Drive-Through-Rip-Off Tree
8/31/2009 – What a rip-off - $5 just to drive through a tree. I can imagine the disappointment on people’s faces when their hulking SUVs approach the tree. Anyway, true story – 2 kids approached me and said their dad would like to talk to me as soon as I drove up to another rest stop.
Dad: “Maryland! (my license plate) – where in Maryland are you from?”
Me: “Manasquan (not trusting the guy so I picked a town from NJ)”
Dad: “Oh yeah? We used to drive up from Virginia all the time to Manasquan before moving out to Colorado.”
Me: “Umm…. OK…”
Dad: “We drove out here to pick up 2 cats and a kid and our car busted so we spent $500 fixing it. That was our gas money back to Colorado. Can you spare some money for gas?”
Me: “Ummm… the car is running…”
Dad: “Yeah – it’s running real good”
Me: “Ummm… I mean the car is running right now and just sitting there… you’re wasting gas”
Dad: “Yeah… well… it’s cold here and we’re not used to it from Colorado so we have the heat on (with the windows rolled down of course). We have dry cold. This is a wet cold.”
Me: “Yeah… ok… sorry, can’t help you” (I was in shorts and long sleeve shirt – it’s not THAT cold.)
So – how many of you would’ve given him money? :S
USA
Comments
Erin B
9/3/2009
eh. not i. (then again, i never gave the homeless in Jersey City any money --- I did however buy them McDonald's... maybe you should've siphoned a little gas from your car and given it to them ;)
Richard L
9/3/2009
haha- funny story…
Richard L
9/3/2009
you don’t look disappoint in the pic, just a smile face?
Charles D
9/3/2009
What, he didn't even have the good taste to offer you this new Rolllexxx watch for $10.00. The bounder!
Richard W
9/3/2009
Common scam, they do that Allentown all the time. Some girl actually accosted us while we eating dinner at Bonefish Grill and asked for gas money to get back to Jersey.
Noelle B
9/3/2009
I wondered which kid he picked up :-) Sounds like you made the right decision!
David B
9/3/2009
not at all! He's a scammer!
fred
1/7/2010
Cheap SOB, what's a bit of gas money to a wealthy retiree like yourself? No wonder the US is such a dog's breakfast, when people aren't even prepared to help out their fellow citizens in need.