• If you currently own, previously owned or want to own an Avalanche, we welcome you to become a member today. Membership is FREE, register now!

Well, my day is ruined...door dings x 2!

JoeSpicoli

JoeSpicoli

SM 2004
Full Member
Joined
Sep 11, 2003
Messages
1,653
Location
Lebanon, OR
:8: Sorry, just have to vent a little:

So I head to the deli to get me some lunch. I come back, see that the Red Avy is also in the parking lot and debate whether or not I am finally going to tag it.

I decide to read the brochure as a refresher. As I sit there, an F-350 super crew pulls into a spot next to the building and backs up into the spot next to me. I'm thinking, "Oh no..." (I had pulled through from the other side of the row so I was parked such that it looked like I back in as well, so my driver's side is on their passenger side.)

You guessed it. The rear door opens and slams into my mirror. :E: :8: The front door opens and slams into my fender. :8: :E:

Once the rear door closes, so I can open my friggin door, I partially open my door and say "Hey folks, can you be a little more courteous?" They apologize and say "Sorry, it was my fault. Sorry, sorry."

They are elderly people and I imagine the doors on the F**d were just too heavy for them.

They start to head into the restaurant next to my office and I decide to survey the damage. The mirror got hit on the plastic so there is just a little scuff. The fendor, OTOH, has a ding and is missing paint! :E: :E: :E: It's right on the edge of the wheel well opening. - something that the flares from a 2500 would have protected. I almost bought me 2 sets last week, dang it. Was going to do the back (with a little mod to the flares), as well.

I follow after the people to tell them they took paint off. I said "I hate to be a bother, but I now have a ding and am missing paint." The elderly people look back at me, ignore me, and keep walking. The younger gal who was driving (probably their daughter but old enough to be my mom) stopped and asked, "What would you like to do about it?"

Is there anything to do? I just said, "I am extremely disappointed. But, I guess I'll just let it go." And walked off. I don't thrive on conflict and I really think I needed to relax a little bit. This is actually helping me chill out. I already have 2 door dings on the drivers side but no paint missing.

I was PO'd but I didn't yell at anyone and was pretty calm on the outside. I think I handled it pretty well considering the damage the Avy sustained.

But how could I have handled it differently? Do you think I should contact the person (I took down the license plate #) to talk about it further?

I moved the Avy to that back of the lot. So much for parking close to the building.

-Joe
 
Sorry to hear of the dings.
I would have got their numbers and tried to get them to paqy for the damage. It is going to cost a few $$ to fix it.

Hope it all works out for you. Again, sorry to hear of the dings.

Peace,
Todd
 
Don't park so close . . . you should park farther away and take up 2 spaces . . . even 4 if you really want. That's why I do . . . no door dings yet.
 
Wow. They have some nerve!! To ask "what do you want me to do about it". How about fix the damage "YOU" caused or be responsible for "YOUR" carelessness!! :7::8: Sorry but people like that burn me up. Sounds like they took your kindness for weakness and wanted to skirt their responsibility to compensate you for the damage they caused. I'm normally avoid conflict when I can as well but sometimes you have to be a little assertive with the jerks of this world.

It may be to late but I would have called the police and filed a report. In fact you should do this right now anyway and get a documented report. The longer you wait the less likely you are to be compensated for your damage. "They" damaged your vehicle and "they" are obligated to pay for it not you.

You might be able to make their ins pay for if they aren't willing to handle it like adults or take them to small claims court. But again you need to call the police RIGHT NOW. If you have to come out of pocket to fix the damage I would advise you take them to small claims court on principle alone.

 
I vote you ask yourself what you would do. If it were me, I would own up to the fact I messed up. I would ask them to fix it. If it was because my kid or my grandparents were not able to handle the door, it's still my fault and I would own it. I park in the open when I can so when people open my doors they don't have a chance to hit anyone, I know wind will pick up or the spring acts differently than some are used to. I do this for MY protection because I know kids will sometimes open the door with their foot or something (they would only do this ONCE with me) but things happen.

If you are someone that would dent someone's car and run, then I expect you to do nothing, but if you would at least offer to fix it, then I don't think that is out of the question.
 
