RENTERS BEWARE
Many…read morehave asked me how I got my "two" hernias. Well, admits my surgical recovery, I might as well tell my story. If you rent tools from A to Z Rentals and Sales, you will want to read. Either way, enjoy my story.
On July 11, 2019, I rented a sod cutter for about 2 hours from the North Francis A to Z. Upon picking it up, the gentleman in the yard asked me to help him guide the sod cutter into the back of my truck, which I did.
When I got home, I was concerned about taking it out as the ramp the store gave me was a 2" X 8". I parked my truck in a way in my yard that it would lessen the angle when backing it down. Unfortunately, about a quarter of the way down, the sod cutter began to fall. I did not want it to fall and hit the ground and be liable, so I gave it my all to get it back on the board and back in my truck. After all, with the width of the ramp, only about 1" of each tire road on it.
Upon my next attempt, it came out. I was not happy as I felt a burn in my shoulder. I immediately felt a bun in my shoulder.
I did the sod cutting in about an hour and went to load it back up. I put my truck in a better spot with even a lesser angle. Yet . . . the sod cutter fell off twice. I finally went and grabbed my 11-year-old son to help guide it on. We did it. I strapped it down and brought it in.
When I got to the yard, I explained to the gentleman what I went through. He said that these things go in and out all the time with no problem. That was not the right thing to say.
So . . . as the yard guy went to take the sod cutter off my truck, I intentionally stood about 20' behind him, so I could see how this device would come off. About half way down, the sod cutter fell to the concrete on its side. He would not look at me. Me . . . I made an audible, "Hmm!"
When I got inside to the counter, I explained to Corey (the operator) what happened from the time I picked up the cutter to the time I returned it. He laughed and told me a story about the gentleman in the yard.
He explained the irony of the whole thing. When the store initially made the ramps for guest, they sent the gentleman in the yard to the hardware store to get 2 - 2X10 - 8 footers. Instead he brought back 2 - 2 X 8 - 10 footers, which is what I got stuck working with. Only about 2 inches if lucky of each wheel fits on the 2X8. One slip and the cutter will tip.
I have good news and bad news though. My burn in my shoulder went away after a week, but in my straining, I developed what I believe to be a degree of a hernia. I say this because whenever I sit up from a laying position, jog or run, I have a pain just above my groin.
After visiting my primary care doctor and the surgeon, I discovered I have two, which I got fixed yesterday.
I might be 50, but I am in pretty good shape. I could not imagine someone that is not trying to wrestle the sod cutter. Just not right.
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Here is the only response that I received after a couple emails to the company:
"Hi Kelly,
I'm sorry to hear about your experience with the Sod Cutter rental at our Francis location. That is not how we like our rentals to come to fruition.
When a piece of equipment is rented that a customer does not have a way to unload at their place of use we give the customer two options. We will loan out a ramp at no charge or we will rent a small garden trailer with a fold down tailgate at a reduced rate.
We have been using the 2"x 8" ramps for many years and this is the first issue I am aware of. Since your email I have instructed the stores to utilize two of the ramps when being loaned out with a sod cutter.
I do appreciate your patronage and hope this will restore some of your trust in our services. We do truly care about our customers.
Sincerely,
Derek
A to Z Rental"
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I am sorry to hear about your experience. That is all I get for the pain that I have dealt with for a month and the surgery that I am recovering from now. Then he goes on to reinforce the company's use of these said 2" X 8" ramps at all stores. Wrong.
Here is the 2nd email I sent him with a little research from their downtown store as I still have several jobs to do around my place that require rented equipment:
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"Derek,
Last week, I stopped by your downtown location and to ask about renting a trencher and another sod cutter to run power to my pond some 200' from my house. I didn't let him know of my previous issue when I asked him about the loading and unloading of the sod cutter.
He told me that he uses and often gives to those who rent the reinforced 4'X8' ramp. Even then he said that he recommends two men. I asked about the ramps that where next to it. I asked what size. He said he was not sure. I asked to use a tape measure, which he offered. They were 2"X10" boards. That was what I remember using in the past and had little issue getting them on and off. He said that he doesn't like to loan those to renters for security.
I RAN OUT OF SPACE