Seriously. So you guys all know that Mr. Potato Head went a-wandering a few weeks ago, took a long stroll and kissed a BMW. If you’re not up to speed, read this.
You back? Okay good. So, this afternoon we got a package from our car insurance company, Outsurance.
Interesting, we thought. They’re sending us their condolences? Some kind gesture to say they’re sorry for our troubles? A friendly fruitcake mayhaps?
Nope. Or as they say in Afrikaans, nee. (Pronounce that knee-yuh and you’ve got yourself some foreign language skills.)
They Fed-Exed us a brick. I don’t even know how to spell Fed-Exed as a verb, but I’m dead serious.
Just making sure you’re following the story:
They Fed-Exed us a brick. A big, fat used brick.
What explanation was there for the special brick of rapidly couriered condolence?
I’m glad you asked:
“Dear Mr Collie The perfect ABS braking system. Regards: Karabo”
Yup. So while we’re busy organising for the distribution of thousands of pairs of shoes, sending emails, asking questions, creating websites, preparing for my brother’s arrival (yay!), busy with lots of other merriment and wondering what our car insurance company is up to since they haven’t processed our claim, they’re busy Fed-Exing big fat used bricks. Speedy delivery.
The good thing is, we do have a sense of humour. We laughed and we consider it a good-natured joke, this whole poking fun at people who’ve made a mistake which has cost them thousands of Rand. And I suppose I’m rather glad the brick came to us, and not to someone whose feelings might really have been hurt by it. (Or who might’ve gone postal with rage.)
The only problem is, I just can’t think of what we ought to send back. Ideas? 🙂
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HAHAHAHAHA!!!! That’s brilliant, I love it. You’ve got to love South African humour. Fantastic…
HILARIOUS!!!!!!!!
THIS WAS AWESOME!!!
Truly be glad you live in SA and not USA – because this would NEVER HAVE HAPPENED – why you may ask. Because people in the USA can NO LONGER take a joke – NO insurance company in their right mind (or even not so right mind) would have considered this. Long gone are the days that people can just sit back and laugh at dumb (even costly) mistakes or accidents – EVERYONE has to find someone to blame. Welcome to the world of being TOO CIVILIZED & PC to be able to enjoy a good prank now and again!
Someone here would have called the local tv station and turned this into a big old ugly event and the president of the company would have been fired as well as have had to go on national tv and apologize profusely for someone making such a horrible error in judgment.
So be thankful (as I know you all have been and have showed GREAT HUMOR in all of this) even though I know it is also probably frustrating to think they took the time & effort to do so instead of getting the claim straight – but at least be thankful for an AWESOME story to share.
And for your request of what to send them: well next time your premium is due – why not send them back:
1) Monopoly or any sort of play money – tell them – since you like jokes so much we figured you might enjoy joke money
OR (not sure if this would translate due to language/cultural barrier)
2) Send them some bread or dough – tell them you were sending as much “dough” as you could to cover your premium
I know you don’t know me but I work with Ben Reavis and he sent me your blog page about the “kiss” your car had with the BMW. I’ve got to tell you, this story made my day! I laughed and thought how great it is that people can have such a great sense of humor. Kuddos to your insurance company! I’d send them a picture of their ABS brake system in action. Thanks for letting me share in the laughs – love that the Lord gives us laughter and joy as His special gift to us!
As someone who works for FedEx, you used the correct spelling 🙂
that is awesome!
Hey guys! What an awesome story… I laughed so hard at my desk yesterday and again today, when I saw the photos. You’ve even got my colleagues cracking up.
🙂 🙂 🙂
Send them some brick dust – tell them ‘apparently not so great, Mr Potato Head turned the brick to dust as it powered through’.
A picture is good too!