Mom to the rescue. My son was in a bind and grandma was going to lend him some money(I don't get paid till next week and we just made a nice down payment on our dentist's granddaughter's college fund). Only problem was that gramma and son are 50 miles apart! "Mommy!!!!!"
So, I go to my mom's and pick up her check. I figure, since her bank is in town, it'd be easier for me to get the check cashed there and head up to my son's...stupid idea. See, my mother banks at Harris. The last time I got a check cashed for her, I had to show ID, go inside instead of a drive thru. I do this. I get to the teller(her name just happened to be Kim also) and she tells me flippantly that there will be a $5 charge since I'm not a customer of the bank. But I am a customer of the bank, I'm cashing a check for my mother who is in a wheelchair. Its not made out to her, so its not for her--it will be a $5 charge and she points to a card with the title of changes to our System or something like that...the title was nice and large, maybe 24-30 pt font...the rules and changes were in 8pt font! She then says in a demeaning manner, "This has been policy for over a year!" I say, I usually use the ATM for my mother, how would I know? Nothing was sent to her....then dipstick states, "Well, of course not, she's a customer! You can take it to your bank and you won't be charged anything, probably..." My bank is in the other direction of where I'm going, I can't go to my bank without wasting time and gas so that's not a solution. So I say "OK" hand her my ID and check and ..... she says, "you need two ID's, not one" now, I'm fuming...I go back to my car and get another ID.
I return and she's still the only teller available....I flip the 2 ID's at her(slid on the counter--it!s fine for her to flip her hand towards me) and she says, "you don't have to throw things at me", I respond, "I didn't, and I could do worse". She calls her supervisor over and says that I threatened her and that I should not be waited on. I laugh, stating you're the one that's over reacting, I flipped the ID's and responded to your inane comment.
She is told to complete the process....I ask for a receipt for the $5 charge(yes, now I'm being belligerant, correct, but pushing it). She says we don't give receipts...its just a charge. I look at her and state, anytime I'm charged something, I am legally entitled to a receipt, unless, of course, its illegal or unethical. I want a receipt for my mother. Again, she tells her supervisor who comes over and asks what the problem is. I want a receipt for the $5 charge--this is my mother's money, I'm cashing a check for her and I need to bring her a receipt for her money. "Most people don't ask for receipts" I'm not most people and, probably, most people aren't doing business for their 80 year old mother who's in a wheelchair! I get my receipt.
I wouldn't have gotten so aggravated if I had received a bit more customer service--to be told that since I wasn't a customer(which I was...I wasn't a member) so too bad was ridiculous. To not have this information somewhere large enough to read without going to the teller is not a way to gain customers. I could understand a charge for large checks, but the bank charged me more to cash a check written on one of their accounts more money than if I'd gone to a currency exchange--there's something wrong with that!
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Replacing My Vehicle...a Task of Monumental Proportion!
I'm at the point of my car life that I must begin searching and researching for a new car. Now, I understand that I'm one of those unique individuals that don't go for "smooth" and "powerful". I like "funky"--I want to be able to go to the parking lot and find my car easily--because it doesn't look like 85% of the cars in that parking lot! I like being noticed for my eclesticity.
So, what, besides "funky looking" do I want in a vehicle? Well, safety is always something that's good to have. I also need room--I have the dogs, the grandkids, the husband(I sometimes let him in the car), the Costco run. And last, but most certainly not least, TUNES.
I will be retiring my Aztek--I have a 2001 which through the last 8 years has been my lifesaver...and a money drain, at times. I've been able to move almost anything, all 3 dogs, enough supplies to replumb a cottage in Michigan(husband had to refit the plumbing in the cottage), 3 grandkids, 2 kids--you name it, I can haul it! I get good gas mileage(21-27 mpg, using CA-40) and I've got a load of upgrades(sun roof, heads up display, 10 speaker surround sound system w/6 CD system, just to name a few...yes, I was spoiled.
On the other hand, I also replaced the gaskets, the heads, the condenser, the BOC or BCM(part of the computer), wheel bearings, transmission, wiring harness. Some of this I paid for, some of it Pontiac, but I did feel as I had the hypochondriac vehicle after 36K miles and before 50K...it seemed to run smoothly then until about 130K miles and then another round(I had a rebuilt transmission and wheel bearings since 130K). She's now about 160K miles and its time to replace...the maintenance is more than a car payment is at this time...so what to buy that won't break my "bank"? I also would like an american car...if the price and gas mileage work out.
