KJ.Kate

"mc" <rzbj70@qwest.net> wrote in message
news:1136778209.527465.177060@g49g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
: It's been snowing lightly all day (Twin Cities MN) and is very
: slippery. On the way from a friend's house tonight around 7pm I saw a
: vehicle 70 feet off the road in a farmer's field. It was a 70yr old
: man and his wife in a four wheel drive Ford Ranger with a 9000lb Warn
: on the front. He had misjudged the sweeping curve going down a hill
: and had driven through the shallow ditch and out into the field for a
: couple hundred feet. My guess is we was going a bit too fast. I
: stopped and offered assistance even though they had already called a
: tow truck. He took me up on the offer.
:
: Fortunately he had came to a stop opposite an access path over the
: ditch. I walked out through the snow (9-12 inches) to pick up his
: hook. The field had been plowed so the ridges created another
: obstacle. I hooked up to my front hooks and gave him the go signal.
: As he came to each ridge the resistance pulled my Jeep further across
: the access path. Eventually I had to back out onto the road (rural,
: lightly traveled) to have enough traction for him to pull through the
: drift created by the plows. All told it took about thirty minutes.
: Who knows how long it would have taken a tow truck to get there just to
: do the same thing.
:
: He offered money but I passed. I mentioned that he got his money's
: worth out of the winch and he agreed.
:
: This is only the second time I've ever assisted a recovery and the
: first time in snow. I doubt it would have been successful if his
: vehicle had weighed more than my Jeep.
:
: mc
: 98 TJ Sport


Well done! Well done indeed!
This kind of Karma comes right-back-atcha too usually at a time when you
really need it.

KJK
Kate

KJ.Kate

"mc" <rzbj70@qwest.net> wrote in message
news:1136778209.527465.177060@g49g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
: It's been snowing lightly all day (Twin Cities MN) and is very
: slippery. On the way from a friend's house tonight around 7pm I saw a
: vehicle 70 feet off the road in a farmer's field. It was a 70yr old
: man and his wife in a four wheel drive Ford Ranger with a 9000lb Warn
: on the front. He had misjudged the sweeping curve going down a hill
: and had driven through the shallow ditch and out into the field for a
: couple hundred feet. My guess is we was going a bit too fast. I
: stopped and offered assistance even though they had already called a
: tow truck. He took me up on the offer.
:
: Fortunately he had came to a stop opposite an access path over the
: ditch. I walked out through the snow (9-12 inches) to pick up his
: hook. The field had been plowed so the ridges created another
: obstacle. I hooked up to my front hooks and gave him the go signal.
: As he came to each ridge the resistance pulled my Jeep further across
: the access path. Eventually I had to back out onto the road (rural,
: lightly traveled) to have enough traction for him to pull through the
: drift created by the plows. All told it took about thirty minutes.
: Who knows how long it would have taken a tow truck to get there just to
: do the same thing.
:
: He offered money but I passed. I mentioned that he got his money's
: worth out of the winch and he agreed.
:
: This is only the second time I've ever assisted a recovery and the
: first time in snow. I doubt it would have been successful if his
: vehicle had weighed more than my Jeep.
:
: mc
: 98 TJ Sport


Well done! Well done indeed!
This kind of Karma comes right-back-atcha too usually at a time when you
really need it.

KJK
Kate

KJ.Kate

"mc" <rzbj70@qwest.net> wrote in message
news:1136778209.527465.177060@g49g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
: It's been snowing lightly all day (Twin Cities MN) and is very
: slippery. On the way from a friend's house tonight around 7pm I saw a
: vehicle 70 feet off the road in a farmer's field. It was a 70yr old
: man and his wife in a four wheel drive Ford Ranger with a 9000lb Warn
: on the front. He had misjudged the sweeping curve going down a hill
: and had driven through the shallow ditch and out into the field for a
: couple hundred feet. My guess is we was going a bit too fast. I
: stopped and offered assistance even though they had already called a
: tow truck. He took me up on the offer.
:
: Fortunately he had came to a stop opposite an access path over the
: ditch. I walked out through the snow (9-12 inches) to pick up his
: hook. The field had been plowed so the ridges created another
: obstacle. I hooked up to my front hooks and gave him the go signal.
: As he came to each ridge the resistance pulled my Jeep further across
: the access path. Eventually I had to back out onto the road (rural,
: lightly traveled) to have enough traction for him to pull through the
: drift created by the plows. All told it took about thirty minutes.
: Who knows how long it would have taken a tow truck to get there just to
: do the same thing.
:
: He offered money but I passed. I mentioned that he got his money's
: worth out of the winch and he agreed.
:
: This is only the second time I've ever assisted a recovery and the
: first time in snow. I doubt it would have been successful if his
: vehicle had weighed more than my Jeep.
:
: mc
: 98 TJ Sport


Well done! Well done indeed!
This kind of Karma comes right-back-atcha too usually at a time when you
really need it.

KJK
Kate

billy ray

I had a charge for a 3 mile tow (hook not flatbed) about 10 years ago that
was $75 on a Friday evening (5-6 PM). The garage charged be $65 diagnostic
and $235 for repairs of which $120 was parts.

I have no qualms with the diagnostic charge as I had no clue what the
problem was.

