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| Re-tired |
Over the years I’ve written a few posts criticizing one business or another. This week I thought it only right to point out a positive experience with a business I had never dealt with before. Due to my own ignorance, I damaged all four tires on my travel trailer. It has been parked near Talkeetna for about a month waiting on repair shop and insurance to get repairs organized. I finally decided to do something myself to get moving, literally. The name Diversified Tire had come up in communications with all the parties so I called them and tried to make an appointment. Someone there told me it was first come, first served. Because of the distance, about 75 miles, I dreaded that, but I set out Monday morning hoping to get it done in one day. I even considered making a hotel reservation as a backup. I shouldn’t have worried.
I hadn’t realized I was driving into the mayhem of a few days before the deadline when winter studs had to be taken off all vehicles. (May 15 around here because of the extended winter we experienced.)
When I arrived I noticed all the bays where workers changed tires plus one outdoors station for larger vehicles were filled and the waiting line stretched almost out the door.
The first thing I noticed was the four guys checking people seemed to be outgoing, friendly and moved efficiently. If one guy stepped away from his station, another took his place and picked up right where the first one left off.
In short order my turn came up. They recalled my phone call, prepared the proper paperwork and told me I could unhitch from the trailer and go do what I needed to do. You don’t waste a trip to town and I had a pretty good list of stops. The guy said it would be three to four hours and he would call or text me when it was ready. That was a relief, no waiting room time.
So, I went about my business and returned about four hours later, planning to wait. I had settled into waiting mode in my parked truck and 15 minutes later the call came through. My trailer was ready. I went in and paid — the cost was exactly the estimate told to me in the earlier phone call.
In and out and I went to hook up and head back. Now, if you have ever hitched a heavy trailer to a towing vehicle you know it is not a quick task. Several connections have to be made, some of them difficult for a single person. I found my trailer in the yard and started the process. During this operation (and mind you this was toward the end of the day) three different guys came by to ask how I was doing and did I need any help. All of them friendly, almost cheerful and accommodating. Mostly I didn’t but the third guy came over when I was in the most difficult part of the process and stuck with me until it was done, both of us working together to get it done and when it was, he walked off wishing me a safe trip.
I started picking up the few tools we used and inspected all the way around to make sure I hadn’t forgotten something. At that point a fourth guy came over and explained to me how I need to torque the lug nuts on the wheels because of their aluminum construction after about 50 miles, even down to how much torque — 120 pounds. I’m not sure these old muscles can generate that much force. That done, he too, wished me a safe trip and started to walk off. I stopped him to tell him I really appreciated the way they work and the ways they helped me.
He smiled and said, “like us on Facebook.” I hope this suffices.
Oh yeah laughed as I passed the hotel I didn’t make a reservation for and made it back in time for the evening news.
I hadn’t realized I was driving into the mayhem of a few days before the deadline when winter studs had to be taken off all vehicles. (May 15 around here because of the extended winter we experienced.)
When I arrived I noticed all the bays where workers changed tires plus one outdoors station for larger vehicles were filled and the waiting line stretched almost out the door.
The first thing I noticed was the four guys checking people seemed to be outgoing, friendly and moved efficiently. If one guy stepped away from his station, another took his place and picked up right where the first one left off.
In short order my turn came up. They recalled my phone call, prepared the proper paperwork and told me I could unhitch from the trailer and go do what I needed to do. You don’t waste a trip to town and I had a pretty good list of stops. The guy said it would be three to four hours and he would call or text me when it was ready. That was a relief, no waiting room time.
So, I went about my business and returned about four hours later, planning to wait. I had settled into waiting mode in my parked truck and 15 minutes later the call came through. My trailer was ready. I went in and paid — the cost was exactly the estimate told to me in the earlier phone call.
In and out and I went to hook up and head back. Now, if you have ever hitched a heavy trailer to a towing vehicle you know it is not a quick task. Several connections have to be made, some of them difficult for a single person. I found my trailer in the yard and started the process. During this operation (and mind you this was toward the end of the day) three different guys came by to ask how I was doing and did I need any help. All of them friendly, almost cheerful and accommodating. Mostly I didn’t but the third guy came over when I was in the most difficult part of the process and stuck with me until it was done, both of us working together to get it done and when it was, he walked off wishing me a safe trip.
I started picking up the few tools we used and inspected all the way around to make sure I hadn’t forgotten something. At that point a fourth guy came over and explained to me how I need to torque the lug nuts on the wheels because of their aluminum construction after about 50 miles, even down to how much torque — 120 pounds. I’m not sure these old muscles can generate that much force. That done, he too, wished me a safe trip and started to walk off. I stopped him to tell him I really appreciated the way they work and the ways they helped me.
He smiled and said, “like us on Facebook.” I hope this suffices.
Oh yeah laughed as I passed the hotel I didn’t make a reservation for and made it back in time for the evening news.
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