Yesterday, i called GSRA. I gave my location as I-95, South Carolina, southbound at mile marker 51. I had a flat tire with a good spare. The agent told me this was insufficient information to locate me, as she was in Texas, and did not know where that was, and asked what city I was close to.i replied that I did not know,only that I could see the mile marker. After 2 hours, the agent called me back and said she could not find a provider as I was in the “middle of nowhere” and would I like her to contact the highway patrol, maybe they could help me.Twenty minutes later the South Carolina state police had a wrecker on the scene. Why am I paying Good Sam, if my best option is to call the state police? The agent seemed to be poorly trained, and, obviously did not have the tools at her disposal to help me.

At least the agent said she was in Texas, anymore it's likely to be Bangladesh. Hopefully they are at least picking up the tab, for the service they should have provided.

RRinNFla wrote: I-95, South Carolina, southbound at mile marker 51. That's an excellent description of your location, it doesn't get much better.Obviously, the agent did not want to be bothered by looking at a map and doing her job.

Mile marker AND state is plenty of info. That's what Truckers use daily...

I had a flat tire in the desert halfway between Marathon Texas and Big Bend NP, literally in the middle of nowhere. On a Sunday morning, took 3 and 1/2 hours for repair service to get to me, thanks to Border Patrol, but I considered it great service. The Border Patrol agent radioed my GSRA info to headquarters since there was no cell service and it worked out very well. Guess it all depends on who you talk to.

If you told me you were in S.C. on 95 south and at mile marker 51 I'd find you with no problem. It is obvious the GSRA has some uneducated folks in that office. Since OP was at mile marker 51 he was 51 miles from the state line going south.Okay Good Sam Roadside Assist pass this along to all your dispatchers so that they have a clue:On one- or two-digit interstates, the numbering always begins at the south state line (for north-south interstates) or the west state line (for east-west interstates). Thus, Mile Marker 1 on I-65 is just north of the Kentucky state line and Mile Marker 261 is near I-65’s northern terminus at I-90 in northwest Indiana. Likewise, Mile Marker 1 on I-70 is just east of the Illinois state line and Mile Marker 156 is just west of the Ohio state line. Mile marker numbers always get larger as you travel north or east on one- or two-digit interstates.So this would have put the OP 51 mile north of the S.C. and Georgia state line. Somewhere near Brunswick, GA. Daaah!

I-95 is the “middle of nowhere”? | Good Sam Community

28 Replies

RoadsideGuy
Explorer
Jun 02, 2018
Hello RRinNFla. I apologize for the issues you encountered, and would like to investigate further with athe goal of correcting so it does not happen again.

If you could please send me a PM with your phone. number, I’d like to discuss with you at your convenience.

Thank you for your post, and the opportunity to improve our service.
RoyF
Explorer
Jun 02, 2018
Here's a story that's similar because it shows how modern technology is missing any common sense. In Houston, Texas, DW and I took a cab from the RV park to downtown. When we were ready to return to the RV park, I called the same taxi company. (Note: I do not Uber.) I said that I was standing at the corner of Prairie and Smith Streets in downtown.

The lady said, "What is your address." There was no street address to be seen on any of the buildings, but the street sign read 500 Prairie, so I tried 500 Prairie, 501 Prairie, 502 Prairie, and so on. In every case, she said, "Sorry, that is not a physical address." (Not in her computer.)

I gave up and flagged down a taxi the old fashioned way.
DougE
Explorer
Jun 02, 2018
I've had AAA for decades and unless they've changed, they don't understand mile markers. If you only know the last town you passed through, that's where they will send assistance from even if you're just a couple of miles from the next town. Other than city names they also seem to be OK with street or road intersections. Now, at least, most of us have navigation systems and we can look up the nearest town.
jerryjay11
Explorer
Jun 02, 2018
If you told me you were in S.C. on 95 south and at mile marker 51 I'd find you with no problem. It is obvious the GSRA has some uneducated folks in that office. Since OP was at mile marker 51 he was 51 miles from the state line going south.
Okay Good Sam Roadside Assist pass this along to all your dispatchers so that they have a clue:

On one- or two-digit interstates, the numbering always begins at the south state line (for north-south interstates) or the west state line (for east-west interstates). Thus, Mile Marker 1 on I-65 is just north of the Kentucky state line and Mile Marker 261 is near I-65’s northern terminus at I-90 in northwest Indiana. Likewise, Mile Marker 1 on I-70 is just east of the Illinois state line and Mile Marker 156 is just west of the Ohio state line. Mile marker numbers always get larger as you travel north or east on one- or two-digit interstates.

So this would have put the OP 51 mile north of the S.C. and Georgia state line. Somewhere near Brunswick, GA. Daaah!
zigzagrv
Explorer
Jun 02, 2018
I had a flat tire in the desert halfway between Marathon Texas and Big Bend NP, literally in the middle of nowhere. On a Sunday morning, took 3 and 1/2 hours for repair service to get to me, thanks to Border Patrol, but I considered it great service. The Border Patrol agent radioed my GSRA info to headquarters since there was no cell service and it worked out very well. Guess it all depends on who you talk to.
cyntdon2010
Explorer
Jun 02, 2018
Mile marker AND state is plenty of info. That's what Truckers use daily...
gbopp
Explorer
Jun 02, 2018
RRinNFla wrote:
I-95, South Carolina, southbound at mile marker 51.

That's an excellent description of your location, it doesn't get much better.
Obviously, the agent did not want to be bothered by looking at a map and doing her job.
kerrlakeRoo
Explorer
Jun 02, 2018
At least the agent said she was in Texas, anymore it's likely to be Bangladesh.

Hopefully they are at least picking up the tab, for the service they should have provided.

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I-95 is the “middle of nowhere”?

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