Unable to receive local assistance
Hello. Just discovered this forum and thought someone might be able to shed some light on this.
A couple of years ago we were on our way from Grand Canyon to 29 Palms, CA. Just about 20 miles out of 29 Palms I blew (completely) 1 tire and holed the other tire on the right side of my TT. Having only 1 spare and no tire plugging kit I knew I needed assistance so called GSRA. After taking my info the agent said he would call back within 15 minutes. While I was waiting I got on the iPad and searched for tire shops in 29 Palms. The search turned up 5 shops and on my 2nd call I located a shop with a tire that would meet my needs. It was around 4:00 PM and they closed at 5:00. The GSRA agent called back and said he had located someone who could come out but it would be an hour and a half. It was 102 degrees out and we were baking, so I asked the agent if he couldn't get someone out of 29 Palms which was only 20 miles away. He said that he couldn't because GS didn't have any contracted services in 29 Palms. We told him to go ahead and schedule the repair service and we would just sweat it out (literally) and wait.
About 30 minutes later he called to say that the guy he had contracted called to say that he wasn't going to come afterall, and that he (the agent) was trying to find someone else to come out. I again requested that he contact someone from 29 Palms and was again told that that would not be possible. He said that he would call when he had a solution, but that he may not be able to get someone out until the next morning.
I decided that I couldn't just sit any longer so got out and started changing the blown tire for my spare, knowing that I would still not be able to go anywhere because the 2nd tire on that side was flat with a small hole. While I was changing the tire, a Good Samaritan stopped to see if he could help. He had a tire plugging kit and a compressor so we were able to fix and air up the 2nd tire so I could make my way into 29 Palms.
So, after sitting on the road for over an hour in 102 degree heat, being told that GSRA help was on the way, then that it wasn't, we were finally back on the road, due to the help of a stranger and not GSRA. I called the agent once we were moving and canceled the service request.
So, here's my question: Is there really not any way for GSRA to send someone from a town that is only 20 miles away rather than from somewhere that is an hour and a half away? And especially if the one that is an hour and a half away cancels and they can't find someone else to come until the next morning? Am I, as a GSRA customer, just basically out of luck? Spending the night on the side of a very narrow 2 lane road, just barely off the asphalt? Or is there some method that I should be aware of by which I could have received a better result from GSRA?
The good news is that I now travel with better preparation (tire plugging kit and compressor), but am still wondering if this experience was the norm for GSRA or if there is something that I should know that might help if I encounter a similar situation?
A couple of years ago we were on our way from Grand Canyon to 29 Palms, CA. Just about 20 miles out of 29 Palms I blew (completely) 1 tire and holed the other tire on the right side of my TT. Having only 1 spare and no tire plugging kit I knew I needed assistance so called GSRA. After taking my info the agent said he would call back within 15 minutes. While I was waiting I got on the iPad and searched for tire shops in 29 Palms. The search turned up 5 shops and on my 2nd call I located a shop with a tire that would meet my needs. It was around 4:00 PM and they closed at 5:00. The GSRA agent called back and said he had located someone who could come out but it would be an hour and a half. It was 102 degrees out and we were baking, so I asked the agent if he couldn't get someone out of 29 Palms which was only 20 miles away. He said that he couldn't because GS didn't have any contracted services in 29 Palms. We told him to go ahead and schedule the repair service and we would just sweat it out (literally) and wait.
About 30 minutes later he called to say that the guy he had contracted called to say that he wasn't going to come afterall, and that he (the agent) was trying to find someone else to come out. I again requested that he contact someone from 29 Palms and was again told that that would not be possible. He said that he would call when he had a solution, but that he may not be able to get someone out until the next morning.
I decided that I couldn't just sit any longer so got out and started changing the blown tire for my spare, knowing that I would still not be able to go anywhere because the 2nd tire on that side was flat with a small hole. While I was changing the tire, a Good Samaritan stopped to see if he could help. He had a tire plugging kit and a compressor so we were able to fix and air up the 2nd tire so I could make my way into 29 Palms.
So, after sitting on the road for over an hour in 102 degree heat, being told that GSRA help was on the way, then that it wasn't, we were finally back on the road, due to the help of a stranger and not GSRA. I called the agent once we were moving and canceled the service request.
So, here's my question: Is there really not any way for GSRA to send someone from a town that is only 20 miles away rather than from somewhere that is an hour and a half away? And especially if the one that is an hour and a half away cancels and they can't find someone else to come until the next morning? Am I, as a GSRA customer, just basically out of luck? Spending the night on the side of a very narrow 2 lane road, just barely off the asphalt? Or is there some method that I should be aware of by which I could have received a better result from GSRA?
The good news is that I now travel with better preparation (tire plugging kit and compressor), but am still wondering if this experience was the norm for GSRA or if there is something that I should know that might help if I encounter a similar situation?
