It was a fluffy snow that was easy to remove from my SUV. The front & rear windshield defrosters were turned on. So I expected no visual problems driving my Grandson to preschool on the BQE.
Melting on the windshield started to occur as the defroster performed its job. I was splattered while passing a truck that was treating the road. So I turned on the windshield wipers to help. Help they didn't!!
The clear portion of my windshield was two narrow crescents. The rest of the glass was terrible. It was a windshield wiper emergency.
After breakfast I set out to find an Auto Supply store. My ready reference, as always, was Yelp.
Perfect!! There was a 4 star AutoZone at 3rd & Hamilton. Off I went!!
The store was in a warehouse area that is starting to undergo a renaissance. It was a small two store strip center with a nice sized parking lot. The store itself looked well maintained.
Now I know very little about cars and am darn proud of it. So I needed help.
I walked in to a clean, well laid out store. There was a large open area between the counter and the shelf area. It felt open, airy and welcoming.
Even before I reached the counter, the Sales Associate asked if she could help. Yes, she could. "I have a windshield wiper emergency. And I have absolutely no idea how to replace them."
She was so nice!! Volunteering to put my purchases on the vehicle for me, she asked if I wanted something high quality. "Yes, I did." I'm tired of taking the car for inspection every year and being told I need windshield wipers.
What she brought out was pricey. But they looked SOOOO much more sturdy and well built than anything I have ever had. I recognized the Bosch brand name. "I'll take them." We went out to replace the errant pair.
The drivers side wiper proved difficult to remove. I could see rust from the corrosive salt air atmosphere in Virginia Beach & the winter road spray in New York. After much work she went into the store for a tool to help. Still no success.
She was completely pleasant throughout the entire replacement ordeal, remarking that it must have been a long time since they were replaced. "Only since the last inspection".
Finally she decided to move on to the passenger side. It was difficult, but finally came off. Moving back to the driver's side, she went back into the store for WD-40. Much more effort finally yielded success.
Wow!! My new windshield wipers looked terrific and so well made. She told to to try them out. Double Wow!! My windshield was now clean. I could actually see through it.
This was an employee who went way beyond the call of duty. She wasn't going to give up. And she did it all with a smile.
Normally spending money on car maintenance is a drag. You don't seem to have anything tangible to show for your investment. I always dwell on the fact that I could buy a new iPad for the amount of money it takes to replace tires.
But I am as proud of my new windshield wipers as I would be of a new pair of boots. They are awesome.
This purchase should definitely protect me from the Snow Monster my Grandson says lives on the BQE. read more