WTH....Air freshener ate my mirror!!

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#11

01-14-2013, 11:05 PM

MonteMan92

Thread Starter

Join Date: Feb 2011

Location: Smithsburg, MD

Posts: 215

Quote:

Originally Posted by STUMPMI

Wow thats crazy!

Heres a trick I learned from working at a used car lot years ago....

I wondered why some vehicles I was moveing around on the lot
smelled like chocolate....

I found milkyway bars under the seats! with the package just torn open enuff for the scent to seepout....
No wonder im a chocoholic!

LOL!! Mmmmm...chocolate! At least chocolate wouldn't destroy my car like these crazy air fresheners.

#12

01-15-2013, 06:04 AM

Cowboy6622

Fallen to the Dark Side - Resident Ford Man

Join Date: Jun 2007

Posts: 9,901

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Maniac

I've NEVER heard of this happening, but if I were to guess, a chemical in the air freshener is embedded in the string (part of being packaged with it) and had a reaction. OR the plastic housing of the mirror became tacky from heat of being in the sun and it appears like the string ate the housing when really the housing caused the problem (food for thought).

If I were you, I would NOT buy a new mirror. If the product truly did what you claimed, you need to do the following:
- Take DETAILED pics, showing the string got embedded in the plastic (actually still being in the plastic helps the authenticity of the claim).
- Next, get yourself a new air freshener of the same type or detailed pics of it so you have a record of EXACTLY what disclaimers were on it.
- Write the manufacturer a complaint letter. The key element in the letter is even though you are angry, be polite (don't insult the company, don't make threats, don't use slang or inappropriate language).
The key to being successful with a complaint letter to any company is to be polite, clearly state what product you bought, what happened/what was wrong, what you feel the company owes you (and be realistic about it, in this case a replacement mirror is what you are looking for), how the company may contact you and it's always good to end with a simple "Thank you for your time. I hope to hear back from you or a representative from your company by (state a date about 30 days from when you well send the letter)". Include copies of pics regarding the damage and even the packaging (that does not notate anything beyond possible discoloration). I typically sent complaint letters to the CEO of a company (because normal customer service ended in NO service).
By giving them a date you expect to hear back, if you DON'T get a response (and I've never had this happen), you send a follow up (and if you have to send a follow up, include a copy of your original letter, as a little reminder). Also, by NOT making threats and politely stating what makes you a happy customer again, allows them an opportunity to not feel your a raving nut and a chance to hopefully end a dispute with ease.

Good luck and do share pics. This would definitely be a "hot topic" for anyone looking to use that air freshener.

This is really good advice, especially considering it comes from a guy who calls him self "The_Maniac"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

#13

01-15-2013, 06:22 AM

ZIPPY02

Monte Of The Month -- May 2012
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Join Date: Jan 2008

Location: Mountains of Utah

Posts: 4,906

Now that is something I believe the manufacturer would like to be made aware of. Would make me sit back and re-evaluate my product and correct this so it would not continue to happen or they could see a severe decline in sales and an increase in claims. I like Maniac's well thought out approach yet I would ALSO come across with the idea your wanting to help them by providing information that will improve their product and prevent further damage and claims. They might look at your claim in a more positive light. I would for sure want a new mirror too! Yuck!!

#14

01-15-2013, 11:51 AM

The_Maniac

Monte Of The Month -- December 2011
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Join Date: Apr 2010

Location: Mentor, Ohio

Posts: 12,236

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cowboy6622

This is really good advice, especially considering it comes from a guy who calls him self "The_Maniac"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just goes to show, I'm not all crazy lol

#15

01-15-2013, 05:40 PM

MonteMan92

Thread Starter

Join Date: Feb 2011

Location: Smithsburg, MD

Posts: 215

Well I got an email back from the company. The woman was very nice and said in order to start a claim for the damages she would need the following:

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oNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w

ontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w

ontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> · A picture of the product
· A picture of how the product was installed in the vehicle
· Picture(s) of the damage
· The name and mailing address of the registered owner
· Make, Model and Year of the vehicle
· A copy of the insurance card or registration showing the VIN of the vehicle (for proof of ownership only)
· A photo of the actual VIN that is placed on the vehicle
· The store where the air freshener was purchased

So I guess I will provide them with it and see what happens.

#16

01-15-2013, 08:48 PM

The_Maniac

Monte Of The Month -- December 2011
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iTrader: (2)

Join Date: Apr 2010

Location: Mentor, Ohio

Posts: 12,236

That sounds like good progress. I find some of the items they want a little odd, such as your insurance card.... But it may just be CYA. It helps validate you still own the car and such.
It's a start.

#17

01-16-2013, 08:11 AM

werewolf-odst

Join Date: Sep 2009

Location: Montgomery,al

Posts: 1,253

Ok this is really not funny, but i giggled a little. That is messed up, i would have set the air freshner on fire. dang, how you figure that is ate into your mirrior?

#18

01-16-2013, 12:09 PM

burgundybullet

Join Date: Dec 2012

Location: Rice Lake, WI

Posts: 180

You're lucky it didn't eat your wire coating off. But that is terrible what happened from it.

#19

01-16-2013, 12:12 PM

burgundybullet

Join Date: Dec 2012

Location: Rice Lake, WI

Posts: 180

Quote:

Originally Posted by STUMPMI

Didn't you hear? Thats how you get girls to buy cars. If its a pretty color and it smells like chocolate that will sell the car to 95% of females. Then there is the other 5% that actually care about more than the color. lol. That doesn't work on them.

#20

01-16-2013, 06:34 PM

Possum

Join Date: Sep 2010

Location: St. Louis, Missouri

Posts: 1,231

The same thing happened to me, right after I bought the car (there's a thread here somewhere about it). I also like good smells around me at all times, so I hung a Yankee Candle car air freshener on my air vent and it ate into the plastic on the front of the dashboard. I couldn't remove the marks and ended up covering them with black vinyl pin striping tape. I wish now I'd written to the company - please keep us updated if you hear anything more from them.

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