Roadside assistance for bikes?

[Trek420]

sounds like the way ta' go....count down tick tick tick tick.....

[Running Mommy]

Ok, I used to WORK for AAA. Both the Chicago club and AZ. I worked for an outsourcing company called Willow CSN... Anyway, I took roadside calls from home. But I was trained on membership issues as sometimes I had to deal with that. For one thing, AAA doesn't check on your family status. Just say "for me and my spouse." They won't question it. They do say that people need to be living in the same household, but again... They do not check! I can't tell you how many times I had HUGE families on one account, and there was no way they all lived in the same house. So yeah, just sign up, there should be no issues. And if there is ask for a Super. Sometimes the people they hire aren't too bright..
I also highly reccomend that if your moving to AZ you get the plus plan. Regular only covers 5 miles of towing and it's now 4.00 a mile over the 5. Plus covers 100 miles, and 100.00 in locksmith svcs in case you ever lose a key. Also don't be cheap and opt NOT to sign up your SO, because the one thing AAA mandates is that the member be with the vehicle. So if your SO is stranded and you are at home they could not get service if they are not a member unless you are there. That is the one major thing I would have to deal with. The wife would call saying her husband was stranded 60 miles away, but he wasn't on the membership. Yeah they can add them and send service, but it's a big hassle.
Personally I think having AAA in AZ is super important. Kinda like the IL snow.. Well we have the heat! And that can be deadly! You do not want to be stranded in it. So as a former AAA agent can I give you some simple tips?? Always have a working cell phone, your AAA card, and ALWAYS have a cooler with drinks in it! That is just as important as keeping a blanket in your car in IL in winter.
Oh and WELCOME to AZ! Where are you moving here? Personally I love it out here! In spite of the 115 degree July days.
Oh and one more AZ tip... Really keep an eye on your tires.. They do not like AZ pavement and tend to blow.. And your car battery will only last about 2 years here- so be prepared!

Ok, so after I wrote all this I went back and realized you went w/ another company.. Sorry that you had that issue w/ the ACG. UGH! But hopefully the other company treats you well. And the bike roadside assistance? I wonder if IMNA would let me have these guys on call! ha ha

[Pax]

Personally I think having AAA in AZ is super important. Kinda like the IL snow.. Well we have the heat! And that can be deadly! You do not want to be stranded in it. So as a former AAA agent can I give you some simple tips?? Always have a working cell phone, your AAA card, and ALWAYS have a cooler with drinks in it! That is just as important as keeping a blanket in your car in IL in winter.
Oh and WELCOME to AZ! Where are you moving here? Personally I love it out here! In spite of the 115 degree July days.
Oh and one more AZ tip... Really keep an eye on your tires.. They do not like AZ pavement and tend to blow.. And your car battery will only last about 2 years here- so be prepared!

Hi RM, thanks for all the AZ newbie insights, I used to live in Gila Bend but it's been so long ago that I don't remember the important safety details. It's funny, I was calling around for insurance quotes and every single agent tells me I have to "glass breakage" insurance?? Do windshields just explode spontaneously out there or what?

[Running Mommy]

Pretty much! Lot's of road debris and people losing their loads! When I was driving for some willow training up in scottsdale I had zabucket, pallet, a ladder, and a huge bag of garbage all fly at my car during the two week training. Every morning when I got in my car I felt like I was going into battle! Oh and I had a big rig tire tread (HUGE CHUNK) fly at my car a few months ago! Hit my windshield, bounced off and then took out the pan on the bottom of my car. I drive a volvo wagon and it did quite a bit of damage! Both my husband and I have goen through 3 windshields (total) in the two years we have been here! UGH! I've also had rocks fly at my car during real nasty dust storms... I guess that's what happens when you live in the desert!
Also you might notice that car Ins is SUPER expensive out here! Mine doubled over nor cal!! It's all the car thefts out here I guess. And the crazy drivers! I thought so cal was nuts! These people out here are insane!!
Of course I have a theory on THAT too....

[bikerz]

Chiming in late here... but

I have to share an AAA experience I had (and I am not even a member!)

Last year a very good friend of mine lost her partner of 14 years in a freak car-related accident. I handled the AAA insurance issues for my friend - getting their car totalled out, and the paperwork for the AAA accidental death benefit claim. The rep I worked with, who was based in Colorado, was phenomenal. She was so caring and professional and really went the extra mile for my friend - I was blown away. In the middle of the tragedy, my friend had from time to time run into various roadblocks related to the fact that she and partner were "strangers in the eyes of the law", which was excruciating to witness -- and then to have this truly humane and thoughtful person on the other end of the phone was amazing - I'll never forget this rep, and what it meant to work with her, and it left me with a very good feeling for AAA as a company, especially with respect to honoring all kinds of families. I sent her a huge bouquet of flowers afterwards - she was really extraordinary - maybe partly because it shouldn't have been so extraordinary.

(Anyway, I'm rambling and it's late - sorry )

But I was surprised and saddened to read the response you got from AAA, Queen, and then relieved to see that it was apparently just the work of one poorly trained rep, and not company policy. An indication of how much difference any of us can make (for better or worse) in our daily work.

Best of luck in your move!

[Pax]

RunningMommy - I think I better grow another pair of eyes when I'm riding my motorcycle out there.


BikerZ, thanks so much for the well wishes. I'm really looking forward to the adventure.


Given the responses regarding AAA I'm sending an email to them today to explain why they didn't get my business. I always try to let a business know why they lost me as a customer.

[Trek420]

chiming in on AAA. I'm a member.

I've had AAA for as long as I could drive and had really good service from them. Especially when I had the car-repair-from H*** which is in a thread somewhere here I think. So bad I ended up escalating to State of CA Dept of Corporations (I am the undisputed Queen of going over your head, I know how to escalate things but only if absolutely needed). But it was AAA who got things done, they came out, checked the car, all the repair records, made sure it got fixed and at no cost to me, got me a refund, could not have been more professional to both the mechanic and me.

But then....every year at SF Pride events their Employee Association is all over the place signing folks up as family. So I think it's just an uninformed rep not one voicing his/her personal belief.

You might want to write them (AAA Gay emp. association) which is usually choc full of grand high corporate mucky mucks. They know how to get stuff done.