On Monday evening when I picked up my car I stopped at the local Auto Parts
store to get some oil and a filter and while I was there I chatted with the
counterman about the repairs that had been made. (I had lived in the
neighborhood several years prior and was a regular in his shop)

He commented that the repair was fairly common and straightforward for a
mechanic (which I am not) but one of the involved components was not in
existence when I took auto-shop decades before.

Anyway.......... I asked about the cost of the parts replaced and was told
the retail on the parts was about $25. I commented that perhaps he went to
the dealership for my T-Bird parts but was told that the parts came from
that parts house and the repair shop received a discount.

I was somewhat taken aback as while I had never used this particular shop
before and therefore they did not know me. I had always heard that they had
a good reputation in the neighborhood at what I assumed were reasonable
rates.(remember I used to live two streets away)

I remember laughing at the markup and was the reminded that the shop did not
pay retail, they got a commercial discount. I was now doubly taken aback.

Misc comments....... You will recall I mentioned I used to live a couple
streets over....... I was in the area picking up my kidlettes. I had moved a
few miles north of the river and now had license plates from an adjoining
state.

Lets delineate:
Tow charge of $75: My next tow was 12 miles for my daughter's Cougar (had a
suspension failure) was $35 this tow was $40 more for 1/3 the distance
Diagnostic Charge of $65: I have no complaint with this as I was paying for
the mechanics knowledge and experience.
Parts Charge of $120: Adding a markup of $95 to $20 worth of parts (and
remember he did not actually pay that much) seems excessive
Labor Charge of $115: Counter man estimated actual repair time of 15-20
minutes after diagnosis

I have absolutely no problem with someone making an honest profit, you can't
operate a business at cost or a loss but obscene profits is another matter.


"Earle Horton" <NurseBustersNoSpam@msn.com> wrote in message
news:43c25daa$0$10306$a82e2bb9@reader.athenanews.c om...
>I don't know if "inflated tow costs" is exactly fair, although I too hate
> paying them. Ever price a tow rig or the insurance to operate one?
>
> Earle
>
> "4X4PLAY" <jrhiltz@eastlink.ca> wrote in message
> news:wYswf.72799$AP5.67184@edtnps84...
>> Well done MC...you're a good boy scout! ;)
>> Here in Nova Scotia we normally get a lot of snow and is common practice
> for
>> guys in the club to assist those that go off the road... We have done it
>> enough that the tow truck companies have contacted the club and asked if
> we
>> pull over to help someone to please ask if a tow truck has been
> dispatched,
>> if so, we've been asked to leave it for the tow truck or at least have
>> the
>> customer call and cancel to save the driver from coming out for
> nothing...I
>> think this is a fair deal as these guys are out there to make their
>> living...
>> I do agree though...if I see someone in the ditch, the reason I pull over
> is
>> to help and save the person from inflated tow costs...
>>
>> Jeff
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> "mc" <rzbj70@qwest.net> wrote in message
>> news:1136778209.527465.177060@g49g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
>> > It's been snowing lightly all day (Twin Cities MN) and is very
>> > slippery. On the way from a friend's house tonight around 7pm I saw a
>> > vehicle 70 feet off the road in a farmer's field. It was a 70yr old
>> > man and his wife in a four wheel drive Ford Ranger with a 9000lb Warn
>> > on the front. He had misjudged the sweeping curve going down a hill
>> > and had driven through the shallow ditch and out into the field for a
>> > couple hundred feet. My guess is we was going a bit too fast. I
>> > stopped and offered assistance even though they had already called a
>> > tow truck. He took me up on the offer.
>> >
>> > Fortunately he had came to a stop opposite an access path over the
>> > ditch. I walked out through the snow (9-12 inches) to pick up his
>> > hook. The field had been plowed so the ridges created another
>> > obstacle. I hooked up to my front hooks and gave him the go signal.
>> > As he came to each ridge the resistance pulled my Jeep further across
>> > the access path. Eventually I had to back out onto the road (rural,
>> > lightly traveled) to have enough traction for him to pull through the
>> > drift created by the plows. All told it took about thirty minutes.
>> > Who knows how long it would have taken a tow truck to get there just to
>> > do the same thing.
>> >
>> > He offered money but I passed. I mentioned that he got his money's
>> > worth out of the winch and he agreed.
>> >
>> > This is only the second time I've ever assisted a recovery and the
>> > first time in snow. I doubt it would have been successful if his
>> > vehicle had weighed more than my Jeep.
>> >
>> > mc
>> > 98 TJ Sport
>> >
>>
>>
>
>

billy ray

I had a charge for a 3 mile tow (hook not flatbed) about 10 years ago that
was $75 on a Friday evening (5-6 PM). The garage charged be $65 diagnostic
and $235 for repairs of which $120 was parts.

I have no qualms with the diagnostic charge as I had no clue what the
problem was.

On Monday evening when I picked up my car I stopped at the local Auto Parts
store to get some oil and a filter and while I was there I chatted with the
counterman about the repairs that had been made. (I had lived in the
neighborhood several years prior and was a regular in his shop)

He commented that the repair was fairly common and straightforward for a
mechanic (which I am not) but one of the involved components was not in
existence when I took auto-shop decades before.

Anyway.......... I asked about the cost of the parts replaced and was told
the retail on the parts was about $25. I commented that perhaps he went to
the dealership for my T-Bird parts but was told that the parts came from
that parts house and the repair shop received a discount.