So...start pricing....Ford, Chrysler, Toyota, Honda--OUT. Nothing in my price range and/or body style. Suburu gone....Saturn gone....VW buhbye....Hyundai has vehicles in my price range, but nothing that stands out; plus I owned a Hyundai in the past and was not impressed!
I narrow it down to 4:
Chevrolet HHR
Kia Soul
Nissan Cube
Scion xB
Look, I said I liked funky and ecclectic!
So, I start going to dealerships. I stopped at Nissan first. They had one Cube and I sat in it--great head room, neat feature for the back seat--the back seat can be adjusted just like the front seats, allowing extra leg room when you need it! Two drawbacks, not alot of cargo space unless you have the back seat down and the back door swings out, not up. But the feel is nice and I could probably get by with it.
Second, I go to the Kia dealership. They have a Soul available, again a lot of head room and a bit bigger than the Cube, but the driver's seat is cheap---feels like all foam rubber or something...and the sales person was a real jerk! I explained to him that I was still only in the research phase, was comparing 4 makes, told them what they were and then he started bad mouthing the other cars along with doing a hard sell on what it would take to get me into the car on that day...on the HHR, his words were "well that's gone anyway and its an ugly car"...first I remind him that I'm looking at the SOUL, not cookie cutters and then say that I do believe GM will come back and that I'm a union member and try to buy union made....he says, "That's your problem". I then say, "No, that's yours" and walk off the lot. Guess what car I won't be buying?
The next car I look at is the Scion xB--used to be known as "the toaster"...Scion has restyled for last year and it has less of a box look. Again, great gas mileage, and completely tricked out, its still under $25,000. With what I want in it, I'm still right at $19-20K. I take it for a test drive--it handles nicely, they've upgraded the engine during the restyle, but it still gets around 30 mpg. Right now, they are offering $300 off list on the 09's to try to get them off the lot before the '10's show up.
I still have to look at the HHR. I have friends that have them and they love them, both of them report higher gas mileage than what is rated(37 mpg on highway!). Also, at this time GM is offering some incentives: $1000 just for buying and another $1500 loyalty bonus. I'm waiting to see if I'll be able to claim the $4500 for "cash for clunkers" the government might be offering. Although I get better gas mileage than the ratings, the average for Azteks is 19 mpg--the bill is looking at 18mpg as the cut off for the credit, but since my tek is 9 years old, it may still qualify.
Just receiving the $2500 tho brings the HHR, with options, to under $20K, again, in my price range....well, wish me luck on my vehicle adventures!
So, what, besides "funky looking" do I want in a vehicle? Well, safety is always something that's good to have. I also need room--I have the dogs, the grandkids, the husband(I sometimes let him in the car), the Costco run. And last, but most certainly not least, TUNES.
I will be retiring my Aztek--I have a 2001 which through the last 8 years has been my lifesaver...and a money drain, at times. I've been able to move almost anything, all 3 dogs, enough supplies to replumb a cottage in Michigan(husband had to refit the plumbing in the cottage), 3 grandkids, 2 kids--you name it, I can haul it! I get good gas mileage(21-27 mpg, using CA-40) and I've got a load of upgrades(sun roof, heads up display, 10 speaker surround sound system w/6 CD system, just to name a few...yes, I was spoiled.
On the other hand, I also replaced the gaskets, the heads, the condenser, the BOC or BCM(part of the computer), wheel bearings, transmission, wiring harness. Some of this I paid for, some of it Pontiac, but I did feel as I had the hypochondriac vehicle after 36K miles and before 50K...it seemed to run smoothly then until about 130K miles and then another round(I had a rebuilt transmission and wheel bearings since 130K). She's now about 160K miles and its time to replace...the maintenance is more than a car payment is at this time...so what to buy that won't break my "bank"? I also would like an american car...if the price and gas mileage work out.
So...start pricing....Ford, Chrysler, Toyota, Honda--OUT. Nothing in my price range and/or body style. Suburu gone....Saturn gone....VW buhbye....Hyundai has vehicles in my price range, but nothing that stands out; plus I owned a Hyundai in the past and was not impressed!
I narrow it down to 4:
Look, I said I liked funky and ecclectic!
So, I start going to dealerships. I stopped at Nissan first. They had one Cube and I sat in it--great head room, neat feature for the back seat--the back seat can be adjusted just like the front seats, allowing extra leg room when you need it! Two drawbacks, not alot of cargo space unless you have the back seat down and the back door swings out, not up. But the feel is nice and I could probably get by with it.
