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1.) DParker - 12/07/2016
Decided to head to one of our favorite little joints across the lake for their "Burger and Beer Tuesdays" night. Long story about how the street is laid out that made this possible, but suffice it to say I was crossing a lane on a one-way street to get to a parking spot when a car I couldn't see came up in the other lane and smacked my front-left wheel and quarter panel.



The body damage shouldn't bet that big of a deal, but I shudder to think what's going on behind that wheel. It's twisted about 10 degrees to the right, while the other one is pointed straight ahead. It's undriveable and still parked in front of the restaurant (and I had a hell of a time getting it to travel the 15 ft required to get it out of the street). Awesome.
2.) bluecat - 12/07/2016
It should buff out.



Glad that you are okay. That's what really matters, although, it probably doesn't feel that way right now.
3.) Swamp Fox - 12/07/2016
Ack! That's no good.

Glad you're okay. Well, I mean physically. Not hurt is what I'm trying to say. :wink

I wonder what the chances are that you wind up compensated for a whole new front end, soup to nuts and bolts?
4.) DParker - 12/07/2016
[QUOTE=bluecat;45902]It should buff out.



Glad that you are okay. That's what really matters, although, it probably doesn't feel that way right now.[/QUOTE]

Thanks. It wasn't enough of a collision to cause any injury....except to my poor 4WD baby. :bang:
5.) DParker - 12/07/2016
[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;45903]I wonder what the chances are that you wind up compensated for a whole new front end, soup to nuts and bolts?[/QUOTE]

I certainly hope not. Flo is gonna' be looking at my current premium hard enough as it is. I'm hopeful that the real damage is confined to just one or more of the suspension/steering components immediately behind the wheel, and doesn't extend to the front drive train at all.
6.) Triton Rich - 12/08/2016
[B]Oh Man that sucks. Stay on them during the repair. Very likely some hidden damage such as a cracked housing on the steering rack (assuming it's rack and pinion in the first place). Maybe there's an accident forgiveness clause in your favor if you haven't had a wreck in a while.[/B]
7.) DParker - 12/08/2016
[QUOTE=Triton Rich;45920][B]Oh Man that sucks. Stay on them during the repair. Very likely some hidden damage such as a cracked housing on the steering rack (assuming it's rack and pinion in the first place). Maybe there's an accident forgiveness clause in your favor if you haven't had a wreck in a while.[/B][/QUOTE]

Yeah, that kind of potential hidden stuff is what has me worried. Good point on the forgiveness clause. I'm off to comb through my policy docs....
8.) DParker - 12/09/2016
My truck was disabled in the accident Tuesday evening at ~7pm local time. I finally got my claims rep to arrange a tow last night, which occurred shortly after 8am this morning...2.5 days after the fact. Have I mentioned how much I hate dealing with insurance companies?

9.) bluecat - 12/09/2016
Did they arrange or does your policy allow you to have a temporary driver until your truck is back up and running? Just curious.
10.) DParker - 12/09/2016
They're handling everything, including the loaner...which I'm standing in line waiting for as I type this.
11.) bluecat - 12/09/2016
Make sure you get something really dope.
12.) Swamp Fox - 12/09/2016
An educated guess says a provision for a rental/loaner is almost always available, at a small extra cost (before the fact, of course). I mean very small, at least in my experience. There may even be one or a few states that mandate such coverage as a part of the base policy.

Two and a half days to tow seems long to me, absent a weather emergency or a deer or zombie attack causing widespread collision damage that overwhelms the tow companies. Or maybe they only tow as fast as the claims people can look at the damage, or their preferred body shop/inspection joint can find rack space.

I've only had to deal with one undriveable vehicle in my career, and my recollection of that is that it all wrapped up pretty chop-chop. I think I was towed within a day, inspected within two (maybe three), and notified I was declared totaled on Day 3, probably, maybe 4. I had a check in my hot little hands soon thereafter.

Good luck with everything.
13.) Swamp Fox - 12/09/2016
[QUOTE=bluecat;45973]Make sure you get something really dope.[/QUOTE]



With something like this, he probably wouldn't have even had the accident in the first place...:wink


">
14.) bluecat - 12/09/2016
That looks sweet! LOL!
15.) bluecat - 12/09/2016


I was thinking more of something like this.
16.) bluecat - 12/09/2016


It's just you and the open road.
17.) bluecat - 12/09/2016
btw, 'tassles' is not an appropriate search engine word unless you are at home and alone.
18.) bluecat - 12/09/2016


LOL!
19.) bluecat - 12/09/2016
You might not be hunting but you will be cruisin'.
20.) Swamp Fox - 12/09/2016
[QUOTE=bluecat;45979]btw, 'tassles' is not an appropriate search engine word unless you are at home and alone.[/QUOTE]


LOL...If I think of the term I searched the other day for some thread on here and got a surprise, I'll warn everyone.

