We then loaded up the car trunk with our massive pile of laundry and headed off to Maaco to get our *hopefully* last estimate. The estimate was given by a man who seemed perfectly willing to commit insurance fraud. When we first arrived
a sales associate came out to help us and started giving us an estimate. Almost immediately we were stolen by another sales associate who gave us two estimates after he found out that we were hit by someone and they were going to pay
for the damages. He asked us what our lowest estimate was, and we told him $2200. He then asked to see our high estimate and he basically wrote the same stuff down for the first estimate only it came out at (surprise, surprise) $2200! However,
he then gave us a second estimate, the one he called our real estimate and it came out at $1600...this real estimate was the one for us and the $2200 estimate was for the person who hit our car.
One estimate (the more expensive one) replaces the damaged parts and the other just cuts out the damaged part and splices in a new piece, so I guess it's not really insuerance fraud since if we were actually going to repair the car we would
replace the parts instead of have it repaired. Anyway, we brought the estimate to the people who hit our car and we *should* get our check tomorrow...
With that car problem taken care of we only had one left...
Our careful readers will ask themselves, "one left?? I thought they only had the dent..."
Well, careful reader, the second problem we have (current tense) with our car is pictured below. The cause? Well...
A certain someone who's name will be omitted to avoid any potential slander suits left the detergent cap off when he loaded the trunk with our clothes.
Hint: HIS name starts with "B" and rhymes with "hen." Anyway, it was weird because once we got back in the car after the estimate we were commenting on how much better our car smelled! Ben quickly tried to claim credit by saying that he had sprayed febreeze recently and that
was our accepted explanation. Anyway, we then went to borders to get GRE study materials for Ashley and then to Jamba Juice for a much needed "Mango Mantra." While in the parking lot, we decided to check on our laundry and this is when
the source of the "Clean, Fresh" smell was discovered (see picture below). It seems that 100 oz. of Tide goes a long way and makes quite a mess. We now are in a bit of a bind because:
A. We haven't seen any of those do-it-yourself carwashes here and
B. even if we could find one, the amount of foam created would be larger than the car itsself...
So if any of our devoted, intelligent, helpful readers have any ideas, let us know!
Anyway, we then went to the laundromat to buy a container of laundry detergent and wash/dry our clothes. When we got home we decided to take the detergent problem into our own hands. One and a half rolls of paper towels later we dried most
of it but left the attractive purple color. Actually the detergent seems to have removed the huge oil stain that was in the trunk beforehand. It seems somebody spilled a few quarts of oil in the trunk before we bought the car...perhaps
the next owner of this car will spill a lot of water in the trunk and the cycle of cleaning will come full circle, who knows??
Until tomorrow,
Ben & Ashley
P.S. If you are confused about insurance fraud perhaps this website will be informative...
Our beautiful trunk...
