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Do you really know what your kids are listening to? Eminem lyrics
Black Hurricane - Spin and Reality in New Orleans
Dealer service price
gouging.
DaimlerChrysler has no control if not warranty
related.
My letters to Chrysler
regarding
Boniface-Hiers Dodge on Merritt Island, Florida.
By John Mayer -
Mar. 4th-6th, 2004.
|
|
In a nutshell: My brakes stopped working on Sat. Feb.12th and I finally picked up the fixed van next Tues. at 5:00 pm. Here is what happened in between.
The closest open place I could get to using the emergency brake was Boniface-Hiers Dodge on Merritt Island, Florida. I knew a dealer would charge more but I was stuck and “Sherry” said they were willing to look at it right away. I must say that Sherry was very helpful and concerned. Two hours later they inform me the bill could be anywhere from $500 - $4000 and may only have a partial guarantee if they used after market parts. All of the brake lines were rusted out and the ABS pump if needed would cost $2750 just for the part. I almost fell over. They said the manager would look at it Mon. to confirm what was needed. With no choice, I left the van telling them not to touch it without my approval.
A friend gave me a ride home and I started making phone calls and checking Web sites thinking "I'm screwed" the whole time. Chrysler is the ONLY source for that part and I guess they can charge whatever they want. 8:30 Mon. A.M. the dealer called and said it would be minimum $925 for a quick fix but chances are I would need more work if they found something else (sound familiar?). I called highly recommended Triangle Auto and they said no more than $450 and probably less with a one-year warranty.
This service center is one of only 15 AAA recommended auto repair shops in Brevard County so we are not talking about some hack outfit. I paid the dealer a $35 inspection fee and drove 5 minutes down the road to Triangle using the emergency brake. They told me even if the $2750 part didn't work I could still have normal fully functional brakes only without ABS. Boniface-Hiers never told me that! Also they didn't have to drop the gas tank like the dealer said so they could justify their $925 minimum charge. My final bill to replace all of the brake lines from front to back -- $230. A follow up adjustment was free. The van now works perfectly and that is why I am writing this letter to Chrysler. This is criminal price gouging and slick salesmanship. How many little old ladies do you think this dealer rips off every day?
I want to add that while I was waiting, I wandered into the showroom and was never approached by the group of salesmen who seemed pre-occupied with telling jokes and chatting. I spent 15 years in the car business as an award-winning salesman, and the lack of professionalism I saw was obvious. They sized me up and these “’rounders” decided I wasn’t worth their effort.
I am also a guest columnist for Florida Today Newspaper and will be using this experience as the subject of my next story. If you have anything to say before it goes to print, now is the time.
Chrysler's response:
John,
We have received your email regarding 1996 Grand Caravan and your service experience at Boniface Hiers Chrysler Dodge. Learning of your dissatisfaction with the service you received was disappointing. DaimlerChrysler Motors Corporation is continually striving to assist dealers in providing complete customer satisfaction. Because DaimlerChrysler dealers are independently owned businesses, they are responsible for addressing concerns directly related to their sales and service activities, as well as their personnel. If you have not already done so, it is suggested you pursue the matter directly with dealership management. We appreciate your bringing this matter to our attention. Information received from customers better enables us to evaluate dealer service activities. Your concern will be retained in our dealer file.
Sincerely, Paul Oster
Senior Staff Representative
DaimlerChrysler Customer Assistance Center
My Reply:
Paul,
Thank you for what amounts to a form letter with no mention of what you intend to do about this dealer. No wonder you are losing market share. I thought by contacting you the dealer's customer satisfaction index would suffer after a stern warning from Chrysler, but I guess the bottom line is more important. If you think this shoddy operation gives a damn about my concerns you are mistaken. I have heard stories of people buying from Boniface Hiers and servicing their vehicle at Sunshine Dodge in Melbourne because of unfair treatment. Do you not have any control over these bandits or do you simply choose to look the other way as long as they sell your product? I will not be speaking kindly of your response to this matter when I post this on my Mega Marine Web site and word of mouth travels fast. Have a nice day!