I'm pretty sure it wasn't "flounder pics" or "double-barreled," but I forgot to bookmark it, so we may never know...LOL.
21.) DParker - 12/09/2016
[QUOTE=bluecat;45973]Make sure you get something really dope.[/QUOTE]

My wife says I [i]am[/i] something really dope. Or was it that I'm really something of a dope? Eh, whatever.

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;45974]An educated guess says a provision for a rental/loaner is almost always available, at a small extra cost (before the fact, of course).[/QUOTE]

Yeah, that's a part of my policy (as well as roadside assistance).

They gave me a Dodge Ram 1500. A bit more truck than I'm used to, but a nice ride. That is, once I figured out how to get it out of park. It's one o' them newfangled electronic shift dealios where you turn a knob to select park, neutral or drive. Goofy. Get off my lawn.
22.) Swamp Fox - 12/09/2016
LOL...They've probably found a way to make the cupholders difficult in the name of technology as well.

Am I right?

:-)
23.) DParker - 12/10/2016
[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;45985]LOL...They've probably found a way to make the cupholders difficult in the name of technology as well.

Am I right?

:-)[/QUOTE]

No, but there are 3 of them in the center console. Take *that*, Japan!
24.) Swamp Fox - 12/12/2016
LOL...


There's still time for Obama to apologize for all that...
25.) DParker - 12/12/2016
I didn't drive the loaner at all over the weekend, and when I picked it up Friday afternoon it was already running. So when I got in it to drive it work this morning it was my first time starting the engine...and I was as stumped then as I was when I had to find the transmission dial to get it out of "Park". I didn't really pay close attention when I got it home and turned it off, just turning whatever was in the ignition switch, pulling out and going into the house. There are a couple of funky little keys on the chain, and two identical fobs w/the usual lock/unlock and panic alarm buttons. I tried putting the keys into the ignition switch, but couldn't get it to do anything...though the appearance of it and the fob should have told me that wasn't the way to go...



(Stock photo from the web, I didn't actually rip the ignition switch out of the dash...though I wanted to).

It turns out that you actually insert the narrow end of the fob into the switch and turn, and the funny little keys are backups in case the fob battery dies...and they only work in some alternate switch under the dashboard somewhere.

So there's your example of over-engineering to fix something that wasn't broken...and the fact that I'm now officially too old to figure out how a damned motor vehicle works.
26.) Swamp Fox - 12/12/2016
LOL...

No one expects the Spanish Inquisition, and no one expects anyone other than me to own a vehicle long enough for the ignition mechanism to wear out or the shifter to break inside the steering column. (Both have happened to me, at least once, LOL). I'd love to know the thinking underlying Dodge's current designs. Sounds like it's the kid that can't lift his grandpappy's sledgehammer behind all this.







Pro tip: whenever I rent a vehicle (now), I always ask where they hid the release to the fueling latch and how to turn the lights on and off. :tap: Saves a lot of aggravation, embarrassment and self-esteem.
27.) DParker - 12/12/2016
[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;45998]LOL...

No one expects the Spanish Inquisition, and no one expects anyone other than me to own a vehicle long enough for the ignition mechanism to wear out or the shifter to break inside the steering column. (Both have happened to me, at least once, LOL).[/quote]

In 40 years of driving I've never once had either of those things break or otherwise malfunction...and I've owned more than one POS (Pile of Surprises) in my day. This strikes me as a fix for something that wasn't broken.

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;45998]I'd love to know the thinking underlying Dodge's current designs. Sounds like it's the kid that can't lift his grandpappy's sledgehammer behind all this.[/quote]

Pajama boy's engineering major boyfriend has an ass-kicking coming. But the young guy in the office next to mine tells me that this is one of the fruits of Chrysler's time as a Daimler company, as Mercedes Benz has been using this exact same design for several years now. Apparently it really wasn't over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor.

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;45998]Pro tip: whenever I rent a vehicle (now), I always ask where they hid the release to the fueling latch and how to turn the lights on and off. :tap: Saves a lot of aggravation, embarrassment and self-esteem.[/QUOTE]

Bah. I'll bet you also pull over and ask directions when you're hopelessly lost. 2 point Man Card deduction.
28.) Swamp Fox - 12/12/2016
[QUOTE=DParker;45999] But the young guy in the office next to mine tells me that this is one of the fruits of Chrysler's time as a Daimler company, as Mercedes Benz has been using this exact same design for several years now. Apparently it really wasn't over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor.



Bah. I'll bet you also pull over and ask directions when you're hopelessly lost. 2 point Man Card deduction.[/QUOTE]


It's the Panzerkorps' revenge for the Blitz...LOL


"I do too know which end the bullets come out of, but just remind me..."





