Date:         Thu, 27 Jan 2000 09:20:19 -0600
Reply-To:     Chris Stinson <chstinson@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Chris Stinson <chstinson@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject:      Re: Credit Cards and Bad Vendors -- Bad Experience with AAA Int'l
              Transport
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Using credit cards to pay for goods/services from unfamiliar vendors is a
good idea... but don't do what I did, i.e., remind the vendor that you
*did* pay with a credit card (until you are at the point where you want to
challenge the quality of the goods/services).

I had a Karmann Ghia transported from California to Virginia by AAA
International Transport (based in Mesa, AZ... listed first on Yahoo's list
of auto transport companies).  Their contract truck/driver picked it up 10
days later than scheduled, carried it around the US (e.g., via New
Hampshire) for 14 days, and then refused to drop the car off any closer
than 40 or so miles to my home.  (Our contract did specify drop off at my
home and other auto transporters have had no trouble doing so before or
after).

I called AAA Int'l to complain about the driver's refusing to drop off the
car at my home (the driver was behind schedule and didn't want to take the
time to leave the interstate highways).  While I was talking to the owner
of AAA Int'l, I reminded him that I had paid with a credit card and
threatened to challange the charge through my credit card company.  Ha, ha!
He responded by "undoing" the credit card charge, declared the Karmann Ghia
"undrivable" (which added $200 to the shipping bill according to our
contract), and said the car would be delivered to my home only if I had our
originally-agreed-on $1100 + $200 "extra" in cash.  Doh!  I paid the $1300
cash to get the Karmann Ghia.  I'm sure I could have escalated this
somehow, but it wasn't worth the stomach acid that would generate.  Hope
you all can learn from my mistake!  I never was a good poker player either
and have once again been reminded... Don't show your hand until after all
the bidding is done.

Chris

Chris Stinson
Free Union, VA  22940

chstinson@earthlink.net