Ford v Mercedes

[Radio]

Well it wasn't much of a contest, and I sort of won.

Basically I was pulling out of one of those too small parking places they have at work, cut too close and snagged the bumper cover of a Mercedes.

Pulled it right off. :oops:

Sort of unbuttoned all the little plastic snaps that held it on. It made a sound like stepping on some of those shipping bubbles.

Each vehicle has a parking pass sticker with an employee ID number on it. Called the number up to my boss, who asked the computer, and found the owner works in the shop across the hall from me.

Nice guy. Not the way I like to meet people but still a nice guy. He and a buddy of his are going to try to put it back together.

Oh, damage to my truck? I wiped Mercedes paint off the rear fender with my thumb. There. Done.

But I'm not at a point in my life where I can afford to be sticking assorted parts back onto other peoples cars. Waiting for the other shoe to drop. Wondering, literally, how much the damage will be.

[Andy N1ORK]

Glad to hear no one got hurt Wade. I can imagine that Mercede$ bumper cover could come in at 4 digits, depending on how nice a guy he is.
Good luck and 73!
Andy - n1ork

[Radio]

He's not asking for a new bumper cover, just some way to stick his car back together. If he can jury rig or replace a bunch of plastic snaps, he's back in business. And there was no metal damage.

[Andy N1ORK]

Glad to hear that Wade!

[TXiceman]

You are a gentleman. Some scum bag clipped the right rear corner of the truck, pushed in the bumper, cracked the tail light, skinned the paint and popped the dually fender loose. You know dang well he knew he hit it, but no cajones to own up to the fact that he hit it.

Not the way I was raised...you mess up, you own up to the fact and fix it...not slither off like a spineless worm.

Ken

[KF5BET]

Hope it's not too bad. Keep us posted.

I was 15 and not yet licensed. Backed out of a parking space at our church and backed right into a policeman's private truck. Caved the passenger door in. Went back in to church, found him, and proceeded to tell him what I did. Luckily they didn't ticket me because we were on private party. He was very cool about the whole thing and told me he was impressed that I came and told him. I couldn't think of anything else but to tell him. Just how I was brought up!

[Radio]

You are a gentleman. Some scum bag clipped the right rear corner of the truck, pushed in the bumper, cracked the tail light, skinned the paint and popped the dually fender loose. You know dang well he knew he hit it, but no cajones to own up to the fact that he hit it.

Not the way I was raised...you mess up, you own up to the fact and fix it...not slither off like a spineless worm.

Ken

And then there is all those security cameras. You can't spit on the sidewalk without it going down on tape here.

And usually in the airline business if you screw up, you go running to your boss screaming "I screwed up! I screwed up" and everything will usually work itself out. In fact a team of folks will try to figure out how to keep someone else from doing what you did. BUT ON THE OTHER HAND if you try to cover up, dodge and especially lie, you will get fired.

Character aside, (I would have done the same at Wal-Mart) it was in my best interest to fess up. And the guy is a real nice fellow who deserves better.

[Radio]

UPDATE:

My wife's boss chased her down and gave her a nice check today. Totally unexpected.

Now we'll see if the check is big enough to cover the bumper. This might be one of those "God things"

[TXiceman]

Stopped and got an estimate on the rear corner repair and it will run $700.00. The fellow at the body shop said their was one good bit of news....their vehicle probably was going to cost more to repair than my truck.

That 2002 F350 crewcab dually is a beast...but you got to love it.

Ken

[wa8yxm]

Those plastic push pins are low cost, Painting them is expensive.

The good news is that since it was a parking lot accident, NOT ON THE ROAD. it does NOT go on your driving record. At least in the states I know about.

That ( A ding on your driver's license) can cost you more than the repair.