You've Been Recalled.

      
       There's not much the general public dislikes more than to buy something, get it home, only to find out there's a problem with the product. Doesn't that just tick you off? It means you have to get back in the car and drive back to the mall and get in line at the returns desk. Once you get to the clerk, who is so sick of listening to unhappy customers all day that she doesn't care anymore what you think. But if you persevere you get a new gadget to take home, assuming you were able to prove you bought it at that store, like a sales receipt. Boy oh boy, doesn't it just tick you off?
       Now imagine you bought a new, or even a late model used car, and you get a letter in the mail informing you that the car you bought has been recalled because of a faulty gizmo and you need to return it to the dealer for a retrofit. You can blame the manufacturer, but then nearly all makes get recalled at one time or another. Still, at least they're letting you know they goofed and want to make it right. Just make an appointment and bring it in.
       Imagine the consternation when I read that GM was giving out $25 gift cards to a variety of stores, theatres, and coffee houses if only you will actually just bring it in and get it fixed. Well, GM has sent out notices to several hundreds of thousands of car owners to please get your car fixed and get $25 to Starbucks. I mean, who doesn't want their car fixed, for free?
       Now if you're wondering why GM would be willing to pay car owners to get a free fix, it's because the government is demanding they fix those unsafe cars in most cases. So if you don't take your car in, they have to keep track of it and keep notifying you to do it. If you don't like getting all those recall notices, get the damned thing fixed already. I was just surprised that folks don't pay any attention to the notices in the first place, but I'll bet GM gets to clear up their files on a bunch of these recall lists now.