British Daimler
29.) DParker - 12/13/2016
I just got my repair estimate: $3,732 and change. About $1K of that is suspension and steering components, with the rest being labor and body work parts/paint. Ouch. Yeah, my deductible is only $499, but I think Flo is gonna' give me a spanking (add your own off-color jokes here) at policy renewal time.



Well, at least there were no drive train problems found.
30.) Swamp Fox - 12/13/2016
[QUOTE=DParker;46004]Well, at least there were no drive train problems found.[/QUOTE]



Well, at least they still make parts for it...LOL






Glad to hear it's supposedly not worse. (I'm too lazy to go looking for that cross-out code from a few months ago, LOL).
31.) Swamp Fox - 12/13/2016
c̶r̶o̶s̶s̶-̶o̶u̶t̶ ̶t̶e̶x̶t̶


Found a generator on the webnet to do that this morning. Pretty cool. I bet the code is somewhere in the Current Events thread. But I figure somebody who can put up a page using this as an example of his handiwork deserves a shout-out:


[B][I]Y̶ᴇ̶s̶ᴛ̶ᴇ̶ʀ̶ᴅ̶ᴀ̶ʏ̶ ̶I̶ ̶ᴡ̶ᴇ̶ɴ̶ᴛ̶ ̶ᴛ̶ʜ̶ʀ̶ᴏ̶ᴜ̶ɢ̶ʜ̶ ̶ᴀ̶ ̶ᴄ̶ᴏ̶s̶ᴛ̶ʟ̶ʏ̶ ̶ᴀ̶ɴ̶ᴅ̶ ̶ᴘ̶ᴀ̶ɪ̶ɴ̶ғ̶ᴜ̶ʟ̶ ̶ᴘ̶ʀ̶ᴏ̶ᴄ̶ᴇ̶ᴅ̶ᴜ̶ʀ̶ᴇ̶ ̶ᴛ̶ʜ̶ᴀ̶ᴛ̶ ̶ʀ̶ᴇ̶ǫ̶ᴜ̶ɪ̶ʀ̶ᴇ̶ᴅ̶ ̶ᴍ̶ᴇ̶ ̶ᴛ̶ᴏ̶ ̶ʜ̶ᴀ̶ᴠ̶ᴇ̶ ̶ᴍ̶ʏ̶ ̶s̶ᴘ̶ɪ̶ɴ̶ᴇ̶ ̶ᴀ̶ɴ̶ᴅ̶ ̶ʙ̶ᴏ̶ᴛ̶ʜ̶ ̶ᴛ̶ᴇ̶s̶ᴛ̶ɪ̶ᴄ̶ʟ̶ᴇ̶s̶ ̶ʀ̶ᴇ̶ᴍ̶ᴏ̶ᴠ̶ᴇ̶ᴅ̶.̶ ̶ Sᴛɪʟʟ, I ɢᴏᴛ sᴏᴍᴇ ғᴀɴᴛᴀsᴛɪᴄ ᴡᴇᴅᴅɪɴɢ ᴘʀᴇsᴇɴᴛs. ツ



:-)


Here it is:

[url]http://fsymbols.com/generators/strikethrough/[/url]


[/I][/B]
32.) bluecat - 12/13/2016
Put the generators down Swampy. Go feed the cats. I think Mr. bluecat is extra hungry. I can hear him from here.
33.) DParker - 02/08/2017
I had to drop my truck off with the insurance company last week...again...because the body shop that did the repairs screwed up several things. They shorted a wire in the driver's door and blew whichever fuse the power mirrors were on (not listed in the owner's manual, so I couldn't find it), and the plastic panel that holds the power window controls was put back incorrectly after they reassembled the door panel, so it stuck out about a quarter inch from being flush. But worst of all they screwed up the front end alignment (or didn't align it at all). It rode like crap, wobbled during turns and the steering wheel wanted to jerk out of my hands with every little bump/pothole in the road. They tried to deny it until, after 3 weeks of driving I returned to the service center and showed them that both front tires had been worn bald on the outside edges. They hemmed and hawed on that too until I reminded them that pictures had been taken of both tires/wheels when it was dropped off the first time.

So...I get a call from the guy at the shop who's job it is to order parts. He knows nothing about nothing, but tells me that they've fixed everything, and are going to replace both tires. Unfortunately the B.F. Goodriches I had have been discontinued, and they (Goodrich) don't even make a comparable tire anymore in terms of tread pattern. The good news is that Discount Tire has replacements from two other manufacturers that are comparable, and he needs to know which one I want. He says, in a thick Bubba-from-the-backwoods drawl...

"One is a Cooper, and the other is a Ya...Yak...Yaka...Yaka[i]homo[/i]?"

