Venting

I usually don't write on Saturdays but I am making an exception today because I am so darn mad if I don't vent I am bound to rip someones head off. I usually don't get angry easily but I have made a discovery about myself- cars make me mad... REALLY mad!

Okay so here is the situation... two weeks ago the clutch on Robert's car went out. We were both really concerned because we knew it was going to cost a lot to get it fixed. So we took it to a reputable repair shop in town. They told us it is going to cost around E500. We were not happy because the car isn't worth much more than that. But since we had already paid the sales and road taxes we decided to get it fixed.

So we took the car in on Monday. The shop had the car ALL week last week (which meant I had to drive Robert to and from work) because the part they needed was not in. The repair guy told us he would call us when he knew more. So, we waited and waited and waited all this week but heard nothing. So Robert called him today and he said- "Oh yeah, your car is ready. I am glad you called because I am closing the shop for the next three weeks and you would not have been able to get your car." Hello weren't you supposed to call us when it was done? So Robert asks if everything went okay and he said, "Well we ran into some trouble, the clutch was more expensive than we thought it was going to be, when we got in there we found other problems, we replaced the muffler...blah, blah, blah and the total for all the repairs is going to be E950." E950!!! Do you know how much money that is? 1494.71 dollars to be exact. I know because I just wrote a check for the euro! That is insane- that is more than the car is worth. That is more than we paid for it!!

I am furious! But what choice do we have really other than to pay the money and get the car back. We don't have any choice at all and that is in part what makes me mad. In my opinion it is standard business to call your client the minute you realize your estimate is off. AND that you don't repair things without their approval. AND that you call them when you are done working on the car so they can get it back. AND that you don't do more repairs than the car is worth. AND that you at least act sorry when things don't go well.

I am just so mad- I mean the whole thing seems so unfair. Haven't we had our share of car troubles? Honestly, I don't know anyone who has their cars in the shop more than we do. I just don't get it, I mean we are trying to do what it right. We are trying to live within our means and not go into debt but we have spent 8,000 dollars on beater cars and repairs in the last two years and we don't have much to show for it. That is just plain unfair. And I know life isn't supposed to be fair (trust me- I tell my kids that at least ten times a day) but I just don't see what lesson I am supposed to learn from this and the MANY other situation we have had just like it? What am I supposed to be learning that I am not learning? Help me out here people. Don't buy beaters? Use public transportation? Ride a bike? What?! I am just thinking that the sooner I learn whatever it is I am supposed to learn the sooner this will all stop. ARRRGGGG!

Anyway... thanks for listening to me throw a fit. Though not pleasant I think blog fits are better than real life ones. Sorry!