Saturday, February 5, 2011

A PRODUCTIVE WEEK AND STILL NO MONEY IN THE BANK

Good Saturday Morning, Mon Cheri! I am again writing to you from the comfort of my bed on this rainy Saturday morning. It was a memorable week at the shop. Abby was gone all week, so there was just two of us up front, Les, my estimator and me. Of course, we were so busy, we could not take bathroom breaks. We took in 30 cars and did estimates non stop. The phones were nuts.

It is very, very cold here and I think people wanted to get stuff done, but did not want to go out. I kindly explained to callers that I could not do an estimate on their dents and rust over the phone, but would be happy to do so for free if they could bring in their vehicle. I was argued with, hung up on and yelled at. I got angry a couple of times and told them no! or if they wanted more information, they would have to hold while I took care of the customers who were there getting their estimates. What rude fools.

We had an extensive insurance repair for a gentle man close to 90. His insurance company told him they would pay for his rental for an 8 day repair. We carefully planned his appointment so the 8 days would be up the day he recieved his social security check so he could pay his deductable and get his car.....well, day 6 the insurance called the rental place and turned off the rental. Upon calling, the insurance claims person meant that the 8 days including the weekend!!! Have been doing this for a while now guys, no insurance repair time includes weekends! I had a "intense" conversation with the insurance supervisor regarding their customer and hey, this is your customer and we are talking about an elderly man on social security. I got yelled at "why should we pay rental while his car just sits" I asked because he has paid his premiums for a long time and you are human, or so your commercials say on tv. I ended hanging up and telling her I would share our conversation with their customer. I was disguisted, but to my surprise two customers in my shop stood up and Wowed me for how hard I fought for my customer! I just figured that ins. co. would never send me any business, but the customers in the shop were thrilled to see someone fight for their best interest against the ins. co. (was that a negative or positive business move???)

I ended up letting them (father and daughter)have the car, she left me her driver's license and came back in two days with the deductable. Could not thank me enough.

I met many crazy, nasty people this week, but met a BEAUTIFUL 85 year old woman, a holocaust survivor, who speaks publically on her experience and tolerance, volunteers two days a week at the hospital. I did not want to let her go! I wanted to keep talking to her. Just her presence was a blessing. She also began the museum of the Holicaust at the Universisty here in town. She is going to bring a brochure when she comes and I plan to hear her speak and visit the museum.

It is not, never has been and never will be about me will it Lord. As bad as it hurts sometimes, lonely, tired etc., it is not about me.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. All my love, Mon Cheri. Ms. Moore