In this world as we all know, Shxt Happens!!! We all know that accidents happen. The decent thing would have been for those folks to at least apologize for what they had done. I probably would accept a sincere apology without asking for them to pay for the damage. Since they displayed their character by walking away and ignoring you however, I would have asked them to pay for it. I just don't like people who trash my stuff without even thinking twice about it. :7:
 
i like Strobin's idea. this is what i usually do. then there is that one time when i do park close for whatever reason. it's just a matter of time. right now i live in an apartment complex. i make it a point to park next to the walkway and my Tempest on the other side of me. this way there is no chance of anyone parking next to me. soon i will have a garage. we will be moving soon.
about the fender flares... they will not protect as much as you think. something as heavy as a door will move the flare away from the fender edge easy. i have a set on my AV. anything from the bottom coming up it will protect the truck. but, the side is vulnerable if the object is heavy enough to move the flare. the cladding is longer than the wheel well in the rear. this makes the cladding too long obviously. i tried a few ideas to mod the cladding, but i did not like the results. since the front and rear edges of the cladding curve in you will have a gaping hole on either end you cutoff.
 
Main One said:
I probably would accept a sincere apology without asking for them to pay for the damage. Since they displayed their character by walking away and ignoring you however, I would have asked them to pay for it.
Click to expand...
I go along with what Main One said. There are people out there who just couldn't care about others' property. Personally, if I have occasion where I must park close to another vehicle, I squeeze my door back towards me as I exit, to be cetain NOT to brush the other guys car. Maybe I go too much out of my way, but I'd expect the same courtesy. (y) Yes, I too have received numerous dings from uncaring folks in the past :E:, any venting seems to help.

Joe .... I hope you made it apparent to those folks that you did record their license tag.
 
StrobinAvalancheSS said:
Don't park so close . . . you should park farther away and take up 2 spaces . . . even 4 if you really want. That's why I do . . . no door dings yet.
Click to expand...

Yea, then some D**K Head would come along and key you for taking more than one space! Some people just don't have any responsibility.


Butch
 
Hey, thanks for the suggestions. Even the comic relief, you bozos!

I took some deep breaths, vented to my coworkers a little more, and tried to get back to work. I was finally able to be productive and actually got something done on a Friday afternoon!

On the drive home, I decided I'd let it go...not everyone is going to be careful of other people's property or even care if they damage it. I am ANAL about my stuff. Real bad. I need to not be so bad about it - not that I think it's okay when someone damages my stuff, though.

My wife tells me I need to be more positive. Yes I do - hey, that's a start! :p I haven't told her about this because I'm going to take the view that I should be thankful that I even have a vehicle to drive, let alone a nice Avy.

So, I'm gonna count the blessings I have, shrug it off, and go buy some touch up paint to at least get that spot covered right away.

Regards,

-Joe

ps. I still have the lic #, just in case I have a change of heart. Heh heh. >:D
 
Joe, just another thought to help you along (with your venting). I recall a confucious saying which went :

He who flies upside down, have crack up.

I point to this cause those folks are certainly BUTT HEADS :E: :E: :E:
 
:8:Sorry to hear that...I would have asked for their insurance and told them you were going to have it fixed. They can either report it to their insurance or pay you to make the repair. I feel your pain as I can't stand door dings. People at work laugh at me because my philosophy is never park in anything but an end spot. I will walk a mile before I park between vehicles. People can't understand why door dings bother me...I tell them because nobody respects other people's property anymore...
 
Yeah I know the feeling.

My wife always complains about the walk from were I park. I usually park were no one else is way, way in the back. I have gotten into the habit of dropping her off at the door and parking myself. That also looks real good on my part . She thinks I am being a nice guy not making her walk.

Anyway, no dings yet
 
Joe,
If I were in your shoes, I would have lost it. I paid too much money for somebody to hurt it. I'm sure they paid alot of money for their f**d and if somebody did that to their truck, they'd probably be mad. I don't have alot of paitence for stupidity. Just my .02.
 
Some people just don't care about others :8:

 
I see your point about letting it go and trying to be more positive. It is a good thing that all of us are able to drive such a nice vehicle. I still would have had a different approach to the whole thing. I would have looked at it while they were there. The whole deal about them walking away from you would have sent me to the funny farm. Obviously they do not care one bit about other peoples property. From that alone i would have gotten all of their information and taken it to the highest bidder. I bet my title that this was not the first nor the last time they will do this to a vehicle. Lets all hope that they dont get another one of us.
 
