Karma (long)

DavidI · 07-14-2006, 04:44 PM

This is kind of funny.....A few weeks ago, my 10 year old son and his friend were riding their bikes near our home. My son accidently crashed into a parked 2005 S Type Jaguar parked on the street related thread. The driver side mirror was damaged and the back cover had popped off. It was nighttime, so I did not get a very good look at the damage.

The owner stopped parking the car on the street and stored it somewhere else since then.

I met with the owner and agreed to pay for the damage. He told me to only pay for the damaged mirror, not to worry about the slight ding near the site of impact. A few weeks go by with no word from the owner. I knocked on his door to check on an estimate and he told me that a discount price of $1700 was in order which included completely stripping, sanding, and respraying the door. I told him that was way too high and that I would take the car to a reputable shop (Kevin from this BBS) to get an estimate. I spoke to Kevin and he agreed to give me an estimate. The owner of the car said he was extremely busy and kept putting me off.

I set out in search of a new mirror, first from the Jaguar Dealership. The dealership wanted near $900 for the POS mirror! I posted the above linked thread and was directed to several sources. Through Moses, I found one on EBay in new condition for $340. The part number is correct and all is good to go. The seller also has the back cover in the correct color, Ebony Black, with a final price of $375. I mailed payment and did the research on how the mirror gets replaced.

I met with the owner to check out the damage in sunlight. The mirror had a slight crease in the plastic. There was no other damage to it. The back cover of the mirror had popped off, but the scratches appeared extremely superficial. I took possession of the back cover to see if the scratches could be rubbed out with compound. After 20 minutes of care, the finish was perfect! There was no hint of the scratch or damage at all. Too late though because I already order the new one. Cosmetically, the mirror did in fact need to be replaced. The glass was undamaged.

I told the owner that I purchased a new mirror as a replacement part. He told me that he had purchased a new mirror from the dealership at a discount price of $660 through a friend. I told him that I had not agreed for him to buy the new mirror for this price. At the start of the ordeal, I told him that I was going to find the mirror myself and get the damage repaired. As a side note, the owner purchased this mirror about 3 weeks ago and may not be able to return it.

In looking at the door ding, it is extremely shallow and the paint finish is undamaged. I am hiring a paintless dent remover to remove the ding on Tuesday with an estimate of about $100. The repair company is very reputable and was recommended by a friend. I am hoping that the repair can be done.

The total damage will most likely cost me about $500. I am doing the right thing by agreeing to pay for the damage that my son had done on this guy's car. It seems that the owner had tried to inflate the price and rip me off!

The karma part is that I think that it is funny that this guy tried to do me wrong and may be stuck with his $660 mirror.

It was an expensive lesson for my son. In retrospect, I should have called the local police and had a traffic collision report written. That way I would pay the deductable and be done with it. What do you guys think?

David

singpilot · 07-14-2006, 04:55 PM

Anyone that would buy a new Jaguar (Ford) already has Karma going against them.

Their actions here have sealed their fate. Hope their airbags work.

fastpat · 07-14-2006, 05:03 PM

The lesson is that no good deed, or attempted good deed, goes unpunished. Your statement in your last sentence is entirely correct, in my opinion.

legion · 07-14-2006, 05:08 PM

I had a similar incident a few weeks ago. I pulled my F150 into a parking space at work. (I pulled through an empty space so that the truck would be pointing out.) I looked to the right to grab my PDA and opened my door. Maybe 10 seconds had passed between when I shut off the engine and opened the door. I let the door go because no one was next to me...

Well, the metallic "thunk" caught be by surprise.

Someone had pulled right next to me...in an otherwise empty parking lot. A little red Dodge Neon SRT4.

I got out and waited for the lady driving the Neon to get out...

Her first words, "My husband is going to kill me."

Me: "Don't worry, I'll pay for it. You must have pulled in while I was opening my door (a statement I still stand by)."

Her: "I absolutely did not. Hold on..." (Nextels her husband.) "Hun, I just pulled into a parking space at work and the guy next to me dinged my door. What should I do?"

Husband over Nextel: "Tell him to f***ing pay for it!"

She ended up taking the car to a dentless repair place. I ended up paying her $75.

Funny thing is, she's just been assigned to one of my projects. She's an external project support person (basically takes notes at meetings and does other administrative things). Funny thing is, she spends all her time complaining loudly that she doesn't know how to do whatever task she has been assigned (like putting numbers in a spreadsheet). Our PM ends up doing her work, and she sits around and hangs out with floor support (people who get you paper clips and such). I don't think she'll be around long.

My point, I knew the lady I was dealing with was going to be a total *****, but I paid her anyway because it wasn't worth the hassle. In the end she didn't try to screw me (thankfully).

singpilot · 07-14-2006, 05:15 PM

She is in the middle of getting a karmic payback.

Her driving a Dodge Neon is evidence of a past indescretion.

You did the right thing.

HardDrive · 07-14-2006, 06:48 PM

David, it sounds like you handled it well.

The guy may have been trying to inflate the price, but he also just might be some bonehead that goes to the dealer for everything, and stupidly pays whatever they ask.

Oh Haha · 07-14-2006, 06:56 PM

Does the guy with the Jag know you are a cop? I mean, c'mon, how stupid do you have to be to try to swindle a lawman?!!!!

Maybe a taste of nightstick will change his mind?

Alright, I'm just kidding. (THAT's why I couldn't be a cop nowadays) I think you did the right thing, David.

DavidI · 07-14-2006, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Oh Haha
Does the guy with the Jag know you are a cop? I mean, c'mon, how stupid do you have to be to try to swindle a lawman?!!!!

Maybe a taste of nightstick will change his mind?

Alright, I'm just kidding. (THAT's why I couldn't be a cop nowadays) I think you did the right thing, David.

