Victoria’s Read

A woman goes into a very well-known and large automotive repair shop chain after her 1996 Grand Am suddenly becomes exceedingly noisy. 

She is told that the cars entire exhaust system would need to be replaced. “How much will that cost?” she asks the man. He picks up his pen and begins to mumble words under his breath as he figures out an estimate. After what feels like an eternity, he raises his head and answers. “That will be about $1,138.96.” 

“My car isn’t even worth that!” she says in total despair. The man shows no remorse and continues with other business. The woman leaves the establishment confused and weary.

The woman has a handicap and her car is her one sense of independence. Without it, she will be confined to her home since she lives in a remote area of town off the bus route.  She is faced with a no-win situation of paying the price or purchasing another vehicle. Either way, she will have to go into debt because her small pension will not allow it.

After a night of fitful sleep, she wakes to the same dilemma and begins to ponder. She starts to think that although she felt that a large automotive chain would be less likely to take advantage of a woman than a small time garage, maybe she should rethink her ideas and get another opinion.

As her anger builds, she remembers that a friend of hers had gone to a small garage located fairly close to her home. “I’ll give it a chance.” She decides. “What do I have to lose?”

The family-ran business is nothing special but it is clean and they are very friendly. Apprehensively, she sits in the meager waiting area and waits for his response. Shortly, Freddy enters. He takes the time to explain a few things to her about her vehicle. He makes her feel totally at ease about the whole ordeal and speaks with her as an equal. “We can cut out the bad spot and replace it for about $130.00. How does that sound?” Freddy asks. She is lost for words and finely answers. “I would be very pleased and elated.”

She gets her car fixed the same day, meets Freddy’s partner/ wife and becomes a new customer.

Filled with contempt over the discrimative service at the larger automotive shop, she goes back to express her displeasure. Their response to her plight was “Thank you for coming in. Have a nice day!”

Victoria writes……
Shame on you!!