They Left Me No Choice

I didn’t want to do it. I really, really did not want to do it. But they left me no choice. As I shared before, my Ram Laramie pickup, which I absolutely loved and thought I would keep until the day I die, has been sitting at a dealer since May, waiting for warranty to replace the hybrid battery pack. I’ve been back and forth with Ram Customer Care more times than I can remember, and each time the story is different. Yesterday I escalated it up to top management, and they basically told me to go piss up a rope. According to them, the battery pack is not available anywhere in the country, and nobody knows when it will be available. Maybe tomorrow, maybe next week, maybe next year. They can’t tell me.

I got fed up and told them that I’m not going to wait anymore. They would either need to buy the truck back, or I was going to take it to the Arizona Attorney General’s Lemon Law department. That was a bluff, because I knew that since we bought the truck in Florida, Arizona wouldn’t do a thing for me. And Florida’s lemon law is only for the first 24 months after you take delivery of a vehicle. We were past that deadline, but even if not, I would have to go back to Florida to pursue it.

After going back and forth with Ram Customer Care, I gave up and went across the street to the Chevy dealer and purchased a GMC AT4X. It has more bells and whistles than I really needed or wanted, and it’s four-wheel drive, which I don’t really need, and I don’t like the color. But they made me an offer I couldn’t refuse and took the RAM in on trade, even knowing that it’s just a large paperweight until the battery pack is eventually replaced.

Our son-in-law, Kenny, is a GM factory certified master mechanic who used to work for the dealership, and he knows Chevrolet and GMC vehicles inside and out. Before I closed the deal, I took it to him and had him look it over and give me his input, and he passed it with two thumbs up. He had sent me to the dealership and told me to ask for Caleb Snow, a salesman he knows well from his days working there. It was a quick and easy transaction, and eventually, I’m sure the color will grow on me. Thanks for all your help, Kenny.

It’s Thursday, so it’s time for a new Free Drawing. This week’s prize is an autographed copy of The Girls, the eighth book in my friend Carol Ann Newsom’s Dog Park mystery series.

Everyone hated Daniel Moore. But who got to him first? Dog parkers Bailey Hughes and Lia Anderson jump in to support Ellen Brandt after long-time cohab Daniel Moore is indicted for stealing musical instruments from his clients. When Daniel’s body turns up in nearby Parker Woods, it’s the end of Ellen’s problems—until the investigation turns to Ellen, and an alibi isn’t enough to protect her. Lia wants to be done with Ellen’s endless drama, but she can’t abandon Bailey, no matter the cost.

Detective Cynth McFadden’s history with Moore lands her the investigation into his death. While she prefers SWAT takedowns to finessing emotional musicians, it’s a huge opportunity to advance her career. The catch? The resolution of Moore’s theft case left his victims high and dry, making his murder a political hot potato. It doesn’t help that former beau and current bête noire Brent Davis is assigned to help her.

The investigation is complicated by decades of tangled relationships and a politically-minded prosecutor gunning for a quick win. When Lia and Bailey get involved, it’s a toss up whether the dog park gang will make Cynth’s case or blow it apart.

To enter, click on this Free Drawing link or the tab at the top of this page and enter your name (first and last) in the comments section at the bottom of that page (not this one). Only one entry per person per drawing please, and you must enter with your real name. To prevent spam or multiple entries, the names of cartoon or movie characters are not allowed. The winner will be drawn this evening. Note: Due to the high shipping cost of printed books and Amazon restrictions on e-books to foreign countries, only entries with US addresses and e-mail addresses are allowed. After 30 days, unclaimed prizes revert back to the drawing pool for a future contest.

Did you know that you can find all of my books and sign up for my free author’s newsletter on my website at www.nickrussellbooks.com?

And finally, here’s a chuckle to start your day from the collection of funny signs we see in our travels and that our readers share with us.

Thought For The Day – Sometimes you just have to let the ship sink.