I was somewhat taken aback as while I had never used this particular shop
before and therefore they did not know me. I had always heard that they had
a good reputation in the neighborhood at what I assumed were reasonable
rates.(remember I used to live two streets away)

I remember laughing at the markup and was the reminded that the shop did not
pay retail, they got a commercial discount. I was now doubly taken aback.

Misc comments....... You will recall I mentioned I used to live a couple
streets over....... I was in the area picking up my kidlettes. I had moved a
few miles north of the river and now had license plates from an adjoining
state.

Lets delineate:
Tow charge of $75: My next tow was 12 miles for my daughter's Cougar (had a
suspension failure) was $35 this tow was $40 more for 1/3 the distance
Diagnostic Charge of $65: I have no complaint with this as I was paying for
the mechanics knowledge and experience.
Parts Charge of $120: Adding a markup of $95 to $20 worth of parts (and
remember he did not actually pay that much) seems excessive
Labor Charge of $115: Counter man estimated actual repair time of 15-20
minutes after diagnosis

I have absolutely no problem with someone making an honest profit, you can't
operate a business at cost or a loss but obscene profits is another matter.


"Earle Horton" <NurseBustersNoSpam@msn.com> wrote in message
news:43c25daa$0$10306$a82e2bb9@reader.athenanews.c om...
>I don't know if "inflated tow costs" is exactly fair, although I too hate
> paying them. Ever price a tow rig or the insurance to operate one?
>
> Earle
>
> "4X4PLAY" <jrhiltz@eastlink.ca> wrote in message
> news:wYswf.72799$AP5.67184@edtnps84...
>> Well done MC...you're a good boy scout! ;)
>> Here in Nova Scotia we normally get a lot of snow and is common practice
> for
>> guys in the club to assist those that go off the road... We have done it
>> enough that the tow truck companies have contacted the club and asked if
> we
>> pull over to help someone to please ask if a tow truck has been
> dispatched,
>> if so, we've been asked to leave it for the tow truck or at least have
>> the
>> customer call and cancel to save the driver from coming out for
> nothing...I
>> think this is a fair deal as these guys are out there to make their
>> living...
>> I do agree though...if I see someone in the ditch, the reason I pull over
> is
>> to help and save the person from inflated tow costs...
>>
>> Jeff
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> "mc" <rzbj70@qwest.net> wrote in message
>> news:1136778209.527465.177060@g49g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
>> > It's been snowing lightly all day (Twin Cities MN) and is very
>> > slippery. On the way from a friend's house tonight around 7pm I saw a
>> > vehicle 70 feet off the road in a farmer's field. It was a 70yr old
>> > man and his wife in a four wheel drive Ford Ranger with a 9000lb Warn
>> > on the front. He had misjudged the sweeping curve going down a hill
>> > and had driven through the shallow ditch and out into the field for a
>> > couple hundred feet. My guess is we was going a bit too fast. I
>> > stopped and offered assistance even though they had already called a
>> > tow truck. He took me up on the offer.
>> >
>> > Fortunately he had came to a stop opposite an access path over the
>> > ditch. I walked out through the snow (9-12 inches) to pick up his
>> > hook. The field had been plowed so the ridges created another
>> > obstacle. I hooked up to my front hooks and gave him the go signal.
>> > As he came to each ridge the resistance pulled my Jeep further across
>> > the access path. Eventually I had to back out onto the road (rural,
>> > lightly traveled) to have enough traction for him to pull through the
>> > drift created by the plows. All told it took about thirty minutes.
>> > Who knows how long it would have taken a tow truck to get there just to
>> > do the same thing.
>> >
>> > He offered money but I passed. I mentioned that he got his money's
>> > worth out of the winch and he agreed.
>> >
>> > This is only the second time I've ever assisted a recovery and the
>> > first time in snow. I doubt it would have been successful if his
>> > vehicle had weighed more than my Jeep.
>> >
>> > mc
>> > 98 TJ Sport
>> >
>>
>>
>
>

billy ray

I had a charge for a 3 mile tow (hook not flatbed) about 10 years ago that
was $75 on a Friday evening (5-6 PM). The garage charged be $65 diagnostic
and $235 for repairs of which $120 was parts.

I have no qualms with the diagnostic charge as I had no clue what the
problem was.

On Monday evening when I picked up my car I stopped at the local Auto Parts
store to get some oil and a filter and while I was there I chatted with the
counterman about the repairs that had been made. (I had lived in the
neighborhood several years prior and was a regular in his shop)

He commented that the repair was fairly common and straightforward for a
mechanic (which I am not) but one of the involved components was not in
existence when I took auto-shop decades before.

Anyway.......... I asked about the cost of the parts replaced and was told
the retail on the parts was about $25. I commented that perhaps he went to
the dealership for my T-Bird parts but was told that the parts came from
that parts house and the repair shop received a discount.

I was somewhat taken aback as while I had never used this particular shop
before and therefore they did not know me. I had always heard that they had
a good reputation in the neighborhood at what I assumed were reasonable
rates.(remember I used to live two streets away)

I remember laughing at the markup and was the reminded that the shop did not
pay retail, they got a commercial discount. I was now doubly taken aback.

Misc comments....... You will recall I mentioned I used to live a couple
streets over....... I was in the area picking up my kidlettes. I had moved a
few miles north of the river and now had license plates from an adjoining
state.

Lets delineate:
Tow charge of $75: My next tow was 12 miles for my daughter's Cougar (had a
suspension failure) was $35 this tow was $40 more for 1/3 the distance
Diagnostic Charge of $65: I have no complaint with this as I was paying for
the mechanics knowledge and experience.
Parts Charge of $120: Adding a markup of $95 to $20 worth of parts (and
remember he did not actually pay that much) seems excessive
Labor Charge of $115: Counter man estimated actual repair time of 15-20
minutes after diagnosis

I have absolutely no problem with someone making an honest profit, you can't
operate a business at cost or a loss but obscene profits is another matter.


"Earle Horton" <NurseBustersNoSpam@msn.com> wrote in message
news:43c25daa$0$10306$a82e2bb9@reader.athenanews.c om...
>I don't know if "inflated tow costs" is exactly fair, although I too hate
> paying them. Ever price a tow rig or the insurance to operate one?
>
> Earle
>
> "4X4PLAY" <jrhiltz@eastlink.ca> wrote in message
> news:wYswf.72799$AP5.67184@edtnps84...
>> Well done MC...you're a good boy scout! ;)
>> Here in Nova Scotia we normally get a lot of snow and is common practice
> for
>> guys in the club to assist those that go off the road... We have done it
>> enough that the tow truck companies have contacted the club and asked if
> we
>> pull over to help someone to please ask if a tow truck has been
> dispatched,
>> if so, we've been asked to leave it for the tow truck or at least have
>> the
>> customer call and cancel to save the driver from coming out for
> nothing...I
>> think this is a fair deal as these guys are out there to make their
>> living...
>> I do agree though...if I see someone in the ditch, the reason I pull over
> is
>> to help and save the person from inflated tow costs...
>>
>> Jeff
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> "mc" <rzbj70@qwest.net> wrote in message
>> news:1136778209.527465.177060@g49g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
>> > It's been snowing lightly all day (Twin Cities MN) and is very
>> > slippery. On the way from a friend's house tonight around 7pm I saw a
>> > vehicle 70 feet off the road in a farmer's field. It was a 70yr old
>> > man and his wife in a four wheel drive Ford Ranger with a 9000lb Warn
>> > on the front. He had misjudged the sweeping curve going down a hill
>> > and had driven through the shallow ditch and out into the field for a
>> > couple hundred feet. My guess is we was going a bit too fast. I
>> > stopped and offered assistance even though they had already called a
>> > tow truck. He took me up on the offer.
>> >
>> > Fortunately he had came to a stop opposite an access path over the
>> > ditch. I walked out through the snow (9-12 inches) to pick up his
>> > hook. The field had been plowed so the ridges created another
>> > obstacle. I hooked up to my front hooks and gave him the go signal.
>> > As he came to each ridge the resistance pulled my Jeep further across
>> > the access path. Eventually I had to back out onto the road (rural,
>> > lightly traveled) to have enough traction for him to pull through the
>> > drift created by the plows. All told it took about thirty minutes.
>> > Who knows how long it would have taken a tow truck to get there just to
>> > do the same thing.
>> >
>> > He offered money but I passed. I mentioned that he got his money's
>> > worth out of the winch and he agreed.
>> >
>> > This is only the second time I've ever assisted a recovery and the
>> > first time in snow. I doubt it would have been successful if his
>> > vehicle had weighed more than my Jeep.
>> >
>> > mc
>> > 98 TJ Sport
>> >
>>
>>
>
>

Earle Horton

Billy Ray,

If it weren't for obscene profits charged by Gates & Co., I would still be
working, or I would have had to come up with my own scam. ;^)

All seriousness aside, at least part of the blame for this sort of thing has
to be placed at the doorstep of the uninformed consumer, who refuses to
become educated, even to the extent of being able to comparison shop
intelligently.

