U-Haul, Me S.I.C.K.

I hate discrimination. It’s an ugly way of thinking and a horrible way of life – be it over age, gender, race, creed, and orientation.
Or horsepower.
It makes me sick. Or better yet, it should make you S.I.C.K. - Support Individual Consumer Kvetching.
In case, you haven’t heard or noticed what has been happening, and judging by the public’s lack of response, you haven’t, here’s the 411:
More than a year ago, (Dec. 22, 2003), Phoenix-based U-Haul International, North America’s largest trailer rental company, told all of its 17,000-plus outlets not to rent trailers to owners of Ford Explorers. The Explorer is the nation’s top-selling SUV and was 2003’s sixth-highest selling vehicle, period. A lot of folks, including your South Dallas County neighbors, own this means of transportation.
In a memo obtained by the Detroit News, U-Haul said the decision was based on “negative perceptions of Ford Explorers; we are separating ourselves from the negative public perception and its potential consequences.” Apparently, U-Haul was involved in a lawsuit and out-of-court settlement last September, stemming from a 1999 accident when three college students were injured after their Explorer, operating on Firestone tires, overturned while pulling a U-Haul trailer.
So instead of thinking this situation through, and not segregating a significant portion of the American motoring public, U-Haul hauled the Explorer out of the picture without any announcement or true explanation to its outlets. Other corporations, hurt by similar product liability litigation, have not been so discriminating. McDonald’s continues to sell coffee to old women after its famous “too hot to handle” lawsuit.
Gee, you muse, it must be a safety issue, right? Nope, says U-Haul. It’s based on the lawsuits it’s lost. Then, it must be about those dang Firestone tires, which most Explorer owners, like me, had removed when informed of their problems more than two years ago. Alas, U-Haul won’t budge, or do business.
Mind you, U-Haul has NOT outlawed rentals to Mercury Mountaineers, despite the fact that it and the Ford Explorer are duplicates of one another (you know, twin sons of different mothers). And guess what tire used to sit under those Mountaineers?
My problem was more specific. I had an official, genuine, real-deal U-Haul trailer hitch installed on my Explorer (with the expressed, written consent of Major League Baseball plan) to … rent U-Haul trailers for various uses. But, alas, the best laid plans of mice, men and Firestones went awry. I sought a rebate for the aforementioned item - rendered useless with the keystroke of some bureaucrat’s computer.
So I called the local U-Haul outlet where I bought the hitch and thus began a process of runarounds that would have made Seabiscuit dizzy. My call was shuffled from the local U-Haul manager (who refused to discuss it) to the district manager’s office. I was then hiked like a football to some gentleman who turned out to be the “guy in charge of hitches.” How would you like THAT on your business card?
He then tried to send me back to the local store manager. As they say, three hikes and you’re out! All I wanted to do is what the Dallas Stars did a few years ago – get rid of my “Hitch.”
There was nothing on U-Haul’s website about the discriminatory policy and Ford was all too quiet in defending its product. Instead a Ford spokesman blamed trial lawyers, “forcing businesses to make unfortunate decisions for fear of lawsuits.” No need to drag John Edwards into this discussion.
Besides, another Yiddish proverb comes to mind, “Second liar never stands a chance.”
So I have begun a needed consumer’s group – Support Individual Consumer Kvetching - or S.I.C.K. For those of you uninitiated with Yiddish, to kvetch is to complain. When the consumer does it, American corporations avoid he or she like as if they have SARS or have been with Paris Hilton in some video.
I AM sick of being trampled upon as a buyer of American goods and services. I am sick of being taken for granted by businesses and politicians who know as much about real life as Joe Millionaire, the Bachelorette or the no talents auditioning for “American Idol.” Something needs to be done and our voices, in all their shrillness, need to be heard.
I want presidential candidates to debate it in front of Tom Brokaw and Peter Jennings. I’d like it to be mentioned in the President Bush’s State of the Union address so I can get a seat in the visitor’s gallery.
Sadly, U-Haul never compromised on this issue. There was no offer of a legal waiver, putting the onus on Explorer owners for the risks. Besides, almost all problems concerning trailers and accidents stemmed from overloading, improper air pressure in tires (no matter what brand) and failure to adhere to all instructions.
Explorers don’t kill humans; stupidity and carelessness usually does.
So here I sit with my Explorer and this thing sticking out its backside. It longs to be reunited with its intended – a 6-foot trailer to haul belongings from storage unit to storage unit. It wants to get hitched, but U-Haul has turned its back.
Doesn’t it just make you S.I.C.K.?