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Saturday, November 14, 2009

The Legend Of Jiffy Bobby

Cory’s car needed new tires, so we traded vehicles for the day and I spent the morning calling around to comparison shop. I started with my favorite, Discount Tire.
“Thanks for calling Discount Tire, this is Bobby.” I asked several questions, he gave me all the answers, and I called store number two.
“Thanks for calling Big-O Tires, this is Bob.” I chuckled to myself that I had two “Bob’s” in a row, but suppressed my thoughts to ask all the relevant questions. After hanging up I wondered, “What are the odds that I would get TWO ‘Bobby’s’ in a ROW?” And then I took it a step further and thought, “I wonder how many other tire stores I would have to call before I found another one?” And just like that, I made a game for me to play. My strategy: I would call more stores to see how they answered, and as soon as I heard their name I would say, “Oops! Sorry, I got the wrong number.” It would be my very scientific way to gather data. I started with a store called Colorado Tire.
*ring*ring* “Thanks for calling Colorado Tire, this is TOM.”
“Sorry, I must have dialed the wrong number,” I said.
“No problem,” Tom replied. Good job Tom.
STRIKE ONE.
*ring*ring* “Hello, it’s a great day to get two for one tires at Tires Plus, this is JEFF.”
STRIKE TWO.
I opted for a different location of Discount Tire and dialed the number.
“Thanks for calling Discount Tire, this is AARON.”
STRIKE THREE.
Isn’t this riveting? I’m telling you, ever since I quit working as a professional after having kids I have ONLY GOTTEN SMARTER. (Gotten?) And more interesting. And more…well, trust me I could go ON AND ON.
I moved on to my second location for Big O.
*ring*ring* “Welcome to Big O Tires, THIS IS BOBBY.” (!!!)
JACKPOT!!! I chimed in with my rehearsed, “Sorry, wrong number” routine then hung up and laughed to myself while I sat on the couch with HGTV on “Pause”.
BUT WAIT! The game is not over! I was on a high. Imagine how it felt to know that I, VERN, was the first to discover (after all of that scientific evidence) that if your name is Bobby you have a 50% chance of working in a tire store at some point in your life. But I knew there was more, because everyone knows that more than one person works at a tire store, but only one person can answer the phone at a time. So the only way, scientifically I mean, to prove my theory was to call back those other stores and ASK for Bobby, to make sure I didn’t miss one. I started with the 2nd store on my list, Tires Plus….
*ring*ring* “Thanks for calling Tires Plus, this is Pat can I help you?”
“Hi, is Bobby there?”
“Yup, hold on a sec,” he said.
I hung up before bursting out laughing. Not only was I cracking myself up, but I was becoming acutely aware of how much I needed to get a life. The next two places turned out to be duds, but all in all my scientific evidence had proven a 67% chance of working in a tire store if your name is Bobby. I wonder if they’re hiring any “Vern’s”.

18 comments:

amylouwhosews said...

Tire shopping will never be the same again!

Hilarious!

Jillybean said...

This sounds like something I would think of doing, but not actually have the guts to try.

You are my idol.

Meredith Haag said...

Oh that's hilarious!!!! You're so funny! I love it!

Mindy Williams said...

Honey, while you continue to entertain me, I worry about you a tiny bit. Just a tiny bit. Good thing you didn't try to charge them to that card you found.

Mom of Three said...

OK, you have waaay too much time on your hands! At least it gave me a laugh!

Bethany said...

That is awesome!!!!!

Karen said...

This is valuable information. You should take it one step further and submit it to the government. I think they'd want to know.

Dave said...

lol, i was trying to convince randi to do a prank calls post, and you beat both of us to it :-)

Anonymous said...

I think you need to get out more.

Mortensen Baby Farm said...

Seriously? I haven't laughed that hard in weeks! BUT...I think you need pills!

Marianne & Clayton said...

Just a quick de-lurk. I feel creepy if I read too much without someone's knowledge. I can give you lurker references if you need. My friend knows your friend, and possibly you, so...

I've enjoyed your stuff on the LRS blog and followed you here. You are freaking hilarious. Thanks for writing (and so much!) as I now have another good read to enjoy. Ok. I'm going to go lurk again.

rocslinger said...

You need help, I can make some recomendations?

Marianne & Clayton said...

Hi Vern, Our "friend" in common is Carina over at the Jet Set. I know she knows Lisa from LRS and thought that Lisa might claim you as a pal. Oh, and I should have warned you, that my blog is now 99% mommy blog and only 1% interesting to anyone not related to me.

violyngirl said...

Feeling better I see! :)

kanishk said...

Oh that's hilarious!!!! You're so funny! I love it!

Work From Home India

Kerri said...

What I'm amazed by is that someone who would spend a portion of her day making crank calls can even figure out the percentages! My idol! I can't figure the math and I'd NEVER made calls like that. Unless I was over at your house....

kacy faulconer said...

Still on pain killers?

Anonymous said...

The information here is great. I will invite my friends here.

Thanks