Retirement is a week filled with Saturdays and Sundays interrupted only occasionally by a holiday.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Saturday, June 2, 2007

I’m Re-tired

Let me say straight out…this post has nothing to do with my employment status. I’ve said enough about that in previous posts. No…this is the story of how I spent a whole lot of money yesterday in a not-so-very exciting way.

My day began as always, trying to decide where to go shopping…yes, another day of looking for “stuff.” I decided to head north to the area, where I used to work, which has lots of interesting stores. I got in my car, got on the freeway and started my journey. My travels were going along uneventfully until I exited the freeway and turned onto the street. Only a few blocks later, I began to hear a thumping sound…Oh, Oh. I looked to my right and saw a big truck and was seriously hoping the noise was coming from that. I pulled into the left turn lane and waited for the red light to change. Once it did, I started to turn and realized the sound was, in fact, coming from my car. Rats! Thank goodness a gas station was right there so I pulled in and parked in front of the station’s mini-mart.

Getting out of my car, I was almost certain I knew what the problem was and, sure enough, I was right. My right front tire was as flat as a pancake…damn! What to do? Thank heavens for cell phones. I called the Auto Club, made arrangements for someone to come out and put on my little dingy spare tire and then waited for their truck to appear. It came quite quickly; the very nice man replaced the flat tire with my spare; and I was on my way.

Thankfully, one of the Big Box Warehouse outlets, where we buy our tires, was only a few blocks away. I drove over there, bought 4 new tires, and paid a whole lot of money. Remarkably, they were able to take my car right away and, within a half hour, my car was ready and I was, once again, on my way. Whew!

All in all, I was one pretty lucky lady. The tire didn’t blowout on the freeway where I could have been seriously injured; there was a convenient place to pull into from the street; the Auto Club truck came within 20 minutes; the Big Box Warehouse was only a few blocks away; they had my tires in stock; they were able to do the work right away. These are all good things. The only sad fact is that the Big Box Warehouse sent out their seasonal coupon books a few weeks ago and there was a $60 off coupon for the tires I bought. The catch…the coupon doesn’t take effect until Monday. Oh well…”it’s only money” as my dad would say.

15 comments:

Empress Bee (of the high sea) said...

in my experience if you go back in on monday they will give it to you. i always ask and usually it is no problem! good luck if you try... and you are right, it was lucky HOW it happened, not THAT it happened!

smiles, bee

Renee Nefe said...

I'm wondering...why replace all 4? I wouldda just replaced the one and saved the rest for the coupon...if 4 were required, you couldda thrown the extra in the garage until you needed it. Oh well, it is just money.

It was good how everything worked out for you. One of these days I should learn how to get my spare out in case I need it...the only time this car has had a flat, I was able to let DH change it.

Renee Nefe said...

or bee's idea is a good one. worth a shot...the worst they can say is no.

Anonymous said...

I would go back on Monday with the coupon. The most they can do is say no. It's worth the trip!

Carole Burant said...

Wow you had quite the day but as you said, considering what happened, you were very lucky that everything else worked out so well!! I agree with the others, bring your receipt and the coupon on Monday! xox

Lynn said...

It's so nice that you can look at the glass as half full as oppossed to half empty.

Linda said...

Overall I would have to say that you were, indeed, very fortunate. A blow-out on the freeway could have been really, really bad and then you would have been writing a totally different post - provided you could still write!

I agree with Bee and the rest, it might be worth a try to take the coupon in but if you want to save yourself the trip, call first and ask if they will honor it.

Anonymous said...

2 things. Yes, go ahead and take the coupon and receipt in Monday and give them the "kid look" which always works.

Second if dad said "it's only money" he obviously wasn't listening to Uncle Bill.

rosemary said...

If their damm box wasn't so big they would have honored the 60 bucks off...i agree...go back and be Gracie Allen...works every time.

Val said...

There were so many pluses there, considering what could have happened, that $60 doesn't seem so bad.

Re your comment on the size 16 chicken, that would be a 1.6 kg chicken, size 18 is 1.8 kg chicken, etc. I copied and pasted and didn't think of that. I'll put a note in the post about that. Thanks for pointing that out. I won't bother with translating mls and grams though...

Michele said...

Ok, I'm not sure where my comment went that I posted yesterday but if it reappears well... but I was saying that even if you don't get the money back Joan, you got back home safe and sound, there's no monetary value on that and a $60 refund shouldn't make you lose sleep over that. Things went smooth, according to your story and that's a rare occurence, at least in my neck of the woods. If you decide to go after the cash and you get it, bonus! But either way, glad that you are ok. Take care.

Susie said...

All in all the $60 is not too steep a price to pay for how well everything worked out. Trying to get the money back is always worth a try, but Costco does't usually let you jump ahead on coupons specials. We had our truck tire blow out last year about this time, and they denied us the coupon which went into effect with a few days of buying a full set of replacement.
Good luck!!

Joan said...

Empress bee: Although I think the Bib Box stores are not as accommodating as department stores, it's worth a try. I'll let you know.

Renee: All 4 tires needed replacement and the coupon I think is only good if you get 4. Plus I didnt want to ride on my little dingy spare until Monday. Oh well...

Lynne: I definitely agree it's worth the trip.

Pea: I do consider myself a very lucky girl.

Lynn: Isn't it surprising considering I'm usually a "half empty" person? Must be the trip to Ireland keeping me calm.

Linda: I have to go over to the Big Box store anyway to pick up some items so I'll just saunter over to the Tire Center.

Only oldest: I think my days of the "kid look" are long gone...too many wrinkles.

Rosemary: Now Gracie Allen I might be able to do!!!

Val: Thanks so very much for the chicken size info...now that I know, I can do all the conversions! Can't wait to try it!

Michele: I absolutely agree with you...while $60 would be better in my pocket, it certainly is a small price to pay for my safety.

Joan said...

Susie: Thanks! I guess we were both commenting at the same time. I'm pretty sure Costco will deny my request but it's worth a try. I guess they can afford to be stingy...they know we wont give up our membership over $60.

Anonymous said...

Yes it is a small price to pay to get home safely. As you said it could have happened on the freeway.
But I also would try to use the coupon tomorrow, in case they are feeling 'generous.'