EVER GET SOMETHING FOR NOTHING?

Yikes, especially when it comes to car servicing. Usually, you bring your car in to your favorite garage, or favorite dealer I guess) with a list of stuff to do. The favorite garage goes through the list and yes, often makes suggestions of additional needed items. It seems to me in the dealership world, there is a slightly different focus, nothing gets repaired… just replaced…and “they” live to replace….

I drove 29 feet in my Mercedes the other day and suddenly my dashboard was glowing like Xmas lights, yellow as they were, ABS, BAS and another. Some people call them idiot lights. While a surprise, it wasn’t a shock, as it happened once before in the past and my remedy was simple. I stopped, turned the ignition off, then back on and PRESTO, lights went off. This time, NO presto, even with the ignition off, I heard a loud noise, a cross between a vacuum cleaner and a fan that kept me cool last summer in the work shed. How is this possible with the ignition off (??) and the noise never ceasing. Concerned, I drive back the 29 feet, parked in lot, turned key OFF, then ON, then OFF then ON then OFF… the noise never stopped. I opened the hood and peeked in; an attempt to impress my wife….I noticed nothing…heard the noise emanating from underneath, lower left….but couldn’t see a thing….I did however, feel some heat, lots of heat……was wondering if my faithful Mercedes was going to blow up. I scanned the lot; did I park away from everything??

My dear mechanic and “favorite” garage, Palisades Car Care (Route 303, Blauvelt, NY) was closed this week, “On Vacation”. Why is it I only have trouble when either the mechanic is away or the doctor is out?? Anyway, wanting to stave off a potential parking lot explosion, I drove to a Mercedes dealer (notice, no name or address) for their input. Of course the first telephone conversation was about “you can bring the car in any time, no appointment needed……but we are so busy that we can’t look at it for a day or two and there are no loaners available.” Now this is Mercedes Benz, not the nearest Rambler dealer. I’m thinking, hmmmm, I’ll bring it there anyway, let it blow up in their lot, not mine, assuming I make it that far.

Wife and I each drove our Mercedes’ to the dealer, I in the sick one she in the healthier one. We left it there in the hands of their service advisor. In general, my experience has taught me that the Service Advisor is synonymous with a “work finder”  …Nowadays, at the dealership; it isn’t about fixing (remember that word??? Or repairing??) it is now all about “replacing”. If “we” suspect something is wrong, replace it – even if we have to replace every part and computer in the car, replace, replace, replace…..much more efficient than fix. I’m getting off the subject.

 In this case, I was finally called and summarily told that the car needed a new ABS pump (and make no bones about it) and while it is there, it also needed a new brake light switch…? That is like telling a cancer patient that is likely to expire very soon , that he also needs to have some work done to his bunion (please pardon the analogy).

Refusing to submit, then and there, to a $3600 estimate, we chose to pick up the car and wait the few days until Dave and Brian get back from vacation. We went back to Mercedes, picked up our car and guess what, the noise was stopped (or had stopped), the lights were still on, less of a bigger deal……??

The following Monday morning, dark and cold as it was, my car was on the doorstep of Palisades Car Care – in their hands. So a few days of their having the car in and out of their crowed bays and checking different related things, it all boiled down to a relay fuse that has some connection to the ABS pump. Violas……relay IN, noise gone, lights OUT!

Ok, so back to my initial point….Ever get something for nothing?….so at Palisades the oil was changed and NYS inspection performed….replaced wiper blades, all things I had asked to do, in addition to the mysterious diagnosis of the yellow warning ABS lights, which was repaired with the relay fuse, and not having to replace that $3600 ABS pump and guess what, now something was actually fixed NOT on my list……both outside rear view mirrors were swinging in the breeze as the little button that controls the swing, needed some TLC……

Ps: ok, I know what you are thinking, that somewhere in the mix of all the other services performed, I must somehow be also paying for the mirror repair…maybe…but guess what, if I was at the dealer, maybe they would want to replace the mirrors all together….or the car??  I have known Dave & Brian for well over 20 years….when it comes to fairness and competence, I know of none better….when it comes to expertise, be it a Mercedes, Jaguar or Chevrolet…to a Ferrari or Hyundai, I still cant! 

 

Palisades Car Care

596 Route 303

Blauvelt, NY 10913-1123

(845) 398-2009

Palisades Indoor Farmers Market

Looking for a farmers market in the middle of the winter can be tough. Never fear! The Rockland indoor farmers market will open Saturday, February 6^th from 9am until 1pm. The market will be open every Saturday from the 6^th until May 15^th 2010. The market is located at 675 Oak Tree Road Palisades, NY at the Palisades Community Center. The market will offer seasonal vegetables and fruits, along with meat, chicken, eggs, baked goods, wine, cheese, nuts, jam, bread, coffee and much more! All of the food will be supplied by regional farmers and vendors.