Earle

"billy ray" <billy_ray@fuseSPAM.net> wrote in message
news:6f859$43c2a512$4831b233$18672@FUSE.NET...
> I had a charge for a 3 mile tow (hook not flatbed) about 10 years ago that
> was $75 on a Friday evening (5-6 PM). The garage charged be $65
diagnostic
> and $235 for repairs of which $120 was parts.
>
> I have no qualms with the diagnostic charge as I had no clue what the
> problem was.
>
> On Monday evening when I picked up my car I stopped at the local Auto
Parts
> store to get some oil and a filter and while I was there I chatted with
the
> counterman about the repairs that had been made. (I had lived in the
> neighborhood several years prior and was a regular in his shop)
>
> He commented that the repair was fairly common and straightforward for a
> mechanic (which I am not) but one of the involved components was not in
> existence when I took auto-shop decades before.
>
> Anyway.......... I asked about the cost of the parts replaced and was told
> the retail on the parts was about $25. I commented that perhaps he went
to
> the dealership for my T-Bird parts but was told that the parts came from
> that parts house and the repair shop received a discount.
>
> I was somewhat taken aback as while I had never used this particular shop
> before and therefore they did not know me. I had always heard that they
had
> a good reputation in the neighborhood at what I assumed were reasonable
> rates.(remember I used to live two streets away)
>
> I remember laughing at the markup and was the reminded that the shop did
not
> pay retail, they got a commercial discount. I was now doubly taken aback.
>
> Misc comments....... You will recall I mentioned I used to live a couple
> streets over....... I was in the area picking up my kidlettes. I had moved
a
> few miles north of the river and now had license plates from an adjoining
> state.
>
> Lets delineate:
> Tow charge of $75: My next tow was 12 miles for my daughter's Cougar (had
a
> suspension failure) was $35 this tow was $40 more for 1/3 the distance
> Diagnostic Charge of $65: I have no complaint with this as I was paying
for
> the mechanics knowledge and experience.
> Parts Charge of $120: Adding a markup of $95 to $20 worth of parts (and
> remember he did not actually pay that much) seems excessive
> Labor Charge of $115: Counter man estimated actual repair time of 15-20
> minutes after diagnosis
>
> I have absolutely no problem with someone making an honest profit, you
can't
> operate a business at cost or a loss but obscene profits is another
matter.
>
>
> "Earle Horton" <NurseBustersNoSpam@msn.com> wrote in message
> news:43c25daa$0$10306$a82e2bb9@reader.athenanews.c om...
> >I don't know if "inflated tow costs" is exactly fair, although I too hate
> > paying them. Ever price a tow rig or the insurance to operate one?
> >
> > Earle
> >
> > "4X4PLAY" <jrhiltz@eastlink.ca> wrote in message
> > news:wYswf.72799$AP5.67184@edtnps84...
> >> Well done MC...you're a good boy scout! ;)
> >> Here in Nova Scotia we normally get a lot of snow and is common
practice
> > for
> >> guys in the club to assist those that go off the road... We have done
it
> >> enough that the tow truck companies have contacted the club and asked
if
> > we
> >> pull over to help someone to please ask if a tow truck has been
> > dispatched,
> >> if so, we've been asked to leave it for the tow truck or at least have
> >> the
> >> customer call and cancel to save the driver from coming out for
> > nothing...I
> >> think this is a fair deal as these guys are out there to make their
> >> living...
> >> I do agree though...if I see someone in the ditch, the reason I pull
over
> > is
> >> to help and save the person from inflated tow costs...
> >>
> >> Jeff
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> "mc" <rzbj70@qwest.net> wrote in message
> >> news:1136778209.527465.177060@g49g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
> >> > It's been snowing lightly all day (Twin Cities MN) and is very
> >> > slippery. On the way from a friend's house tonight around 7pm I saw
a
> >> > vehicle 70 feet off the road in a farmer's field. It was a 70yr old
> >> > man and his wife in a four wheel drive Ford Ranger with a 9000lb Warn
> >> > on the front. He had misjudged the sweeping curve going down a hill
> >> > and had driven through the shallow ditch and out into the field for a
> >> > couple hundred feet. My guess is we was going a bit too fast. I
> >> > stopped and offered assistance even though they had already called a
> >> > tow truck. He took me up on the offer.
> >> >
> >> > Fortunately he had came to a stop opposite an access path over the
> >> > ditch. I walked out through the snow (9-12 inches) to pick up his
> >> > hook. The field had been plowed so the ridges created another
> >> > obstacle. I hooked up to my front hooks and gave him the go signal.
> >> > As he came to each ridge the resistance pulled my Jeep further across
> >> > the access path. Eventually I had to back out onto the road (rural,
> >> > lightly traveled) to have enough traction for him to pull through the
> >> > drift created by the plows. All told it took about thirty minutes.
> >> > Who knows how long it would have taken a tow truck to get there just
to
> >> > do the same thing.
> >> >
> >> > He offered money but I passed. I mentioned that he got his money's
> >> > worth out of the winch and he agreed.
> >> >
> >> > This is only the second time I've ever assisted a recovery and the
> >> > first time in snow. I doubt it would have been successful if his
> >> > vehicle had weighed more than my Jeep.
> >> >
> >> > mc
> >> > 98 TJ Sport
> >> >
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
>
>

Earle Horton

Billy Ray,

If it weren't for obscene profits charged by Gates & Co., I would still be
working, or I would have had to come up with my own scam. ;^)

All seriousness aside, at least part of the blame for this sort of thing has
to be placed at the doorstep of the uninformed consumer, who refuses to
become educated, even to the extent of being able to comparison shop
intelligently.