Second, I go to the Kia dealership. They have a Soul available, again a lot of head room and a bit bigger than the Cube, but the driver's seat is cheap---feels like all foam rubber or something...and the sales person was a real jerk! I explained to him that I was still only in the research phase, was comparing 4 makes, told them what they were and then he started bad mouthing the other cars along with doing a hard sell on what it would take to get me into the car on that day...on the HHR, his words were "well that's gone anyway and its an ugly car"...first I remind him that I'm looking at the SOUL, not cookie cutters and then say that I do believe GM will come back and that I'm a union member and try to buy union made....he says, "That's your problem". I then say, "No, that's yours" and walk off the lot. Guess what car I won't be buying?
The next car I look at is the Scion xB--used to be known as "the toaster"...Scion has restyled for last year and it has less of a box look. Again, great gas mileage, and completely tricked out, its still under $25,000. With what I want in it, I'm still right at $19-20K. I take it for a test drive--it handles nicely, they've upgraded the engine during the restyle, but it still gets around 30 mpg. Right now, they are offering $300 off list on the 09's to try to get them off the lot before the '10's show up.
I still have to look at the HHR. I have friends that have them and they love them, both of them report higher gas mileage than what is rated(37 mpg on highway!). Also, at this time GM is offering some incentives: $1000 just for buying and another $1500 loyalty bonus. I'm waiting to see if I'll be able to claim the $4500 for "cash for clunkers" the government might be offering. Although I get better gas mileage than the ratings, the average for Azteks is 19 mpg--the bill is looking at 18mpg as the cut off for the credit, but since my tek is 9 years old, it may still qualify.
Just receiving the $2500 tho brings the HHR, with options, to under $20K, again, in my price range....well, wish me luck on my vehicle adventures!
Since we own part of GM, does that mean I get an Employee Discount??
The financial news of the week is the GM bankruptcy. For what its worth, I am willing to loan the money to GM to save the middle class jobs at stake--although I have no problem if have the upper management lose their jobs....go work at mall wart.
What is very sad is that the workers and smaller businesses have taken some real hits due to what some suits decided to design and manufacture. What is also sad is that too many Americans believe the lies that its because of THE EVIL UNION instead of bad business practices, even tho labor costs are under 10% per automobile.
Look how long the auto companies and oil companies have been able to get deferrments on CAFE standards--much less than Europe. Look at what and how advertising plays into this--count those ads for the Hummer, Large SUV's and compare those with your basic sedans or small cars.
But to look at it with some more information, all 1st world countries, except the United States, offer some type of national health care for the people. This means two things: first, the auto companies are free from having to offer health insurance as a benefit/requirement of employment and second, the health care rates much better than ours -- per the WHO we rate #37 out of 40 "first world countries" in health care, although we are still #1 in expense. Even more so, the top ten countries are all single payer--one less expense on the business and less money being paid by everyone, including the government for health care.
But the companies have to start manufacturing cars we want and can afford. I'm in the beginning research to replace my 2001 Pontiac Aztek---QUIT LAUGHING AT MY CAR--I'll bet my gas mileage to any other vehicle in the same class(I get anywhere from 24-27 mpg, depending on how heavy my foot is). But....its time, I don't want a cookie cutter car, I need a larger vehichle to tote around my brood, but due to cost, I've only got one US car--the Chevy HHR in the line up.
We need to remember how to manufacture well and safely....and I know we can do it, it just may take some time.
What is very sad is that the workers and smaller businesses have taken some real hits due to what some suits decided to design and manufacture. What is also sad is that too many Americans believe the lies that its because of THE EVIL UNION instead of bad business practices, even tho labor costs are under 10% per automobile.
Look how long the auto companies and oil companies have been able to get deferrments on CAFE standards--much less than Europe. Look at what and how advertising plays into this--count those ads for the Hummer, Large SUV's and compare those with your basic sedans or small cars.
But to look at it with some more information, all 1st world countries, except the United States, offer some type of national health care for the people. This means two things: first, the auto companies are free from having to offer health insurance as a benefit/requirement of employment and second, the health care rates much better than ours -- per the WHO we rate #37 out of 40 "first world countries" in health care, although we are still #1 in expense. Even more so, the top ten countries are all single payer--one less expense on the business and less money being paid by everyone, including the government for health care.
But the companies have to start manufacturing cars we want and can afford. I'm in the beginning research to replace my 2001 Pontiac Aztek---QUIT LAUGHING AT MY CAR--I'll bet my gas mileage to any other vehicle in the same class(I get anywhere from 24-27 mpg, depending on how heavy my foot is). But....its time, I don't want a cookie cutter car, I need a larger vehichle to tote around my brood, but due to cost, I've only got one US car--the Chevy HHR in the line up.
We need to remember how to manufacture well and safely....and I know we can do it, it just may take some time.
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