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Serenity now
By The Dude | August 14, 2007
The other day I woke up around 4:30 AM and couldn’t get back to sleep, so I finally just got up to face the cubicle. I figured at least I would be able to leave in time to get an oil change, which I had to do anyway before a road trip this weekend. I called a few places from my cube until I finally came across a place nearby that didn’t require an appointment. I don’t want to name this place specifically, so let’s just call it “PMITA Automotive.”
I found a $5 coupon online, then realized it was a discount off of their “deluxe” oil change. This includes vacuuming your floor and washing your windows, and since I planned on vacuuming/washing the entire vehicle myself, I just wanted the basic oil change and decided not to print the coupon. On my way to PMITA Automotive, I passed a sign saying “Oil Change: $19.99″. That seemed like a pretty good deal, but I assumed you probably needed an appointment, and my place should be the same if not close in price. Once I arrived a mechanic came out to greet me, asked for the keys and told me to wait in the lounge. I thought that was unusual since in the past I’ve just driven the car into the bay myself, but I handed over the keys and went into the “lounge”.
A few minutes later another mechanic had me come out and go over to a computer terminal. This is the part everyone loves where they pull up the manufacturer’s maintenance schedule and try to convince you to pay for a bunch of crap you don’t want. As I got out there I saw a guy trying to vacuum my car - they were giving me the “deluxe” oil change, even though I didn’t ask for it. What’s worse, they were just finishing up draining the oil. I was trapped. Even if I wanted to I couldn’t have made a scene and driven to the $19.99 place. It turns out, this “deluxe” oil change is their basic oil change. The guy didn’t wash the windows because they were rolled dwon, and he couldn’t vacuum most of my car because it was full of junk from moving. I shelled out the $62 and at least took solace in the fact that they gave me a coupon for a free carwash nearby. On the way home I stopped to use it, since I know I would end up losing it otherwise. Disgruntled but relieved to at least have the oil change behind me and a nice clean vehicle, I headed home.
20 minutes later a massive thunderstorm rolled through, leaving every car in the lot spotless.
Bitter at this point, I began cleaning up my apartment and packing for my trip. I decided to finally go through my mailbox which by now was bursting at the seams (I only get junk mail and bills which I just pay online anyway, so I like to let it fill for days on end to infuriate the mail carrier). After throwing away the majority of supermarket flyers, “have you seen me” flyers, and envelopes addressed to “current resident”, I got to a sheet at the bottom of the pile…
$10 off the deluxe oil change at PMITA Automotive.
Serenity now, serenity now….
Topics: General Rage |
Dude,
It sounds like “PMITA Automotive” is actually run by nihilist and this was some sort of extravagant plan to extort money from you.
Did it go something like this?
Dude: Well, they finally did it. They killed my fucking car.
Nihilist #1: Ve vant ze money, Lebowski
Nihilist #2: Ja, it seems you have forgotten our little deal, Lebowski.
Nihilist #3: Okay. So we take ze money you haf on you, und ve calls it eefen.
GMikeG: Fuck you.
Just remember Dude these men are cowards.