anonymous

I love my blog, and the people i've met along the way.

Unfortunately, i have let too many people look into my world and now i have to be careful what i write because it comes back to haunt me.

I'm not abandoning this blog, and in fact i will probably post here more often than on my other (new) blog. But i find that when something is REALLY bothering me, the one place i want to spill my guts is here, and i can't do that.

If you want to read my new blog, let me know and i'll send you the link.

But if i know you personally i probably won't want you to have access - sorry, but for the most part i want to be annonymous.

Countryside Automotive in Baden / Kitchener, Ontario - Buyer Beware

I am writing this post because i feel like my power as a consumer has been taken away from me.

A few months ago, i wrote about the problems i encountered when i bought my new-used car.

I am writing this to inform others who are trying to gather some information on this company.

Here is the complaint i have filed with the BBB in it's entirety:

Countryside Automotive
Bob's home address (found on BBB website because mail was returned as undeliverable to work address):
153 Queen St P O Box 5114
Baden, ON N0B 1G0
519-634-5581

Bob's work address:
2951 Sandhills Rd. Box 5114
Baden , ON N3A 3B7
519 497-5644


Sunday November 2, 2008
* Test drove Escape. Vehicle ran smooth - no problems and was not misfiring
* Agreed to purchase - signed agreement and paid deposit by debit
* Agreed to pick up vehicle and pay balance one week later

Sunday November 9, 2008
* Picked up Escape
* Paid balance with certified cheque from bank
* Bob mentioned that the vehicle's check engine light was on but assured me that everything was fine
* As I drove the vehicle away, it started to misfire
* Called Bob immediately and returned vehicle
* Bob took vehicle away to his garage to work on it
* Bob retuned with vehicle and promised it was a "bad tank of gas" and said he put gas line antifreeze into it to dry up water. Bob promised the problem was fixed (said over and over it was just a "bad tank of gas").
* Bob promised problem was fixed and that if I encountered any problems he would "take care of you even if you're in Ottawa"
* Arrived in Oshawa (2hr drive) and vehicle was misfiring again (always at 2000 RPM)
* Called Bob and left several messages - no answer

Monday November 10, 2008
* Left vehicle in Oshawa and returned to Ottawa by other means as the Escape manual said that if the check engine light was flashing (which it was) that it could cause further damage if driven.
* My father, who lives in Oshawa, took the vehicle to a Ford Dealership. He was told by the Ford mechanic that a coil was cracked and that it was obvious that the coils had been sprayed with a drying agent to deter water from entering and prevent misfiring.
* Had vehicle repaired. Total cost was $380.57
* Called Bob again and got a hold of him
* Told him vehicle was left in Oshawa and was repaired @ Ford Dealership
* Bob said "no problem" and he will absolutely reimburse me for repairs and to please send him the bill.

Thursday November 13, 2008
* Emailed bill to Bob

Friday November 14, 2008
* Faxed bill to Bob

Friday December 5, 2008
* Cheque had not arrived
* Called Bob and left voicemail saying I hadn't received cheque and making sure he received the bill - no response

Monday December 8, 2008
* Cheque had not arrived.
* Called Bob and spoke to him - he said his wife was writing the cheque and would be sent shortly. Got cut off from phone call. Called back and got voicemail. Left Bob a message saying that if I didn't hear from him that I would assume he has everything he needs to proceed with sending the cheque and that I would expect the cheque by end of the week. No response from Bob.

Tuesday December 16, 2008
* Cheque had not arrived.
* Called Bob - Bob said cheque went out "today" and I should have it by Friday December 19.

Monday December 29, 2008
* Cheque had not arrived.
* Called Bob and left a voicemail. Said that I would wait until Monday January 12, 2009 for cheque and that I will not be trying to contact him from this point on. I said that if I did not receive the cheque by January 12 that I would pursue other means. Followed up with an email and attached delivery a receipt which confirmed delivery of email. Email reiterated same message as voicemail.

Monday January 12, 2009
* Cheque did not arrive.

Wednesday January 21, 2009
* Cheque has still not arrived


Consumer's Desired Resolution:
To be reimbursed for the $380.57 repairs that were done on the vehicle.


BUYER BEWARE of Countryside Automotive in Baden / Kitchener, Ontario.

Although there haven't been any other problems with the car, i have found other complaints / reviews on the internet about this company and Bob (owner/seller/president...)

Save yourself the stress and buy elsewhere.

Ah jeah Laken!

Alright,

so you all know how we're not supposed to be using our nalgene's anymore. Or anything made from polycarbonate because it leaches bisphenol-A. Crap. the one thing that gets me to drink any sort of water is my non-breakable, completely portable, leak-proof even for a klutz, good looking nalgene.

Now what?

Well, there are alternatives - you can use other types of bottles such as glass and other plastics that are non polycarbonate (for now, until something comes up about those), stainless steel or aluminum.

There's been some buzz about this product line of aluminum bottles called Sigg. As soon as i saw them, i wanted them. They are so chic! slender, great colours and cool designs. If i can't use my nalgene, i must have a sigg!

So off i went to find one for myself. First, of course, i googled them. I found several places in Ottawa that carried them. My first stop was the Papier/Papery. They had 2 kinds - a short blue one, and a big camoflauge one. No thanks. they wouldn't be getting any more until next week. Of course, i can't wait that long, so off i went to the next store on my list - Trailhead in westboro.

I didn't even want to waste time looking around the store for them so i immediately asked the kid behind the counter where the Sigg bottles are. She informed me that they are currently carrying a brand called Laken which is the equivlent to Sigg. She pointed me in the direction of bottles and off i went looking for the perfect one for me.

I was immeidately drawn to the vibrant colours - fuschias, indigos, royal blues, exotic oranges...my hand reached out to touch the sleek and slender cylinders that hung from their display. There were irresistable. But THEN - my eye caught the most glittery, shiny, sparkly and above all - important - element of the bottles - the PRICE.

I knew these types of bottles were expensive compared to their nalgene counterparts. I had heard of people in the area spending upwards of $30 PER bottle. I was prepared to spend the same if only for the sake of fashion. But i was THRILLED when i saw the beautiful price on the BEAUTIFUL Laken bottles....................$17.99!!!!!

Can i get a W00T W00T???!!!???!

That's nearly half the price of a Sigg bottle and they are the exact same thing and equally gorgeous!

I asked the girl at Trailhead why the price was so crazily different and she shrugged and said that they are the exact same product made with the exact same materials. It's just that Sigg has been seen in a lot of hiking and outdoors magazines lately and people are asking for them (as i did).

I was so happy that i was about to spend almost half of what i thought, that i bought 2 - one for myself and one for Mat. I bought myself a fuschia bottle and i bought Mat a granite bottle.

I cannot wait to use my cool new Laken bottle at work. Heck, at this price, i might even buy one for the treadmill at home :)

Behold, my beautiful Laken: