The following podcast touches home because we have all been there. The auto mechanic makes his pitch and we usually do not know enough about auto mechanics, so we don't know whether to believe him or disbelieve him.
Podcast-It's like watching a video with your eyes closed!
Give a listen:
You know you can never have too much headlight fluid on hand. You just run of out of that stuff so quickly.
The following is a transcript of the radio skit for those who like to read along:
A: Hi, is Michelle Depalma there please?
MD: this is her
MD: Hello?
A: Hi, is Michelle Depalma there please?
MD: this is her
A: Hi, Michelle, Alan here from Midas auto care.
MD: Hi, Alan
A: Hi, uh, looking at your car, you brought it in for an alignment and a tune up.
MD: Yes I did.
A: yeah, we found a few more problems here, just preventive maintenence, just wanna run 'em by you see what you think.
MD: okay.
A: Just making sure you want these done. First of all the headlights: the headlight fluid is a little low, we're gonna need to top that off
MD: Alright.
A: and it'll probably be, it depends: do you want the halogen fluid or the regular fluid.
MD: Umm....well how much do they run?
A: well, it's about 10 bucks or 30 bucks...it's a question of quality really; I really wouldn't skip out, I'd go with the halogen.
MD: the halogen is better?
A: yeah.
MD: okay...and you said that was a bout $30
A: yeah. each headlight.
MD: each headlight? so...$60.
A: yeah.
MD: okay, we can go ahead and do that.
A: okay, I'll mark that off, good call, Michelle. Okay, Tires...I don't even know how this happened, this is weird. Somehow the left tires got on the right and the right tires got on the left, so you want us to switch those back around for you?
MD: Um, yeah, is that dangerous?
A: oh yeah. I mean, be thankful the front weren't on the back and the back on the front. That could cause a real headache.
MD: Oh gosh!
A: well, sometimes the servicemen get confused if you've had it in for service recently.
MD Well how much is that gonna cost?
A: That's gonna be about $50 per tire
MD: Per tire?
A: But we don't need to do the spare, that we can leave alone.
MD: yeah, we don't need to do the spare...so $100?
A: Yeah $200.
MD: Oh $200
A: yeah, $50 a tire and you'll be thankful. Imagine you're going down Southfield and whammo you hit a pothole? big problems. yeah
MD: okay, alright we can do that
A: And the biggest problem here, uh, my guy checked it out, I don't know, last time you were in for service, how long do you think it's been since you've had your car checked out.
MD: ummm, I don't know, maybe a month ago?
A: yeah, I don't know how this happened, maybe when you parked it in a mall or maybe in service, someone removed the transmission.
MD: the transmission?
A: yeah, it's just gone.
MD: don't you need that to...
A: well you ...it improves gas mileage, but...you really probably need one. You want us to install one for ya?
MD: well, yeah, if I really need one, but how much is that gonna cost me?
A: well, it's gonna be a bit, I'd actually get 2 for this kind of car
MD: okay, 2? how much is that gonna be.
A: How often do you drive in reverse?
MD: umm...I guess just when I back out of my driveway
A: okay, can you park in the street maybe?
MD: yeah, I could probably do that.
A: okay, because no reverse function that'll save you a few hundred right there.
MD: oh it will?
A: yeah, especially if you're getting 2 transmissions.
MD: ok.
A: so, there's one last thing, and this is purely cosmetic, and I don't know if it matters to you, we noticed in your car that the cigarette lighter was missing?
MD: yeah it is
A: we can throw that in no charge, we can throw that in
MD: oh really?
A: yeah, do you want that. That'll just be $70 installation, but we won't charge you for the cigarette lighter.
MD: oh ...okay, well...how much is everything going to be together.
A: uuh...let me run up a total here ...let's see, we've got the tires, halogen fluid, lighter installation, 8, 3, 6, carry the 2..and add that in there, labor..okay, this is great, not too much damage in there, we're talking $2443,
MD: Oh my god
A: and that's great because the cigarette lighter you have in there is not a very expensive one.
MD: oh, well, I need to call my dad to see if I can borrow some of the money
A; sure
MD: ...to help pay for it. Could I call you back?
A: yeah, actually we might have someone here who can help you when you call back
A': yeah, when you call us back can you call us at the new Q95. This is Mojo in the morning and you're the victim of a phone scam.
MD: OH!
2 comments:
Well, I don't know much about cars, but I at least know more than this Michelle! Yikes! She's one gullible gal.
useful and informative post. Thanks for sharing.
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