From: ross@kaos.ingr.com (Ross Erickson)
Subject: Madison Automotive.  A BIG letdown!
Reply-To: ross@kaos.b11.ingr.com
Organization: Intergraph Corporation
Date: Thu, 30 Jul 1992 20:52:42 GMT

--
I just wanted to take a minute and sadly explain a situation that
happened today with one of our local businesses.

My wife was driving our car from the Harvest area to the Madison
K-Mart and about the time she pulled into the parking lot and stopped
she noticed a small amount of smoke coming from under the hood.  Upon
checking it, she smelled some burning (electrical) and a helpful
gentleman who was there identified the problem to likely be a burned
electrical fan.

She managed to limp the car over to Madison Automotive on Wal Triana
(just short of the railroad tracks) where we have done regular
business for several months now, around $500-600 worth.  We were
informed that the fan indeed was likely the problem and needed to be
replaced.  However, because of other work, our car would not be looked
at until tomorrow.  Having 3 kids and plenty of transportation needs,
this would cause some big problems, but we saw no other alternative.

After she dropped me off back at Intergraph, a good friend of mine
listened to our plight and offered to help me and do the work today so
we could get back on our feet sooner.  We identified the correct part
at a local parts store and we were ready to take care of this
ourselves.

I called back to Madison Automotive and explained the situation and
said we didn't need the work done tomorrow as we needed the car sooner
and have made other arrangements.  I said I would be by to pick up my
car later this afternoon.  The proprieter of the business rather
abruptly said, "I'm going to go ahead and charge you $2.00."  I said,
"What for?".  His curt response was, "For writing up this ticket.  I'm
tired of writing up a ticket and then having this happen."  Having no
cash in my pocket at the moment, I said, "C'mon.  I don't have $2.00
right now, and I really don't want to go to the bank."  He replied,
"Then I'll keep the car."  After a second, and realizing that
'reasonableness' seemed out of of the question, and our previous
business relationship meant nothing, I said, "Fine.  I'll pay you your
$2.00."  And I hung up the phone.

After taking a deep breath, I thought to myself, "Is this how you take
care of your regular customers??"  I will make it perfectly clear to
the owner that because of a measly $2.00, I don't plan on ever
frequenting this business again.  Of course, it's not the $2.00 that
irks me...It's the attitude towards customers, established customers
that seems to make no difference.  I won't tell you NOT to visit this
establishment, but I sure WILL make it clear that I have no intention
of spending anymore of my money there ever again.  Judge carefully
yourselves.  I believe it's time to give other businesses a chance to
prove they care about service when this one appears to have given up.

|------------------------------------------------------------------|
|  Ross Erickson             |                                     |
|  ross@kaos.b11.ingr.com    | "No individual raindrop considers   |
|  205-730-4019 - voice      |  itself responsible for the flood." |
|  205-730-6445 - fax        |                                     |
|  Internet: 129.135.200.245 |                                     |
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