Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Dumb American?!

I sit here basking in my fantastically freezing living room curtosy of my newly fixed AC. This is the life.............The only thing that I lament (other than 2 weeks of endless sweating) is coming out of the whole ordeal feeling like a dumb American.
Our warranty expired a few months ago but we suspected that the problem stemmed from faulty installation. So, I convinced the company that it was in the interest of their own good name to send someone to check it out- on their dime. This was all communicated in hebrew. I was quite proud of myself. So, we waited for 2 weeks for their technician to show up only to be told that the problem was most certainly not the instalation. (Incidentally, the technician they sent was the very same person who installed the AC. Whatever.)
He was more than happy to fix the problem for a mere 350NIS. Not wanting to be taken for a chump, I told him I'd be in touch after I got a few estimates. (No one's gonna call ME a stupid American!)
I found out afterwards that 350 NIS was a very reasonable price. You live and learn.
In the meantime, We called a private (and very highly recommended) handy man to check out our ailing AC. His quote: 500 NIS.
We told him that company X (who'd sold us the AC originally) quoted us 350. (see?! I'm no DA- I can bargain like a sabra!) He laughed and said that company X is no company.

Uh oh.

Does this guy really know what he's talking about? If so, were we taken for a ride originally? Should we trust him since he's a local resident and offers us a warranty on his service or do we go with our friendly technician who could have created the problem for us in the first place?

Meanwhile Mr. Handy Man lowered his price to 450NIS...............

I feel like I'm always falling into these traps! Pay an extra 100 NIS now and save the possible 350NIS later? Jason always tells me that we are going to go broke on my 'bargains'.

I'm HOT and I just want my AC to work already! I'm so confused!

I said a silent prayer, agreed to the higher price, kicked myself a few times for being (or at least feeling like) a DA, and looked forward to a frigid living room.........

What's an extra 100 NIS in the scheme of things? (please do NOT quote me to the husband.)


On a different note, here's a picture of my boys enjoying our entertainment center.


They actually sat in front of the stereo for an hour as they listened to a story about the 10 plagues.............Who needs TV?!
I love raising kids on Torah values!
Tootaloo. I'm off to get a sweater.

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