I'm fairly certain he meant "Yokohama"...but I opted for the Coopers, just to be on the safe side.
34.) bluecat - 02/08/2017
Damn, what a hassle. Sorry you've been through the ringer.
35.) bluecat - 02/08/2017
Just so he didn't say you had a pretty mouth.
36.) DParker - 02/08/2017
I just thought it was funny. You had to hear him struggle to (almost) get the word out to really appreciate it, and it was all I could do to keep from giggling like a school girl when I told him I'd take the Coopers.
37.) Swamp Fox - 02/08/2017
You were doing the rimshot in your head, I guarantee it. :-)

I had a 1996 sedan and got some work done at a good bodyshop--I know the guys who run it, though I don't think it was either of them that did the actual work--and after that the alarm would go off whenever you opened the driver's side door after it had been locked from that side. To avoid the problem, if I remember correctly, you had to lock from the passenger side, or open from the passenger side and unlock the driver's side from there, or possibly a combination of all or some of those.

It resulted from the attempt to fix a door dent, I think, although it could have been a broken electric mirror repair. I brought it back one time but they couldn't find the issue, as I recall, and as I was trying to get rid of the car anyway, that was as much hassle as I could stand. As far as I know the car still has the same problem, because I know for a fact it's still on the road.
38.) Triton Rich - 02/09/2017
[B]It sure does seem to me like it's more and more difficult to get anything done right the first time. It sure sounds like if they had made even the slightest effort to road test your truck, they should have noticed the problem and fixed the darned thing. I hope they get it this time.[/B]
39.) DParker - 02/09/2017
[QUOTE=Triton Rich;47043][B]It sure does seem to me like it's more and more difficult to get anything done right the first time. It sure sounds like if they had made even the slightest effort to road test your truck, they should have noticed the problem and fixed the darned thing. I hope they get it this time.[/B][/QUOTE]

It seems to be right now. The funny thing is that the repair shop is 14 miles from the insurance co. service center where I picked it up, meaning someone had to have driven it at least that far.
40.) Swamp Fox - 02/09/2017
[QUOTE=Triton Rich;47043][B]It sure does seem to me like it's more and more difficult to get anything done right the first time. It sure sounds like if they had made even the slightest effort to road test your truck, they should have noticed the problem and fixed the darned thing. I hope they get it this time.[/B][/QUOTE]

[COLOR="#FF0000"][I]Editor's Note: Bonus excellent editing and new content added 12:52 PM[/I][/COLOR]


Customer service is something I pay a lot of attention to. I started to notice a decline even at historically superior companies somewhere around 2005, give or take. Of course, they lagged the companies that had slipped already or which were never very good. It's only gotten worse in a bad economy and equally bad business environment.

Automation has a lot to do with it: When your first contact is with a machine rather than a live person, you know you are likely in trouble. It's not that automated customer service can't be done right, at least up to a certain level. It's that so few bother to try.

But more to the point: people. It's harder to find someone competent to do ANYTHING these days, I think. Lack of follow-up, "bring it back if it happens again" etc., etc. I could write a book.

In fact, I'm about THIS CLOSE to attempting a social media rant about DirecTV/AT&T customer/tech "support," for instance. My dream is that it goes viral and Donald Trump picks it up, LOL.

I don't really know where this customer service fail comes from, except that 1) not everyone is good at what they do to begin with, yet they get hired and stay on these days, and 2) few companies seem to promote a culture of excellent customer service the way I know some used to.

You could say a lot of the same things about other fields, too. Too many lawyers leads to too many bad lawyers and too many bad laws and regulations, which leads to more work for lawyers, which leads to more pinheads and sharks applying to law school. Talk about a death spiral, LOL.

(Little-known fact: When we had a scarcity of lawyers, most of them were excellent.)

:re:....LOL


I think journalism suffers greatly from this problem, too. Too many people churning out "content" for the increasingly-hungry "information superhighway" (random-ideas-and-unsupported-speculation-without-editorial-checks-and-balances pothole-ridden cul-de-sac?) means a lot of people with big megaphones who don't know what they're talking about, spouting nonsense that they can't back up or defend. Chicken or egg? Egg or chicken?

If I can think of the second of two journalism fails I noticed yesterday, I'll post them. One involved one of the honchos on the editorial board of [I]USA Today[/I] and the other the author and the headline writer of some factually incorrect political reporting I'm blanking on right now.

Unfortunately, the story I can't remember is the more egregious, and the fact that journalism fails are now such an ordinary occurrence that this one didn't leave an indelible impression on me shows you how far we've fallen.

I often wonder how some people even have jobs, many of which are high-paying.

(Bonus little-known fact: I'm working on a Silly Putty joke to fit into all this, but it's not coming to me just yet.)

:wave: