posted 08-22-2002 08:14 PM                  

So, I call the local CarQuest dealer to order the lifetime guaranteed ceramic pads (manufactured by Raybestos, but guaranteed for life. I returned the PFC pads to Autozone, but they do have a good web site and excellent customer service). They'll be in the next day after 11. Not bad for ordering after 5 PM.

So I start prowlin' the POA, figure it's time to order those engine dress-up shimmers. Send an Email to Jay, just call me tomorrow for the charge card number (has everyone seen the certificate security problem using SSL? It's not so secure after all).

Next it's finally ordering time for those vinyl logos for the visor warning labels and a couple of yellow prowlers for the oversize truck flaps on the rear from Streamline Designs.

Next day, today, there's the call with Jay "Shimmers" Harris to give him the charge card number.

Then on to Youngblood Chrysler, Nissan, Kia in Springfield, MO, and ordered:
2 pair front flaps
2 pair rear flaps
4 secondary top latches
1 set YELLOW floor mats
1 Prowler-head key
1 extra transmitter.

And, while I was at it,
1 PT Cruiser key
1 PT Cruiser transmitter.

Interesting points:
- They say everything is readily available, including the YELLOW mats.
- The key was $7.50, cut to GRROWL's serial number (they're selling on Ebay for $10 BLANK).
- I also asked them to check if the wheel center caps are covered under Chrysler extended warranty, if not, throw in two of those.

THESE ARE THE GUYS RECOMMENDED BY STEVE METSCHERS THAT GIVE A 30% discount on repair parts, no shipping chgs, no tax. I bought a bumper from them in February, and they are GREEAT (who says I always complain?).

I'll let you know what they say about the wheel caps under the extended warrantee. I seem to have a thing about warrantees. I actually read them (yes, they're interesting).

SOOOoo, moving on, I go to pick up the brake pads.

"DO YOU HAVE ANOTHER CHARGE CARD? THE BANK WON'T APPROVE THIS ONE". What could the problem be? Have I failed to pay the bill? Have I been spending too much (on GRROWL)? What EXACTLY has the wife been doing 250 miles away?

SOOOoo, I get on the phone with the bank. It's the Fraud Prevention Unit. "We have noticed unusual purchasing activity in your account. Have you been to Florida today? Have you been to Missouri today? Have you bought gas in Blacksburg (250 miles away) today? Have you been in . . . . I only had one answer, "Have you ever heard of the Internet?"

How dare them, "potentially fraudulent purchasing activity" when I'm buying mods for GRROWL?

Consider yourselves warned.

-GRROWL

P.S. - Sorry, Jay. I think you're the only one that they bounced - just please resubmit. Thanks.

posted 08-22-2002 09:07 PM                  

God only knows why we love them!

------------------


Call 911 - there is a Prowler in my garage....
3.5 power packed POA hours daily, always with rock solid analysis of all the hot topics!

posted 08-23-2002 07:03 AM                    

Several of the purchases were called into AMEX because they were out of the norm for me (I typically only buy 5-10 wigs )

Anyway, when they spoke to the woman, she told them she was my secretary and I had suthorized her to use it for me. So, they approved it all for about 2 weeks till we got the bill and questioned it all.

Now wouldn't you think that if I had granted someone other then me to use the card, I would have had to notify AMEX first?????

Good thing is, we weren't liable for any of it.

------------------
Trey
"Who are you calling chicken? I said I'm YELLOW"

posted 08-23-2002 08:21 AM                  

But I can also understand your frustration.

posted 08-23-2002 09:59 AM                  

Here's what happened to me when my credit co. called me about all my internet purchases, and also what you SHOULD DO!

posted 08-23-2002 04:19 PM                  

quote:

---

Originally posted by Black Tie 161:
Yes, Motherrrrr.....I lubed the trunk pins... NOW can I have dessert?

---

Whatcha talkin' bout, Willis? People gonna start talkin'!

quote:

---

Originally posted by Black Tie 161:
I hear ya Steve! Here's what happened to me when my credit co. called me about all my internet purchases . . . . I told them . . . . to make a note in their computer not to question online purchases from me.

---

posted 08-24-2002 09:27 AM                  

quote:

---

Originally posted by ALLEY CAT:
GRROWL - I just talked to your wife on the phone,,,,,, She figued out your game of spending $$$ on the cat while she was away, and beat you to it!

---

Gee, AC, what can I say when you're right? I thought I cured her of that the last time she was away when I bought the hardtop. For some reason, she has a problem that I have a picture of GRROWL in my wallet rather than some other people. Oh, well.

The plot thickens. It's amazing what originally triggered the "fraud alert" and may be of some help to others - it's actually a computer interface issue involving a wheel-mouse and Internet Explorer.

It wasn't the dollar amount - the big order to Youngblood Chrysler WITH THE 30% DISCOUNT AND NO SHIPPING OR TAX hadn't hit yet, so we're talking about $250, plus about the same for wifey in Blacksburg (VA Tech, kid at school) 250 miles away.