No, he does not know that I am a cop. I try to keep that part of me private because the stories begin once someone finds out what I do.....my brother's friend's sister's cousin was pulled over and arrested for no reason....blah blah blah.....

He seems like a guy who does not really know much about cars. The repair shop is probably playing him for a sucker, or at least that is what I hope to believe. Personally, I don't think I would try to have a a kid's family pay $1700 for something that was an accident. If it were intentional, that is different. To each is own though I guess. I'll make it right for him and have nothing to do with him after the deal is complete.

I believe that if you want to learn what a person's true character is, wait for a critical incident. The true person will be revealed when the "mask layers" are removed. This guy showed his character and I am showing mine.

David

artplumber · 07-14-2006, 07:34 PM

On the other hand, that "situation" is repeating right in front of me though at much lower total values. Acquaintance of mine has older Honda, gets backed into by a partyer at a neighbors house (as expected - while drunk). Guy agrees to pay (he's got no insurance) the estimate, but acquaintance goes down the road looking for a door from a junkyard and finds one for $500 less than the estimate. I suggest doing the right thing.... in one ear and out the other. Sometime Karma will come back to bite in the @ss....

Joeaksa · 07-15-2006, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by singpilot
Anyone that would buy a new Jaguar (Ford) already has Karma going against them.

Their actions here have sealed their fate. Hope their airbags work.

Michael,

Careful with your comments here!!!

Some of us have both Jaguars and 911's in their garage!

David,

I have found that karma is alive and well in the world, at least it has been with me. Doing things the right and honest way is easier in the long run for me...

Joe A

Howard Agency · 07-15-2006, 08:09 AM

Your actions are honorable. All parents should feel this responsible.

If you carry homeowners insurance, notify your agent. They will pick up the entire bill, no deductible.

scottmandue · 07-15-2006, 08:51 AM

David, you did the right thing.

Put the mirror back on ebay and see if you can recoup some of the cost.

MAYBE just maybe the Jag owner is just extremely anal and one of those "have everything done at the dealer" kind of guys.

Same thing happened to me, I was driving my big fat '94 Thunderbird down a narrow street where a guy parked a wide service truck and took out my rearveiw mirror and his tail light. It was very late so next morning I walked over to his house and knocked on his door told him I would pay for it and gave him my name, address, and phone number. He said It would be around $100 and this happens about once a month. Dealer wanted around $500 for a mirror for my car, I found a local warehouse that sold me one for $100 and installed it myself.

The guy never called me back but he did have a sixty foot speedboat in the driveway.

CJFusco · CJFusco's Garage

Working in an Italian restaurant, one night a family came in for dinner about five minutes before we lock the doors for the night (10pm weekdays, 11 on weekends). That in itself is annoying, because it means we will be at work until 45 minutes or so after we close instead of being able to leave right away, but company policy is that we take any tables up until closing time and give them the same service that we would treat a customer to at 6 or 7PM.

My friend Shannon, being the closing server for the night, took the table. The people were rude, condescending, never said please or thank you, etc. Now, a majority of the tables that come in just before closing are apologetic about staying so late - and believe me, this goes a long way to assauge the server's annoyance - and the ones that aren't are usually at least polite and tip well, recognizing that they are keeping the entire staff late. Usually it's no big deal. Staying late some times is part of our job, so we do it.

This table, however, not only treated Shannon like *****, but they took their sweet time, leaving well after an hour-and-a-half or so after closing time. There were no other tables in the restaurant at this point, but Shannon refused to let us turn up the house lights for cleaning, or turn off the music, because she was counting on the big tip (which late-comers usually leave) and didn't want to jeopardize it by making the table feel rushed.

So, the table leaves. We cast up the lights and put up the rest of the chairs. Shannon looks in the check presenter. Guess what they left her? A big fat ZERO was written in the tip line on the credit card slip. Needless to say, we were all upset. Hourly rate for most servers is about $5, most of our living wage coming from tips.

Well, she was upset, but life goes on. As we are getting ready to leave for the night, we look outside, and the family is still there in the parking lot.

Their brand new Mercedes SUV had a big ol' flat tire.

I have an air compressor and a can of fix-a-flat in the trunk of my Olds. Now, NORMALLY I would be the type to stop and lend a hand............

Drago · Drago's Garage

How did the kitchen guy get out there so quick with that chefs knife???

vash · vash's Garage

i bumped a POS integra once, took photos, left a note. the guy called and praised me for my honesty, and proceeded to give me an estimate for ALL the front end damage on his car. i mean, it was like i scratched over some of his previous scratches. i let insurance handle it from there. he got $1700 out of them. i will never leave a note again.

karma can kiss my ass. because the following week, somebody clipped my truck and left my bumper on the ground. no note.

CJFusco · CJFusco's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by Wayne at Pelican Parts
I always have wondered about that. When a restaurant closes at 10PM, does that mean they try to kick everyone out at 10PM, or the last person served has to be there before 10PM. Or, the kitchen closes at 10PM? I never know, and since I eat late all of the time, it has been a frequent problem in the past...

-Wayne

It just means they stop taking tables at 10PM. If you are there late, it's probably fine... just be nice and tip decently

Quote:

Originally posted by vash
i bumped a POS integra once, took photos, left a note. the guy called and praised me for my honesty, and proceeded to give me an estimate for ALL the front end damage on his car. i mean, it was like i scratched over some of his previous scratches. i let insurance handle it from there. he got $1700 out of them. i will never leave a note again.

Hmmm, I wonder what the chances are that someone else hit his car after you hit it and left the note?

Joeaksa · 07-16-2006, 04:55 AM

Agree with CJ. Its ok as long as you realize that you are keeping others from going home and unless they are difficult the tip is at least 20% when I leave.