Lot of concern about my car warranty

It's good to have our fellow Americans so concerned about our expiring auto warranties. I know that a number of companies are staying up day and night worrying about how to save me from myself.
 
I didn't know my car warranty had expired. How did they know? They're trying to reach me on my home phone. They found their way to my cell phone. How did they get my cell phone number?  Nothing gets in the way of these guardians of auto safety.
 
Who are they? Well, you need to listen closely or you'll miss their names. But, of course, their names don't matter. It's all about you.
 
Ah, but you disagree about the depth of your need and punch a number, either 2 or 3 to get your name off the list. Surely, you didn't mean that. They'll call you another dozen times just to make sure you don't want to take advantage of their generous offer before your warranty expires.
 
Surely that was a mistake and you meant to say “yes.” When does it expire? 2012? Never too early to extend that warranty.
 
I actually spoke with a live human being after hanging up on many a computer. He asked me for my VIN number, and the year, make and model of my car. I told him “since you know when my warranty expires, you should already have that.” He hung up on me.
 
Then there was another guardian of auto safety who stood his ground and challenged me. I told him I wasn't interested. He said, “Hey dude, you got $3,000 laying out on a table?” I said if I did I wouldn't tell him.
 
Without missing a beat, reading from a tidy script, “Man, don't you know how much it costs to repair an engine, a transmission, if you have to do it out of pocket? You don't want that to happen to you.” He was so sincere.
 
I thought for a moment he was going to give me $3,000 out of the milk of human kindness. Then the daydream ended. “Yeah, I know full well what they cost. But I'm still not going to work with you.” He kept talking. I hung up in mid-sentence. I know his feelings were hurt and no sleep was had that night.
 
It amazes me that I've received phone calls from any number of would-be warranty coverers, except the warranty company I use. Everyone is more worried about my peace of mind and money than the one who actually has the policy.
 
I know there are telemarketers and company reps needing commissions. Once in a while it would be nice if they added ethics to their mix of skills. Ethics such as, when you say my number is removed from the database when I hit 3 on the phone, it's really removed.
 
And, you don't change it to 2, then 7, or 9, as I've experienced. Get three or four of these calls a day and it gets pretty old. Let's not forget those companies with the honey tongued lady, asking us to “dial 1 and we will assist you.”
 
This one doesn't even give you the chance to say, “not interested.” Sure, you can go on to tell the rep to take you off. They say they will. Then they're back week after week. If they aren't scams, you could have fooled me. 
 
If my auto warranty expires the day before my engine falls out, that would definitely not be a happy day. I'm comforted by the thought that likely none of the multiple carnival barkers begging for my attention would have been the solution to my problem.



----
Mike Shelton is a Yuma resident
and guest columnist for The Sun.
E-mail him at mikshelt@msn.com