Hubs is an excitable person. If he feels that someone shorted him (or us), or treated him (or us) unfairly, he speaks up. Sometimes in a tone that makes me cringe. While I might oftentimes agree that it WAS indeed poor customer service or an intentional slight against us, I won't immediately go into "You wronged us!!" mode.
I evaluate what this particular place of service means to me. Is it worth the fight? Was the slight a personal attack or simply the actions of a complete and utter moron who slights everyone?
Personal attacks are "excitable behavior" worthy, I believe. Did someone judge us, categorize us, and thus treat us based on personal prejudices? Was there no effort to be polite whatsoever? Did you put us in the table back by the bathroom when there are clearly more appealing options available?
When service is just an oversight, however, there shouldn't always be over-reaction. Hubs, though, reacts to the "what ifs" scenario of oversights gone wrong. Let me explain.
We bought my vehicle in May 2009. Eight months later, yesterday, we (Hubs) took it in for its first tire rotation. It's about 4,000 miles overdue. Don't judge. Anyhow....we ran it up to a local tire store to get it done as I can't be pressed to get to the actual dealership. Their hours aren't as favorable for service.
Long story short, the local shop couldn't remove the tires to rotate them because my vehicle apparently comes with wheel locks instead of lug nuts. Wheel locks require a special "tool key" in order to remove the tire. The tool key was not given to us at the time of purchase.
Hubs called me (I was at home) to ask if I knew about its location and I kindly informed him as any good wife should that I didn't have a clue what a wheel lock was. He called the dealership and proceeded to get very "animated" with them about their oversight on this matter.
He let them know it was poor customer service to send a car out after a 150 point inspection with such a serious oversight. What if his PREGNANT (see: handicapped and unable to use a cell phone, apparently) wife had a flat on the interstate and no one could help her change the tire? What if she had the kids with her? What if, when we took this vehicle to Chicago this past summer, something had happened and we had no access to the dealership to resolve our issue? What if.....what if.......
I love that he feels protective and I love that he'll speak up for us when he feels we've been wronged. But sometimes? What ifs are just that.....No emergency occurred and we caught the error before we had serious issues. Sometimes it's just about solving the issue instead of resolving the wrongdoing.
Ironically, one of my tires had a hole in it that required patching when I took it to the dealership tonight for them to fix this wheel lock error. Maybe Hubs' concern is more valid than I give him credit for......please don't tell him I said that.
15 comments:
These days I tend to be a bit like Hubs. Never used to be but I think over the years I've become more expressive and more protective of my wife and now daughter. But it must be nice to know he's looking out for you and will make a stand, right?
I know what you mean. Mine is similar, although probably not quite as bad as a lot of men, especially when a lot of money is involved. In this case, yeah, he would have come unglued on the dealership.
It's nice, since I'm not the type to speak up much, but sometimes... there's no good going to come of it.
(PS: I won't say a word ;) )
I had the same trouble with my car - no wheel unlocker thingy - and the dealership is in a whole 'nother state. I had the local guys remove the wheel lock. Are wheel theft common in your area?
I happen to personally be more like you. Only let the dragon out when really necessary. BUT it is nice to know that hubs has your back all the time... just like a good hubby should.
Glad that wheel lock issue wasn't a more serious one. Reminds me I should go check my new car and see if there's anything like that.
That is sweet. I bet that dealership won't forget to give anyone their wheel locks again!
Lance is pretty calm, but my dad has always been so defensive. If a waitress is a little slow he freaks out. If we have to wait in line for fast food (heaven forbid) he's ready to explode...I never could understand why he'd get so mad. Good thing he's mostly gotten over it!
grrr is right...He's such a papa bear!
I can kind of understand your hubby's feelings about the wheel locks. Yes, they were "what ifs", but imagine how you'd have felt if one of those what ifs had actually happened. I bet that dealer will never forget to give the tool key again.
I see both sides - I am more like your Hubs then not. But it takes alot more to get me to that "excited or angered" stage. But when I do, Be warned. My Tone changes, My facial expressions change, and whomever I am addressing most certainly knows I mean business.
I recently had to use this tactic and some a$$ whoopin at my son's school. Don't mess with my kids or the Mama Bear comes out.
But I agree with you, there is a time and a place.
I wish my Hubs did that MORE. I'm the one who has to cause a stink at shitty service and or attitudes; not that it happens all that often because I approach it the same way you do, but it would be nice for some back up and support instead of him trying to talk me out of letting someone walk all over me. GRRR to that.
LOL ditto a PP...he's such a papa bear. :-)
Honda and Acura are notorious for those wheel locks - mostly because the are prone to theft. I had one with my Integra. I'm really surprised they forgot to give it to you. Definitely just incompetence, not intentional.
sweet grrrrry husband.......LOL!
Aww look at him, sticking up for his family. That's incredibly sweet...and while I also tend to shy away from automatically jumping to RAWR mode, it is nice to see that your man is more than ready to jump in and save the day.
Not that we're capable of doing it ourselves, but still...it's nice to be fought for.
Whoa, Whoa, Whoa. This is how behind I am. I'm just now finding out about the bun in the oven. Congratulations!! I need to get caught up on your life.
I saw the recent pics and you look gorgeous!
I like that he's being (over?)protective. In our modern world where women can do for themselves, its nice to have the man act like the man. Unfortunately they do not do it only when its convenient for us. Go with it!
Post a Comment