Earle

"billy ray" <billy_ray@fuseSPAM.net> wrote in message
news:6f859$43c2a512$4831b233$18672@FUSE.NET...
> I had a charge for a 3 mile tow (hook not flatbed) about 10 years ago that
> was $75 on a Friday evening (5-6 PM). The garage charged be $65
diagnostic
> and $235 for repairs of which $120 was parts.
>
> I have no qualms with the diagnostic charge as I had no clue what the
> problem was.
>
> On Monday evening when I picked up my car I stopped at the local Auto
Parts
> store to get some oil and a filter and while I was there I chatted with
the
> counterman about the repairs that had been made. (I had lived in the
> neighborhood several years prior and was a regular in his shop)
>
> He commented that the repair was fairly common and straightforward for a
> mechanic (which I am not) but one of the involved components was not in
> existence when I took auto-shop decades before.
>
> Anyway.......... I asked about the cost of the parts replaced and was told
> the retail on the parts was about $25. I commented that perhaps he went
to
> the dealership for my T-Bird parts but was told that the parts came from
> that parts house and the repair shop received a discount.
>
> I was somewhat taken aback as while I had never used this particular shop
> before and therefore they did not know me. I had always heard that they
had
> a good reputation in the neighborhood at what I assumed were reasonable
> rates.(remember I used to live two streets away)
>
> I remember laughing at the markup and was the reminded that the shop did
not
> pay retail, they got a commercial discount. I was now doubly taken aback.
>
> Misc comments....... You will recall I mentioned I used to live a couple
> streets over....... I was in the area picking up my kidlettes. I had moved
a
> few miles north of the river and now had license plates from an adjoining
> state.
>
> Lets delineate:
> Tow charge of $75: My next tow was 12 miles for my daughter's Cougar (had
a
> suspension failure) was $35 this tow was $40 more for 1/3 the distance
> Diagnostic Charge of $65: I have no complaint with this as I was paying
for
> the mechanics knowledge and experience.
> Parts Charge of $120: Adding a markup of $95 to $20 worth of parts (and
> remember he did not actually pay that much) seems excessive
> Labor Charge of $115: Counter man estimated actual repair time of 15-20
> minutes after diagnosis
>
> I have absolutely no problem with someone making an honest profit, you
can't
> operate a business at cost or a loss but obscene profits is another
matter.
>
>
> "Earle Horton" <NurseBustersNoSpam@msn.com> wrote in message
> news:43c25daa$0$10306$a82e2bb9@reader.athenanews.c om...
> >I don't know if "inflated tow costs" is exactly fair, although I too hate
> > paying them. Ever price a tow rig or the insurance to operate one?
> >
> > Earle
> >
> > "4X4PLAY" <jrhiltz@eastlink.ca> wrote in message
> > news:wYswf.72799$AP5.67184@edtnps84...
> >> Well done MC...you're a good boy scout! ;)
> >> Here in Nova Scotia we normally get a lot of snow and is common
practice
> > for
> >> guys in the club to assist those that go off the road... We have done
it
> >> enough that the tow truck companies have contacted the club and asked
if
> > we
> >> pull over to help someone to please ask if a tow truck has been
> > dispatched,
> >> if so, we've been asked to leave it for the tow truck or at least have
> >> the
> >> customer call and cancel to save the driver from coming out for
> > nothing...I
> >> think this is a fair deal as these guys are out there to make their
> >> living...
> >> I do agree though...if I see someone in the ditch, the reason I pull
over
> > is
> >> to help and save the person from inflated tow costs...
> >>
> >> Jeff
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> "mc" <rzbj70@qwest.net> wrote in message
> >> news:1136778209.527465.177060@g49g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
> >> > It's been snowing lightly all day (Twin Cities MN) and is very
> >> > slippery. On the way from a friend's house tonight around 7pm I saw
a
> >> > vehicle 70 feet off the road in a farmer's field. It was a 70yr old
> >> > man and his wife in a four wheel drive Ford Ranger with a 9000lb Warn
> >> > on the front. He had misjudged the sweeping curve going down a hill
> >> > and had driven through the shallow ditch and out into the field for a
> >> > couple hundred feet. My guess is we was going a bit too fast. I
> >> > stopped and offered assistance even though they had already called a
> >> > tow truck. He took me up on the offer.
> >> >
> >> > Fortunately he had came to a stop opposite an access path over the
> >> > ditch. I walked out through the snow (9-12 inches) to pick up his
> >> > hook. The field had been plowed so the ridges created another
> >> > obstacle. I hooked up to my front hooks and gave him the go signal.
> >> > As he came to each ridge the resistance pulled my Jeep further across
> >> > the access path. Eventually I had to back out onto the road (rural,
> >> > lightly traveled) to have enough traction for him to pull through the
> >> > drift created by the plows. All told it took about thirty minutes.
> >> > Who knows how long it would have taken a tow truck to get there just
to
> >> > do the same thing.
> >> >
> >> > He offered money but I passed. I mentioned that he got his money's
> >> > worth out of the winch and he agreed.
> >> >
> >> > This is only the second time I've ever assisted a recovery and the
> >> > first time in snow. I doubt it would have been successful if his
> >> > vehicle had weighed more than my Jeep.
> >> >
> >> > mc
> >> > 98 TJ Sport
> >> >
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
>
>

Earle Horton

Billy Ray,

If it weren't for obscene profits charged by Gates & Co., I would still be
working, or I would have had to come up with my own scam. ;^)

All seriousness aside, at least part of the blame for this sort of thing has
to be placed at the doorstep of the uninformed consumer, who refuses to
become educated, even to the extent of being able to comparison shop
intelligently.

