The conversation went something like this:TOYOTA: Toyota service, how can I help you?
ME: I received a recall notice on my Tacoma, so I'd like to deal with that.
TOYOTA: Certainly Ma'am, when would you like to come in?
ME: Well... never... but since it's a recall, and I don't want my car to careen uncontrollably into another Toyota, then I guess I have no choice. When do you have a loaner vehicle available?
TOYOTA: I'm sorry Ma'am, we don't have loaner vehicles, but you are welcome to hop on our convenient courtesy shuttle that comes by every 15 minutes.
ME: Gosh, that's such a fabulous option. I have a sinus infection that feels like a brain tumor, so I'd love nothing more than to pile into a minivan with 7 other pissed off Toyota owners and wait my turn to get dropped off like a challenged senior citizen in an Access-a-Bus. I don't think so. What are my other options? How about cab chits?
TOYOTA: Well, that depends.
ME: Depends on what?! How many innocent people I have the potential to kill on my way to Toyota to have my recall repaired. Three deaths = one cab chit?
TOYOTA: No ma'am, where we have the convenient courtesy shuttle we no longer need cab chits. So will you be waiting for your vehicle or will you be dropping it off?
ME: Well, what's the difference? If I sit and wait, will it get done faster than if I drop it off and catch the convenient courtesy shuttle, then crawl back on my hands and knees to pick it up?
TOYOTA: It'll take about an hour.
ME: Which would be approximately the length of time to get picked up and dropped off – then if I am lucky and time it perfectly – picked up again by your convenient courtesy shuttle.
TOYOTA: Yes, ma'am.
ME: Well, while it's in there for a recall, you may want to look at the front passenger side window. It has a mind of it's own.
TOYOTA: (Typing) That's the front passenger window... it does what?
ME: It does nothing. It doesn't go up or down sometimes.
TOYOTA: How often?
ME: Well, once would be enough don't you think, but actually it happens all the time.
TOYOTA: Like how often?
ME: Like about as often as that fucking convenient courtesy shuttle swings by to pick up the pissed off and inconvenienced.
TOYOTA: (Typing) So front passenger window gets stuck every 15 minutes?
ME: Good enough, hey, while I am in there, the radio also has a mind of its own. It goes off and on at will.
TOYOTA: How often?
ME: Fuck. I don't know. Again, I would think once was enough, but would it get me a cab chit if I said it happened quite frequently and not necessarily in harmony with the car window, although that would be some feat of Japanese engineering, wouldn't it? I'm no mechanic but I'd say there's a bit of an electrical short somewhere.
TOYOTA: (Typing) Okay Ma'am, we'll take a look at the radio, now, how many kilometres are on the vehicle?
ME: I don't know... I'm guessing 29,000-ish, give or take a 1000.
TOYOTA: Oh dear.
ME: Oh dear, what?
TOYOTA: Oh dear, you are way overdue for your oil change, you really should have been in around 26,000. It is very important to have routine...
ME: (interrupting) Are you lecturing me? Because if I wanted a fucking lecture I would have called my Aunt Dorothy.
TOYOTA: I didn't intend it to sound like a lecture Ma'am.
ME: Well, it did sound like a lecture, and considering you are TOY-fucking-OTA not to mention I had to sit through Pokemon: The Movie and the whole WWII thing, I would say you are hardly in any position to be pointing a finger at me for being negligent. In fact you should send Akio Toyoda over to kiss my fat ass and personally pick up my devalued, recalled bucket of shit – then deliver it back with a complimentary spit, polish and rim job good enough for Anne of fucking Green Gables.
TOYOTA: So (typing) 29,000.
ME: I heard that.
TOYOTA: Heard what, Ma'am?
ME: That little disapproving tsk-tsk noise you just made, and don't call me Ma'am. If you must know, the little sticker in the window says September or 26,000 kilometres so technically I am early, because I chose September.
TOYOTA: Ma'am it's not September OR 26,000 it's whatever comes first.
ME: Are you arguing with me, because if I wanted to argue with someone, I'd wake my kid up and ask him to empty the dishwasher.
TOYOTA: No Ma'am. So, would Tuesday the 17th at ten work? And will you be dropping off or waiting?
ME: That depends. Do you have a karaoke machine and a sushi bar?
TOYOTA: No Ma'am, we have a complimentary coffee shop.
ME: Complimentary, as in it'll tell me my ass looks great in these sweat pants, or complimentary, as in free?
TOYOTA: Complimentary, as in some items are free of charge.
ME: Some. Is that like, only some Toyotas accelerate uncontrollably? What about the karaoke machine?
TOYOTA: I am sorry Ma'am, no karaoke, but there is a television and convenient work stations.
ME: Oh boy. In that case, I'll bring the little bastard and his friends, so they can have breakfast, lunch and dinner while I am waiting. Did I mention he has Tourettes and all his friends have ADHD? He also juggles. They'll knock back a few dozen powder donuts and hot chocolates, then sit in the shiny new showroom cars and fart while making electrical engine explosion noises and get white donut stuff and boy sweat all over the interiors. So yes, we'll wait.
TOYOTA: Ma'am, I'll talk to the Manager and see about a cab chit.
ME: どうもありがとう
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