Chrysler's response:
John,
Thanks for your reply. My earlier response may have been a bit unclear. I apologize. Let me restate: DaimlerChrysler does not own any dealerships. They are owned by dealer principals, who effectively operate and run their dealerships. (This is the case with most auto manufacturers.) In matters pertaining to non-warranty service, dealers are regulated by state law pertaining to their business and not by DaimlerChrysler. DaimlerChrysler has a franchise agreement with our dealer body that extends to sales of new vehicles and service of vehicles under warranty. We frown upon excessive labor costs though understand that local markets and state laws may regulate this. At 137,000 miles, your vehicle, as I am sure you are aware, is well past any kind of manufacturer's warranty. I hope this streamlined response addresses your concern. Again, you may wish to address your concern with the dealer management or ownership, or with the state office which regulates their business. Either way, I would not want your readers or website visitors to misconstrue DaimlerChrysler's position in this matter, or the fact that we have formally documented your complaint about Boniface Hiers. I am trusting that you will include the full body of my response in your column and website posting. Thank you for your time.
My Reply:
Paul,
So what you are saying is that you have no control or interest in this matter because it is not a warranty issue, which of course it is not. By the way, my van has 137,000 km not miles. I will contact the local state office as you suggest, but I have one more question. Do you intend to contact this dealer and relate my concerns as should be your corporate responsibility, or will they permanently reside (formally documented) in a Chrysler filing cabinet. Your name after all, is on their sign beside a major roadway for all to see.
Chrysler's response:
John,
Thanks for your reply. While the translated miles on your vehicle is past 80,000, the kilometer distinction is noted. As DaimlerChrysler has no controlling authority in this matter, a fact well spelled out at this point, I would advise that you contact the dealer principal or applicable state consumer's office. Thanks again.
My Reply:
Paul,
I realize you are not in a position to change corporate policy, but could you at least forward this conversation to someone who is. There is a broader issue here that needs to be addressed by the auto industry in general. I am not trying to be Ralph Nader, but your unwillingness to even contact the dealer on my behalf does not sit well and will be mentioned in my article. If you don't want to get involved personally, give me a contact who will. I should also mention that my transmission needed re-building at 60,000 miles and after reviewing Web sites, I learned that this is a common engineering fault. Right now your product and customer services are held in very low esteem. I will be contacting the dealer principal as you suggested. My next purchase will not be a Chrysler product.
Mar. 6th: I am awaiting a response from Chrysler.
And waiting and waiting and waiting ...................
Reader's Responses:
From "Husky" cbminfo@bellsouth.net 01/31/07
I've always had fairly good luck with dodge. I had an 86 dodge 6 cylinder. It really needed the brakes adjusted, but it started coughing and barely pulled itself into the parking lot at Hiers.
I left it over night with the request to repair the brakes, and get it to quit coughing.
They couldn't find the cough, and couldn't repair the brakes for less than $2000.00 for a truck that wasn't even blue book $1000.00 perfect condition at the time [2003]. Mine was poor condition visually. No brakes. and needed a tune up.
I took the truck, thanked them and tried to go home and find a place that could fix the brakes. It really wasn't coughing now. It made it out the driveway, and into the intersection coughed up 520 for half a mile, turned around and went back.
They wouldn't touch the brakes because they would CAUSE more damage removing the rusted on wheels [that ran weekly] than the truck was worth.
I needed transportation. I traded [for nothing], for a 93 dodge Dakota, automatic everything. [$3500.00] but it worked. Took it in for Air conditioning tune up.
Returned home round about via Patrick AFB, towards Melbourne via US1 to 520 to cocoa. 2 miles from cocoa HUGE LOUD CLATTER. Air conditioning tension roller on fan belt disintegrated. $50.00 wrecker call next day rather than drive it with the fan belt flopping loose now back to Hiers. $200.00 repair. Not their fault the Air conditioning tensioner was loose.
My transmission is now slipping. Not a lot of Dodge repair facilities to choose from locally. It's called monopoly or license to steal.
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Surfside Johnny's Voodoo chain letter
DO NOT FORWARD: Delete this letter and you won't ever have to respond to another chain letter promising to grant you 3 wishes if you forward it within 10 minutes and turn around anti-clockwise 25 times with an iguana on your head. I personally guaranty that you will not die in a train wreck on Nov. 2nd, 2008 on your way to vote for another incompetent - I mean incumbent politician. You will be rewarded by experiencing a feeling of euphoria and freedom from angst and guilt.
Before deleting this email you must mix the cocktail of your choice and recite these not so wise sayings within 666 days to complete the voodoo spell. Sticking pins in your teddy bear is not necessary.
When everything's coming your way, you're in the
wrong lane.
Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.
A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory.
Choose between two evils - pick the one you've never tried before.
A fool and his money are soon partying.
May all chain letters get sucked into the vortex of the next Florida hurricane and die quickly in the cold North Atlantic Ocean.
Nomini Domini Pax Brethren,
The Irreverent Surfside Johnny and Mystic Marla
By John Mayer - Sept. 21, 2005
Spin and Reality in New Orleans
This started out as an article about the victims of Hurricane Katrina but wind and water are only the most recent assaults on a neglected group of Americans. The storm just blew out the windows of a broken house for all to see inside. Crimes committed in the aftermath need not have happened and prevention should have been a priority long ago.
In my opinion, deep rooted reality in New Orleans can be described in just a few words – incompetence, guns, fear, money, black, crime, poverty, dependence, no self-respect, lack of education, decency and love. I tried very hard not to let race get into this but it’s impossible to ignore. Where were the community leaders in the Superdome? Why didn’t anyone step up and organize patrols to prevent rapes and beatings in the Convention Center? At least seven bodies were scattered outside and one rapist was beaten to death. Why wasn’t the Red Cross let in or people allowed out? When did looting become a right? Would stranded whites have handled things better? I can’t help but think that the lack of basic survival skills and responsibility for one’s fate played a large part in the crisis. Contributing cast members include FEMA and Bush.
Less than a half mile from the Convention Center, the remaining employees at the Royal Sonesta Resort were living the high life. They had clean bedding, a pool and the hotel's entire stockpile of food and drink at their disposal including grilled tilapia, T-bone steaks and red wine. Why wasn’t food and shelter offered to some of the hurricane's more vulnerable victims? If you were a business owner, would you trust hundreds of desperate black people to leave the place as they found it without stealing more than a few towels?
Does poverty cause crime or does crime cause poverty?
From Bill Maher’s Forum:
“I was poor and we didn't do the wrong thing. We had family living in the projects and the projects were clean back then. People had pride in where they lived and didn’t urinate in elevators. What the heck happened? My theory is welfare, in the projects for years, no rent, no electric, no gas bills. No sense of ownership or responsibility. Drugs and guns and the need for real money. And an education system that fails areas that have little or no parenting.”
Walter E. Williams is a (black) professor at George Mason University at Fairfax, Va. – Quote:
“Citizens in
high-crime neighborhoods must adopt a zero-tolerance of crime. They must
privately organize and send the message to criminals: Crime is hazardous to your
health in this neighborhood. If school authorities can't prevent students who
are alien and hostile to the education process from making education impossible
for everyone else, black parents should privately organize and show up on the
school premises to create order.”
”Defending oneself, family and communities against predators is a natural or
God-given right. Just because those to whom we've delegated authority to defend
us are derelict does not mean we don't have the right to defense. Most Americans
wouldn't begin to tolerate the horror that's daily fare in black communities—why
should blacks?”
Homicide Rate by Age Group and Gender (2000):
Males. Age
14-17: Whites: 7.9 per 100,000 Blacks: 62.8 per 100,000
Males. Age 18-24: Whites: 23.9 per 100,000 Blacks: 205.8 per 100,000
Males. Age 25+: Whites: 5.3 per 100,000 Blacks: 39.2 per 100,000
Source: US Department of Justice http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/homicide/hmrt.htm#longterm
A part of the billions now being spent on relief should have been made available to help local government shore up the levees as was recommended by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers before the hurricane. The Lake Pontchartrain project was slated to receive $3.9 million in the President's 2005 budget when about $20 million was needed. Levee improvement for this below-sea-level city was delayed so that $454 million worth of trophy bridges could be built for the politicians of Alaska. Funding for the war in Iraq continued to escalate. Shame on an administration without foresight that gives tax cuts to the rich, promoting pork projects and corporate welfare at the expense of social programs and necessary infrastructure.
