Freda the Ford Got New Shoes!

New tires
“New tires for the truck! Getting ready for the next Grand Adventure!”

I’ve been putting off getting new tires for my truck, but with a five month epic camping trip coming up, I couldn’t wait any longer. Mr. FixIt scoured the internet and found a good set of Michelin tires through Walmart. You pretty much have to order tires and wait for them anymore. Not that many places carry a big inventory.

We went out for supper after I finished with the tire ordeal (three and a half hours for a predicted one and a half hour wait). When we came out of the restaurant, we decided to take my truck for a spin on the interstate so we could feel and make sure the tires were balanced correctly. And…we had to go to Sam’s.

One of my readers sent a message asking me which exact mattress we purchased (a Queen Size Sealy “Mattress-to-Go” 12” Luxury Memory Foam Mattress) so I went on the Sam’s app to copy the link. And what did I find? The same mattress we paid $499 for, and was delivered to the house the day before, was now $100 cheaper! We discussed it over dinner and decided to go back to Sam’s and complain.

The little gal at the customer service desk was so sweet, but she couldn’t really help us because we ordered the mattress via the .com route and their numbers/system is different than the club’s. She gave me the phone number for the .com people and after being on hold for-ev-er, I was connected to the “Sealy People”. I explained to Gina, the very helpful agent, that I probably wouldn’t say a thing if the mattress was $20 cheaper the next day, but $100 is a little bit hard to swallow. 

You know what she did? She said, “I can totally understand. Let me fix that.” I heard the tap-tap-tap of a keyboard in the background. “There! I credited your account the $100. Well, $100 plus tax. Is there anything else I can do for you today?”

Are you kidding? It was that easy! I said, “No. But I have to tell you…you made my day!” Kudos to Gina in Customer Service at Sam’s Club. She rocks!

When we went back out to the truck, I saw something on my front tire. I went in for a close look and there were little areas that looked like the tread was separating from the tire. Neither Mr. FixIt nor I have ever seen something like that, so now I have to take the truck back in this morning and have the tire folks at Walmart have a peek at the tires. It’s always something, isn’t it?

This afternoon I have an appointment at the Ford dealer to have them go over the truck and make sure there’s nothing lurking in the background that needs fixed. I have to give my Ford dealer kudos, as well. They never try to push something unnecessary on me. As a matter of fact, when I had them do this last year, they didn’t even charge me. I love those guys!

I’m getting all my ducks in a row so when I head out on the next Grand Adventure, I’ll be confident and secure in my towing equipment. When women travel alone, they should do all their homework ahead of time so there isn’t a crazy rush at the end. I’ve learned this from entirely too much experience, I’m afraid. This is getting exciting! 

❤️

“The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.”

Proverbs 22:3 NIV

8 thoughts on “Freda the Ford Got New Shoes!

  1. Not trying to be a “Debbie Downer”,but I will never but another set of tires at Wal Mart. Yes,they carry the name brand tires and they have the good mileage rating but they are a second class tire. I found this out the hard way. My nephew who has worked at a tire place since high school told me that all the tire companies make different “levels” of the same tire. He said what Wal Mart sells are not the top of the line. I had an issue with my tires and WM wouldn’t even try to fix the issue. They wouldn’t hold air…I was constantly having to put air in the tires. WM said it was the difference in temperature causing the tire pressure to change. Even during the same seasons…not a drastic change from winter to summer. I went to a couple of different WM with the problem and they wouldn’t even try to find out what was happening! Even calling WM management didn’t help. Good luck!

        1. I would totally do that except she doesn’t offer road hazard insurance. I’m taking this camper on the road for five months and I f anything happens on the road, there’s a Walmart around every corner!

  2. I am so looking forward to your up coming camping adventure. You have given me so much inspiration, both through your working through grief and your grand camping adventures. Good luck with your tires. I am blessed with a tire chain that is only in the Pacific Northwest and they are so awesome and there is a store about 15 freeway miles from me.

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