Earle

"billy ray" <billy_ray@fuseSPAM.net> wrote in message
news:6f859$43c2a512$4831b233$18672@FUSE.NET...
> I had a charge for a 3 mile tow (hook not flatbed) about 10 years ago that
> was $75 on a Friday evening (5-6 PM). The garage charged be $65
diagnostic
> and $235 for repairs of which $120 was parts.
>
> I have no qualms with the diagnostic charge as I had no clue what the
> problem was.
>
> On Monday evening when I picked up my car I stopped at the local Auto
Parts
> store to get some oil and a filter and while I was there I chatted with
the
> counterman about the repairs that had been made. (I had lived in the
> neighborhood several years prior and was a regular in his shop)
>
> He commented that the repair was fairly common and straightforward for a
> mechanic (which I am not) but one of the involved components was not in
> existence when I took auto-shop decades before.
>
> Anyway.......... I asked about the cost of the parts replaced and was told
> the retail on the parts was about $25. I commented that perhaps he went
to
> the dealership for my T-Bird parts but was told that the parts came from
> that parts house and the repair shop received a discount.
>
> I was somewhat taken aback as while I had never used this particular shop
> before and therefore they did not know me. I had always heard that they
had
> a good reputation in the neighborhood at what I assumed were reasonable
> rates.(remember I used to live two streets away)
>
> I remember laughing at the markup and was the reminded that the shop did
not
> pay retail, they got a commercial discount. I was now doubly taken aback.
>
> Misc comments....... You will recall I mentioned I used to live a couple
> streets over....... I was in the area picking up my kidlettes. I had moved
a
> few miles north of the river and now had license plates from an adjoining
> state.
>
> Lets delineate:
> Tow charge of $75: My next tow was 12 miles for my daughter's Cougar (had
a
> suspension failure) was $35 this tow was $40 more for 1/3 the distance
> Diagnostic Charge of $65: I have no complaint with this as I was paying
for
> the mechanics knowledge and experience.
> Parts Charge of $120: Adding a markup of $95 to $20 worth of parts (and
> remember he did not actually pay that much) seems excessive
> Labor Charge of $115: Counter man estimated actual repair time of 15-20
> minutes after diagnosis
>
> I have absolutely no problem with someone making an honest profit, you
can't
> operate a business at cost or a loss but obscene profits is another
matter.
>
>
> "Earle Horton" <NurseBustersNoSpam@msn.com> wrote in message
> news:43c25daa$0$10306$a82e2bb9@reader.athenanews.c om...
> >I don't know if "inflated tow costs" is exactly fair, although I too hate
> > paying them. Ever price a tow rig or the insurance to operate one?
> >
> > Earle
> >
> > "4X4PLAY" <jrhiltz@eastlink.ca> wrote in message
> > news:wYswf.72799$AP5.67184@edtnps84...
> >> Well done MC...you're a good boy scout! ;)
> >> Here in Nova Scotia we normally get a lot of snow and is common
practice
> > for
> >> guys in the club to assist those that go off the road... We have done
it
> >> enough that the tow truck companies have contacted the club and asked
if
> > we
> >> pull over to help someone to please ask if a tow truck has been
> > dispatched,
> >> if so, we've been asked to leave it for the tow truck or at least have
> >> the
> >> customer call and cancel to save the driver from coming out for
> > nothing...I
> >> think this is a fair deal as these guys are out there to make their
> >> living...
> >> I do agree though...if I see someone in the ditch, the reason I pull
over
> > is
> >> to help and save the person from inflated tow costs...
> >>
> >> Jeff
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> "mc" <rzbj70@qwest.net> wrote in message
> >> news:1136778209.527465.177060@g49g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
> >> > It's been snowing lightly all day (Twin Cities MN) and is very
> >> > slippery. On the way from a friend's house tonight around 7pm I saw
a
> >> > vehicle 70 feet off the road in a farmer's field. It was a 70yr old
> >> > man and his wife in a four wheel drive Ford Ranger with a 9000lb Warn
> >> > on the front. He had misjudged the sweeping curve going down a hill
> >> > and had driven through the shallow ditch and out into the field for a
> >> > couple hundred feet. My guess is we was going a bit too fast. I
> >> > stopped and offered assistance even though they had already called a
> >> > tow truck. He took me up on the offer.
> >> >
> >> > Fortunately he had came to a stop opposite an access path over the
> >> > ditch. I walked out through the snow (9-12 inches) to pick up his
> >> > hook. The field had been plowed so the ridges created another
> >> > obstacle. I hooked up to my front hooks and gave him the go signal.
> >> > As he came to each ridge the resistance pulled my Jeep further across
> >> > the access path. Eventually I had to back out onto the road (rural,
> >> > lightly traveled) to have enough traction for him to pull through the
> >> > drift created by the plows. All told it took about thirty minutes.
> >> > Who knows how long it would have taken a tow truck to get there just
to
> >> > do the same thing.
> >> >
> >> > He offered money but I passed. I mentioned that he got his money's
> >> > worth out of the winch and he agreed.
> >> >
> >> > This is only the second time I've ever assisted a recovery and the
> >> > first time in snow. I doubt it would have been successful if his
> >> > vehicle had weighed more than my Jeep.
> >> >
> >> > mc
> >> > 98 TJ Sport
> >> >
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
>
>

Lee Ayrton

Although, to be fair, it is a little hard to comparison shop while your
ride is being dragged by a hook.



Earle Horton wrote:
> Billy Ray,
>
> If it weren't for obscene profits charged by Gates & Co., I would still be
> working, or I would have had to come up with my own scam. ;^)
>
> All seriousness aside, at least part of the blame for this sort of thing has
> to be placed at the doorstep of the uninformed consumer, who refuses to
> become educated, even to the extent of being able to comparison shop
> intelligently.
>
> Earle
>
> "billy ray" <billy_ray@fuseSPAM.net> wrote in message
> news:6f859$43c2a512$4831b233$18672@FUSE.NET...
>
>>I had a charge for a 3 mile tow (hook not flatbed) about 10 years ago that
>>was $75 on a Friday evening (5-6 PM). The garage charged be $65
>
> diagnostic
>
>>and $235 for repairs of which $120 was parts.
>>
>>I have no qualms with the diagnostic charge as I had no clue what the
>>problem was.
>>
>>On Monday evening when I picked up my car I stopped at the local Auto
>
> Parts
>
>>store to get some oil and a filter and while I was there I chatted with
>
> the
>
>>counterman about the repairs that had been made. (I had lived in the
>>neighborhood several years prior and was a regular in his shop)
>>
>>He commented that the repair was fairly common and straightforward for a
>>mechanic (which I am not) but one of the involved components was not in
>>existence when I took auto-shop decades before.
>>
>>Anyway.......... I asked about the cost of the parts replaced and was told
>>the retail on the parts was about $25. I commented that perhaps he went
>
> to
>
>>the dealership for my T-Bird parts but was told that the parts came from
>>that parts house and the repair shop received a discount.
>>
>>I was somewhat taken aback as while I had never used this particular shop
>>before and therefore they did not know me. I had always heard that they
>
> had
>
>>a good reputation in the neighborhood at what I assumed were reasonable
>>rates.(remember I used to live two streets away)
>>
>>I remember laughing at the markup and was the reminded that the shop did
>
> not
>
>>pay retail, they got a commercial discount. I was now doubly taken aback.
>>
>>Misc comments....... You will recall I mentioned I used to live a couple
>>streets over....... I was in the area picking up my kidlettes. I had moved
>
> a
>
>>few miles north of the river and now had license plates from an adjoining
>>state.
>>
>>Lets delineate:
>>Tow charge of $75: My next tow was 12 miles for my daughter's Cougar (had
>
> a
>
>>suspension failure) was $35 this tow was $40 more for 1/3 the distance
>>Diagnostic Charge of $65: I have no complaint with this as I was paying
>
> for
>
>>the mechanics knowledge and experience.
>>Parts Charge of $120: Adding a markup of $95 to $20 worth of parts (and
>>remember he did not actually pay that much) seems excessive
>>Labor Charge of $115: Counter man estimated actual repair time of 15-20
>>minutes after diagnosis
>>
>>I have absolutely no problem with someone making an honest profit, you
>
> can't
>
>>operate a business at cost or a loss but obscene profits is another
>
> matter.
>
>>
>>"Earle Horton" <NurseBustersNoSpam@msn.com> wrote in message
>>news:43c25daa$0$10306$a82e2bb9@reader.athenanews .com...
>>
>>>I don't know if "inflated tow costs" is exactly fair, although I too hate
>>>paying them. Ever price a tow rig or the insurance to operate one?
>>>
>>>Earle
>>>
>>>"4X4PLAY" <jrhiltz@eastlink.ca> wrote in message
>>>news:wYswf.72799$AP5.67184@edtnps84...
>>>
>>>>Well done MC...you're a good boy scout! ;)
>>>>Here in Nova Scotia we normally get a lot of snow and is common
>
> practice
>
>>>for
>>>
>>>>guys in the club to assist those that go off the road... We have done
>
> it
>
>>>>enough that the tow truck companies have contacted the club and asked
>
> if
>
>>>we
>>>
>>>>pull over to help someone to please ask if a tow truck has been
>>>
>>>dispatched,
>>>
>>>>if so, we've been asked to leave it for the tow truck or at least have
>>>>the
>>>>customer call and cancel to save the driver from coming out for
>>>
>>>nothing...I
>>>
>>>>think this is a fair deal as these guys are out there to make their
>>>>living...
>>>>I do agree though...if I see someone in the ditch, the reason I pull
>
> over
>
>>>is
>>>
>>>>to help and save the person from inflated tow costs...
>>>>
>>>>Jeff
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>"mc" <rzbj70@qwest.net> wrote in message
>>>>news:1136778209.527465.177060@g49g2000cwa.goog legroups.com...
>>>>
>>>>>It's been snowing lightly all day (Twin Cities MN) and is very
>>>>>slippery. On the way from a friend's house tonight around 7pm I saw
>
> a
>
>>>>>vehicle 70 feet off the road in a farmer's field. It was a 70yr old
>>>>>man and his wife in a four wheel drive Ford Ranger with a 9000lb Warn
>>>>>on the front. He had misjudged the sweeping curve going down a hill
>>>>>and had driven through the shallow ditch and out into the field for a
>>>>>couple hundred feet. My guess is we was going a bit too fast. I
>>>>>stopped and offered assistance even though they had already called a
>>>>>tow truck. He took me up on the offer.
>>>>>
>>>>>Fortunately he had came to a stop opposite an access path over the
>>>>>ditch. I walked out through the snow (9-12 inches) to pick up his
>>>>>hook. The field had been plowed so the ridges created another
>>>>>obstacle. I hooked up to my front hooks and gave him the go signal.
>>>>>As he came to each ridge the resistance pulled my Jeep further across
>>>>>the access path. Eventually I had to back out onto the road (rural,
>>>>>lightly traveled) to have enough traction for him to pull through the
>>>>>drift created by the plows. All told it took about thirty minutes.
>>>>>Who knows how long it would have taken a tow truck to get there just
>
> to
>
>>>>>do the same thing.
>>>>>
>>>>>He offered money but I passed. I mentioned that he got his money's
>>>>>worth out of the winch and he agreed.
>>>>>
>>>>>This is only the second time I've ever assisted a recovery and the
>>>>>first time in snow. I doubt it would have been successful if his
>>>>>vehicle had weighed more than my Jeep.
>>>>>
>>>>>mc
>>>>>98 TJ Sport
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>
>
>