I’m late for the Things I Learned carnival. Mostly because by Monday night I couldn’t pinpoint anything of interest that I’d learned this week.
That changed today my friends.
Today I learned that I’ve learned a lot in my life. Granted, it’s knowledge I’ve acquired over a lifetime, but only today did I realize how far I’ve come.
I picked my car up from the shop this afternoon. And then I met Jeff at the rental car place. When I got there he was inside turning over the cigarette smoke reekin’ piece o youknowwhat Dodge caravan that they’d so graciously charged us out the yingyang for. Upon exiting the building I stopped to admire the newly restored front bumper on my beloved (though formerly under appreciated) Odyssey. That unblemished bumper? It’s a thing of beauty. It made my heart skip.
Until.
Until my eyes landed on a sizable new dent in the front passenger door.
Of course I could barely contain my dialing fingers as they punched in the body shop’s number on my cell phone keypad. The owner told me to come right back so he could have a look.
Duh.
So back we went to the shop where we were greeted by a defensive shop owner and an even more defensive secretary. Why was the secretary defensive you ask? Because she’d been the one who checked me in two days before. Together we’d walked around my car and had identified all the little door dings and chips in the paint. She’d not made any notation of the big ‘ol dent in the door because she hadn’t seen it.
Neither had I.
Whether or not it was there is the question of the hour.
Not surprisingly the shop owners deny any responsibility. Not surprisingly I disagree.
Here’s where the learning curve comes in.
Not so long ago my combative self would have taken over. I’d likely have spouted off without thinking and threatened a lawsuit or something. Because I’m nothing if not level-headed.
I surprised myself this time though. There were no threats. No harsh words spoken in haste. Nothing that would have embarrassed me once my blood returned to its normal 98.6.
Jeff and I came to an agreement with the owner. They’re going to send a mobile dent repair guy out to our house tomorrow. He’s going to attempt a repair. The shop is going to split the cost with us.
Not exactly what I’d hoped for. It saves us the hassle and heartache of a lengthy battle though, so we agreed.
This probably seems like a no brainer to many of you. And me too, now. There was a time though when I would have vehemently denied any compromise and agreed only to what I believed was just.
But I’m tired of fighting.
So I sorta let them win. And only then did I realize that I win too.
Wish I’d learned this long ago.
Head over to Musings of a Housewife for more life lessons.
{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }
No exploding at anyone? Where’s the fun in that? Oh sure, you don’t have to leave your car at the shop any longer and the dent will get fixed. But what’s that when there’s a meltdown to be had?
I hope they can get the dent out…
I’m such the opposite. I hate confrontation and avoid it at all costs. I need to find a happy medium.
I’m with Kelly. I hate confrontation too. However, I applaud you for this one. I’d be peeved if I were you. I hope they can fix it for very little cost!!
I’m proud of you and what a life lesson! Glad you have your Odyssey back. My parents have one and I have a Pilot….love those Hondas!
While I am normally all for holding my temper, I could NOT have let that one go. They did the walkthrough, it wasn’t there – what’s to debate? I actually feel a bit miffed just thinking about it.
BUT, I wholeheartedly agree that sometimes it doesn’t matter who is right, peace is more important. :)
It’s a good compromise. I don’t think I’ve learned this yet. I would be angry about it. Especially seeing as how there is written proof, taken by the two of you, that the dent was previously not there.
But, I can also see how there is little to be gained from this other than a little extra dough. So is it worth getting into a tizzy over? Probably not.
In the end, I’m thinking you still win a little bit more because I’m guessing you won’t be going back to that body shop again.
Good for you. I usually avoid any confrontation but that big ol’ dent would have made my blood boil. You took the high road. PS: Next time take pictures.
What a good lesson! I hate confrontation at all costs. My blood would have been boiling!
Life is all about compromises, huh? I think when it matters most you don’t compromise…I am proud of you.
Congrats on your temper/judgement control.
Now you need to be wary of what ‘half” is.
It it indeed half or is it “all” or “most all” since the mobile dent guy is maybe a buddy of the body shop owner?
You are a bigger person than me. I would not have given in regarding the dent in the door. Well, maybe I would have, but I would have made a lot of noise first.
I wonder how many times I will put my email password in the website box on these comment forms before I remember that is not what goes there.
Nope. Not me. I’d still be there fighting. And popping my blood pressure meds.
How awful! I really hope that they are honest with you about the price for repairing the dent.
Good lesson to learn–and learning to keep one’s temper is a wonderful lesson.
Comprimise is aways good. It’s not nearly as fun as threats and harsh words, but in the end you showed your fantastic character. =)
I have gotten better with confrontation the older I get! ;)
I respect a good compromise if it keeps things from getting ugly. But I do think the purpose of their early inspection was to protect both of you from something like this. If it wasn’t written down, it didn’t exist before you dropped it off. I just don’t understand their logic of arguing that “you didn’t see it.” Um…neither did they, and that was the entire point of the inspection. Blech. I don’t blame you for being upset, but again, I think you handled it well.
I’m totally with you on this one. I think that sometimes we have an enlarged sense of justice and it’s hard when someone doesn’t get what they deserve. It can be a bitter pill to swallow, but I think it’s probably good for your kids to have seen how you compromised. :)