For more information please email community.center@palisadesny.com or visit www.palisadesny.com and go to the events page.

Septemberfest in Nyack

Nyack’s street fairs are known for their combination of merchandise for all tastes and Food, entertainment, arts, and crafts all located in the heart of the Village of Nyack. This artsy and Victorian town is known for their street fairs across the county. There is always a plethora of things to do, buy, and eat! Defintely something for everyone!
“Up to 25,000 people are attracted to the Nyack street fairs, when Main Street and Broadway are closed to traffic, making it a pedestrian paradise. Stroll throughout the village’s downtown and street fair booths. Make a day of it by spending time in Nyack’s Memorial Park by the mighty Hudson River. Take part in the celebration of the 400th anniversary of the exploration of the Hudson, called the Quadricentennial Celebration, which goes on for all of 2009.” – Nyack-ny.com

Septemberfest will be held on September 13,2009 and will be something you wont want to miss!!! Make your way down to the streets of Nyack on that Sunday to see the grand events!

“By the Bottle” Wines in Nanuet

Wine tasting is the order of day when you step into “By the Bottle “wine shop on Main Street in Nanuet. In today’s tough economic times, owner Milagros Cerderia has collected a selection of fine wines for around $10.00 per bottle. She specializes in Portuguese wines and ports but carries wine from all over the globe. On any given day there is always a red and white available for tasting, but often there are special days where many wines from a region will be offered. A friendly atmosphere in a small shop makes for a very enjoyable shopping experience. Sign up for e-mail notices and you can partake in one of the samplings.

On fat Tuesday she will hold a tasting of various bourbons and rums, what a way to bring in Lent! Drop by and let Milagros help you find the perfect wine at a great price.

THE DETAILS: “By the Bottle”  is located at 218 Main St., Nanuet, NY   845-624-WINE

Palisades Farmers Market

Here Ye, Here Ye,  Now in session every Saturday, INDOORS  at The Palisades Community Center (675 Oak Tree Road) enjoy the farmer’s bounty of fruits, vegetables and baked goods and more, from 9 a.m to 1 p.m.  If you enjoyed the outdoor markets in Nyack, Haverstraw, Piermont and like, this you will surely enjoy regardless of  what the weather or temperature is. 

Rich Concklin, whose family operates The Orchards of Concklin in Ramapo, said he was looking forward to participating in the market, namely because it provided a venue for his goods.

“We’ve been at the Nyack one for nine years,” Concklin said. “There’s been a very good response to that, so it’s kind of an extension of that. The customers have been very good to us.”
He’ll bring apples from storage, plus fresh-pressed apple cider, and fresh apple cider doughnuts, pies and cookies.

As the season progresses, Concklin said he’ll bring cut tulips and plants, including herbs and pansies. In the past, he said, these items would have been carted down to New York City because there was no marketplace for them in Rockland.

Supporters of the locally grown food movement say farmers markets help people learn where their food comes from, provide fresh produce to local communities, and reduce air pollution and gasoline consumption by reducing the distance food must be trucked. See you near the cider and doughnut stand!

A Soup, A chair, A Chicken & A Carpet

Well, all of the above and more is on hand at the famous ABC Carpet & Furniture Warehouse, Bronx River Ave, Bronx, NY.  If the truth must be told, I’d drive there for the most amazing bowl of home made chicken soup ever served in a massive furniture and carpet store, or maybe even in the bronx. Want more?  Also try their BLTs, awesome.  Now onto the furniture.  This is it folks, this IS the place!  I can’t tell you how many football fields would fit into this warehouse, crammed with furniture of all varieties, both antique and new…items from the world over.  Some of this stuff starts out at one price and is marked down yearly if not sooner.  Some items, have lived there for two and three years and if you happen to be there looking for a specific piece, that has been marked down after a couple of years, you just bought a huge bargain.  Buddhas, very old and new, oriental and Indian Wedding Beds, bells, pillows, every conceivably shaped couch and sofa in every imaginable material or leather, sits there and begs to be bought.  A $18,000 piece can sit next to a $300 table along side $20 ornate pillows and cushions all on sale.  A JapaneseTea House (yes, a whole house with Terracotta  roof tiles) , vintage, listed for $20,000 a few years ago, now $14,000.  I’m waiting til next year and hoping for $5000.  Strategically placed buckets scattered about collect the water drips from snow on the roof, but never seem to strike one item for sale. I’m amazed by that.  Tired of one floor, go to the next, and start the trespassing all over again.  When you tire from seeing all that is here or at the very least from negotiating, which is clearly possible (my house is filled with ABC goodies) take the time to visit the Cafe and try that soup….unless of course, that’s why you came here in the first place.