I had a dispute with an American car dealership after a used car purchased from them needed $3500 worth of repair 7 months after purchase. It didn’t go well and they got a One Star Google Review, using only facts and no emotion. I had waited two weeks before posting. In their response, they said all charges were my responsibility because they had unsuccessfully “offered” an after-market warranty service contract costing thousands of dollars.* This is what I heard: “We’d stand behind the car if you’d spend more money with us.”

This episode was my first ever deal with a Chevrolet Dealership. And my last. Why do foreign cars last better than American cars, still to this day?

The incident did cause me to investigate aftermarket warranties. Creditable research revealed the top 3 reputable companies in the business and all three were called. Each initial contact was followed by intense marketing by email, phone, and text. I selected the top-rated company  and received their contract. After reading the list of exclusions, conditions, and reasons they would NOT pay for parts and/or services, the contract was ended in the “free look” period. Talks with local mechanics was enlightening since they don’t really “enjoy”**working with the aftermarket warranty companies since it adds a demanding third party to service situations. But my cancellation was due mainly to the “Existing Conditions” exclusion. The Warranty company has the specific “right” to determine “existing conditions” they will not pay for. This is what I heard: “We know your car is used and most likely has something wrong with it so when it fails, we may decide to deny your claim.”

I later took the car to a reputable, name-brand service company for an “inspection” to check out the issues. No work. Just look. A call for appointment went smoothly but when the car was brought to the shop I was asked “What can we do for you today?” by the very same man from the phone call. Once he remembered, he repeated it would take one half hour but added, “give me 45 minutes.” What I heard: “It will take 45 minutes, 15 minutes more than I said on the phone.” The appointment took one and one half hours. When he finally checked me out, I wasn’t in the mood to hear anything.

All of this reminded me of another senior loss: Doing it yourself (DIY).  In nearly 60 years of car owning, most normal repairs were done in the driveway, the garage, or a friend’s business by me, and occasionally a friend. DIY ended about 14 years ago and it has left me at the mercy of public parts, service, and rental operations seemingly intent on getting all they can at the first opportunity. Don’t ask if I know anything about new style engines, computer systems, drive trains, brakes, or electric cars. Do you? But I remember days when all of us “knew a guy” who could fix the mess we made of a repair and do it at a fair price.

What you’re hearing: an old man complaining about the good old days when if you carried a crescent wrench***, a screwdriver, electrical tape, and a big hammer and you could fix anything.

Change. How would old people get along without it?

*Sound familiar?

**This was not the word they used.

***Ai it for an enlightening and enjoyable dissertation.