I was at a Seven Eleven once a few years ago in my brand new F-150- I know, I have seen the light and converted..
But I was pulled in to nose first and sitting in my truck getting ready to pull out. This car comes in (ford t bird, piece of crap jaloppy/hoopty mobile) with a guy who was 30ish and his kid (i think).
My windows were up and tinted and the kid was pissed about something and "kicked open " opend his door.
I sat there behind the tinted windows and felt it strike my truck- unfortunatley the late model tbirds have nice long doors- WHACK.
I saw the dad LAUGH at this door hitting my truck and walk into the 7/11 for his smokes and Sunday paper.
I was out of my truck and standing in front of the dads door when he came out. He did not know that I had been in the truck? :eek:
I asked what he was going to do to fix the huge dent in my truck-
He looked right through me and said I do not know what your talking about! The kid was laughing and I told the guy that I was sitting in my truck. Yeah right was all he said, prove it-
Just then a Police Officer happened to pull into the lot and sensed the brewing problem. I flagged him down and the dude had the nerve to get into his car and drive OFF while I was telling the cop what had happened-.
All I got was- Private Property, Civil matter, not criminal. I was told there was no criminal intent to damage my truck and I should go file a report and sumit to my insurance! I now park so far out in the north forty EVERYWHERE I go, Any Car I own, good bad or ugly.
Some folks just do not care.

Yet another example of knuckle heads is people watching their kids touch EVERY car in a lot at the mall walking in and out of the place-
I would beat my kid to next week for touching someones car... Figurativley that is-

I feel your pain Bro-
No cure for stupid people- well, S&W .40 might assist?
 
When we first had our Bonneville a Van parked real close to our vehicle their kids came swinging out of the Passenger side door slaming it into the fender Bumper. I got there Insurance info and got 400.00 from State Farm for the repair. They had gouged the plastic and took off the paint. I would have got there insurance and names right away. I hate door slammers and will always charge them for any damage no matter how small. And if I wasn't there at the time, Keys work real well across the offending door.
 
I dread the day I get my first door ding. I kind of hope that I don't witness it, because I too do not like confrontation.

My wife is borrowing my Av today to move, so this may be the day for my first ding :6:
 
ATLien said:
Wow. They have some nerve!! To ask "what do you want me to do about it". How about fix the damage "YOU" caused or be responsible for "YOUR" carelessness!! :7::8: Sorry but people like that burn me up. Sounds like they took your kindness for weakness and wanted to skirt their responsibility to compensate you for the damage they caused. I'm normally avoid conflict when I can as well but sometimes you have to be a little assertive with the jerks of this world.

It may be to late but I would have called the police and filed a report. In fact you should do this right now anyway and get a documented report. The longer you wait the less likely you are to be compensated for your damage. "They" damaged your vehicle and "they" are obligated to pay for it not you.

You might be able to make their ins pay for if they aren't willing to handle it like adults or take them to small claims court. But again you need to call the police RIGHT NOW. If you have to come out of pocket to fix the damage I would advise you take them to small claims court on principle alone.
Click to expand...

I always find this pretty shocking.

When I was in college I did a stint at Radio Shack part-time to make bucks (great place to rake it in par-time especially during the Holidays). Anyway I would park out front to be able to keep an eye on my car as there were some break-in issues in the parking lot. I would not park so close that folks would be going in and out. One of my co-workers watched a woman pull along side by car in her beat up Dodge Dart and then intentionally door it over and over again - for no reason.

I went out and confronted her - then my co-worker came out and said he saw the whole thing and we told her we would call the police for vandalism based on his eye-witness account. She gave me $150 cash, which in 1987 dollars seemed like enough to cover the damage.

Some people can just be rotten - we figure she did it because I had a "nice" car. A 1987 Tempo 2 door sport. :rolleyes: At the time for me it was the bees knees and it was my first new car I had ever bought without any help from mom or dad (financially, business deal wise, credit, negotiation, etc.)

Sounds like this was a honest "mistake" but not to take responsibility - that's what's wrong with America today.
 
That's why I still drive my 88 Taurus wagon to work and close commutes; who cares. My Av and S-10 hybernate in the garage, saved for fun things (or pickup duty for the S-10). Dings & vehicle trauma can still happen, of course; just less chance.
Besides I keep the phord outside where it belongs; makes me look like po-folk.
 
sands611 said:
- snip -
I feel your pain Bro-
No cure for stupid people- well, S&W .40 might assist?
Click to expand...

Same kinda deal happened to by buddy's '67 Camaro, sands611. But he was inside a pizza parlor and saw it happen, laugh and all. Nice chunk of Midnight Blue Metallic removed but no dent or crease in the metal.

Oh, my Taurus is a .40 ...but it should provide a cure the same as that S&W. >:D Just kidding, of course. But it's fun to talk like that once in a while. I probably couldn't hit the broad side of a F**d Taurus with it, it's been in the cabinet too long.

TTYL,

-Joe
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top