them to give you a free loaner for the duration of the repair 
time.  You want a daily call from the repair manager, giving you the update 
on the repairs.  And if the unmissable date is missed, you WILL be back to 
discuss what they are going to do for you then.

Good luck with the car and the job search, Margaret!

Theta