Boat U.S. - September 2008 - (Page 126)

behind theboat Open your wallet — or your boat bag — and check your BoatU.S. membership card now. Does your card have the correct on-the-water towing service level? I don’t want to sound pushy, but I have a good reason. Our towing dispatch centers received over 40,000 requests for onthe-water assistance last year. Many times our dispatchers tell us that the member “thought” they had purchased Unlimited towing, when in fact they had not. Thinking that you bought it — and actually buying it — are two different things. Believe me, I know. After one really long day at work last month, I walked to the parking lot to find a very unwelcome flat tire on my car. I wasn’t concerned — I have a tire warranty plan. I won’t have to pay, I thought. I called the dealership for assistance. They sent their mobile mechanic who within 30 minutes had speedily changed the tire. He then asked for my tire warranty card that would save me from having to pay for a new tire. “Of course I have it,” I said, and proceeded to ransack my glove compartment to find the paperwork. Uh oh. Nothing. Panic didn’t set in, just anger. I knew I had the coverage. I think the salesman at the dealership must have neglected to add the paperwork to my owner’s manual. Not to worry, I’ll find it at home. I won’t need to pay for a new tire. As soon as I got home I ran to my home office to look through my papers. Uh oh. Nothing. All of sudden I felt exactly like so many members our dispatchers have spoken to through the years who swear that they had bought Unlimited towing service. This is a lesson for all of us. If you want the service, don’t assume you have it. Check your card to make sure you got what you think you paid for. Otherwise, you’ll pay for the tire — or the tow. While you’re looking at your membership card, review your expiration date. The other anxious groan we hear in the dispatch centers is from members who didn’t realize their membership had expired. We send four membership renewal notices out to you each year and multiple e-mails if we have your e-mail address on file. Sometimes the dog eats the mail (not mine, of course) and sometimes you just lose track of time. Trust me. I know how it can happen. — By Nancy Michelman Nancy Michelman is the president of BoatU.S. Reach her at president@BoatUS.com. BoatU.S. Magazine September 2008

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Boat U.S. - September 2008

Boat U.S. - September 2008 Contents Behind The Buoy BoatU.S. Reports Member Forum List Locker Aluminum Can Do Cruising in Crossovers Second Guessing Seasonal Forecasts A Cradle for Your Baby Badlands Boating The Inns and Outs of Penobscot Bay All in the Family: The Butler Did It Stealing Back Peace of Mind DIY Boat Owner Files Good Foundations Boat Smart 2nd Time Around Hot Tips Tangled Line Seaworthy Ask Chuck At Your Service BoatU.S. Exchange Behind the Boat Where Our Flags Fly

Boat U.S. - September 2008

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