Information # 1 - Negotiating # 1

How to get somewhere negotiating / complaining to a company.

Over the years I have had good success at this. I will give you examples and try to remember the steps it took to acheive my goal.

# 1. How about getting 5 new tires for a Thunderbird for 50 bucks (by the way it was 40 years ago). the process is still the same but the math would be about 150 bucks today) - still good?
Steps to follow.

The above originates from my website www.barrysplacecanada.com

I think it was a 1975 Thunderbird. I loved it until I was driving 4 clients around Toronto looking at bands that I was trying to interest them in to hire. I had my entertainment business at the time. While going to the last one about 11 pm on Highway 401 (an expressway) the entire side of a tire BLEW out with 7 holes. No one was hurt but it sure ruined the rest of the evening and sale of the band.
Upon arriving back to Windsor I started my Firestone tire saga.

Step 1. I called the local store where they were purchased to be told that the damage would have been caused by normal wear and there was nothing they could do. The tires were about 2 years old.

Step 2. I asked for the manager who basically said the same thing.

Step 3. After being referred to the regional manager and filing out some forms about driving habits (I drove so slow I once got in an argument with my mother about her speed on the way to my dad's funeral wake) - therefore not a chance)
and my home. I was told that since there was an alley behind my house, that would be the reason. (that would be the reason I guess if I dragged the car on it's side so the SIDE of the tires could be damaged - not a chance).

Step 4. It's head office time but you are probably bored, so it is simple. I had to write 2 or 3 letters to different levels of managers over about a 6 month period until I was finally informed that I would receive 5 new tires for a cost to me of
$50 in total.

I accepted. The lesson here is that I knew that none of this was my fault and that there was a weakness of some sort in the rubber. I was polite (sometimes a little sarcastic maybe) and persistant and they realized I was not giving up.

Discussion # 1 - Sayings # 1 and 2

Where did it come from / what does it mean?

There are a lot of sayings out there ( which by the way are being DESTROYED daily by the unfortunate young people on TV). It's not their fault (entirely). Sayings get watered down and passed on poorly for two reasons. The person delivering badly and the person listening half-heartedly. Oh yeah let's not forget people's memory.

# 1. Seven come eleven.

# 2. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. (which is currently being used as an advertisement for the 'Antiques Traveling Roadshow' - I am happy they got it right).