We need to re-establish a sense of right and wrong in all citizens. Decent education and real job creation (not MacDonald’s) will end the cyclone of destruction and violence in poor communities. Pumping the problem back over a patched levee is only a temporary solution. Letting people fall through the cracks once again should not be an option.
By John A. Mayer - Sept. 28, 2005
The Same old Holy War - Different Despots.
First of all let me
say that I have no problem with people who feel comfortable believing in a
higher authority. However, serenity, inner peace and a desire to help others can
be attained with or without organized religion. Music and meditation work for
me.
The sad fact is the whole world is still going mad in the name of religion.
Islamic suicide bombers are now making headlines but despots and presidents
alike have been duping (doping?) the people for centuries. We all know the real
reason for creating human cannon fodder is political influence, power and greed.
If you want to control the masses and inspire them to die for your cause, just
make them believe they will reap a higher reward if they sacrifice themselves.
This includes abortion doctor killers and al-Qaida.
Haven’t enough soldiers died in Iraq and Afghanistan? Were they fighting for
democracy, homeland security, oil or revenge? I have said all along that
invading Iraq was a stupid idea and that country has now reverted back to
religious sect squabbling and murder. Anti-Americanism is rife and it will be
interesting to see if another “Saddam” takes over after this billion dollar war
is done. Can the United States afford to keep diverting money from domestic
programs and infrastructure needs? I think not. An unbiased review of American
Middle Eastern policy is required before another generation inherits the
suicidal hatred of radical Muslims.
American Christian fundamentalists have hi-jacked a nation founded by men of
whom only 20% had any religious affiliation. Let’s get religion back out of
world politics and keep blind faith in houses of worship where it can do no harm
to the enlightened majority. Blind faith is what helped to elect a man who comes
across as a bad reciter of prepared speeches that rely on biblical
catch-phrases. After a Hurricane Rita briefing with Louisiana Gov. Kathleen
Blanco in Baton Rouge, President Bush said: "I know the people of this state
have been through a lot. We ask for God's blessings on them and their families."
Of course, it’s hard to find fault with that lovely sentiment but a meaningful
plan of action without the born-again Christian rhetoric would be more
appropriate. Bush doesn’t say too much anyway but when he does, it’s just
repetitive hogwash. Thank “God” he can’t run again. Just take your oil money,
George and retire to Florida. You and Saddam can keep Jeb company.
Does anyone else think there is something wrong with these rap lyrics by Eminem? Do you really know what your kids are listening to?
From "Rock Bottom" by Eminem
There's people that
love me and people that hate me
But it's the evil that made me this backstabbing, deceitful, and shady
I want the money, the women, the fortune, and the fame
That Means I'll end up burning in hell scorching in flames
That means I'm stealing your checkbook and forging your name
Lifetime bliss for eternal torture and pain
Right now I feel like just hit the rock bottom
I got problems now everybody on my blocks got 'em
I'm screaming like those two cops when 2pac shot 'em
Holding two glocks, I hope your doors got new locks on 'em
My daughter's feet ain't got no shoes or sock's on 'em
And them rings you wearing look like they got a few rocks on 'em
And while you flaunting them I could be taking them to shops to pawn them
I got a couple of rings and a brand new watch you want 'em?
Cause I never went gold of one song
I'm running up on someone's lawns with guns drawn
There can be absolutely no justification for the kind of criminality advocated in these lyrics. I believe in freedom of speech, but this crosses the line. I guess there will always be an element of society that refuses to make the effort required to change their status with honor and determination. The path of least resistance does not have to include violence or thievery. The goals in this song appear to be "The money, the women, the fortune, and the fame" with socks and shoes for the kids providing the melodrama. Whatever happened to seeking happiness? Does the rapper really think it will follow automatically after a few robberies and shootings? I am certainly not rich or famous but I'm still pretty happy. Winning the lottery would make me happier but I'm not going to rob a bank in the meantime. "Success is getting what you want. Happiness is liking what you get." ~ H. Jackson Brown Jr.
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