I’ve heard a lot of dumb things in my life (many of them are things I myself have said outloud), but recently I heard something that shot right to the top of my “Really Dumb Thing to Say” list. It now ranks at No. 3, right under:
No. 1 dumb thing to say: “When you were her age, you were much prettier.” – said to your wife, who asked if a girl in the mall is cuter than her.
No. 2 dumb thing to say: “Well now that you mention it, you have put on a few pounds.” – again said to your wife, in response to her question, “Do you think I’m fat? (And don’t think you’re being clever by saying something like, “Honey, I love you no matter how you look.” This is a very, very bad answer. She’ll immediately assume you think she’s a cow. The only correct answer here is “No.” And don’t hesitate. If you do, she’ll come back with something like, “You had to think about it, huh? So you do think I’m fat!”)
Considering the stupidity of those statements, what could I have possibly heard recently that landed itself at No. 3 on my list? Comments made by respondents to the BodyShop Business Industry Profile – an annual survey of thousands of shop owners across the country. More specifically, when asked whose responsibility it is to determine parts usage, 27.3 percent of our respondents (maybe you were one of them) said it’s the insurer’s.
I know that, ultimately, it should be the vehicle owner’s decision regarding what parts are used to repair his vehicle, but shouldn’t the shop be the one making recommendations and explaining parts-usage options to the consumer – along with the consumer’s legal rights?
Nope. Not according to these respondents:
“They’re paying the bill,” says one respondent regarding why he let’s an insurance company decide what parts should be used in a repair.
Says another respondent who agrees that it’s the insurer’s call: “You’re repairing the car for the insurer.”
Hold on a minute here. Who’s the customer? The insurance company doesn’t own the vehicle, does it? And just because the insurer is paying the bill, who’s guaranteeing the repair? Isn’t it … hmm … your shop? So you’re going to let the insurer pick the parts, allow the consumer to remain oblivious (the insurer isn’t going to educate him) and then you’re going to take responsibility for the repair? Sounds like a solid plan.
Sarcasm aside (well … sort of), let’s use a little story here to illustrate why I think these comments deserve a No. 3 ranking on my list:
If you needed a liver transplant, who would you want deciding what liver to give you: your doctor (the healthcare expert) or your insurance company?
Your insurer wants to give you the liver of a recently deceased 60-year-old – whose nickname in his retirement years was Whino Bob but who was better known to baby boomers for his antics as lead guitarist in the group, “Better Off Drunk.”
Your insurer’s reasoning: It’s more cost efficient to give you Bob’s liver because it’s available now, so your hospital stay will be shorter and less costly than if you had to sit around – hospitalized – waiting for a healthy liver. Besides, who wouldn’t want a famous person’s liver – even if it has been soaking in tequila for a solid 40 years?
You wouldn’t, that’s who. Heck, you don’t even like tequila. Not only do you want, but you expect, your doctor to make the decisions regarding your transplant.
But what if he didn’t?
What if you woke up the day after your surgery craving tequila and wanting to join a ’60s cover band?
Georgina K. Carson
Editor
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