Here's what started the problem:
On Wednesday night, I was placing the online order to Streamline Designs for the "warning sticker" cover-ups and vinyl YELLOW cats for the rear truck flaps. When entering the charge card info, there were two drop-down boxes for expiration "month" and "year". After clicking on the appropriate year, I tried to scroll down to the "submit" button. Rather than scrolling the page, the "year" changed. This resulted in a charge card rejection and started the "fraud monitoring" by the bank. I corrected the date, resubmitted, and the transaction went through (to prevent this, I need to intentionally click the mouse on a blank spot outside the data window before scrolling the page).

So the bank monitored: initial trigger of a rejected charge in Michigan, followed by the approved charge with "Adorable Goods" (vinyl stickers), then a manual entry in Florida (rejected), then various purchases in Blacksburg VA (kid at school 250 miles away, wife had a problem at WalMart, but it was approved manually) and then my local purchase for the ceramic pads in Northern VA, which was rejected twice.

Moral of the story: something to do with mice, maybe biting, but I'm not into that right now.

-GRROWL

P.S. - an interesting, very readable book on interfaces is, "Turn Signals Are the Facial Expressions of Automobiles" by Donald A. Norman: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/020162236X/qid=1030198792/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_1/103-0185358-2401417?s=books&n=507846
Given the renewed fear of flying, isn't it comforting that pilots rely on a 2 cent styrofoam cup as a critical indicator on a multi-million dollar aircraft when hundreds of lives are at stake?

posted 08-24-2002 09:50 AM                  

quote:

---

Originally posted by GRROWL:

Given the renewed fear of flying, isn't it comforting that pilots rely on a 2 cent styrofoam cup as a critical indicator on a multi-million dollar aircraft when hundreds of lives are at stake?

---

That is why I fly America West Airlines - you get two pilots up front, two more for a backup, and a FIFTH to go along with them!

posted 08-31-2002 10:57 AM                  

quote:

---

Dear Steven. . . .

Thank you for contacting our Customer Service Center.

Apologies are seldom sufficient when poor service has been given, and we regret your inconvenience. We will make every effort to serve your future needs in a manner more consistent with your expectation and our standards.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

---

They also made calls to the two businesses where my card was "declined" and gave me $25.00 toward my next car purchase.

posted 09-01-2002 08:05 AM                  

quote:

---

Originally posted by GenoTex:
$25.00 off your next Prowler!

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Hope so. Greatest car ever made!

posted 09-08-2002 08:43 AM                  

Experience, and hints, concerning ceramic pads discussed at:
http://www.prowleronline.com/ubb/Forum2/HTML/000753.html

Engine shimmers (and Jay, of course) are GRReat (more info to come).

Cute little prowler decals from Streamline Design were great, but the visor warning label coverup needs some special handling on the adhesive (more info to come).

John Youngblood Chrysler, Nissan, Kia in Springfield, MO, are GRReat - GRReat service; GRReat prices; GRReat people. Received:
2 pair front flaps
2 pair rear flaps
1 Prowler-head key
1 transmitter
1 PT Cruiser key
1 PT Cruiser transmitter.

backordered: 4 secondary top latches, no problem anticipated

NOT AVAILABLE: YELLOW floor mats
A very limited supply show in the computer as available from other dealers, but the other dealers won't give them up (they're out of production). The colors that are generally available in the computer are silver, purple and orange. So I ordered a set of silver (your dealer can look up who has the out of production colors if you want to negotiate directly).

They even threw in a FREE coffee mug THAT STILL INCLUDES PLYM0UTH (it says: YOUNGBLOOD Nissan - KIA - Chrysler - Plymouth) I'm impressed (and you all know how easily I get impressed). Like AC, I'm stocking up in anticipation of the Apocalypse.

The Prowler-head key is terminally cute (suggestion on how to make it even cuter to come later). Info on how to program a new transmitter is posted at:
http://www.prowleronline.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/006793.html#11

For some reason, they were not able to get my keycode from GRROWL's serial number (no problem with the PT, go figure). So I paid $1.49 at Home Depot to have it cut - $8.99 cut still beats Ebay for a $10 blank plus shipping (plus cutting).

What they said about the wheel center caps under the Chrysler extended warrantee is very interesting:
It is the dealer's discretion on replacing them. He talked to their shop, and they would probably do so. Returning broken ones by mail for replacement wouldn't work - yes, they need to return the broken ones, but it needs to be done under a service order. They suggested I cancel my order for a couple of spare center caps and see what happens at my local dealer after the first one breaks under extended warrantee. This situation is clear as mud (EXTENSIVE discussion at: http://www.prowleronline.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/007214.html )

I hope that posting these experiences is of value to others.

posted 09-08-2002 01:33 PM                  

Keep stocking those cat parts, I might need your home address someday